In an age when a widespread view tends to discard what appears fragile or useless, the presence of Sister Leonella Sgorbati, beatified in 2018, stands out as a beacon of hope and a strong reminder of the sacred value of human life.
Blessed Irene, seed of LIFE
The name Irene evokes unity, harmony, peace, love, and reconciliation. It expresses a commitment that becomes a lived and embodied mission, especially necessary in today’s world, as it reminds us that each person is called to serve others, particularly those who are most fragile and vulnerable, always acting with profound respect, tenderness, and compassion. From a very young age, Irene embodied God’s tenderness and the defense of life, taking on household duties with great responsibility after her mother’s death. With dedication, she contributed to the human and spiritual growth of her siblings, and with her father, she cultivated a relationship based on dialogue, respect, love, and trust. She was distinguished by her helpful, joyful, self-sacrificing, jovial, hardworking, committed, and deeply prayerful nature. These virtues prepared her for a greater commitment as a consecrated missionary. She demonstrated this in 1914, in the midst of the First World War, when she worked in military hospitals in Kenya and Tanzania, becoming known as the “angel of charity.” She accompanied the wounded and dying, whispering words of love, encouragement, and kindness; she comforted them, eased their pain, and helped them prepare for a good death. She never missed an opportunity to speak to them of God’s love for each one of them. She not only cared for the wounds of the body, but also those of the soul, even administering many baptisms, trusting in the infinite mercy of the Lord. Her presence, always serene and approachable, was a source of encouragement to her community; with timely words and a communicative spirit, she urged her brothers and sisters not to lose hope or give up. In the midst of scarcity and profoundly precarious conditions, Irene never ceased to give generously. Even when the most basic necessities were lacking, she found a way to share what little she had, even offering her own food to alleviate the hunger of those who needed it most. Her dedication knew no bounds; she gave herself completely to everyone, and this same love was evident both in her devotion to the children at school and in the closeness and care she offered to the families she visited. A consecrated woman and missionary, committed to the defense of life, she always carried the mission in her heart. United with and drawn by the love of God, she felt a constant impulse to make Him known to her brothers and sisters. This love was the driving force that led her to give herself without reservation, without measuring time or effort, to the service of others. Without regard for distance, time, difficulties, or health, she lived driven by her yearning for daily holiness and her intimate union with God, from whom she constantly received the strength she needed. It was said of her that the love of God was enough for her, and she was known as “the angel of the poor,” “mother of mercy,” and “sister who loves everyone,” among other titles that people bestowed upon her. Her trust and total surrender to the Lord led her to perform heroic acts. A community at the service of Life: Sister Irene’s life reflects an entire generation of Consolata Missionaries who live an active and cyclical sisterhood, transforming their closeness to people into genuine bonds of family. Women who communicate life, rooted in the Word, they care for and defend life in every gesture, like the women of dawn who announced the Risen Lord. Sisters who proclaim life in every step and every dream, and who make the comforting presence of life felt in every action. Nourished by the Eucharist, they grow in generosity, prayer, and dialogue, strengthened by their love for the Virgin Mary and by the counsel of Saint Joseph Allamano, which inspires them to an ardent and constant missionary commitment to the service of life. Life in abundance… Irene kept Jesus’ words very much in mind: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10). Her life was centered on embracing the way of Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. From her profound spirituality, she cared for, protected, and strengthened life in all its dimensions, helping people discover God’s love for each individual. With her tenderness and joy, she transformed those around her, showing that love always bears fruit and multiplies. Sister Irene embodies feminine courage, unwavering fidelity in the face of pain and hardship, and a faith that endures even in darkness. Her hope is sustained even amidst poverty, war, and violence, and her charity is expressed in concrete and constant actions. Those who knew her highlighted her steadfastness in doing good, her capacity to console, and her overflowing joy. Her life bears witness to the action of the Risen Lord, the love of God who creates, forgives, and redeems. “The true missionary knows that Jesus walks with her, speaks with her, breathes with her, works with her. She feels Jesus alive beside her in the midst of her missionary commitment.” (Pope Francis, May 23, 2015, Beatification of Sister Irene Stefani) Sr. Inés Arciniegas Tasco, mc Do you know Blessed Irene? Click here for more information
The power of words – WORDS of LIFE
In the current hyperconnectivity that affects everyone, adopting a responsible communication style is an urgent need. Parole O_Stili is a social project that guides us.
A welcoming gaze – LOOKS of LIFE
Sister Stella talks about her service at the Pastoral Office for Migrants in Turin: “Every day I discover how welcoming is a sacred place, where lives touch and intertwine.”
My Mission Experience in Venezuela
Sr. Hellen, Consolata Missionary Sister in Venezuela:
My experience in Venezuela was profound and full of contrasts, moments of intense joy and communion, but also challenges that required resilience and faith.
“The Lord has truly risen: Back to Puerto Leguízamo – March 19, 2026
Puerto Leguizamo’s community says:
We recognize that this mission is the place where the Lord has called us to be. We are deeply grateful to our Consolata family for entrusting us with this gift of sharing life and faith with this community.
