Fr. José Martins IMC: mission amid an intercultural community (Toronto, Canada)

I am a Christian

100,000 Iraqi Christians have fled their homes and face risk of genocide, warns Patriarch

Pope asks for international action to help Iraq's persecuted Christians

Prayer of World Youth Day 2016

"God, merciful Father,

in your Son, Jesus Christ, you have revealed your love

and poured it out upon us in the Holy Spirit, the Comforter.

We entrust to you today the destiny of the world and of every man and woman".

We entrust to you in a special way

young people of every language, people and nation:

guide and protect them as they walk the complex paths of the world today

and give them the grace to reap abundant fruits

from their experience of the Krakow World Youth Day.

Heavenly Father,

grant that we may bear witness to your mercy.

Teach us how to convey the faith to those in doubt,

hope to those who are discouraged,

love to those who feel indifferent,

forgiveness to those who have done wrong

and joy to those who are unhappy.

Allow the spark of merciful love

that you have enkindled within us

become a fire that can transform hearts

and renew the face of the earth.

Mary, Mother of Mercy, pray for us.

St. John Paul II, pray for us.

Amen"

Pentecost: the birth of the Church

"The Holy Spirit - as the Church came to birth - opened to all peoples the knowledge of God and brought together the many languages of the earth in profession of the one Faith"

My dream

Thy will be done…even on The Voice!

"My final and most important thanks go to the One who is up there," she said to applause.

She said her presence on The Voice wasn't to walk away a winner or a music star, but to show people a different kind of victory: "My dream is to recite the Our Father together, maybe we can all hold each other's hands and pray. I want Jesus to come right here inside!"

Please read the article about Sister Cristina on the CNS - Catholic News Service 

"I want Jesus to be here"

Sister Cristina Scuccia wins the Voice of Italy and, thanking the One up there, leads the Tv Studio in praying the Our Father.

The New York Times dedicated an article to Suor Cristina - as she is known in Italy. 

The blind audition of Suor Cristina at the Voice of Italy collected over 50 million of views!

1997: Aperto de mão a um Santo

A rocking Nun

Sister Cristina Scuccia stuns panel on The Voice of Italy, becomes global hit online

Just beautiful: Sister Cristina!

Happy Anniversary, Pope Francis!

Alegria e Gratidão

Estando a participar num encontro dos missionários da Consolata no continente América, foi com indizível alegria e gratidão que recebi a visita de duas grandes Missionárias da Consolata: Maria da Graça Amado, de Casal Ventoso, e Graça Maria Lameiro, de Marrazes - ambas da Diocese de Leiria.

Recordo que, no final da década de 90, percorri as estradas,  caminhos e capelas de Casal Ventoso preparando o envio missionário da Maria da Graça; estive muito ligado à sua família que visitei várias vezes em Chão das Pias.

Na Peregrinação Missionária da Consolata de 2006 três Missionários receberam o Mandato Missionário: P. Tomás (Inglaterra), Irmã Graça Maria (Colômbia) e P. José Martins (África do Sul). Foi o culminar de um longo período de trabalho com a Graça Maria mo âmbito da pastoral de Animação Missionária e Vocacional.

E hoje encontrámo-em os três em Bogotá: bendito seja Deus - quanta gratidão!

connected with the Mission

Consolata Missionaries: Continental Assembly for America taking place at Bogotá, Colombia.

Day 3 - Sunday, February 2

The Regional and Group Superiors of the Consolata Missionaries in America, led by the members of the General Government, were taken to a Consolata property in Chinauta (2 and a half hours from Bogotá) in order to have the Continental Council meeting; as it was a Sunday the whole day was taken in a relaxed manner: after the celebration of the Holy Mass we gathered for two hours and, in the first hour we looked at the work done so far in the previous meetings of the Council; in the second hour we looked into the plan of work for the assembly due to start the following day and made few adjustments.

Day 4 - Monday, February 3

The Continental Assembly started at 6:30 am with Mgr. Joaquin Pinzón IMC giving us a talk about "Saints and Missionaries": The first Bishop of the recently created Vicariate of Puerto Legízamo, in the Province of Solano - a region in the Colombian Amazonia - led the assembly in a reflection of ninety minutes about our Founder's heritage, drawing inspiration from the Gospel according to Mark.

