Comboni Lay Missionaries

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Mission in Arauca

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LMC Colombia

Under the motto “Let’s Make La Esmeralda the Land of the Virgin,” a pilgrimage begins through the various villages that make up La Esmeralda.

From May 17 through July 15, these villages are supported through the prayer of the Rosary, Marian catechesis, and lectio divina, which includes prayer and reflection.

Visits are made to families and the sick in the various areas, bringing a message of hope, faith, and love, rooted in the Comboni charism. This helps the villages maintain bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood and deepen their faith.

For us as missionaries, every activity is a process of learning and constant human and spiritual growth.

From June 12 to 15, 2026, we experienced a time of faith, fellowship, and renewal during the National Spiritual Retreat for Comboni Lay Missionaries in Arauca.

These were days to pause, listen to God’s voice, strengthen our spirituality, and share—as a missionary family—the call to serve with love and commitment.

Every moment we lived, every reflection we shared, and every fraternal encounter reminded us that the mission springs from a heart that allows itself to be transformed by God.

In our workshop with older adults, we reflected on “The Treasure of Our Life,” recognizing that every experience, every lesson, and every story we’ve lived is a gift from God that enriches our families and communities.

More than just reminiscing about the past, it was a time to give thanks for the journey we’ve taken, to strengthen our faith, and to discover that the true treasure lies in shared love, enduring hope, and God’s presence at every stage of life.

Janet and Jenny, CLM Colombia

We Returned to Manzanillo to Continue Rowing in Peter’s Boat

by
LMC Guatemala

On July 4, as Comboni Lay Missionaries, we had the joy of returning once again to the community of Manzanillo to continue sharing the mission, our faith, and our closeness with our brothers and sisters.

In the morning, we held a pediatric medical clinic, where we were able to care for the youngest members of the community. It was an opportunity for service, listening, and companionship, during which we provided medical care, diagnoses, and medication. Each child we cared for reminded us of the importance of a mission that proclaims the Gospel not only with words but also through concrete gestures of love and care.

Seeing the families arrive with trust and hope filled our hearts. As a missionary community, we understand that serving is also a way of evangelizing, especially when God’s love is made present in caring for those who need it most.

In the afternoon, we gathered with the adults of the community to reflect together on the theme “Peter’s Boat.” This moment invited us to recognize that we are all called to board that boat which is the Church—a boat that sometimes faces strong winds, weariness, or uncertainty, but which continues to move forward because Christ is with us.

In the midst of our reflection, we also shared a very special and fraternal moment: we baked an “impossible cake” together. More than just a recipe, it was an experience of connection, teamwork, and shared joy. In the end, the cake was shared among the members of the community, becoming a simple yet profound sign of communion.

This visit reminded us that mission is built step by step, through constant presence, listening, service, and small gestures that speak of God’s love. Manzanillo continues to be for us a place of encounter, learning, and hope.

We give thanks to God for allowing us to return, for every child we served, for every family we welcomed, for every smile shared, and for the opportunity to continue walking alongside this community.

As St. Daniel Comboni said: “The mission is carried out on one’s knees.”

May every visit, every act of service, and every fraternal gesture help us continue rowing together in Peter’s Boat, always trusting that Christ guides our mission.

CLM Guatemala

Final meeting of the year for the CLM in Poland

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SMK Polska

The last formation meeting of the CLM in Poland took place this year over the weekend of June 19-21. It was a combined meeting for new candidates discerning their vocation and for the ongoing formation of Comboni Lay Missionaries. As always, there was time for prayer and Mass, but also many other interesting meetings and activities.

We heard the testimonies of Iza and Marzena – our CLM members serving in Kenya on two different missions. Iza works in the newly established mission in Chelopoy, and Marzenka in Kitelakapel, which was the CLM’s first international mission in Kenya. They shared with us their missionary activities. Meetings with our missionaries are always incredibly enriching.

We also had an online meeting with Father Maciek Zieliński, a Comboni missionary who has been with the CLP since its beginning in Poland. He told us about the beginnings of the Movement in Poland, which began with individual lay people who harbored a missionary desire in their hearts, and the openness of the Comboni Missionaries who agreed to accompany them in their discernment and formation. Father Maciek, who has extensive experience with the CLM in Poland, Kenya, and currently in the USA, emphasized the importance of proper discernment during formation.

As on every meeting, we also had a catechesis on St. Daniel Comboni. Since we had new people among us, we wanted to introduce them to the figure and story of our founder. Then we focused on the characteristics of St. Daniel, which we discussed together. We also talked about the congregations he founded and about the CLM. We also addressed our own activities, showing how living Comboni’s charism, modeling his approach, and learning lessons from his actions helps us in our missionary work and in fulfilling our missionary vocation.

There was also time for community building, as we did during the Saturday barbecue 🙂

CLM Poland