By Paschal Norbert
NAIROBI, MAY 16, 2025 (CISA)- In the serene corridors of Consolata Seminary in Karen, the atmosphere was charged with joy, laughter, and reflective silence. From different corners of Kenya and beyond, young men and women on the path of religious life, following in the steps of St. Joseph Allamano, the founder of the Consolata Missionaries, gathered for the Consolata Missionaries Inter-House Formation Meeting (IFM) 2025. This biennial gathering unites formees from the Consolata Missionary Fathers (IMC) and Sisters (MC).
At the heart of this year’s IFM was a profound sense of belonging, unity, and shared purpose. This edition brought together male and female formees from various stages of formation, alongside their formators, under the theme: “St. Joseph Allamano: This I Want You to Be”, with the sub-theme “We Are All Members of One Big Family.” The gathering was a vibrant testimony to the vocational journey of those dedicating their lives to mission ad gentes.
Among them was Damaris Atieno, a second-year pre-novice from the Nazareth Formation House of the Consolata Sisters, studying at Consolata International University.
“This week, we have gathered…for an inter-house formation meeting,” she shared, noting “It’s an opportunity for those at different stages of formation to come together, share, and learn from one another, enriching our journey through different perspectives.”
Her voice was bright with enthusiasm, explaining “Going back to my community, I feel more empowered to be confident and independent…It has given me the courage to evangelize my peers, especially within the context of modern technology.”
Though men and women in religious formation often walk parallel paths, the inter-house meeting offered a rare moment to converge.
“Our formation is holistic,” Damaris noted. “We focus not only on academics but also on personal growth and human formation. Despite the differences in our schedules and apostolates, we all share the same missionary spirit.”
That missionary spirit was echoed by Mukaisi Ochieng Derrick, a philosophy student and second-year seminarian originally from the Catholic Diocese of Kakamega.
“I was born into a Protestant family but converted to Catholicism in 2014,” he said, adding “God called me to serve as a Catholic priest, and that calling led me to the Consolata Missionaries.”
“Interhouse formation week is a great and enriching event,” he said. “It brings all male and female formees together with all formators in Kenya…to renew the sense of unity and mission.”
For Derrick, the meeting was deeply spiritual and communal. “There was something deeply consoling about sharing meals and moments of silence during adoration of the Blessed Sacrament,” he reflected.
“It reminded us about the teachings of our founder, St. Joseph Allamano, on community life and adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.” His tone revealed a man touched by fraternity and shared purpose: “It renewed our minds, refreshed our spirits, and strengthened our resolve to walk together toward the mission God entrusted to us.”
That sense of unity also resonated with Wekesa Daniel Wanjala, a seminarian from the Catholic Diocese of Bungoma currently in the propaedeutic stage of formation. He credits his vocational inspiration to earlier encounters with other Consolata seminarians and his introduction to the formation house through Fr Bekele and Br Okisa.
“At the beginning, I knew very little. I was blank,” Daniel admitted. “But my formation has enriched me in the four key dimensions: human, intellectual, spiritual, and pastoral. Before becoming a missionary, we must first become fully human.”
The inter-house meeting, for him, solidified the identity of the Consolata family. “It was a joy to interact with brothers from theology, novitiate, and propaedeutic stages, as well as with the sisters in formation,” he shared. “Interacting with the sisters gives us a broader perspective…When we go out into the world, we should see each other as part of the same missionary family, collaborating and serving together.”
Wekesa also praised the co-formation aspect of the gathering: “Many outside may think seminarians only interact with men, but we share formation activities with the sisters. These exchanges help us understand our common mission. It teaches us not to segregate but to collaborate and serve together.”
For Br Kenneth Wekesa IMC, a seasoned formator and a Consolata Missionary in the propaedeutic stage currently serving in Mathari, Nyeri, IFM 2025 was not just about bonding, it was about intentional formation: “The main objective of this meeting is to bring together all the different stages of formation…It’s like a family day, a moment where we gather as one family of Allamano, to know each other better.”
He added, “We reflect on a chosen theme presented by professionals who challenge and guide us. It’s about more than talks; we interact through games, songs, and prayers. We hear from missionaries in the field. These testimonies assure us that there’s something meaningful to aspire to.”
Br Kenneth emphasized how the meeting deepened their sense of fraternity. “Each stage of formation has its own challenges, but we are not alone. Seeing others ahead of us gives us courage. This experience strengthens our identity and commitment as members of one missionary family.”
These testimonies, rooted in decades of missionary experience, were personified in the life of Sr Carmela Benicassa, MC, who joined the Consolata Sisters in 1972 and has served in Kenya for most of her life.
“Accept who you are during formation, and embrace your current situation,” she advised. “Pray to the Lord through your shortcomings. Do not complain a lot, pray more about them.” Her wisdom flowed with maternal warmth.
“Everywhere I was sent, I enjoyed the mission and embraced the people and culture,” she stated.
From the male congregation, Fr Crispin Oduor, IMC, shared hard-earned insights from his mission in Venezuela and Spain, and now serves at Tuthu Mission, the first Consolata mission in Kenya.
“One must be prepared for the reality of racism…especially in missions where people have never seen Africans,” he said soberly. “I encountered this in places like Venezuela and Spain. To serve effectively in such environments, you must have a healthy mindset. Know your worth and value yourself.”
His stories of culture shock, unfamiliar foods, and cold winters contrasted with the warmth of missionary fraternity. “These differences can be overwhelming, especially when you’re adjusting as an African missionary. But with resilience and openness, you can overcome them.”
The 2025 Inter-house Formation Meeting, sub-themed “We are all members of one big family,” was more than a gathering, it was a testimony of identity, perseverance, and shared hope. Through song and sacrament, dialogue and drama, the future missionaries of the Consolata family came to know more deeply who they are and who they are becoming.
As Sr Carmela gently reminded them: “Do not rush the process. Formation is about allowing yourself to be shaped. What matters is that you grow, and that you remain faithful.”
