Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Agenzia Fides) - Fr James Bhola Lengarin IMC is the new Superior General of the Consolata Missionaries. A missionary born in Kenya, he was elected on June 12 as the tenth Superior General in the history of the Consolata Missionary Institute, IMC, the first of African origin to hold the position. "First of all, I want to thank the Lord for the gift of life, for my parents who are no longer with us, and for the grace of the vocation as a Consolata missionary", said Father Lengarin. "My confreres have entrusted me with this ministry, which I will try to carry out well, in the community and in the Church. I thank everyone for their trust and I ask everyone to pray for me and for our entire community, so that we continue, according to the signs of the times, to listen to the people the Lord has entrusted to us".
The 14th General Chapter of the Consolata Missionaries has been underway in Rome since May 22 and will end on June 25 with the participation of the General Direction, Superiors and Delegates of the thirteen circumscriptions of Africa, Asia, America and Europe. After his election to the office, which he will hold from 2023 to 2029, the new Superior General has declared his willingness to accept this office. He will be assisted in the exercise of office by four Councilors. Father Lengarin was born in Maralal (Kenya) on April 15, 1971. After joining the community of the Consolata Missionaries, he studied philosophy from 1990 to 1993 at the Consolata Seminary in Nairobi. He completed his novitiate year in Sagana (Kenya), where he made his religious profession on August 6, 1994. From 1994 to 1997 he studied theology in Totteridge (England) and later obtained a master's degree in missiology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. He was ordained a priest on July 18, 1999 in Wamba, Kenya. After that he was in Italy in Galatina, Lecce, and Martina Franca and Taranto, as well as vice rector and later rector of the seminary in Rome. Back in Kenya he was Master of Novices in Mathari, Director of the Language School, Rector of the Consolata Shrine and Administrator of the Kenya Region. At the last General Chapter he was elected Vice Superior, a post he held from 2017 to 2023. In its 122-year history, the Institute of the Consolata Missionaries, founded in 1901 by Blessed Giuseppe Allamano, has grown into an international and multicultural congregation, with 906 missionaries from 30 countries working in 231 communities in 29 countries in Africa, America, Asia... and Europe. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 16/6/2023)
