AMERICA/ARGENTINA - The Consolata Missionaries: "When we help people in need, we help Jesus himself"

Saturday, 16 January 2021

Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) - "We mainly work on the outskirts of large cities with many social problems. We strive to improve and promote human dignity through school education, health centers and vocational training institutions. It is important for us to sensitize the believers so that they are aware of the missionary mandate they received at baptism. We want to lead young people who have been called by God to join the Consolata missionaries", said the Tanzanian deputy superior general of the Consolata missionaries, Father Dietrich Pendawazima, about the activities of his confreres in Argentina. "What challenges do we have to face and where are we are sent? We have to preach Jesus where he is not yet known", says Fr. Dietrich.
"The missionary charism and the spirit of our founder, Blessed Giuseppe Allamano, induce us to get involved where our help is needed". "At the beginning of our presence in Argentina", says Father Pendawazima, "we asked ourselves the following question: How can we as missionaries make our contribution? Today we know the reality and after many consultations with one another and with the other missionaries of the diocese we felt that our presence here is important. The place most in need of a missionary presence was the slums. That is why we started our work among the poorest". "Let us try, as much as possible to adopt a simple, essential and sober lifestyle and thus be close to the people", points out Fr. Dietrich.
"Consecrated and lay people work together to proclaim the good news among the poorest. Prayer and exchange are at the heart of our mission, which is then also realized in concrete activities in which daily visits to the people have priority". "In recent years", he concludes, "we have come to understand how true and meaningful the words of Jesus are when he says that every time we help a poor person, it is Jesus himself that we are helping". (ES) (Agenzia Fides, 16/1/2021)


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