In the Cabo Delgado region of Mozambique, a conflict has raged for approximately eight years, causing death, destruction, and forcing thousands of people to flee. The Catholic Church works for reconciliation through gestures of peace and dialogue.
PEACE in the Magisterium of Pope Leo XIV
For Pope Leo XIV, peace is an absolute priority, defined as “unarmed and disarming peace,” founded not on fear, but on love, justice, and dialogue. He considers it “holy” in contrast to wars, which he calls painful and destructive, and urges world leaders to have “the audacity to disarm” and to act with empathy and respect to build a future of peace.
Holiness and the Word of God – Saint Joseph Allamano
Towards the Centenary of the birth into Heaven of Saint Joseph Allamano, Consolata’s Family listen to the Founder. In this article, Allamano is talking about holiness and the Word of God. We know well how much St. Joseph Allamano loved the Word of God and how courageously he exhorted the missionaries to do the same. “The Bible will be your book!” – he told them. His words sounded prophetic at a time when the Church and the seminaries still considered Sacred Scripture as something reserved for scholars. With great conviction he exhorted us: “Consider the importance of the Sacred Scripture for us and for others!” Everything is there; it is the Word of God, a living and warm word. And he recalled what St. Jerome said: “Never let the Holy Bible fall from your hands, so that sleep may always surprise us with the book in our hands.” The Sacred Scripture! The more you read, the more you study and the more you love it and delight in it. This is a school that never ends. Let us love the Holy Scripture very much, especially the Gospels and the letters of St. Paul. I want you to become fond of the Holy Scripture! Addressing consecrated persons, the Church writes about the Word of God: It was the Holy Spirit who ignited the Word of God with new light for the founders and foundresses. Every charism and every Rule springs from it and seeks to be an expression of it. In continuity with founders and foundresses their disciples today are called to take up the Word of God and to cherish it in their hearts so that it may be a lamp for their feet and a light on their path (cf. Ps 118:105). The Holy Spirit will then be able to lead them to the fullness of truth (cf. Jn 16:13). The Word of God is nourishment for life, for prayer and for the daily journey, the principle which unifies the community in oneness of thought, the inspiration for ongoing renewal and apostolic creativity. […] Within communities and in groups of consecrated men and women, as in the whole Church, a more lively and immediate contact with the Word of God has developed in recent years. It is a path which must continue to be walked down with an ever-greater intensity. The Word In this reflection we do not understand Sacred Scripture as a simple object of study, or as a mere source of inspiration for preaching or catechesis. We approach it as the “eternal Word” of the Father, the Word of life, God’s message to man so that man may know God and encounter him and be converted. St. John writes in his Gospel: “They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.” (Jn 17:6-8). There is only one great reality: the Word-Person who is Christ Jesus. The words he said are himself. To receive the word is to receive Christ. The book of the Bible is alive like Christ: it still acts today; it has perennial youth. It is alive because it contains the Spirit who gives it the breath of life. St. Gregory: “As the Spirit of life touches the soul of the prophet, so it touches the soul of the reader.” It is the word of life and therefore generates Christ in us and in others. “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” (Lk 8:21). “By his own choice he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.” (Jas 1:18). Word = Dabar: it means what lies at the bottom of things, the truest part. “To speak” in the Bible therefore means making visible the profound nature of things. In fact, God uses the word to create, to guide, to enlighten the human mind. For this reason, his word is always effective and does not go back without causing its effect (Is 31:2). We, on the other hand, often have a different idea of the term “word”: it is an empty thing, without substance (“words, just words!”). In the Bible, the word is more than an idea or a concept: it is a seed that contains life within itself (Mt 13:19), it produces life. For us