Consolata Missionaries in Tanzania Urged to Emulate Founder St. Joseph Allamano, to Seek Holiness and Zealousness

He added that the entire Episcopal Conference of Catholic Bishops was happy to join the Consolata Missionaries in celebrating the canonization of St. Joseph Allamano.

“Indeed, we rejoice in this gift of St. Joseph Allamano and find even greater hope because we have servants of God formed in the spirit of Joseph Allamano. Let us pray that God may bless them, grant them beatification, and ultimately sainthood,” he said.

In his homily earlier during the Wednesday, November 20 Thanksgiving Mass, the 58-year-old Local Ordinary of the Mbeya Archdiocese, who began his Episcopal Ministry in the Catholic Archdiocese of Dodoma in 2011, described the founder of the Order of Consolata Missionaries (IMC) and Consolata Missionary Sisters (MC) as a Priest who epitomized a great zeal to proclaim Christ to those who had not yet received the grace of consolation.

“The human heart receives this comfort through Christ, who was crucified, the Son of the Daughter of Zion, and, in a special way, our Mother Consolata,” he said, noting that St. Joseph Allamano, who was canonized on October 20 alongside 13 others, prepared missionaries very well, so they would first put on Christ themselves, and after putting on Christ, they could bring Him to others.

“St. Joseph Allamano wanted those he was preparing to be people of God first, and then be sent; first saints, then missionaries. He nurtured them, and from him, we learn the importance of holiness in life, to have a spirit of reverence and love for God.”

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“Here in Tanzania, in a special way as children of this land, we thank you for the great contributions you have made in improving our conditions—education, health, economy, skills, and nutrition,” said Archbishop Mwasikwabhila,  further acknowledging the contribution of Consolata Missionaries in transforming the lives of Tanzanians.

The Tanzanian Church Leader who previously also served as Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Mpanda, prayed to God to continue accompanying the missionaries under the Patronage of St. Joseph Allamano and grant them endurance in their work. 

“On this occasion, in addition to thanking God, we bless you and wish that the spirit of the Lord continues to accompany you. May you endure in the new missionary areas you are heading to in these recent years—places like Mongolia, Korea, and similar regions—go and preach the good news, for Christ is asking, ‘Whom shall I send?’”

In his address at the event, the Apostolic Nuncio to Tanzania, Archbishop Angelo Accattino, said that he shared in the joy of the Consolata Missionaries for what he described as a ‘great gift from God’ following the canonization of their founder, St. Joseph Allamano.

The Pope’s representative in Tanzania since 2 January 2023, delivered greetings from the Holy Father, who also gave blessings to all participants in the November 20 Thanksgiving Eucharistic celebration that was hosted in the Catholic Diocese of Iringa.

In the message that was read by Archbishop Accattino, Pope Francis reminded the people of God in Tanzania that although St. Joseph Allamano lived many years ago and far from Tanzania, he was “an ordinary man” who “came from an average background like many of us” but responded to God’s call “willingly and faithfully.”

“We are all called to holiness, as the Second Vatican Council reminds us,” the Holy Father said, and further appealed, “Thus, like St. Joseph Allamano, let us share in the grace of God given to us freely, living our lives according to our individual talents and circumstances, imitating Christ, living holy lives, and striving to bring about positive change in the world and in the places where we have been called to live.”

The Superior General of the Institute of Consolata Missionaries (IMC) in Tanzania welcomed the canonization of their founder, calling it a special occasion for the children of Allamano, who he said, almost one hundred years after the death of Father Joseph Allamano, find themselves witnessing the greatness of God revealed in his (St. Joseph Allamano) life.

“Today is a special day for all of us, the children of Allamano, where his preaching is clearly visible, and the Church recognizes it through the act of declaring him a saint,” Fr. Cyprian Mvanda said, adding, “The canonization of our father Allamano happens on World Mission Day, a day that reflects his prophecy of making all nations know Christ. In 1926, the year of his death, Pope Pius XI declared World Mission Day, a day Allamano longed to see.”

The Priest observed that the news of the canonization of Allamano comes at a time when the Consolata missionaries are preparing for the centenary anniversary of his death, which was launched earlier this year, 2024, leading up to its culmination in 2026. He called upon his confreres and the laity to continue reflecting on the greatness of God in their founder’s life.

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 “To draw many people to God, your holiness must be heroic,” he said, emphasizing the importance of the Holy Spirit in guiding missionaries and making them witnesses of God’s work in the way He desires.

He added, “We believe it is the Holy Spirit who guides us and makes us witnesses of His work in the way He desires, as long as we accept Him and allow Him to ignite the fire of love in our hearts, so that we fulfill our call and duty to be saints.”