Comboni Lay Missionaries

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Message from the General Council for the Feast of Saint Daniel Comboni

by
Comboni

REKINDLING THE FIRE OF MISSIONARY PASSION

Dear confrères,

Comboni

We greet you with the peace and joy of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we extend our warmest wishes to you on the solemnity of Saint Daniel Comboni, our Founder. This day is a special occasion for all of us, and for everyone whose life has been touched and inspired by his example and mission.

Two weeks ago, we concluded our Inter-capitular Assembly, which had begun with a day of formation on the theme Reviving the Fire for Mission. A clear message emerged: the urgent need to strengthen our unity and to build communities capable of responding to the challenges of our times, making careful use of the human and material resources entrusted to us. At the same time, we must recognise that our Comboni identity must be preserved and strengthened: some confrères leave the Institute, others retire, and we wonder where the courage to go where others dare not go has gone

From the very beginning, we have been an international and multicultural family. This diversity is not a mere detail: it is a sign of the Kingdom and a testimony that communion among peoples and cultures is possible in Christ. It is a message of hope for a world often divided. Preserving this gift is more essential than ever, if we want to counteract nationalism and tribalism, which risk creeping into our communities too.

To face these challenges, we must rekindle the fire of our missionary passion. Fire is a symbol of zeal, courage, and conviction; it drives us to mission and sustains us in difficult times. Jesus Christ, the first ‘Missionary of the Father’, said: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” (Lk 12:49). Comboni also often spoke of a “heart burning with genuine love of God”: “When the Missionary in Africa has a heart burning with the pure love of God, when he keeps his eyes fixed on the contemplation of the great goodness and sublimeness of the work for which he spends himself, then all the privations, the continuous hardships, the greatest trials become a paradise on earth for his heart” (Writings, 2705).

When this fire burns in us, crosses and difficulties cannot stop us. A heart on fire remains focused on the goal and is not distracted by obstacles or setbacks.

We are convinced that a mission such as ours — whose fruits we may not fully see, where years of work may seem fruitless, and which sometimes challenges logic and hope — can only be carried forward if we are truly inflamed with passion.

Today more than ever, we feel called to rekindle this fire. Many of us feel weary or fragile, and this fatigue can affect our communities as well. To nourish the flame, we must remove the ashes and add fresh wood. The best way to do this is to return to the original fire that burned within us when we first responded to the Comboni missionary call — those moments when Comboni’s life and the mission of the Comboni Missionaries touched our hearts deeply.

Each of us remembers the moment when Comboni’s life set our hearts ablaze: perhaps it was his selflessness in responding to God’s call as an only son; or his courage to leave the Mazza Institute to pursue what he considered essential; or his perseverance in the face of opposition, even within the Church; or his steadfast faith in times of loss; or his conviction of the dignity of the African people, his tireless commitment to integral human development, his openness to diverse cultures, and his prophetic vision of mission.

Whatever the spark that first inspired us, it still burns and can rekindle our missionary fire. When we let it burn again, we overcome fatigue, indifference, and complacency; our love for mission is renewed, giving us strength to face every challenge.

And what better time than the feast of our Founder to rekindle this flame, remembering that he has given us a unique identity in the Church and in the world as Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus?

Wishing you a joyful feast day!

Rome, 10th October 2025

Solemnity of Saint Daniel Comboni

The MCCJ general council

Caring for our common home and democracy is a daily struggle!

by
LMC Brasil

At the Generating Hope for Climate Justice conference, promoted by the Vatican to mark the 10th anniversary of the encyclical Laudato Si’, Pope Leo XIV emphasized that “there is no room for indifference or resignation,” and among many warnings, he spoke of the need for “Everyone in society, through non-governmental organizations and advocacy groups, must pressure governments to develop and implement stricter regulations, procedures, and controls. Citizens need to take an active role in political decision-making at the national, regional, and local levels.”

This call from the Pope is directly linked to the reflection made in this year’s Cry of the Excluded, a demonstration that takes place in Brazil every September 7, as we can read in the sharing made by the Italian CLM, Emma Chiolini, below:

The demonstration has had a profound meaning since its creation in 1995, highlighting existing inequalities in various areas, such as lack of access to health care, education, housing, decent work, and security, which will still not be guaranteed to everyone in 2025. This year’s event also has the motto “Caring for our common home and democracy is a daily struggle!”, reflecting the connection with the climate and social crises and the defense of democracy at a time of internal and external threats. In addition, this year in particular, there was solidarity with the Palestinian people and the genocide they are suffering in an unprecedented, politically, socially, and humanly unjust war. More than a protest, the Cry of the Excluded represents popular resistance, articulating the defense of human rights, national sovereignty, and democracy. The demonstration is, therefore, a call for solidarity and citizen participation, reaffirming that the struggle for social justice must be constant so that Brazil and the world can move toward a more just, democratic, and sustainable society.

