On Oct. 20, Blessed Joseph Allamano will be declared a saint by Pope Francis. Blessed Joseph Allamano was a priest of the Diocese of Turin, Italy and founded the Consolata Missionaries and the Consolata Missionary Sisters. The Diocese of Birmingham is blessed to have had Consolata Sisters serving in the diocese for many years. 

Joseph Allamano was born in Castelnuovo d’ Asti (today Castelnuovo Don Bosco) on Jan. 21, 1851. Allamano lived close to his family in communion with the surrounding countryside. He was given solid roots and grew to be wise, reflective, and prudent. He was ordained a priest in Turin, Italy on Sept. 20, 1873. He was assigned to the Turin Seminary as spiritual director, and soon after, rector of the Consolata Shrine. He was very devout to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and spent hours of prayer with her who filled him with compassion and apostolic zeal. His heart burned with love for God and for the people he served. He was a man of active silence. He pursued the ideal of holiness in doing good without noise or clamor and in being extraordinary in the ordinary. He gave his entirety to God and to those he loved and served. The search for the will of God and His glory was the constant motivation of his whole existence. Father Allamano died on Feb. 16, 1926, and was declared blessed on Oct. 7, 1990.

Through his sons and daughters - the Consolata Missionaries priests, brothers, and sisters - Father Allamano continues to console many lives throughout the world. The Consolata Missionaries rejoice that Blessed Joseph Allamano will be declared saint, a treasure for the whole Church.