Consolata Missionaries in Daveyton host a four-day revival

by Kati Dijane · Published December 10, 2024 · Updated December 9, 2024

Consolata Missionaries Host a 4-day Revival in Daveyton parishes, JHB

By Kati Dijane – The three priests who minister in Daveyton parishes, in Johannesburg, namely St Nicholas, St Lambert, St Martin De Porres and St Monica, hosted a four-day revival, Nov 27-30, titled “Revival in the Spirit of St Joseph Allamano”.

Consolata Missionaries Fr Michael Miriti, Fr Charles Orero and Fr Boniface Ondiek, along with Deacon Vincent Morare, led a spiritual encounter with God and their founder, who was one of the 14 canonised in October this year, St Joseph Allamano.

The theme of the event was inspired by the Gospel of Matthew 7:7, which says “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you”. Each day of the revival was dedicated to certain social and spiritual issues affecting parishioners and families.

On the first day, the issue discussed and prayed about was: “My family in prayer with St Joseph Allamano, where our family experience meets.”After the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and an opening prayer, parish priest, Fr Miriti officially introduced the event to the parishioners present and explained what a revival is, mentioning that the word derives from Latin words, which mean to live again. The biography of St Joseph Allamano, born in Italy, was then read, with Fr Orero talking about the dynamics of today’s family, in relation to St Joseph Allamano’s mother raising her five children single-handedly after his father passed away when he was three years old.

In his talk, Fr Orero added that children give parents hope when they strive to live according to Christian virtues, further urging them to honour their parents’ name by how they conduct themselves in society, at school and in the church. He also encouraged the youth not to allow anything to kill their dreams and ambitions, pointing to St Joseph Allamano not allowing his loss and sickness to hinder him from leaving a legacy that is the foundation of the Consolata Missionaries.

The second day’s theme was: “The Lord will answer and set me and my family free through [the intercession of] St Joseph Allamano.” The message of the day was trusting in the power of prayer, with the story of the saint’s courage to exorcise a possessed woman highlighted. Fr Orero mentioned that people needed freedom from the clutches of sickness, laziness, alcohol and substance abuse, among many challenges faced.

The third day touched on the power of letting go, and on the last day of the revival, during the healing Mass, the homily encouraged parishioners to be good ambassadors of their families through good behaviour. The priests then anointed those present with holy oil. Before the end of Mass, the prayer intentions that were written over the three days were blessed, burnt and incensed.