We pray you, Lord, that, in the face of the looming and frightening threat of human trafficking, we may increasingly be, together with you, defenders of life, promoters of dignity and facilitators of freedom. Lord, hear us.
Alberto de la Portilla
Manizales 2025, first CLM Colombia face-to-face meeting.
In the city of Manizales, department of Caldas in Colombia, between January 25 and 26 of this year, in the facilities of the Parish Nuestra Señora del Pilar, the first face-to-face meeting of the CLM of Colombia was held, in this meeting the planning for the year 2025 was done.
Among the topics discussed, the dates and places for the Holy Week and Christmas Mission Camps were defined, for which it is the responsibility of the new coordination to socialize the places with the MCCJ of the country, in order to work hand in hand with them, as always.
Regarding the formation, both for the discernment group and for the deepening group, the programs, topics, responsibles and frequency were established; virtual meetings every 15 days were defined. The discernment program for those who want to be part of the CLM begins on February 5 and ends on December 3 and for the CLM that will enter into the deepening module, the formation begins on February 12 and will end on December 10.
In addition, two other face-to-face meetings of the CLM were proposed for this year; the first one will be held in the city of Cali between June 20 and 23; this will have as its objective a deeper knowledge of the group the persons who are in discernment and who want to commit themselves to the Comboni Charism; the second meeting will be our annual spiritual retreat that will begin on October 31 and end on November 3 in the Municipality of Suaza in the department of Huila.
The economic budget for the present year was calculated and a projection was made, a priori, for 2026, in view of the creation and support of the first national permanent mission that two of the CLM will do, in the municipality of Tumaco, department of Nariño, as a support to the work developed in the community by the MCCJ.
There was a feedback of some of the agreements that were worked in the international assembly of Maia 2024, some of the minutes that were worked during the working days were reviewed and the processes that are being developed to make the recognition of the CLM by the dicastery were explained.
At the end of the meeting a new conformation of the CLM committee in Colombia was proposed, with Janeth Escobar as national coordinator, Jenny Trujillo Marulanda as treasurer and Felipe Mora as secretary of the group.
Written by: Jenny Trujillo Marulanda.
Missionary outing of the CLM aspirants to saint joseph parish in Assahun-Fiagbé
As part of the activity program for the 2024-2025 pastoral year, the CLM aspirants organized a missionary outing to Saint Joseph Parish in Assahun-Fiagbé from January 4 to 5, 2025. The activities carried out during this mission included a talk-debate, a film screening, home visits, and the distribution of gifts to children. These actions were carried out in collaboration with the Avenir Positif association, created in 2012 by collaborators of the Comboni Missionary Sisters, aimed at promoting the well-being of children and youth.
Saturday, January 4, 2025: Start of Activities
An initial delegation composed of Jean-Baptiste GNIMASSOUN, Ernest BOTRI, Marie-Claire AWUNO, and Sister Elizabeth CORTE IMPERIAL (SMC) arrived in the village on the afternoon of Saturday, January 4, 2025. After a courtesy visit to the Parish Priest at the rectory, the team went to the parish to begin the first activities of the program.
The day began with a talk-debate on the theme: The Commitment of Young Christians in Their Parish, led by Ernest BOTRI. This discussion encouraged young people to become more involved in pastoral activities. In the evening, the screening of the film Jesus of Nazareth in the local language (Éwé) marked the end of this first day.
Sunday, January 5, 2025: Main Activities and Closing
On Sunday, January 5, the Feast of the Epiphany, a second delegation composed mainly of members of the Avenir Positif association joined the initial group. All participants attended the Sunday Mass dedicated to the children of the parish and its two sub-stations.
After the Mass, Jean-Baptiste GNIMASSOUN led an educational session on the theme: Healthy Nutrition for a Positive Future. This session raised awareness of the importance of nutrition in children’s development.
Afterward, various games with prizes were organized to entertain the children. Meanwhile, some members, accompanied by parishioners, conducted home visits to the sick and elderly. These visits provided an opportunity to share the Good News and distribute food kits.
It is also worth noting that a batch of clothing and shoes, donated by Maria Aliya, an LMC aspirant, was handed over to the Parish Priest for the needy.
The mission concluded with a distribution of gifts to the children, bringing joy and hope to many households.
Conclusion
This missionary outing was a true blessing for the Saint Joseph Parish community in Assahun-Fiagbé. It not only strengthened the bonds between the LMC aspirants and the parishioners but also provided spiritual and material support to those in need.
Ernest BOTRI
1st Christmas celebration in Piquiá da Conquista, a symbol of struggle and hope
On December 25, the first Christmas celebration took place in the community center of Piquiá da Conquista, in Açailândia. Comboni priests, lay missionaries and the local community, made up of the neighborhood’s new residents, gathered. Piquiá da Conquista is the result of more than a decade of struggle by the people of Piquiá de Baixo, who faced unhealthy conditions and rights violations due to industrial pollution. This mobilization resulted in a historic victory: resettlement in a dignified space, where today the families are building a new life.
Marcelo Moutinho, a psychologist and Brazilian CLM, who took part in the celebration with his wife Adriana, says: “On a visit to Maranhão, I longed to return to Piquiá da Conquista, after the construction work had been completed, to witness and together celebrate this great victory, which will become an inspiration for the various challenges that Christians face in their day-to-day mission and struggles for human rights. The CLM in Brazil, through the different presences over the many years of the struggle of Xoáncar, Ilária, Federico, Liliana, Flávio, Gabriel, Anna and other supporters, together with the community of Comboni Fathers of this parish, have actively participated in various stages of this achievement”.
The Comboni Lay Missionaries, as part of the Comboni family, work in partnership with communities to evangelize and build social justice, being signs of hope and solidarity in the most challenging contexts of the Church, such as the indigenous cause, the challenges of the urban peripheries, Restorative Justice in the prison system (APACs) and the struggle for decent housing.
The celebration was a moment of deep spirituality and fraternity, symbolizing the rebirth of life and faith. May the example of struggle and resilience of this community inspire more people to join the Comboni mission of spreading the love, justice and peace that Christmas invites us to live. After all, the true meaning of Christmas lies in building a more just and humane world together.
Adriana and Marcelo Moutinho, Brazilian CLM couple
Want to know more?
- About the struggle and conquest of Piquiá: https://piquiadebaixo.com.br/ @piquiadebaixo
- About the Comboni Lay Missionaries of Brazil: http://surl.li/uixfyf @lmcbrasil.ofc
Prayer Intentions of the Comboni Family January 2025
Let us pray that, through our missionary service, we may help build up the Kingdom that Jesus came to bring into the world: a kingdom of justice, love and peace. Lord, hear us.
