蜜桃交友

By Edoardo Giribaldi

 鈥淲e are the society of the TikTok鈥�, where 鈥渢hings are moving faster鈥�, but you should strive for 鈥渁 society which meditates on things and actually sees what is important鈥�. Fr. James Bhola Lengarin Superior General of the Consolata missionaries, celebrated the vast array of values that its founder, the Blessed Giuseppe Allamano, practised throughout his whole life, pointing out how actual and relevant they appear nowadays.

鈥淢eeting Point鈥� ahead of the canonizations

The occasion to frame Allamano鈥檚 figure was the 鈥淢eeting point鈥� organized at the Holy See Press Office in view of the canonizations that Pope Francis will celebrate on Sunday, October 20, in St. Peter's Square. Along with the Italian priest, Manuel Ruiz López and seven companions, Marie-Léonie Paradis, and Elena Guerra will also become new saints.

The missionary鈥檚 vademecum

Fr. Lengarin, who spoke alongside other guests such as Cardinal Leonardo Steiner, metropolitan archbishop of Manaus (Brazil), and Mother Lucia Bortolomasi, superior general of the Missionary Sisters of the Consolata since 2023, reflected on the 鈥渟pirituality鈥� of the blessed Allamano with the Vatican Media. His fame attracted cardinals from all around the world, including one from southern Ethiopia. His testimony of suffering and lack of knowledge of the Word of God by his people was the input that triggered in Blessed Allamano 鈥渢he idea of becoming a missionary.鈥� Although his frail health condition did not allow him to do so personally, he nevertheless developed a kind of vademecum on the subject, preaching and listening to people but also concretely building schools and medical centres.

The speakers at the meeting point ahead of the canonizations

In love with the Word of God

Father Lengarin recalled decades-long contacts with the Yoruba people, originally from West Africa. Initially, 鈥渨e didn't even want to baptize鈥� there, he explained, since the method of work instilled by the blessed Allamano involved the people themselves noticing 鈥渟omething different鈥� about the missionaries and eventually coming forward asking 鈥渨hat is different in you? Why are you here with us?鈥� A question that was the beginning of many conversations that did not, however, neglect the material and spiritual needs of the locals. Among the values still relevant today that characterized Blessed Allamano, the superior general Consolata missionaries identified first and foremost that of 鈥渇idelity.鈥� The missionary, Fr Lengarin said, was first and foremost 鈥渁 good man鈥� who 鈥渇ollowed what he was required to do.鈥� This virtue was reflected above all in listening to the Word, with which he was 鈥渋n love,鈥� 鈥渢o the letter,鈥� setting out on the 鈥減ath鈥� indicated by it.

Focus on education and training

Allowing ourselves to be conquered by the Gospel means rediscovering those fundamental values, often sought 鈥渙utside ourselves,鈥� when in fact they 鈥渁re inside ourselves.鈥� Father Lengarin recalled the importance that Blessed Allamano attached to education and training. A relevant trait more than ever nowadays, immersed in a society that 鈥渄oes not read鈥� and that 鈥渄oes not inform itself.鈥� Finally, the superior general of the Missionaries of the Consolata acknowledged the wisdom and respect, felt by Blessed Allamano toward his neighbour, 鈥渋n the way he or she is.鈥� 鈥淪ometimes I joke and say that God is blind because he does not know colors,鈥� Father Lengarin concluded with a smile,鈥� He may just go and creates鈥� us as we are, so that 鈥渙ur hearts鈥� can be open and each of us can assist their neighbour.