Saint Joseph Allamano’s family is celebrating
Rome, October 21. «This morning during the synodal session, I went to thank the Holy Father, who was present with us, for the gift of the canonization of the Founder», tells Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, closing his homily during the thanksgiving mass held at in the Saint Paul outside the walls, attended by the Consolata missionaries and hundreds of pilgrims who the previous day attended the canonization of Saint Joseph Allamano.
By Marco Bello *
«What struck me most – continued Cardinal Marengo – as I set in fron of him, he held my hands and told me “courage, go ahead”, the very words of Saint Joseph Allamano used to say».
The celebration starts with an African dance by the sisters and novices, which immediately warms up the atmosphere. They parade dressed in African colors, predominantly blue. Behind the dancers, one hundred and ten priests dressed in white make their entrance, two missionary brothers, followed by twenty-two bishops and, lastly, Cardinal Marengo. It is he who, with his usual simplicity, but at the same time depth, takes the floor: “Today is a day of thanksgiving for Saint Joseph Allamano. It is the first day in which we can call him that.” His words, almost emotional, unleash the euphoria of those present.
HIGHLIGHTS Thankgiving mass (P. Adolphe Mulenguzi)
They come from many countries, languages and cultures, who gather this afternoon in the apse of the basilica. A large delegation of faithful from Roraima stands out, the state of Brazil where the miracle of the healing of the Yanomami indigenous man Sorino occurred. They are recognizable by a T-shirt made for the occasion, with the writing in Portuguese: “Proclaim my glory to the nations” (Is 66:19), and with the Roraima Diocese’s logo and the official canonization logo. Then many African faithful, dressed in typical bright colors, and many religious women. There are also the Lay Consolata missionaries, and the many friends of the new saint who have come from four continents. Almost all of them have the canonization scarf around their necks.
The readings begin. Then the psalm is recited by a male and female missionary students, and the choir responds by delicately singing “All peoples, praise the Lord.” After the second reading, the choir starts again, directed by the vibrant Father Douglas Lukunza from Kenya. The musicians – keyboard, drums, two djembe (African drums) and even a good violin – are all African missionary students. The variegated choir follows the movements of the director, who does not limit himself to moving his arms, but practically dances. A contagious dance, which in a few seconds takes over all those present who, more or less, move to the rhythm of the music. And the enthusiasm of the great celebration begins.
With the prayer of the faithful, calm returns. Readers, both male and female, take turns in different languages: Italian, English, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, Swahili and French. The latter is read by a migrant girl from Burkina Faso, currently in Oujda in Morocco (where there is a Consolata mission). Hers is a touching plea, as it comes from her personal experience: she asks to pray so that all the governments of the world make their countries more livable, so that young people are no longer forced to leave.
In the thanksgiving ceremony, as in the previous days, the connection with the Amazon is strong: at the offertory, in addition to bread and wine, a typical indigenous headdress is also brought, made of blue and yellow feathers of the great macaw parrot, sent, explains the commentary, by those “who are thirsty for faith and justice”.
But beyond the celebration, the thanksgiving is also a moment for reflection, stimulated by the words, at times provocative, of Cardinal Marengo who in his homily focused on the importance of contemporaneity: the commitment must be “a temporal succession of here and now”, as “the mission has to draw its strength from contemplation”.
“We have to tell ourselves: his holiness (Allamano’s, ed.) must shake us, otherwise it will not benefit us. Our institutes are going through a delicate historical moment, with uncertainties as we move forward in this world. Today is not just a point of arrival, it must also be a point of departure”. Considering the journey and the efforts made to arrive at this canonization, “everything will be repaid if we embrace today this reality, having our eyes fixed on the Lord, tenderly loved and served by Saint Joseph Allamano, and we will truly realize his desire to see us as a Consolata family where we love each other and burn with apostolic zeal”.
The ceremony draws to a close with the singing of the African version of the Magnificat, danced and sung by all those present. The cardinal incenses Saint Joseph Allamano’s banner, who seems to be smiling like never before. He too, now involved in the celebration.
The thanksgiving mass concludes the Roman phase of the celebrations, consisting of a vigil, canonization in St. Peter’s Square and, of course, thanksgiving.
In the next few days, other events and celebrations will follow in Castelnuovo Don Bosco (AT), Allamano’s birthplace (October 23) and in Turin, at the Consolata Shrine (24 October) and at Saint Joseph Allamano’s church in Corso Ferrucci 18 (25 October).
* Marco Bello, Missioni Consolata Magazine.