The participants in the Assembly started their work by being made aware of the journey done so far regarding the mission 'ad gentes' in the Continent, taking into account some preparation documents and the minutes of the previous Continental Councils: Toronto 2012 and Buenos Aires 2013.

During the second part of the day, the Superior General, his Vice and the General Administrator gave us an overview of the Consolata Missionary Institute in its service to the proclamation of the Gospel in the other Continents.

The day ended with an Eucharistic Con-celebration presided by Fr. Stefano Camerlengo, the Superior General, where he concluded the theme started earlier on and challenged the Assembly to be open to embrace a changing attitude for the sake of a better service to the mission: "The world is changing, and we also need to change in order to have our Charisma continually connected with the mission 'ad gentes'.

Dia 5 - Tuesday, February 4

This day opened with a spiritual reflection by Deacon Lawrence Ssimwba IMC about the "Family Spirit" according to our Blessed Founder Joseph Allamano, as an african contribution to the building up of the Continent America.

After breakfast the missionaries started putting together the Missionary Project for the Continent, as the contributions regarding each one of the "missionary options" - priority areas of the mission chosen by the XII Chapter of the Consolata Missionaries - were presented to the Assembly by the delegates of the groups of missionaries that reflected upon them.

Two "options" were presented to the Assembly: the Mission in the context of Amazonia and Mission in the Indigenous environment. Following the presentation of the delegates' contribution the Assembly would spend some time reflecting upon the theme and, sometimes, adding or suggesting additional points of view. 

We concluded the day's work around the Altar where the Vice General Superior, Fr. Dietrich Pendawazima, led the missionaries in the celebration of the Holy Mass and offered his word regarding the centrality of our Blessed Founder's dream and work aimed at starting a religious family dedicated to proclaiming the Good News to all peoples.

On the day that the Consolata Missionaries celebrate 113 years of existence, a new digital platform has been launched to help building a better world for all: INSPIRIT

Fr. Marco Bagnarol

On the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord - a missionary feast - Fr. Marco Bagnarol received his missionary mandate in the parish of St. Andrew, Etobicoke. 

The highlight of the four Holy Masses presided by Fr. Marco was the celebration in Italian; before the reading of the holy Gospel, Fr. Marco was given the book of the Gospels and was told to "announce to all peoples, by word and by example, the Gospel that you proclaim in this Church, so that the mystery of Christ and of the Church may be revealed to everyone".

At the time of the missionary mandate Fr. Marco, kneeling in front of the Altar, had his parents - Lazzaro e Maria - standing beside him with their hands on his shoulders while the prayer of the mandate was being said by the pastor of St. Andrew's and religious superior of the Consolata Missionaries. Maria Marta Crucini Bagnarol held the Crucifix in her hands before handing it to her son who received it and honored it with a kiss.

As Fr. Marco stood up and, together with his parents, faced the assembly he was greeted with a great applause of encouragement and gratitude.

At the end of all the celebrations presided over by Fr. Marco people bade farewell to him and manifested their support by kissing his missionary Cross.

Fr. Marco will depart for his new mission field, Brazil, on January 31, 2014.

 

 To see more pictures, please click here

 

missionary mandate

Fr. Marco Bagnarol received, from the hands of the religious superior and pastor of St. Andrew's, the missionary Crucifix as a sign of his missionary mandate from Toronto to Brazil:

"Fr. Marco, receive the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ,
compendium of his whole life,
your support on toils,
consolation in difficulties,
and a sign of love and of victory.
Preach Christ crucified,
and hasten the day on which all peoples
will form one single family,
and recognize the only God and Father of all.
Amen.

the ministry of serving

Yair Alberto, a 34 year old Consolata missionary from Columbia, was today ordained Deacon by laying on of hands of Bishop John A. Boissonneau, auxiliary Bishop of Toronto.

The ceremony took place at St. Andrew's Parish in Etobicoke, Toronto - Canada, at the evening Mass in a fully packed church with parishioners, with friends of the newly ordained Deacon Yair and with benefactors of the Consolata Institute.

All the Consolata members of the Toronto community were present, together with two Consolata missionaries from Montreal, a number of other priests and Deacon Joseph who ministers at St. Andrew's.

