07/10/2013

Blessed Joseph Allamano, Founder of the Consolata Missionaries.


Blessed Joseph Allamano
Founder of the Consolata Missionaries.


Also known as Giuseppe Allamano, Joseph was born on 21 January 1851 at Castelnuovo d' Asti near Turin in Italy. Note that Castelnuovo is the birth place of well known saints, such as Saint Giuseppe Cafasso , who was, as a matter of fact, Blessed Allamano’s uncle, brother to his mother; and Don Bosco. Joseph was the fourth born of five children. His father died when he was three years old. Young Joseph studied at the Salesian Oratory in Valdocco, Italy and was lucky enough to have Don Bosco as his confessor and spiritual adviser. Answering the call to the priesthood, Joseph entered the diocesan seminary of Turin in November 1866. He was ordained on 20 September 1873. Thereafter, he was first appointed Spiritual director of the Turin seminary and then in October 1880, Father Joseph was appointed Rector of the main Marian Shrine of the diocese of Turin, the Consolata Shrine. As Rector, Blessed Allamano remodeled the shrine, and made it a source for spiritual renewal throughout the diocese.
As Spiritual director of Turin seminary, Father Allamano noted that many priests were eager to become missionaries. This led to his founding of the Consolata Missionaries( Priests and Brothers) on 29 January 1901. One year later, the first shipment of priests left for Kenya, soon to be followed by others. The missionaries reached Kenya in 1902.
On 29 January 1910 Father Allamano founded the Consolata Missionary Sisters for women with a missionary vocation. Blessed Joseph Allamano devoted his best care and attention to his missionaries, through personal contacts, letters, and meetings.
He died on 16 February 1926 at Turin, Italy. Venerated on 13 May 1989 by Pope John Paul II and beatified on 7 October 1990 by Pope John Paul II

Blessed Joseph Allamano
Pray for us!

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