By Arnold Neliba
NAIROBI, OCTOBER 19, 2021 (CISA)-The General Superior of Consolata Missionaries, Rev Fr Stefano Camerlengo has disclosed a meeting with Pope Francis to discuss the process of canonization of Blessed Joseph Allamano, who was beatified on October 7, 1990, by Pope John Paul II.
In an address made in Italian and translated to English by Vice General Superior of the Consolata Missionaries Fr James Lengarin, at the Consolata Seminary, Nairobi, on October 16. The General Superior said he had inquired from the Pope on the progress of their founder’s journey towards sainthood.
“Talking to the Pope, I told him that our founder did many miracles and the miracles he did are proclamations of the word of God and human promotion, and especially in Kenya where we have many bishops, many priests, many religious men and women, many Christians and many things which have been done. The Pope just stood up, embraced me and said that is true,” he said to the congregants at the Consolata Seminary.
Fr Camerlengo observed that out of the many miracles witnessed through the works of Blessed Joseph Allamano, one has been fronted and he is hopeful it will help in the continuity of the canonization process.
The Superior General together with his council is on a canonical visit to the Consolata Missionaries Kenya-Uganda Region, part of which they graced the end of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Consolata Seminary in Langata, Nairobi.
“The results of all these fifty years, the results of education, the results of the formation of many people who have passed through this seminary for these fifty years and this is the heart of our evangelization, the heart of our human promotion. The many things that the people who have come through this seminary have spread that word, that human promotion all over the world. Certainly, this is the great gift and this is the heart of every evangelization work that we are doing,” he said.
Fr Peter Makau, the Regional Superior of Consolata Missionaries Kenya-Uganda Region echoed the words of Fr Camerlengo, in saying that the institution is part of the works towards the realization of the dream of their founder Bl Allamano.
“We join forces to continue running in this journey that the Lord has given to us so that we can also hand over this running stick to the next generation. Let us continue thanking the Lord praying also for our departed brothers and sisters who began this relay,” said Fr Makau.
Blessed Joseph Allamano, founded Consolata Missionaries, a congregation of Priests, Brothers and Sisters, in 1901. The first Consolata Missionaries arrived in Kenya in 1902, when much of the land had not been explored. From Tuthu in Central Kenya, currently in Muranga County, the missionaries have spread out to other parts of the country.
