{"id":1882,"date":"2024-10-19T20:32:53","date_gmt":"2024-10-19T20:32:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/consolataafrica.org\/en\/?p=1882"},"modified":"2024-10-25T07:16:18","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T07:16:18","slug":"weve-been-looking-forward-consolata-bishop-in-africa-retraces-journey-to-institute-ahead-of-founders-canonization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/consolataafrica.org\/en\/weve-been-looking-forward-consolata-bishop-in-africa-retraces-journey-to-institute-ahead-of-founders-canonization\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cWe\u2019ve been looking forward\u201d: Consolata Bishop in Africa Retraces Journey to Institute ahead of Founder\u2019s Canonization"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n

The Canonization of Blessed Joseph Allamano<\/a> is an occasion that members of the two Institutes he founded have been looking forward to for close to a century, Bishop Jos\u00e9 Lu\u00eds Gerardo Ponce de Le\u00f3n<\/a> of the Catholic Diocese of Manzini<\/a> in the Kingdom of Eswatini has said. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

By ACI Africa Staff<\/strong>*<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an interview with ACI Africa in Rome, the Bishop of the only Catholic Diocese of the Southern African landlocked nation previously known as Swaziland, who is a member of the Institute of the Consolata Missionaries<\/a> (IMC) has retraced his journey into Institute ahead of the Canonization of its founder on October 20, World Mission Sunday 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Italian-born founder of the IMC and the Consolata Missionary Sisters<\/a> (MC) in 1901, who passed on in 1926 aged 75 is set to be Canonized alongside 13 others<\/a>, including Mother Elena Guerra (1835\u20131914); Mother Marie-L\u00e9onie Paradis (1840\u20131912); and 11 Martyrs of Damascus in Syria (m. 1860). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the Wednesday, October 17 interview at the EWTN Vatican bureau, Bishop Jos\u00e9 described Blessed Joseph Allamano as \u201ca Diocesan Priest with a passion for the missionary work of the Church.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While such a passion \u201cmust be something normal\u201d today, he said, \u201cwhen you think about it over a hundred years ago, that was something different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blessed Allamano, the Argentine-born IMC member went on to say, was \u201csomeone who had been touched by the joy of Jesus and who wanted to share Him with everyone, but His own health would not allow him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The passion for the mission amid personal health challenges \u201ctriggered the saying, \u2018well I cannot go, but I might be able to send others.\u2019 And I think he came across young Priests with that missionary passion who didn’t have how to, and so he is the one who prepared the way for them.\u201d Bishop Jos\u00e9 said about the founder of IMC and MC, who remained a Diocesan Priest in Italy\u2019s Catholic Archdiocese of Turin<\/a> his entire life yet left a global legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

According to Bishop Jos\u00e9, Blessed Allamano \u201cjourneyed\u201d with the pioneer Priests to the Consolata missions, orienting them on \u201chow they have to be missionaries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asked what the Canonization celebration slated for October 20 means for him and the Consolata missionaries across the globe, the Catholic Bishop said, \u201cWe have been looking forward to this moment\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt’s a way of saying the Church recognizes what we have always believed in our hearts, that he was a Saint,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Relevance of Canonization <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Allamano was beatified on 7 October 1990, Bishop Jos\u00e9 has recalled, \u201cI had been a Priest for four years at that time. We saw this at a distance from Argentina and we have been looking forward to this moment\u201d \u2013 of his Canonization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe say this not only out of love, but also because of the spirit with which he has marked each one of us, Priests, Brothers, Sisters, Bishops,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bishop Jos\u00e9 went on to recall \u201csome years ago writing a letter to the chapter of the Consolata of Missionaries saying, no matter where we were born, no matter where we did our studies, no matter when, there is clearly a spirit (of Blessed Allamano) that has marked all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

