The LMC International Meeting

The LMC International Meeting started with a visit to the holy site of Castelnuovo, where our Saint Joseph Allamano was born. On arrival, the Consolata Missionary Sisters welcome the LMC and others IMC and MC, with enthusiasm and family warmth.

The first moment of day started with a training about “LMC Charism, Spirituality and Identity”. Father Piero Trabucco (IMC) led the first reflection on “Our Charism”, and one of the most striking phrases during the training was: “We are missionaries following Jesus Christ”.

Our missionary identity derives precisely from the fact that we follow Jesus, the One sent by the Father, and by imitating him, we too become true and authentic missionaries. He also shared with us that Allamano repeatedly emphasised that the life of a Consolata missionary must be “Eucharistic”, not only as an important expression of their spirituality, but as the central element of their entire apostolic life.

Later on, Sister Cecilia (MC) introduced us to the profound spiritual formation that St Joseph Allamano demonstrated daily in his relationship with God: “His adherence to God’s will led him to a true transformation in Christ, to taking on the form of God…”

During this training, Sister Cecilia shared a favorite prayer of St Joseph Allamano: “I have set my eyes upon the Lord” (Ps 24:15). Thus, the life of Saint Joseph Allamano was a gift from God since his birth; God filled every corner of his heart, so much so that, whilst still a young man, he was appointed Rector of the Consolata Sanctuary. He longed to found the Missionary Institute but had to wait ten years until the conditions were right to bring this project to fruition. The sister emphasised that St Joseph Allamano’s relationship with the Consolata was a filial, marked by great trust and tenderness, which touched the very depths of his heart.

Later, in a third part, Copi (Rui Sousa), a LMC from the community of Aguas Santas in Portugal, introduces us to the identity of the LMC in such a way that speaking of the laity signifies a way of being, a vocation embraced and taken up for life (ad vitam); this specific identity enables us to respond to the invitation to walk in the manner of Jesus, in accordance with the charism that God entrusted to St Joseph Allamano and which the Church recognised as a gift for the missionary journey. The LMC is, therefore, a person who, whilst remaining fully lay, is immersed in family, professional, social and cultural realities, making the mission to the people a fundamental choice in their life, shared within the community and lived within the Consolata family.

It is important to note that the LMC does not live out his vocation in isolation; he belongs to a family in which fraternal communion is not merely a spiritual concept, but a fundamental dimension of the Mission. In turn, the spirituality of the LMC draws directly from the spiritual experience of St Joseph Allamano, However, it is lived according to the specific conditions and realities of the lay state of life; it is emphasised that the LMC’s proper place is the world, and its mission does not run parallel to life nor is it reduced to specific moments or activities; rather, it is woven into the fabric of daily life.

Later, filled with this fervour and in gratitude for this deeply enlightening moment led by Father Trabuco, Sister Cecilia and the lay brother Rui Sousa, we gathered as a family at the Eucharist to give thanks to God during the meditation on the Gospel (Jn 14:1–6): ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. ‘No one comes to the Father except through me.’ Father Juan Pablo de los Ríos (General Councillor for Latin America) shared that ‘the meaning of life will always be marked by following Jesus’; without a doubt, following Jesus without taking our eyes off Him will always be a renewal of this path, as a priority in the life of the laity, for Jesus is our way and will grant us the grace of transformation to follow a path of holiness, following the example of St Joseph Allamano, St John Bosco, St Dominic Savio and St Cafasso, knowing that Castelnuovo is the birthplace of these four saints.

In the afternoon, after Mass, the group visited the house where Saint Joseph Allamano grew up with his family; it was a moment filled with great grace to explore every room, reminding us that holiness is found in ordinary life, in simplicity, always united to the heart of Jesus. This defined Saint Joseph’s life, forming the richness of his existence, as Sister and Priest recounted the life of St Joseph Allamano, our hearts burned within us; for many, being in the house, at the roots of the charism, was without a doubt a gift from God.

It was no longer a matter of hearing stories or phrases, but of living and feeling in the home that St Joseph Allamano surely embraced every lay person with his love whilst being there. St Joseph Allamano’s life was marked by a very close relationship with his mother, which is why it was difficult for him to leave for the seminary; he had a special place in his heart for the poor; he grew up in a family of five siblings (one sister and four brothers); it was a blessing to be at home; it was a dream that has not been forgotten; we have a charism that calls us; these are our roots, where our charism was born.

Back to Torino, the LMC experienced a historical moment through the display of posters representing each continent; as they looked at each poster, they realised more and more that this is a journey that is being built, as a gift from God, so that they may continue, from their different realities with their riches and challenges, to keep their sights fixed on Jesus and, each day, ask for the courage and strength to venture into deep waters, to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven.

To close the day, a cultural event (Missionary Concert) was held; the atmosphere at the concert was extraordinary; faces lit up with joy and great delight. We felt the power of our cultural richness as a family (IMC, MC e LMC) united and singing, giving praise to God, being ever mindful that these moments as a family help us to continue walking in the charism of Consolation.

Yesenia Alcalá (LMC Venezuela)