Christians, Christ is our “very short word” that contains all the words of Scripture. Effects of the Word: it gives life, it gives strength, it converts, it opens the way to the truth, it gives wisdom, it arouses union with God, it creates communion and community, it reveals the mystery. The missionary before the Word The New Testament presents the disciple to us as one who “stays” with Christ: listening, desirous of possessing the living word of God and being possessed by Him. 1 Jn 1:1-5: programmatic text of every disciple-missionary: to see…, to touch…, to proclaim… A – Encounter with Jesus, the Word of God, at the level of knowledge. To live and love it we need to touch it and know it. St. Jerome: “To ignore Scripture is to ignore Christ.” St. Paul to Timothy: “continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it.From childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for convincing, for correction, and for training in righteousness,so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:14-17). Today more than ever, consecrated persons need to acquire “the intelligence of faith”: to be in harmony with the
When a new mission is born – Ethiopia – Gimbichu
“How Beautiful are the feet of the messenger of Good News”. (Rom 10:15) It was on Monday, 15/09/2025, early in the morning when we, Sr. Angelina Mbuya Njagi, Sr. Lucy Muthoni Thuku and Sr. Bachu Gemechu Chawaka accompanied by Sr. Getenesh Wolde Amlak Mandefro left Addis Ababa for Hosanna – Gimbichu. On 17th, two days before the Inauguration of the new mission we joyfully received Sr. Maria Felicidade de Lourdes Luis, Regional Superior of Africa, Sr. Getenesh Wolde Amlak Mandefro, her counsellor, responsible for Ethiopia territory and Sr. Immaculate Wanja, Regional Administrator. They were first welcomed at St. Joseph Cathedral in Hosanna. They visited some communities around before proceeding to Gimbichu accompanied by Fr. Adane Wolde Mariam the Pastoral Coordinator, Fr. Gerawork the Administrator, and a group of Christians including the youths. Fr. Asfaw Anore the Parish Priest of Gimbichu led the people in welcoming the Sisters with songs and dances. The World Mission Sunday The Mission of Gimbichu was officially opened on 19/10/25, the World Mission Sunday. Before the Eucharistic celebration, there was the blessing of the sisters’ house. During the procession, there was the icon of St. Joseph Allamano, Mary Consolata and a lit candle signifying Christ who lives among us and whom we announce. The Mass was presided by Fr. Ammanuel Yosef, the Vicar. The Co-celebrants were Fr. Adane Wolde Mariam, Pastoral coordinator of Hosanna Vicariate, Fr. Gebre Yesus, Capuchin Friar and Fr. Asfaw Anore, Parish Priest. “Today the missionaries begin their missionary work in this land and it is the fruit of your prayer”. These are the words that marked the homily. We were once again welcomed in a special way and later our Regional Superior, Sr. Felicidade was invited. In her speech, she thanked God for inspiring the Bishop to invite us and also thanked Fr. Asfaw Anore, Parish priest and all the people for the warm reception. Thereafter, we, sisters belonging to the mission, were presented to the community of the faithful. These are, Sr. Angelina Mbuya Njagi, Sr. Lucy Muthoni Thuku and Sr. Bachu Gemecha Chawaka. The Christians gifted us and after the mass the Blessed Sacrament was taken in our chapel. Finally Jesus is present in the tabernacle of our house, this filled us with great joy. We had lunch together, we celebrated the coffee ceremony and lastly we were blessed by the elders of the Parish. We are grateful to God for the gift of this new mission. We thank you sisters for accompanying us with your prayers. St. Joseph Allamano Gimbichu Community – Ethiopia
The Beginnings. My missionary life in Colombia
It is now four months since my arrival in Colombia, my mission territory. I have lived experiences that have fostered my holistic growth and kept my passion for the mission alive. When I arrived, I received a warm welcome in the community of the Sisters. The community of ‘Madre Margarita’ opened doors for God’s blessings in my missionary life in this blessed land. My sisters have supported me greatly, with integration of the reality and above all in learning Spanish. Sharing life with them has taught me patience, living each moment, doing God’s will day by day. This has allowed me to learn and share my gifts, putting them at the service of the common good of the community and making myself available and