“The Institute is a family of consecrated people for the mission ad gentes throughout their lives, in fraternal communion, in the profession of the evangelical counsels, and having Mary as a model and guide. It is our duty to deepen the missionary values of religious consecration and welcome the dynamism that the mission impresses on religious life” (Const. 4).
By Vilson Jochem *
With this motivation, dealing with the Constitutions of the Consolata Missionary Institute (IMC), the group of Jubilee missionaries gathered in Rome for the ongoing formation course. On May 8 and 9, they met with the entire General council to reflect on the reality of the Institute in the world.
Each General Councilor responsible for the accompaniment of a Continent presented the reality experienced by missionaries in the various mission contexts, with their joys and challenges in the midst of which they live their religious consecration in missionary service.
The General Councilor Father Erasto Colnel Mgalama began the meeting with an interesting reflection on Consecrated Life in the context of Africa. He presented the elements that this rich cultural reality can offer to live the consecration to the Lord, given the experience of the extended family in a context that values community life and sharing. He also spoke about the possible difficulties that culture can bring, underlining the importance of focusing on contributions rather than difficulties, knowing that many elements have changed over the years.
Inspired by the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Lk 15, 11-32), where the family suffers the consequences of the youngest son’s decision to leave his father’s house, Father Erasto invited the group to have the father’s attitude. “Value welcoming, take on responsibilities in the family and in the community, help overcome the difficulties that lead to blaming the other; forgive and be able to lead the young ones to adult life”.
Father Erasto also recalled that “the Consecrated Life of the Consolata Missionary is realized in the following of Christ starting from his experience of Kenosis, in obedience to the will of the Father, in chastity, service in daily work and in poverty, following the example of the Master who, being rich, became poor (cf. 2 Cor 8, 9; Flip 2, 6 – 8). In the Consecrated Life this call is for all, regardless of their origin”, warned the General Councilor.
Read also: The Word of God: soul and guide of consecrated life
The Institute is present in 11 countries in Africa where 283 missionaries work. “In terms of vocations, the continent is the one that is contributing the most; therefore, we must thank God for this and know how to accompany the formative processes to have missionaries committed to the life and mission of the Institute”. In Africa, the Institute has 133 students, in novitiate and theology.
Then, the Vice-Superior General, Father Michelangelo Piovano, the General Councilor for America, Father Juan Pablo de los Ríos, and the head of the Secretariat for Formation, Father Mathews Odhiambo, shared the reality of the Institute in Europe, America and Asia. Father Tamrat Defar, an Ethiopian missionary who is participating in the course and has worked for 20 years in South Korea, presented the history of the presence of the Institute in Asia (Korea, Mongolia and Taiwanw).
The information shared gave a good vision of the life and mission of the institute, with its challenges and the responses to those challenges. The formation and accompaniment of missionaries in the different circumscriptions are essential for the qualification of the missionary service.
Habemus Papam
The day of May 8th went down in history for the white smoke that announced the election of the new Pope. As soon as the news reached the Sala Colonne of the Generalate, the group exploded with joy and rushed to St. Peter’s Square to witness with the more than one hundred thousand people present and with the entire world, the gift of Pope Leo XIV to the Church.
* Father Vilson Jochem, IMC, missionary in Venezuela.
