Today, November 12, 2025, as part of the Comboni Family Forum on Integral Ecology 2025, we had an intense day, beginning with a community prayer at the Sagrada Familia Social Center in Belem, Brazil, where, after placing ourselves in God’s hands, we gathered in small groups and went to different locations where the COP30 International Conference on Climate Change is taking place.
An interesting reflection took place at the Church Symposium at COP30, where church leaders from various continents, authorities, and representatives of traditional peoples gathered for a dialogue on paths to ecological conservation.
At the same time, conferences were held at other locations, such as the Federal University of Pará, the blue zone, and the Pará River, where a boat trip took place.
Among the topics of conversation and denunciation at this summit were: the defense of the most needy peoples, an end to violence, peace, solidarity, and care for our common home, climate justice, the sovereignty of peoples, integral solidarity, and above all, such important issues as the protection of natural resources and saying no to mining and polluting practices.
The first day ended with the opening of COP30 at the University and the presentation of important figures, including the Rector, and artistic performances. At the same time, there was a march for the martyrs, which ended with Holy Mass in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Nazareth, concluding a day full of reflection, commitment, and hope for a more just, sustainable, and supportive world, respecting all those who do not just talk about ecology but live it in their daily lives….
During the month of October, we had many significant celebrations, beginning on Saturday, October 4, with the joyful celebration of Children’s Day in the Community of León El Manzanillo, which we all attended with great joy and deeply inspired by the Holy Spirit. The activity began around 9:00 a.m. and throughout the day, we shared a snack, held contests, played games, and enjoyed breaking piñatas. Likewise, without neglecting the spiritual aspect, we presented the theme: Jesus, salvation. We finished this activity around noon, but our commitment continued: we visited some people who were facing health problems to offer them support, words of encouragement, and share with them the richness of God’s word.
On October 10, another special ceremony took place: a Mass in honor of St. Daniel Comboni, celebrated at the San Luis Parish in Petén. We also commemorated 20 years of the presence of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ) in the community. That day was particularly important for the Comboni Lay Missionaries (CLM), as ten members made their official commitment, reaffirming their dedication to missionary service and their identity as Comboni lay people.
Two days later, on October 12, we gathered again for the Eucharistic Celebration on the Feast of St. Daniel Comboni and to give thanks for the closing of the 2025 cycle at the Comboni School. During this special celebration, the Camey Figueroa family, who will soon be leaving on mission to Brazil, had the honor of leading the opening procession, a moment filled with gratitude and hope.
The joy continued in the afternoon, and we all enjoyed a pleasant lunch together. Around 2:00 p.m., the traditional Bingo organized by the CLM began. In addition, we had various items available for sale, including religious objects, books, flower pots, and more. The day was filled with joy and reflection as we remembered the importance of our mission by celebrating the day of our founder’s birth into eternal life.
We concluded the month by joyfully participating in the Pilgrimage and Mass of the Second Archdiocesan Synod under the theme “Living and Proclaiming the Gospel,” celebrated on Sunday, October 26. This event sought to renew the pastoral spirit, promoting a more inclusive, missionary Church committed to synodality. The Archdiocese of Santiago de Guatemala has used these synods to strengthen the sense of community, celebration, and evangelization within the sacraments and all ecclesial life.
October was a month that invited us to reflect on our mission and live with true purpose. Each activity not only brought us closer to our faith but also to our community and missionary commitment.
We continue with our series of missionary testimonies. In this one, Sister Lucía, a Comboni missionary in the Central African Republic, talks about some important moments in her vocation and missionary life.
This was the theme with which we began our national assembly of the CLM in Portugal, which took place last weekend, October 25-26, at the MCCJ house in Maia. In her reflection, Sr. Graça, a Comboni Missionary and our advisor, inspired us to recognize God’s gaze on our CLM vocation and to realize how our vocation permeates our daily lives, like “yeast in dough.” She also invited us to recognize that it was God who called and chose us! She invited us to contemplate the beauty of mission and vocation, and to seek to recognize the presence of perennial joy, of mission as relationship, as a dynamic of communion, from which we radiate God’s Love.
Next, the Activity Plan and the annual budget for 2026 were presented and approved. Each local community also had space to share its plans for the coming year.
The following day, the Letters of the Ministries that make up the CLM Association were approved, which were drawn up since the last assembly, which took place in March this year.
At the end of Sunday morning, we celebrated Holy Mass, presided over by Fr. José Vieira, a Comboni missionary working in Ethiopia, where all the CLM members present, including those participating online, renewed their CLM commitment.
The weekend was a favorable time of encounter, reflection, and fellowship, with the participation of 15 CLM members, 3 of whom participated online. We thank God for calling each one of us and for always accompanying us on this missionary journey!
In the silence. If today you hear his voice hardened not your hearts. God is in the silence
1st Kings 19:11-12
When the prophet Elijah fled from his enemies to the mountain to seek the help of God.
The Lords presence was not in the strong wind, earthquake or in the fire but it was felt in the small whispering sound
As missionaries we should find our mountains and in silence we hear the sound of God, like Moses we find the burning bush which is not consumed by fire, take out our sandals which is our sins and comforts
Create silence and peace within yourself offer the silence as a gift to others
PRAYER
Jesus was a man of prayer we learn from his style of prayer in silence and in solitude. Lk 6:12, Mk 6:46
He taught us to pray a simple prayer that carries great reference to our Father in heaven which is the Lords prayer Lk 11:1
A real prayer is in silence, you listen to God and He comes to you, through you it reaches the others.
We should pray without ceasing and with understanding a Christian who does not pray is proud and is not humble.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
Luke 3:21,5:16
In our prayers the Holy Spirit should be present for he is the Spirit that comes from our Father in heaven to teach, cleanse and to strengthen us during tribulations and persecution
Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit, he prayed with the holy spirit and the spirit testified that he was the beloved son of God during his baptism.
We learn from the disciples of Christ they were full of the Holy Spirit and they preached the gospel to the ends of world facing persecution and even death
REFLECTION OF COMBONI’S LIFE
God shaped and modelled Comboni through the people he lived with and interacted with
The environment of his family and village influenced his Spiritualty, his parents were very religious, rich in faith and rich in devotions
What brings out the uniqueness of Comboni was his characters, he was impulsive, lively jovial, highly passionate, emotive which made him highly sensitive to other people’s sufferings. He fostered and cultivated friendships from all walks of life
His love for the mission, sacred heart of Jesus and Mary, St Joseph and the people of Africa is an inspiration to all of us
THE TRINITY
Mistry of the blessed trinity
Three in one and one in three, equal but are different. Father, son and the Holy Spirit they share everything, they have constant communication and there is equality in love
The Trinity teaches us to share our values, emotions, experiences on a very intimate level, when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, we evoke empathy from others the goal is to create a loving atmosphere of caring and understanding of each other
In the Trinity communication is perfect, for us communication is not perfect yet with the smallest steps with the right direction we can help it to improve.
We should learn to see the trinity in each and every one of us and also ask ourselves which aspect of our relationships are not in line with the blessed trinity
There is no trinity without you and I, if we want to enter into the mysterious heart of our faith we fix our eyes on Jesus who is visible among us He draw us to our Father in heaven and the Holy Spirit comes and lives in us
Through Christ we learn the ministry of the trinity ” The one who sees me has seen the Father and his spirit will live in him, me the Father and Holy Spirit are one being each one himself”.
The vocabulary of trinity is complete with all of us included.
Belinda, CLM Kenya
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