After traveling quite a bit, we arrived in Lima, Peru. We were warmly welcomed by Mrs. Ana and Mr. Fisher from the CLM in Peru. It was the first time we had spent Holy Week away from our country and family.
We celebrated Palm Sunday at the chapel near our home. We enjoyed the songs and prayers. People were very happy to meet us. They gave us a brief moment to introduce ourselves.
On Good Friday, we went to the Pamplona neighborhood for the Stations of the Cross. It was a new experience. Everywhere we went, we shared food and joy.
On other days, we visited the families of the CLM members who live in Lima, and we also went to the scholastics’ house and the provincial house. We also visited downtown Lima to do some sightseeing and see some very beautiful places.
So far, we’re having a very good experience. We like the food in Peru. The climate suits us well. We’ve learned about the culture, about money, and how people pay for food and other things.
We’re currently studying hard to improve our Spanish. We want to learn Spanish well so we can provide the best missionary service possible. We’re learning a lot about the culture and history, and we’re also interacting well with the people.
On Holy Thursday, we dedicated our morning for a moment of prayer at the home of a family from the Ipê community. We prayed together and reflected on the text written by Valdeci regarding CF 2026.
Afterward, we took a walk, observing the glaring contradictions around us.
Ipê Amarelo is a neighborhood born out of the organization of homeless families who used to pay rent. It is a story of the struggle to secure housing in the 1990s, when, through much struggle and resistance, they moved from living in tents to their own homes. But it is also bordered by a large wall that marks social inequality, for behind the walls, guarded by security guards, lies one of the most luxurious condominiums in the region. Visiting the families was a time to listen to their stories, learn about their joys and challenges, and experience the community’s characteristic hospitality.
In the evening, we participated in the foot-washing ceremony at the Nossa Senhora Aparecida Community, a beautiful moment that reminded us that “we are the church of shared bread, of embrace, and of peace.”
On the Wednesday of Holy Week, we visited the Brumadinho Memorial, a place of remembrance and “a victory for the families of the 272 victims of the Córrego do Feijão mine dam collapse, which occurred on 25 January 2019 in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais”.
This was a visit that made us stop and ask ourselves: “What are we doing to our planet?” We left deeply affected by the history of the place, the trail of destruction left by mining, and the feeling that whilst places may change, the destructive practice of the current model of exploitation remains the same in many places. Affected communities, the loss of lives, the destruction of rivers and entire ecosystems, and a deep sense of impunity.
Before and After the Breakup – Source – Correio Braziliense
Everything we saw, heard and felt made us reflect on the need to deepen our understanding of the Spirituality of Integral Ecology, which reconnects us with our common home, with our brothers and sisters, and reminds us that everything is interconnected.
The 2026 Fraternity Campaign invites us to reflect on one of the most profound truths of the Christian faith: “He came to dwell among us” (John 1:14). The prologue of John’s Gospel reveals the heart of the mystery of the Incarnation. God did not remain distant from human reality. The Word became flesh, took on our condition, entered history, and chose to dwell in the midst of humanity. He did not come as a passing visitor, but as one who decided to share the life, the sufferings, and the hopes of his people.
The Incarnation is, therefore, God’s great gesture of closeness. In Jesus, God draws near to wounded humanity, especially to those living on the margins: the poor, the excluded, and those forgotten by society. Christ is born into a simple reality, grows up among the little ones, walks with those who suffer, and proclaims a Kingdom where the least are placed at the center. This logic of the Gospel breaks with the mentality of power and indifference, and reveals a God who chooses closeness, compassion, and service.
This perspective deeply illuminates Comboni missionary spirituality. Inspired by St. Daniel Comboni, the missionaries are called to make the same movement as Jesus: to go out to meet, to live among, and to walk alongside the poorest. Comboni understood that mission does not take place from a position of superiority or distance, but through the concrete sharing of life with those most in need. His missionary dream was clear: to save Africa with Africa itself, valuing the peoples, their cultures, and their dignity.
Within this logic, Comboni lay missionaries play an essential role. They bear witness that mission is not exclusive to religious or priests, but is a vocation of the entire People of God. The lay missionary is one who, immersed in daily life—at work, in the family, in the community—becomes a living presence of the Gospel. He embraces mission as a way of life, bringing the presence of Christ to places where the institutional Church often cannot reach.
The Incarnation teaches us that God does not transform the world from a distance. He commits himself to human reality. In the same way, Comboni lay missionaries are called to dwell in the existential peripheries, to draw near to the sufferings of humanity, and to build concrete signs of hope. Being with the poor is not merely an act of social solidarity, but a profound dimension of the Christian faith. In the faces of the poor and vulnerable, we encounter Christ himself, who continues to challenge us.
In this sense, the theme of the 2026 Fraternity Campaign, “He came to dwell among us,” also becomes an invitation to every Christian: to allow Christ to continue dwelling in the world through our actions. When we draw near to those who suffer, when we share life with the forgotten, when we fight so that all may have dignity, we are extending God’s presence in the midst of humanity.
For where life is defended, where dignity is restored, and where the poor are welcomed, there God continues to dwell among us.
With hearts full of joy and hope, we continue our mission in the beloved village of El Manzanillo, living another day of encounter, service, and faith, always walking hand in hand with the Risen Jesus.
In the morning, we visited the families of the community, carrying with us the Paschal candle, a sign of Christ’s living presence. With each visit, we entered homes bringing the Light of the Risen Jesus Christ, sharing words of comfort, faith, and hope. It was a deeply meaningful moment, where we were able to listen, pray, and accompany each family, reminding them that God never abandons His children and that the Resurrection is a promise of new life for all.
In the afternoon, we shared a time of fraternal fellowship with the community, engaging in arts and crafts using basic materials, fostering creativity and everyone’s participation. We also enjoyed moments full of joy with the children, playing games, where their smiles and innocence reminded us of the beauty of serving with love and simplicity.
Thus we concluded a blessed day, filled with fraternity, dedication, and mission, where once again we were able to bring the Good News to this neighborhood, proclaiming with joy and conviction:
Jesus Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed!
Inspired by the witness of St. Daniel Comboni, we recall his words and his missionary spirit, which encourage us to go out to meet those most in need, to bring the Gospel with courage, and to always trust in God’s work, even in the midst of challenges. He taught us that mission is built on love, closeness, and total dedication to the service of others.
As Lay Missionaries of Guatemala, we wish to reaffirm that our entire missionary community remains united, walking together in faith, supporting one another, and keeping in our prayers every family, every child, and every person who is part of this beautiful mission.
We move forward with renewed hope and open hearts, knowing that every step we take is a seed of love sown in the name of the Risen Christ.
May God bless the village of El Manzanillo and each of its families.
CLM Guatemala
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