The Canonization of Blessed Allamano is a celebration of his spirit among members of the Consolata Missionaries, he said, and emphasized, \u201cThat is what we celebrate, that this spirit is recognized by the Church and the gift that this spirit is to the Church all over the world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blessed Allamano\u2019s \u201cmissionary spirit\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bishop Jos\u00e9 identified Blessed Allamano\u2019s \u201cmissionary spirit\u201d as the most memorable aspect that has impacted Consolata Missionaries across the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Allamano, the Catholic Bishop said, \u201cbeing a Priest and being a missionary are two things that come together because naturally if you are a Priest you want to share Christ, but not only in your own place, you want Him to be known by everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Consolata Missionaries, he went on to say, \u201cwe don’t make noise; we are always known for our presence.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Asked about Blessed Allamano\u2019s relevance for the people of God in Africa, Bishop Jos\u00e9 said, \u201cWe were born initially for Africa. In fact, Kenya was our first presence; and then, of course, we extended to Latin America and today also in Asia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said that Africans have also taken up leadership roles in the Italian-founded Missionary Institute, and added, \u201cAll the Consolata Superiors in the different countries are coming for this event (Canonization), and a number of them are from Africa. It’s very interesting how they have taken over the leadership of our presence, not only in the continent.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Retracing personal journey<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bishop Jos\u00e9 shared about his own calling to the Priesthood, Religious, and missionary life as having come \u201cas a package. It was always the three things together; never one without the other, two without the other one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He attributed his Priestly, Religious, and missionary calling in the 1970s to the Consolata missionaries, who, he revealed, \u201cwere not that known in Argentina, particularly in my hometown in Buenos Aires.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being part of a Catholic youth group and having to shift to two successive Parishes as a group owing to \u201cdifferences\u201d with Priests brought the young Jos\u00e9 in contact with Consolata Missionaries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After shifting to a third Parish in Buenos Aires, Bishop Jos\u00e9 recalled during the October 17 interview with ACI Africa at EWTN Vatican bureau, \u201cwe came to find the Consolata Missionaries; and that meeting opened the horizons in my life, because I was not aware, in the 1970s, of the missionary work of the Church.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Catholic Church leader, who has nurtured<\/a> his personal interest in communication<\/a> and regularly updates<\/a> his social media accounts<\/a>with content he creates<\/a> went on to recall how the encounter with Consolata Missionaries ignited in him \u201cthe passion to tell the story in communication.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSome missionaries here in Italy had produced documentaries about the work of the Church, the work of Consolata missionaries in Africa, in Latin America, and that opened my eyes to that,\u201d Bishop Jos\u00e9 said, tracing the birth for his passion for communication and the mission of the Church. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd since then, that was my call. I was sent to study in Colombia. I had an amazing time as a novice in Bucaramanga in Colombia, and then theology in Bogota … We were home in Colombia; and we had a great presence in so many different places, and that helped us deepen our call,\u201d the Consolata Missionary Bishop, who took his first vows in January 1983 and made his perpetual profession in December 1985 told ACI Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ahead of his admission to Holy Orders in 1986, he expressed his desire to be commissioned to either Ethiopia, Mozambique, or South Africa, he recalled during the on October 17 interview, adding that he had also indicated that he would be \u201cavailable to go to Asia.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He would be commissioned to South Korea, and later to his native country of Argentina. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After some years of service in Argentina, Bishop Jos\u00e9 recalls reaching out to the Superior General and expressing his desire to be commissioned \u201celsewhere\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI did my studies here. Time is passing. I am afraid I will never be sent, and that’s why I joined the community … So, I said, \u2018do me a favour; appoint me somewhere else before it’s too late.\u2019 And he appointed me to South Africa,\u201d he said, recalling the decision that he realized in January 1994.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI arrived in South Africa at the blessed time … it was a blessing to be there when Mandela became president in April 1994; and I was there for 11 years,\u201d the Catholic Bishop said about his missionary experience on the African continent before he was transferred to Rome for what he described as \u201csome office work for the community\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd as I was here, Pope Benedict (XVI) appointed me Bishop of the Vicariate of Ingwavuma<\/a> in South Africa,\u201d he said, recalling the decision that was made publish in November 2008  and realized in April 2009 when he was Consecrated Bishop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After three years of Episcopal Ministry in the South African Vicariate, Bishop Jos\u00e9 was transferred to Manzini in eSwatini, the one-nation Diocese that had lost its Local Ordinary, Bishop Louis Ncamiso Ndlovu, at the age of 67.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Consolata Missionary Bishop has been at the helm of Manzini Diocese since his installation in January 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blessed Allamano\u2019s intercession: miracles<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Asked about particular signs he can attribute to the intercession of Blessed Allamano, Bishop Jos\u00e9 recalled the healing of Sorino Yanomami, who was attacked by a jaguar in the Amazon rainforest in 1996, fracturing his skull. This is the unique medical miracle<\/a> that the Vatican recognized as attributed to the intercession of Blessed Allamano, paving the way for his October 20 Canonization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, the Catholic Bishop of Manzini said, \u201cthere have been moments in which I have entrusted to his intercession certain things that were happening in the Diocese. But the one that I always remember is when I was Superior of the Consolata Missionaries in South Africa, and a very dynamic and committed missionary suddenly became sick.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The IMC Bishop went on to narrate the experience of his Italian-born confrere, who, \u201cabout 20-25 years ago, suddenly got sick to the point he had a back problem that would not allow him to sit down. He would be praying, standing all the time; he would be watching TV, standing; he would go to bed for a couple of hours and then out of pain he had to stand up again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In line with the medical doctor\u2019s recommendation for surgery, the Bishop recalled, he went ahead to organize for the surgery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAs I was driving back to my Parish, 3-4 hours away, I started a Novena to Blessed Joseph Allamano, saying, \u2018please, do something for this, our brother, your son\u2019. And interestingly enough, that’s why I always remember it, because four days later, on a Monday morning, he phones me and says, I’m fine, cancel the surgery.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He sought an explanation from his confrere, who he recalls saying, \u201cI was just working outside in the garden. I felt something and the pain is gone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI wasn’t really believing that things could happen in this way. But it was true; it was true. We cancelled the surgery,\u201d Bishop Jos\u00e9 shared, attributing the healing of his confrere to the intercession of Blessed Allamano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the Catholic Bishop says, his confrere who turned 80 a couple of years ago \u201cworks in his parish, in full dedication. He had never been sick before; he was never sick after that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd in my heart, I always believed that it was the intercession of Father Joseph Allamano for one of his own missionaries,\u201d Bishop Jos\u00e9 said, adding that the Consolata Priest has continued to serve with him in eSwatini since September 2014, \u201cdynamic as ever.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Message ahead of Canonization<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blessed Allamano was \u201cmarked\u201d by the desire to share his personal encounter with Jesus Christ as a joyful experience, Bishop Jos\u00e9 said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He added, \u201cThere is a basic thing that if you know Jesus, you want to share him. I always make this joke that when you receive good news, unless it is that you got money, you want to share this with everyone. If you’ve got money, you keep quiet because you’re afraid of the consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indeed, he reiterated, \u201cwhen there is something that really brings you joy, you naturally talk about it with everyone. You want to share that joy with everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think this is what marked Allamano, and this is what should be marking each one of us as Christians,\u201d he said, and added that the fact that Allamano is set to be canonized on Mission Sunday is special. \u201cIt couldn’t be a better day for us,\u201d the Consolata Missionary Bishop said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

