ALAMANO, GIUSEPPE

ALAMANO, GIUSEPPE. - Priest, founder of the Istituto della Consolata for Foreign Missions and of the Suore Missionarie della Consolata, born in Castelnuovo d'Asti (Don Bosco) on 21 January 1851, died in Turin on 16 February 1926. Nephew of St. Giuseppe Cafasso, he was fortunate enough to complete his gymnasial studies under the guidance of St. Giovanni Bosco. Ordained priest in Turin on 20 September 1873, in 1880 he was appointed rector of the Consolata sanctuary, which he radically transformed, making it one of the liveliest Italian centres of Marian devotion. In 1882 he revived the ecclesiastical convitto, of which he remained rector. In 1883 he became canon of the metropolitan church of Turin. Among the many works of charity he promoted or supported, the principal one, in which he had as a valuable collaborator Canon Giacomo Camisassa, another distinguished priest and apostle, was the foundation of the Istituto per le Missioni Estere (v. ISTITUTO MISSIONI CONSOLATA), achieved, after years of difficulties and opposition, in 1901; followed in 1910 by the foundation of the Suore Missionarie della Consolata; institutes which he governed until his death. He died in a reputation for holiness, after having promoted and successfully brought to completion the cause of beatification of his uncle. The process for his beatification is underway at the archiepiscopal curia of Turin.