The presence of the Consolata Missionaries in Somalia dates back to the time of the Founder, St. Joseph Allamano. In 1924, while greeting the first group of sisters leaving for their new mission, he told them:
“Leave, go, it will not be an easy field, it doesn’t matter: work, sow, don’t wait for fruit for fifty years, then the seed will bear fruit. To our request for a painting by the Consolata, he replies: you go peacefully, that Our Lady will come, she will come.”
The first Sisters left Italy on December 9, 1924 and arrived in Mogadishu on January 4, 1925. These were Sister Angelica Aschieri, Sister Silvia Coriasco, Sister Flavia Boeri, Sister Battistina Alessio. In March 1925, four other sisters from Kenya joined them: Sister Maria degli Angeli – who would be the first superior – Sister Costanza Golzio, Sister Raffaella Gerbore and Sister Adele Cullino.
Faithful to the style of evangelization implemented in Kenya and approved by the Founder, the proclamation was prepared and preceded by human promotion.
At the end of the first year of activity, the bulletin ‘La Consolata’ of January 1926 gave a report on the work of the mission in Somalia:
“Over 500 pupils are enrolled in schools: four elementary classes, three preparatory classes and a special one for the little ones. Lessons are in the morning, afternoon and evening.”
The Missionaries also dedicated themselves to assisting abandoned children or in vulnerable situations in orphanages. By the end of the year, there were already about forty little ones. A hospice was also started for the poor: the blind, the lame, the abandoned elderly and a few single mothers, with numerous offspring.
The De Martino Hospital was given a new structure, both in its various departments and in the operating rooms. The patients, Somalis and Arabs, and in particular the “the women of God”, as they called them.
At the Duca degli Abruzzi Village, the action of the Missionaries was twofold: religious and health care for Italian personnel, health care and school teaching for indigenous workers and members of their families who numbered more than 500 in the company, settled in different villages.
The Mission Style
The mission in Somalia, in a totally Muslim context, was characterized by the witness of charity and humble service to the poorest in society.
The missionaries in Somalia move in a lifestyle that is modeled on that of the “Great and First Missionary of the Father” the Savior Jesus, a style that the Founder Joseph Allamano desired for his daughters; a style that makes one live in the reality of every day and in the details of every little action, according to the model: “Imitate ME who am meek and humble of heart”.
The Charism given by the Founder Allamano as the only value, the only ideal, is the bouncing board towards holiness and the salvation of souls.
It is a style of simplicity, humility and detachment: To seek GOD in everything: “God alone and always”.
The Founder repeated to the first sisters, “Remember the purpose for which you came here, which is to work for your holiness and save many souls.”
Simplicity and humility make us capable of seeing everything in God, giving serenity in obedience, strength in detachment, support in fraternal love, makes the continuous gift to one’s brothers and sisters spontaneous, gives serenity even in uncomfortable situations of deprivation and sacrifice, especially in the insecurity of tomorrow.
Their way of life, “Doing good without noise,” does not attract attention, but spreads the warmth of charity everywhere.
At the beginning people did not know the sisters and were distrustful, others looked at them with suspicion, sometimes they were even hostile, they were afraid and did not approach them. They have many questions about them in their hearts.
If the people did not go to them, the Sisters went to the people, so they began the visits to the villages under a scorching sun, up and down the dunes, from one hut to another, in the poorest hovels, to care for the sick, to approach the dying, to give help and consolation to those in need.
Several times when they arrived, the doors closed, the sick were hidden, but the sisters were not discouraged, they continued their visits with simplicity, serene, tireless, persevering.
This simple, continuous, serene, fraternal methodology created trust and opened a way of penetration into the soul of the Somali people, preparing for dialogue and mutual knowledge.
The first rejections, mistrust, suspicions disappeared, hostilities changed into friendship, respect and esteem for these women that people understood to be women of God.
The road was now open, trust had been created and it was possible to start opening schools, hospitals, orphanages.
These women of God lived and bore witness to the value of Christ’s charity, inculcating the values of life, forming entire generations, with solid principles according to the Gospel, without ever referring to Christ.
To the people who looked at them with respect and esteem, the sisters offered the vision of a Gospel illustrated by the works.
This people may never read the Gospel, but they will always be able to read it in the life and self-giving of each sister day after day, in simplicity and in the gift of self-giving to their brothers and sisters.
