Alberto de la Portilla – Comboni Lay Missionaries

We Celebrate the Feast of St. Daniel Comboni

7 October, 2026 by Alberto de la Portilla

On October 10, we will celebrate the feast of St. Daniel Comboni.

It is a special occasion to return to the roots of our missionary vocation, renew our commitment, and continue to make Comboni’s dream a reality.

As Comboni Lay Missionaries, we wish to join in this celebration by inviting our groups, communities, and all those who share the missionary spirit to set aside a moment for prayer.

To that end, we have prepared a brief prayer to be said in our missionary groups—a simple prayer designed to help us come together, give thanks for the journey we have made, and allow ourselves to be challenged anew by Comboni’s missionary dream.

We invite you to celebrate this together, wherever you may be, feeling part of the same family and the same mission.

May Saint Daniel Comboni help us keep our hearts open and our eyes fixed on the mission.

Happy Feast of Saint Daniel Comboni!

Saint Daniel Comboni, pray for us and accompany us on our mission.

Oración día de Comboni EN Download

(Prayer prepared by the Spanish CLM for Comboni Day)

Celebrating the Joy of Childhood in El Manzanillo

7 October, 20266 October, 2026 by Alberto de la Portilla

With great joy, as Comboni Lay Missionaries of Guatemala, we shared a very special day with the children and families of the El Manzanillo community, celebrating Children’s Day.

It was a day filled with smiles, games, a piñata, gifts, and moments of fellowship. But we wanted this gathering to do more than just provide fun—we wanted it to plant a small seed in the heart of every child.

Through a simple evangelization activity, we shared the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37), recalling one of Jesus’ most beautiful teachings: to love our neighbor not only with words, but by reaching out, helping, listening, and showing compassion.

We learned that to be a “Good Samaritan,” we don’t need to do extraordinary things. We can be one by sharing, helping those in need, accompanying those who are alone, listening to a friend, giving a hug, or simply offering a smile.

And perhaps this lesson wasn’t just for the children.

They, too, evangelize us with their simplicity, their joy, and their way of receiving and sharing love. They remind us that often it is the small actions that can make a big difference in someone’s life.

As a missionary community, this gathering also reminds us that evangelizing means reaching out, sharing life, and allowing Christ’s love to become visible through our actions.

May we not pass by those who need us. May we learn to see through the eyes of the Good Samaritan and have a heart willing to stop, reach out, and serve.

“Go and do likewise.” — Luke 10:37

Thank you to the children and families of *El Manzanillo* for once again opening the doors of their community to us and allowing us to share a day full of joy, faith, and love.

CLM Guatemala

We continue the mission

7 October, 20262 October, 2026 by Alberto de la Portilla

Hello to all of you—friends, family, and benefactors.

We’ve been back for almost two months now, after a very brief stop in Italy, and the mission has kept us busy with our usual activities as well as with an extraordinary event: the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Comboni Missionaries’ presence here in Mozambique. We put a lot of effort into making this day happen and sharing it with so many people.

We’re continuing to contribute our efforts and your support in various pastoral and social areas, always striving to heed the promptings of the Holy Spirit so we can walk among the Macua people with purpose and love.

In the meantime, we send you a warm hug, and as soon as we can, we’ll send more detailed information. Have a blessed start to the Missionary Month, and thank you for continuing to remember us in your prayers. With respect and gratitude, a huge hug

Ilaria and Federica from Mozambique

Prayer Intentions of the Comboni Family October 2026

1 October, 2026 by Alberto de la Portilla

We pray that all members of the Comboni Family, sustained by the Holy Spirit and inspired by Saint Daniel Comboni, may proclaim the Gospel with joy and be signs of light, hope, and tenderness among the peoples to whom they are sent. Let us pray.

The mission is carried out through walking

29 September, 2026 by Alberto de la Portilla

Evening of Peasant Philosophy

It took place on September 25, 2026, at the Rural Family School (CFR) in Piquiá, Açailândia, Maranhão. Coordinated by the Comboni Lay Missionaries, the Evening of Peasant Philosophy had the theme: THE EARTH THAT HABITS US.

All students, family members, settlement groups from the region, and guests were in attendance.

There was a profound reflection on the theme, featuring speeches, poetry, and outstanding performances by the students and groups present at the event.

Certificates were also awarded to the graduating class who completed their studies in 2025 and are now part of the workforce.

To conclude the evening, there was a lively gathering among the coordinators, students, family members, and everyone present for this great moment of reflection on Mother Earth.

The CLM Community of Piquiá consists of two couples: Xoancar and Dida, and Tito and Regimar.