Life always wins! – GESTURES of LIFE
Life always wins! This is the experience that Sister Linda and Sister Agnese share with us, recalling their service as midwives in Loiyangalani, in northern Kenya.
Blessed Irene Nyaatha – the woman of sweetness
We are still celebrating the centenary of the birth into Heaven of our beloved Founder, Saint Joseph Allamano, who was guided by the Holy Spirit to found our Institutes of the Consolata Missionaries. He left us an example, a concrete model of holiness lived in the silence of daily life, which his daughters were able to grasp and live profoundly. Saint Joseph Allamano had a very clear idea of the missionary woman: he did not seek mere executors, but complete female figures, capable of combining a profound spiritual life with an almost “maternal” practicality. For him, the mission was not a “job” to be done, but a way of being a woman of mercy, of peace, of infinite charity in the world. As Blessed Irene demonstrated in her life. The Sweetness of Nyaatha During Sister Irene’s tireless missionary service in the fields of education and welcoming all, she stood out above all for her gentleness, hospitality, and charity. This is how she is remembered by a missionary (Father Domenico Giglio) who knew her and left a beautiful testimony about her: She treated both young and old with the utmost gentleness, always ready to help them overcome their small difficulties, to offer them a word of encouragement. Beyond enriching the minds of young people with new and useful knowledge, Sister Irene’s charity aimed above all at instilling Christian principles in their minds and hearts. With her warm exhortations, her gentleness, and above all, her shining example, she led them, almost without their realizing it, to the practice of the Christian life. Her charity was not limited to neo-Christians, to pagans but, from the first years she came to Gikondi, she knew how to find the time and manners inspired by sweetness, charity and goodness to be able not only to approach a good number of Protestant students (of whom several had already been baptised by Protestants and were among the older ones), but to gain their complete trust». We can therefore say that Irene’s most disruptive quality was her ability to be a “mother” to thousands of people without having given birth to any physical children. The name Nyaatha (Mother of Mercy) was not an honorific title, but the description of a fact: she gave her life every day. The nickname she received from the Kikuyu people, whom she served until the end, embodies the blessedness of meekness, essential for disarming hearts filled with hatred. Her life is summed up in a phrase from the Gospel of Matthew: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). Saint Joseph Allamano said: “You must be like channels that receive water and then distribute it. If the channel is dry, it gives nothing. Likewise, if you are not filled with God, what will you give to souls? To be true missionaries, you must be holy, truly holy.” She knew how to offer visceral welcome, that is, to make room within herself for the pain of others. In Pope Francis’s address to the participants in the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Council for Culture, he seemed to be speaking of Blessed Irene when he spoke of women; “Women know how to embody the tender face of God, his mercy, which translates into a willingness to give time rather than occupy space, to welcome rather than exclude. In this sense, I like to describe the feminine dimension of the Church as a welcoming womb that regenerates life.” Sr Hellen Waithera, mc
The house of a woman: Our Lady Consolata
A sanctuary offers itself as a symbolic language, a text to be deciphered. Those who enter can experience something beyond the everyday. This is also true for those who cross the threshold of the sanctuary of Maria of Consolation, better known as “la Consolata,” in Turin.
Leonella: a woman for women
To love life means to place oneself at its service. Blessed Leonella Sgorbati, a Consolata Missionary, who spent her life serving the poorest, undoubtedly set an example of the greatest self-giving, down to the last drop of her blood. As a true daughter of St. Joseph Allamano, who wanted his Missionaries to be authentic, but above all, women fully in love with God, burning with missionary zeal and eager to make him known to the ends of the earth. Simple, profound, humble women, women of living faith, willing to give their lives at any cost, women of great charity, capable of giving themselves for the good of others. Blessed Leonella lived all these things deeply. She carried out her mission particularly in the missions of Kenya and Somalia. Her training as a professional nurse, midwife, and social-health assistant brought her particularly close to women. Wherever she worked, Sister Leonella demonstrated great interest in offering a comprehensive human, intellectual, religious, and technical-professional formation to young women aspiring to the nursing profession. For her, the value of the individual and service to life were fundamental aspects, which had to penetrate every fiber of her students. There was no discussion about this, because being a nurse was not just a job, it was a vocation, a calling to bear witness to God’s love for those who suffer. And she was the first to live this, not only with her patients, but also with her students. She cared for them, knew each one by name, ensured they were well-fed and that the quarters where they lived were decent. She was attentive to all their needs and sought to reconcile love with appropriate severity. She protected and loved them like a true mother, to the point that if one of them became pregnant—contrary to the regulations—she could continue her studies, acting as an intermediary with the family and also supporting them financially. With pregnant women and those who had just become mothers, she displayed an ineffable kindness and mercy. She had fifty beds available on the ward. She always found a way to add more. She couldn’t bring herself to send a pregnant woman home, perhaps even walking for miles, just because she was still a week away from giving birth. Here, in these brief brushstrokes, is Sister Leonella’s approach to women. Sister Leonella was a true mother, friend, and counselor to women, who devoted all her energy to seeking their well-being, to ensuring that they reached the highest peaks and that they too would be witnesses of God’s love for the poor and the marginalized of society. Sr. Gloria Elena López, mc