In 2025, the movement strengthens these demands by promoting a Popular Plebiscite, whose objective is to include the population in decisions on issues such as the reduction of working hours, the end of the 6×1 shift, and the taxation of the super-rich. Everyone’s participation is important; it is democracy, it is equality, it is recognition. We cannot remain indifferent to the suffering of those who are crushed daily by this society. We cannot remain indifferent to inequality. We cannot remain indifferent to the suffering of oppressed peoples and the arrogance of the strongest. Therefore, the cry of the Excluded must not be silenced, nor must the denunciation of those who wish to silence it be silenced. I believe in a path that is built together, that starts from below, from the people, from a critical consciousness that allows us to see that the struggle must be constant and continuous. Bertolt Brecht said that when injustice becomes law, resistance becomes a duty. In a globalized world, we can no longer say that we do not know. Pepe Mujica left us a quote that serves as an example for our daily lives: “Politics is a struggle for the happiness of all.” In a world where humanity seems to be disappearing, let us make a difference again: let us be human again!

Emma Chiolini, Salvador, Brazil

Casa Familiar Rural de Açailândia celebrates its 20th anniversary

by
LMC Brasil
LMC Brasil

On the evening of Friday, September 26, Casa Familiar Rural de Açailândia (CFR) held the 13th edition of its traditional Peasant Philosophy Night. This annual celebration aims to highlight the knowledge and awareness of the peasant people.

The event, organized by the school’s pedagogical coordination, administration, and student body, had as its theme this year “CFR, 20 Years Planting Knowledge and Harvesting Wisdom: rural education, youth, and family farming.” The evening was filled with memorable moments, such as the opening ceremony, the reading of the speech by the Comboni Missionary from Congo, Father Joseph Mumbere, the artistic presentation by the first-year class, and the awarding of agricultural technician degrees to the graduates, followed by a spectacular fireworks display accompanied by tears and hugs.

The Rural Family Houses, a model that originated in France and was brought to Brazil in the late 1960s, are structured around alternating pedagogy, general and technical training, and family succession. The CFR in Açailândia was founded by Comboni Lay Missionaries in 2001, welcoming its first classes of young people from the countryside in 2005. Despite facing many challenges, it has already trained more than 200 students, children of the peasant class from various municipalities in the region.

Xoancar, CLM

Mission in Kenya

by
LMC Kenia

First Steps on Kenyan Soil

At the beginning of June, I landed in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. It was here that my missionary journey began – full of new challenges, learning, and encounters with people who quickly became like a second family to me. I spent the first weeks in the Provincial House of the Comboni Missionaries, where I immediately experienced the great openness and warmth of the Comboni Fathers and the community of Lay Comboni Missionaries. Thanks to their heartfelt welcome, I felt at home, which gave me courage and hope for the next stages of my mission.

Learning the Language and First Trips

One of the first challenges was the intensive study of English. Every new word opened doors for me to better understand the culture and to build deeper relationships with the people among whom I now live.

In June, an Italian missionary, Giula, joined me. Together, on the very same day, we set off for Kiteakapel – a small missionary station in the northwest of Kenya. This place, run by an international community, allowed me to see the simplicity of life, the difficulties of everyday existence, and at the same time the great hospitality and openness of the people. This experience will remain in my heart for a long time as a reminder of the great strength of community and of simple, sincere hearts.

Kariobangi – the Heart of Nairobi

The next stage was moving to Kariobangi – one of the poorest districts of Nairobi. This place is full of contrasts: alongside hardship and poverty, there is also the extraordinary energy and hope of the residents. In the parish, the Comboni Fathers and Comboni Sisters carry out their ministry. The Sisters run a vocational school for girls and a daycare center for the children of young mothers, while the Fathers are involved in pastoral care and youth animation.

The time I spent in Kariobangi was extremely valuable to me – both practically and spiritually. I saw how God works in everyday life, in simple gestures of kindness, and in sharing oneself with others.

A New Stage – Mikinduri

Since September, I have started the next stage of my mission and am now staying in Mikinduri. This new place presents me with further challenges, but also brings much joy and hope. Each day is an opportunity to get to know the local reality, to learn patience and openness, and to discover the beauty of diversity. I believe that every step of this journey leads me deeper – toward greater trust, toward better understanding, and toward true service to others.

Iza, CLM in Kenya