“From the analysis of the reality of the last General Chapter, there is, in general, a clear recognition of a certain widespread mediocrity in the Institute. A mediocre life manifests itself in ‘superficiality, loss of enthusiasm, abuse and dependency, affective problems, excessive preoccupation with money which determines some missionaries’ interests and choices…’ (XIV GC, 19).” Rev Fr James Bola Lengarin, IMC, the General Superior of the Consolata Missionaries.
Fr Lengarin, while urging for strong fraternity among the missionaries’ noted that superficiality and individual disengagement from community life is often the result of, “A lack of clarity of roles within the community, or of the unwillingness of some members of the community to assume their role with conscience, responsibility, and service.”
The Superior General was speaking on March 1, 2024, at the end of the 13th Regional Conference of the Consolata Missionaries (Kenya-Uganda region) held at Bethany House in Sagana, Kenya, where delegates of the Consolata missionaries gathered to plan the life and mission for the congregation for the next six years.
Message of the Superior General
Strong Fraternity Builds Authentic Communities and Missions
Dear brothers,
We sincerely thank each one of you for the warm welcome and the good atmosphere you created at this 13th Regional Conference in Bethany House Sagana. It was a very wonderful family moment that made us feel at home as we were planning our life and mission for the next six years.
The Region of Kenya has been from time immemorial at the centre of our institute and mission life and growth. The Institute has always been looking keenly and with love to the Region of Kenya. Let us not forget the fraternal visit of 2018-2019 that produced the two special “Get up and walk!” letters to the Region. It was a gesture of love to make sure the First Region of the Institute was secure. We call upon you to be Consolata Missionaries, to be fraternally strong to build authentic communities and missions through upholding the family spirit so dear to our beloved Father Blessed Allamano.
From the analysis of the reality of the last General Chapter, there is, in general, a clear recognition of a certain widespread mediocrity in the Institute. A mediocre life manifests itself in “superficiality, loss of enthusiasm, abuse and dependency, affective problems, excessive preoccupation with money which determines some missionaries’ interests and choices…” (XIV GC, 19)
A certain superficiality and individual disengagement from community life is often the result of a lack of clarity of roles within the community, or of the unwillingness of some members of the community to assume their role with conscience, responsibility, and service.
Enthusiasm for the consecrated life is waning among missionaries and fidelity has become fragile and difficult to maintain. We are experiencing growing numbers of missionaries accused of abuses and financial mismanagement which are crimes and cases leading to dismissal from the Institute and priesthood.
The Personal Project of Life and the Community Project of Life, which has now become the Community Missionary Project of Life (CMPL), has been much insisted upon by several General Chapters and rippled by the Regional Conferences and Assemblies. It should now be practised by every one of us and in every community in the Region. To live our life and mission authentically, we cannot do without systematic and careful planning.
Planning together, when it is an exercise of the lively participation of all the members of the community, awakens so many energies in the community to create unity of purpose. The programme should include all essential dimensions of life: human, spiritual, community, study, missionary and financial.
Concern for Community Life and Mission
In the elaboration of the missionary project of life of the community, the local community clarifies the role, abilities, and duties of each one of its members. It is essential to reaffirm the spirit in which each one should embody his role: it is a service for all, to be carried out with a sense of responsibility, commitment, preparation, and generosity.
The role of the local superior and the community is particularly important for the re-qualification of community life. Let us recall what the Constitution says about him: “In a community, the superior has the primary responsibility. He should live his religious missionary vocation so authentically that he becomes a sign of unity, witness and guide to the spiritual life of his community. He should create a climate of mutual trust in which the role of each is respected. He should arrive at decisions through a communal discernment”. (Cons. 27).
There is a need for the restoration of the image of the local superior. Let the Regional Superior take responsibility for forming local communities, appointing Local Superiors, distributing roles among community members, and ensuring that each is responsible, committed and animating the community. Once a year each community is to be visited and each missionary is listened to.
The remedy for all this is the “family spirit”, a true, sincere, and fraternal communication in the local community. “Making saints together” will help us to build a culture of our own, with a strong sense of belonging to the Institute (cf. XIV GC, 33) and present humanity to God.
We are experiencing economic concerns where the shortcomings against poverty, financial transparency, and fraternal sharing increase. Not all apply the rules and the economic discipline of the Institute. We still struggle to understand that the time for the “fat cows” is over, that Europe no longer has the strength to “maintain the Institute,” and that we must have the courage to work where we are to support ourselves, support our communities and our mission. We must do a mission that is possible in the rhythm of the people.
We talk a lot about change, about the new mission, but we struggle a lot to commit ourselves, to sacrifice ourselves and to fully share a style of life and of mission that is essential, simpler, and poorer.
In the Region, there are good and wonderful works, many beautiful parishes where we have worked for more than 60 years, but some are fruitless, they do not impact the people and the Region. These works need a serious evaluation to arrive at a possible and shared decision. We believe it is crucial to arrive at an in-depth discernment and to some concrete decisions within the first three years of our mandate.
A Call to Action
To work as Consolata missionaries, that is, with a method and a proper spirit, we must have deep integration with the Institute: with its history, its current reality, with its people, activities, challenges, and with its way of being. It is important to identify ourselves not only with the missionary nature of the Institute but also with its idea of realization and evolvement.
In the presentation of the Acts of the 13th General Chapter, the Chapter indicated a new way of being missionaries: “The time has come for a more discreet, humble, supportive, proactive mission, founded more on “being” than on “doing.” From what we are experiencing and sharing, it is becoming increasingly clear that the time of large and impressive works is passing. They are heavy to be assumed, after us, by the Local Church and end up obscuring the true motivations of our presence. It seems to us that it is time to make room for a more uncomplicated and more spiritual mission, which depends on the Holy Spirit, founded above all on witnesses”. The Founder taught us, «The good must be done well and without noise» (VS 127).
In the institute, a family united in the name of the Lord, all feel and welcome each other as brothers (cf. Rom 15:7), taking an interest in one another, living the mission in unity of purpose, making their own the joys, sufferings and hopes of the institute wherever it is and works. This communion is the “soul and life” of our Family (Const. 15).
Our Blessed Father Allamano had people in his heart. I believe that if he were to be here today, the first thing he would tell us is to care for the people. To have people in our hearts, to have so much tenderness for all those we meet and with whom we interact. We are consecrated men and as such we are men of liminality, we must go beyond the common, the ordinary in order to promote men and women of our society.
The Region is part of the Continent of Africa, we are experiencing and living in continentality. How could the Region collaborate with the Institute’s mission on the African continent? What essential steps to build the future?
Be united in heart, body and soul, and may our Mother Consolata guide and intercede for each one of you in these six years as you go around consoling men and women of these beautiful countries of Eastern Africa, Kenya and Uganda.
I wish each one of you very robust health and a fruitful mission as you continue praying, fasting and making sacrifices in the Lenten season, reflect on all these ideas we have shared and let them pierce your heart to be a wounded healer for the Kingdom of God.
God Bless.
Sagana, 1st March 2024 Fr. James Bhola Lengarin IMC