willing to learn from them. The Sisters share with me their missionary experiences which encourages and strengthens my missionary commitment. The time I spent studying language at the Nuevalingua school enriched me and taught me that I bear witness wherever I am. At school, while studying the language, I had an encounter with my classmates that profoundly enriched me. They were curious and eager to know why I cover my head with a veil and its significance. I got the opportunity to explain to them, how my veil is not just a habit but it is a symbol of my consecration, which corresponds in dignity and simplicity to the nature of my vocation. They didn’t also have any idea of God’s existence or of a religion. They became more interested in knowing more about my religion and the God in whom I believe. It was a wonderful moment that marked my life. I was more convinced that I bear witness wherever I am and God always makes the impossible possible. Sr. Rebecca Kemunto Nyakundi, mc
Holiness and family spirit – Saint Joseph Allamano
Towards the Centenary of the birth into Heaven of Saint Joseph Allamano, Consolata’s Family listen to the Founder. In this article, Allamano is talking about holiness and family spirit. “Once upon a time there was a small village hidden in the mountains, where every house had its own garden. The inhabitants were very proud of their flowers, all beautiful, but different: some gave off strong scents, others showed bright colours and others grew silently, without attracting attention. As time went on, though, people started competing. Everyone wanted to show that their garden was the most beautiful. Some boasted about roses, others about lilies, and soon conversations turned into arguments. The wind stopped blowing in the village and the land began to dry up. Realizing what was happening, the village sage asked each one for a seed from his/her garden. He gathered them all in his bag and, in the central square, built a small garden where he planted the mixed seeds. He called all his neighbours to him and, gathered in the square, said to them: “If everyone brings a little of his water and his care, this land will flourish again”. Some laughed, others doubted. But, little by little, one brought water, another a handful of good soil, another created some shade with a cloth… In a short time, the seeds sprouted from the ground and, in front of everyone’s eyes, a garden full of colourful and different flowers was born. The wind blew back into the village and the new garden, cared for by everyone, began to attract visitors from afar.” This parable is a mirror of what happens when self-love grows more than common love. Each home had its own garden, just as each person has his or her own gifts, talents, and unique ways of serving. At first, harmony may reign; but when the focus is shifted from sharing into confrontation, the wind – symbol of the Spirit – stops blowing. The wise man resembles St. Joseph Allamano when he gave life to the Missionary Institutes. He believed that the real garden flourishes when everyone offers what they have: a little water, a handful of soil, a simple gesture of care and love. This is how the family spirit is born: when one leaves “mine” to embrace “ours”, when one understands that the beauty of the Mission does not lie in shining alone, but in flourishing together, sustained by the same Spirit and rooted in the same missionary ideal. St. Joseph Allamano understood that the strength of the Mission is not only in individual zeal, but above all in communion. He said clearly: “The Institute is a family; you should live as true brothers. You are all brothers and sisters, and you must prepare to live together and then work together for life. We should have esprit de corps to the point of giving our lives for each other.” In his spirituality, fraternity is not a vague feeling, but a concrete way of living the Gospel. Community life is the first field of mission, because it is there that one learns to love, to listen, to serve and to forgive. The family spirit is a gift and a task: it is born of the Holy Spirit, but it grows in the daily commitment to welcome, share and walk together. When we live together, our diversity becomes richness and mission becomes communion. Every simple gesture – a smile, a listening, an outstretched hand – is a seed sown in that great garden that is the Family of the Consolata: “Walk together, always united, and the Lord will bless all your works”. Thus, the family spirit is not only an ideal