On June 12, 2023, the General Chapter of the Consolata Missionaries has elected Fr. James Bhola Lengarin, new Superior General of the Institute.
The following day, the forty members of the Chapter chose the four General Councilors who will accompany Fr. James in the service of leading the international Institute spread throughout the world, in the coming six years.
The newly elected members of the General Direction are:
– Fr. James Bhola Lengarin (Superior General);
– Fr. Michelangelo Piovano (1st Councilor and Vice Superior General);
– Fr. Mathews Odhiambo Owuor (2nd Councilor);
– Fr. Juan Pablo De los Rios Ramirez (3rd Councilor);
– Fr. Erasto Colnel Mgalama (4th Councilor).
Fr. James Bhola Lengarin, born on April 15, 1971, at Maralal, Kenya, is the first African missionary to be elected as the Superior General of the Consolata Missionaries. He entered the Institute in Kenya, did his theology in London (UK) and was ordained a priest on July 18, 1999. He exercised his ministry for some years in the South of Italy and then was appointed the Rector of the Theological Seminary in Rome.
Back in Kenya, he was the Novice Master, the Rector of the Consolata Shrine in Nairobi and then the Administrator of the Consolata Kenya-Uganda Province. In the past six years, he has been the Vice-Superior General of the Consolata Missionaries.
Fr. Michelangelo Piovano, 68 years old, was born in Italy. He worked in Brazil, where he was elected the Provincial. In these last years, he worked in Portugal and in Italy and was elected the Vice-Superior of the Europe Province.
Fr. Mathews Odhiambo Owuor, 48 years old, was born in Kenya. He was the Rector of the Theology Seminary in Nairobi and then was chosen as one of the first group of Consolata missionaries who entered Taiwan. There he was elected Superior of the Consolata Province of Asia.
Fr. Juan Pablo De los Rios Ramirez, 59 years old, was born in Colombia. After some years in Spain, he worked for thirteen years in South Korea. Back in Colombia, he was Rector of the Philosophy Seminary and then Administrator of the Vicariates of San Vicente del Caguan and of Puerto Leguizamo. In 2022, he became the Superior of the Colombia Province.
Fr. Erasto Colnel Mgalama, 57 years old, was born in Tanzania. He did his theology at the Catholic University in Washington DC and then worked in Italy. Back in his country, he was appointed Rector of the Philosophy Seminary and then Novice Master. In these latest years he has been the Provincial of the Consolata Missionaries in Tanzania.
To them all go the gratitude for having accepted this service and the prayers of all the Consolata Missionaries for their ministry.