He called upon the people of God to heed Pope Francis\u2019 message for the World Mission Day 2024<\/a> captured in the theme, \u201cGo and invite everyone to the banquet\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is what we should be constantly doing as a church, reaching out; \u2018not only to go\u2019, Pope Francis says in his message, \u2018it’s not just to go, it’s to invite them.\u2019 It’s a matter of communion, building the family. Everything comes together: communion, participation, and mission,\u201d Bishop Jos\u00e9 said, and alluding to the theme<\/a> of the multi-year Synod on Synodality<\/a>, which Pope Francis extended to 2024<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some 1,300 delegates of Consolata Missionaries from the 40 countries, where they serve are expected to participate in the October 20 Canonization Mass to be presided over by the Holy Father at the Vatican from 10.30 a.m. local time. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Canonization of Blessed Joseph Allamano is an occasion that members of the two Institutes he founded have been looking forward to for close to a century, Bishop Jos\u00e9 Lu\u00eds Gerardo Ponce de Le\u00f3n of the Catholic Diocese of Manzini in the Kingdom of Eswatini has said.  By ACI Africa Staff* In an interview with ACI Africa in Rome, the Bishop […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1883,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[44,153,6,8,20,43,4,16,24],"tags":[132,121,37],"class_list":["post-1882","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-africa","category-consolata-missionaries","category-featured","category-featured-news","category-mission","category-missionary-animation","category-news","category-spirituality","category-vocational","tag-blessed-allamano","tag-consolata-missionaries","tag-kenya"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/consolataafrica.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1882","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/consolataafrica.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/consolataafrica.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/consolataafrica.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/consolataafrica.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1882"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/consolataafrica.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1882\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1892,"href":"https:\/\/consolataafrica.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1882\/revisions\/1892"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/consolataafrica.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1883"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/consolataafrica.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1882"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/consolataafrica.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1882"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/consolataafrica.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1882"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}