to be admired, but a reality to be built day after day with humility, patience and joy. It is the way of living and proclaiming the Gospel that Allamano dreamed of: a mission made up of hearts that recognize each other as brothers and sisters and walk side by side. The essential foundations for cultivating this family spirit proposed by St. Allamano are practices and attitudes that make sure the community is alive and missionary: Fraternal charity – Charity is the first sign that God dwells among us and St. Allamano insisted that fraternity is shown in simple gestures of respect, forgiveness and mutual support: “We must love one another as true brothers and sisters; where there is charity, there is God.” Unity and communion – Union is the most precious good of a community because without unity there is no mission that can last; with it everything flourishes: “Union is the first good that a religious community can have. Woe to those who destroy it!” “We must all form one heart and one soul.” This communion reflects the model of the first Christian communities, where mission was born of fraternity. Simplicity and sincerity in relationships – St. Allamano wanted everyone to live in a simple, transparent and true environment, without masks or formalism: “Simplicity is the way to peace; Where there is simplicity, there is sincerity and trust”. To live in truth is to live with inner freedom: each one can be himself, with humility and trust. Obedience and mutual respect – Family spirit includes respect for brothers, sisters and superiors, not out of obligation, but out of love. Obedience, for Allamano, must be born of faith and the desire to collaborate for the common good: “Obedience must be full of love, as in a good Christian family.” To obey and respect is to recognize in the other the presence of God who guides and sustains the community journey. Participation and co-responsibility – Allamano insisted that everyone feel co-responsible for the life and mission of the Institute, sharing joys and difficulties: “Everyone does their part; all together we form one body for the glory of God”. When everyone offers the best of themselves, the community becomes a living, strong and fruitful body. Joy and good spirit – Joy is the fragrance of charity. For Allamano, good humour and a positive spirit
Blessed Irene Nyaatha’s feast in Gikondi
“How beautiful upon the mountains are her feet, she who brings good news”. This year’s Feast of Our dear Sister Blessed Irene Stefani took place at Gikondi, in the Archdiocese of Nyeri, the place where Blessed Irene offered herself totally and completely to the point of dying for Love, as the local people describe her death ‘Love killed her.’ Thousands of Christians from near and from far devoted to Blessed Irene joined together in chanting her praises and heroic virtues through speeches, experiences, prayers and local songs composed for her. The Archbishop Anthony Muheria invited us while doing the procession, to enter into the reality of the life of Irene, the same land that she walked on, let us walk on it with her because she is still walking on this land even today, conversing with her, asking for blessings and miracles from her. The procession begun solemnly from Gikondi Parish church to the village grounds where the mass took place.The theme that ran throughout the celebration was that of Love above everything else. Love pushed Sr Irene to go up the hills and down the valleys, bend her self to the little of the little given a chance, her glorious boots would describe every detail of the passes she made in a day. We were challenged as Christians to let Love be the motive of what we do. Sr Irene like Saint Paul will tell us what Love is: that Love is patient, Love is Kind, is not proud, does not dishonour others, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, keeps no record of wrong (1Cor 13) The emotional part of the celebration was the sharing of the testimonies of people who have received graces and miraculous healing from Blessed Irene. Two teenagers a boy and a girl who could not walk were granted the grace of walking. For this the relic of Blessed Irene was passed around so that each person looking at her, will have a chance to pray directly to her. We pray and continue to hope that through the many graces people have received through the intercession of Blessed Irene she may be soon canonized and her virtues be emulated and lived by the universal Church. Sr. Winniejoan, mc Do you know Nyaatha’s Life? Click here!