Mgr. Boissonneau highlighted the Deacon's ministry comparing it with Joseph's attitude of getting up and being ready to follow God's voice for the service of the Holy Family.

After the Eucharist a reception followed in the parish hall.

Christmas Carols at St. Andrew’s

As the feast of Christ's birth is approaching the Knights of Columbus, Council of St. Therese of Calcutta, put in motion a process for a evening of Carols singing by all the choirs of St. Andrew's Parish.

Today, December 21, the community gathered to participate and enjoy a beautiful evening of Carols singing in diverse languages.

The choirs of the different Eucharistic celebrations that take place on Sundays took their turn in sharing their singing gifts with the assembly; besides the different languages there also were different ages, from children to youngsters to grown ups.

The great evening of singing was concluded with a beautiful moment where all the choirs sang together a Christmas song before heading to the hall for a time of fellowship and sharing.

Merry Christmas to all parishioners of St. Andrew's!

Click here to see more pictures

Sharing

This Christmas, as it has been done in the past, the Conference of St. Vincent De Paul involved  the whole Parish of St. Andrew's in sharing food items, toys and clothing with the people in need living around St. Andrew's community.

During the first three weekends in December the parishioners brought their donations to the church. The six schools that exist in the parish territory were also involved in collecting items to be shared with the less fortunate ones; the students of two classes of one high school, as they came to attend Mass at the church, brought their food donations carrying them in their backpacks under a heavy snow storm.

On Friday, December 20, a great group of Volunteers - of all ages - sorted out all the items and placed them in numbered boxes, ready to be collected.

Today, December 21, the people in need started arriving at 9 am: over 120 persons came to receive their Christmas hampers, together with a Christmas card and a voucher for veggies. 

Our greatest gratitude to everyone who helped making life easier and warmer for some of our brothers and sisters.

Happy and blessed Christmas!

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Volunteers' Day

 On Friday, December 13th, 2013, the Consolata Missionaries celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving and Luncheon for all of the people who have and continue to help us in our work at the Mission Centre. Fr. Fernandes, the local superior, and F. Peter con-celebrated the Mass. The other fathers had previous commitments preventing them from being present.

During the homily, Fr. Fernandes thanked the volunteers for their years of service. Their presence is important for us missionaries because they form part of the history of this mission on Islington.

Their work varies from doing the laundry, cooking for fundraising events, packing clothes for the poor, holding garage sales, maintaining the grounds and raising funds for external missions. All of this is important because everything is done for the Lord.

After the Eucharist, we continued our celebration in the Dining Hall with a delicious meal prepared by our new volunteer friends from Italy. After the blessing of the food, we had a leisurely lunch while talking with each other.

Thanks to the generosity of Emma Foods, we were also able to give out fresh Milan panettones to each of the volunteers. Unfortunately, some of our volunteers were unable to attend the celebration due to ill health. However, we are certain that the prayers offered for them during the Mass will lead to their rapid recovery.

We thank the Lord for the grace and privilege of serving Him as missionaries and for always sending us collaborators to work with for His Heavenly Kingdom.

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

Father Peter Turrone IMC

First Consolata Missionaries' deacons in South Africa

On December 14, 2013, Mgr. José L. Ponce de León - Bishop of Manzini, Swaziland - ordained Deacons four Consolata missionaries at St Martin the Porres' parish in Woodlands (Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal). (from left, in the photograph):

Mrosso Patrick Francis IMC (Tanzania)

Onyango Samuel Francis IMC (Kenya)

Mwanake Josephat Mwendwa IMC (Kenya)

Kidane Ashuro Abebe IMC (Ethiopia)

They belong to the first group of Consolata Missionaries' professed students sent to South Africa in 2008 for their theological studies. The finished studying at Cedara a year ago and were then sent for their "year of service" to Osizweni (Newcastle) and Daveyton (Johannesburg).

Mgr. José L. Ponce de León is a Consolata missionary who was ordained Bishop on April 18, 2009 at Mtubatuba (South Africa) and headed the Vicariate of Ingwavuma until the second half of November 2013, when the Holy Father Francis appointed him Bishop of Manzini, Swaziland.