Alberto de la Portilla – Page 199 – Comboni Lay Missionaries

Echoes of Christmas 2013 meeting

26 December, 2013 by Alberto de la Portilla

“All different, but all united in Comboni wearing the face and the Word of Jesus Christ here and beyond.”

We begin by thanking all those who have contributed directly or indirectly to make possible this Christmas gathering. We are grateful to Sandra for organizing the meeting, to Sister Carmen Ribeiro, Brother Paul and the secular missionary Joanna and Paula for sharing all that is essential for us, LMC candidates, to understand in particular this missionary vocation of the Comboni family. Thanks also to Father Avelino who shared his missionary experience and celebrated the Eucharist. Thanks, finally, to all others not mentioned but that they worked hard to make the meeting possible.

This meeting was full of smiles, hugs, moments of conviviality and animated dynamic. It was the sharing of a joy that with Jesus Christ reborn endlessly. This was a family reunion. We truly felt as a family. We are in the same boat and we rowed in the same direction. In this boat where they are not only all those with whom we live this weekend, but all the other members of the Comboni family no matter where they are and where are they from. We feel with renewed strength and with real and physical certainty of knowing united, not by blood, but by the same creator and make us share the same mission. All different in our vocation but all united in Comboni wearing the face and the Word of Jesus Christ here and there.

By Paula Sousa (Portugal)

Merry Christmas!

24 December, 2013 by Alberto de la Portilla

Youth in Matany (Uganda)

22 December, 2013 by Alberto de la Portilla

In our parish there are four groups of CYMG. The abbreviation CYMG stands for Christian Youth Missionary Group. There are 150 young people attending the meetings. They want to act by spreading faith, hope and love among youth. They are involved in many different activities e.g. prayers, Bible sharing, seminars, workshops, debates, games, music, dance and drama, educational video shows, competitions and animations.

They participate in national and regional assemblies. During these meetings they can take part in competitions. This year they took part in National Congress of CYMG in Kampala. Twelve members and Fr. John Bosco competed against other groups from the whole country. They won and became the number one! It was the moment of joy and celebration both for them and the whole parish. Many people from other parts of the country didn’t expect the group from Karamoja to win because this region is considered to be undeveloped. It is also said to be the poorest in Uganda.

In fact, the young who wanted to go to Kampala had to face a lot of difficulties while organizing the journey. It was hard for most of them to cover the costs of transport. Almost all of them weren’t able to pay for it so they had to look for sponsors. I knew about their problems and thanks to the money which you sent to me, we could help them. They are very grateful for your support and generosity and they want to say thank you to all of you!

By Danusia. Polish CLM in Uganda

Meeting of the Comboni Family in Rome

21 December, 2013 by Alberto de la Portilla

On December 14th the general councils of the Comboni Family met together. Comboni Missionaries, Comboni Sisters, Secular and CLM to reflect together and find together ways of collaboration.

The meeting was conducted in the house of the Comboni Missionaries Sisters in Rome where we were very well received by the community.

In the morning animated by the Comboni Sisters, we were reflecting on Comboni and praying about what inspires us to a path of collaboration as Comboni family?

Each of the participants spoke of this reflection. On a personal level, about the agreements that the different institutes have been taken in this direction, lines and current collaborative experiences.

This is a challenge we look positive and recognize as our own charism that unites us. The intuition of Comboni in promoting the mission and the Catholic responsibility of it, uniting and facilitating collaboration with the various charismas and states within them.

We also had time to share the way we are doing throughout the year, common concerns and ways of collaboration.

We end this beautiful day celebrating the Eucharist, praying for all the Comboni missionaries (priests, brothers, sisters, secular and laity) that spread throughout the world give their lives for “the poorest and most abandoned” as Comboni wanted.

Every step we take as a family for the sake of the mission approaches us and keeps true the dream of Comboni.

This is our mission field on the outskirts of Nova Contagem in the Parish of Santo Domingo

20 December, 2013 by Alberto de la Portilla

The parish of Santo Domingo and the thirteen communities received the pastoral visit of Bishop Luiz Gonzaga Fechio (Bishop of Belo Horizonte), 7 and 8 December in the district of Nova Comtagem. A special time of fellowship and sharing.

On Saturday, the Comboni missionaries presented the activities of the parish and visit the religious communities. During the evening Mass, Dom Luiz Fechio imparted the sacrament of Confirmation to the youth of the communities.

Dom Luiz visited on Sunday, the Comboni house that, through the Ministry of Prisons provides support for families of prisoners and people with addiction. He also met with leaders of the Parish Pastoral Council and the coordinators of the communities.

Don Luis Fechio in his pastoral visit also had the opportunity to see the house of the Comboni Lay Missionaries here in Ipê Amarelo and know how is the life of the CLM. For him and for us it was good to share the experiences, joys and sorrows, more joys as it is clear. Don Luis was happy to know that in a distant periphery, the CLM are communion with the people.

A Mass attended by representatives of the thirteen communities marked the end of the visit.

By Maria de Lourdes Vieira