My missionary life in Mozambique
I am Sister Elda Kanisia Msemwa, born in Tanzania. After my first profession and missionary experience in my homeland, I was sent as a Missionary in Mozambique. I arrived in the promised land that the Lord had prepared for me on 25th March 2023. I had mixed emotions, I was very happy to come to this land, open to what the Lord had prepared for me, and at the same time, I also had fear. I was aware that Mozambique was experiencing a period of instability and lack of peace, especially in the northern part of the country. But I had great faith in the Lord. The first steps I was welcomed with great joy by the Sisters who were waiting for me, and by these dear people of Mozambique who welcomed me with smiles and simplicity. This welcome made me immediately feel at home. I couldn’t speak much because I didn’t know the language. I used to communicate through smiles and offering love. I stayed a few months in the capital, Maputo, to learn the Portuguese language. I thank the sisters and the people who helped me a lot in knowing and practicing the language. They encouraged me a lot to speak, correcting me when I made mistakes with such ease. Within a short period of time I was able to understand and express myself. In Maputo, I participated in the life of the church in various ways, sharing life with the people and with other religious women. What touched me and gave me much joy was the simplicity of life , the welcome that makes everyone feel at home, without distinction , the liturgy animated in a very lively way, full of cultural symbols, with very profound meanings, the Church open to ministers, where everyone can carry out a service, especially women and lay people. I also had the grace of participating in the care of the sick sisters. It was a moment of grace to be able to participate in the final stretch of their lives, right up to their last moment. I learnt so much from these sisters: faithfulness to their vocation and mission until the end , great love for Christ even in times of pain, great love for the Consolata and our Founding Father, St. Joseph Allamano, and love for the people entrusted to them. It was a gift that challenged me, at the beginning of my missionary life in this land. In Massinga After studying the language, I was sent to Massinga in the province of Inhambane, 500 km from the capital, a city with a large movement of people. I joined a community of four Sisters. I was warmly welcomed by everyone, both the Sisters and the Christian community. The community offers service in the parish , where we collaborate with three diocesan priests, visiting the communities, families, the sick, groups… We also work in the nursery school , and in the reception center for girls who come to study in Massinga. We participate in people’s moments of joy and sadness, in the celebration of life: weddings, sacraments, birthdays, and in difficult times of mourning and political instability. Moments of celebration are of great value , because these people recognize that life is a gift from God, and celebration is a time to say “thank you,” together as a family, with relatives and friends. With the students I spend most of my time with the girls in our Center who come from rural areas with no secondary schools. Their families can’t afford their education, so as a community, we welcome them and make them feel at home, allowing them to attend high school here in the city. Some of them ask to join our Consolata family. The hard work is making them feel welcomed, loved, supported, and valued , giving each of them space to grow at their own pace, listening to them and trying to address their concerns. I am very happy to be able to be part of building their future , it gives me so much joy to see the growth of these young women and the transformation of their minds and hearts. My lesson Mission is a learning experience: through these girls and the people around me, I have learnt a lot, especially the values. They’ve taught me a lot about respect for others: when you greet a group, you don’t just say a general greeting, but you greet each person, asking how they’re doing. I’ve felt this is very beautiful, because it shows the value of each person. And many more other beautiful examples. I thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to live and share my life with these people, who have helped me grow so much in my missionary vocation. Over these years, I have learnt that mission isn’t just about teaching or doing things ; it’s also very important to listen with the heart, to be present, to make sure each person feels welcomed, listened to, and valued. Here, we don’t count the hours, but we give time. The people have taught me to give time to everything I do, because sometimes we rush here and there, forgetting the value of the individual. Sr. Elda Kanisia, mc
LMC National Meeting MOZAMBIQUE
JUNE 19TH AND 20TH THEME: TO BRING THE CONSOLATION OF MARY, JESUS CHRIST, TO ALL THE PEOPLES OF THE EARTH”. The various LMC groups in Mozambique met for their first national assembly in the parish of Imaculada Conceição de Nzinje – Lichinga. Host groups from Lichinga, that is, Nzinje, Ceramica, and Catedral, Montepuez, Nampula, Massinga, Matola, and Maputo participated with approximately 53 participants. The purpose of this assembly was, each to share their journey, review and adapt their statutes, and then elect the National Coordination Committee of the LMC in Mozambique. The first day was very enriching and engaging, listening to each group’s diverse experiences in living the charism of Consolation and its spirituality, inherited from our Founding Father, Saint Joseph Allamano. Through the sharing, it was noted that the groups, while sharing the same fundamental principles, are at different stages of their lay journey: some already have commitments, missions, and parish recognition for the missionary apostolate, while others are little more than in the embryonic stage of their formation process. Sr Innocenzia Mzena shared with the group, emphasizing on the three pillars of Allamanian spirituality, that is, Love for the Eucharist, Marian devotion and the Missionary apostolate. The second session was explaining the requirements and criteria for electing the national coordination group. The elections were held and it was decided that the headquarters of the LMC Mozambique would be in the diocese of Nampula, because it is the most centrally located in the country and has the most recent lay group.
Triduum to Blessed Irene Nyaatha – Third Day
Third Day
DO GOOD WELL AND WITHOUT NOISE