Motivated by the motto “One single family for the same mission,” which inspires the Year of Community Life throughout the Institute, the Consolata Missionaries (IMC) of the Mozambique-Angola Region gathered in Maputo from July 29 to August 3 to hold their Regional Assembly.
By Sylvester Oluoch Ogutu *
The program opened with Holy Mass in the chapel of the Regional House, presided over by the Regional Superior, Father Casiano Kalima, and concelebrated by the Superior General, Father James Lengarin, and the General Councillor for Africa, Father Erasto Mgalama, alongside missionaries who arrived from the Region’s various missions. Following the Eucharistic celebration, Father Casiano presented the Assembly’s program.
The gathering marked the conclusion of the Canonical Visit to the 15 IMC communities in Angola and Mozambique. Carried out from July 1 to August 5, the visit offered the superiors the opportunity to engage in dialogue with the 24 missionaries and local leadership, learning firsthand about the reality of the mission, the challenges faced, and the work carried out in each location.
On the second day of the Assembly, following Mass, Father Erasto Mgalama led an inspiring reflection on the Year of Community Life. The reflection was based on the biblical text (Lk 10:38–42) recounting Jesus’s visit to the home of his friends Martha, Mary, and Lazarus.
The General Councillor highlighted Mary’s attitude – always ready to “listen to Jesus” – and invited attendees to “avoid Martha’s excessive activism.” He noted that we must “invite Jesus,” as Martha did, because “without Martha’s invitation, Mary would not have had the opportunity to listen to Jesus.” Mission is lived in community and synodality. Finally, Father Erasto posed the task of “trying to defend Martha, because she is always seen as the one who did not choose the better part.”
The schedule continued with the presentation of reports from the Region’s mission zones, highlighting the joys, challenges, and future plans for the mission in each setting. Questions regarding each zone and mission helped deepen the understanding of the Region’s reality.
In his report, the Regional Superior highlighted what is expected of the Region, emphasizing the project to launch a formation process in Angola in the near future. The Region currently has a philosophical and propaedeutic seminary in Matola. At the end of the first day’s work, the Regional Administrator, Father Andrew Kasumba, presented the financial report and the financial health of the Region.
On the third day, after Holy Mass, the various commissions met to prepare the program for the year 2026–2027. Subsequently, the Superior General, Father James Lengarin, shared the report on the Canonical Visit conducted throughout the month, highlighting how the Mozambique-Angola Region dedicates itself to the mission.
Father Lengarin called attention to a “change of mindset” and the need to “love the Region with sincerity.” Speaking on missionary identity, he urged them never to forget that “we are men of God and that our faith and trust in Him are everything: they are the root of our missionary being, the source of our strength, and the light that guides every step.”
Finally, Father James Lengarin thanked the missionaries for the warm welcome received in the communities and for the atmosphere of serenity that marked the Assembly. Each mission zone then presented its response to the Superior General’s report. The day’s activities concluded with a moment of prayer.
At this time when the Church in Mozambique mourns the violent death of the Consolata missionary, Mons. Osório Citora Afonso, Bishop of Quelimane and Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Beira, killed on June 6, 2026, the Institute is called to keep alive the memory of this “martyr of the faith,” bearing witness to his humility, his pastoral zeal, and the promotion of the values of peace and reconciliation.
The Assembly concluded with a Eucharistic celebration commemorating the centenary of the death (Passover) of the Founder, Saint Joseph Allamano (1926–2026), presided over by Father James Lengarin and concelebrated by all the missionaries.
In his homily, the Superior General appealed to everyone “to live the charism of our Father Founder in our missions and communities.” He expressed his wish that “our communities be places where fraternity is lived and where we can grow together as brothers.”
The Canonical Visit, which concluded with this Assembly – as is customary across all Regions of the Institute – served as a privileged moment of encounter and communion with the Major Superiors, who demonstrated availability, closeness, and patience in listening to each missionary.
After more than a century of missionary presence in these African lands, this visit represented an opportunity for personal and community renewal for the entire Region. It was also a timely moment to evaluate how the guidelines from the 2024 Regional Conference are being embraced and lived out in the different communities.
Furthermore, emphasis was placed on the importance of implementing, in the day-to-day work of the mission, the documents concerning the Year of Community Life – celebrated across the Institute between March 2026 and March 2027 – so that its principles translate into concrete actions of fraternity, shared responsibility, and missionary witness.
* Father Sylvester Oluoch Ogutu, IMC, missionary in Mozambique.
