Comboni Lay Missionaries

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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

by
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

Life is a Mission

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Dear Comboni Lay Missionaries and all the People of God.

The mission continues! For the past three months, I have been on mission in Piquiá, Açailândia, in the state of Maranhão, where I work at the Rural Family Home (CFR), which serves students in their first, second, and third years of high school—mostly the children of farmers who, in addition to theoretical instruction, learn hands-on skills in agriculture, vegetable gardening, fruit growing, fish farming, animal husbandry, and beekeeping.

I see this as very important and necessary work so that our young people can continue to live on the land and provide for their families.

On weekends, I’m joining the activities of the Santa Luzia Parish in Piquiá, and will soon begin to get involved in pastoral work.

I always count on the prayers of each one of you to give me the strength to continue on this journey.

A big hug to everyone.

Tito, Comboni Lay Missionary.

Concert on Integral Ecology

by
LMC Congo

With the help and support of the “Afriquespoir” choir, affiliated with the Comboni Missionaries, the Laudato Si Missionary Center, in collaboration with the community’s ecological commission, organized a concert on June 27, 2026, to praise God for creation.

In fact, praise is one of the fundamental pillars of the pastoral ministry of Integral Ecology. Only by recognizing that the Lord is the Creator and Lord of the entire universe can we also understand our role and act as stewards who preserve and care for creation, while working together to fulfill what the Lord has foretold since the dawn of time.

The choir’s performance kept the audience’s attention firmly engaged, performing traditional, classical, and popular songs with creativity and a lively rhythm. They opened the concert with the Laudato Si’ Center’s hymn, titled “Lord, We Praise You, Lord, We Adore You for the Wonders You Accomplish,” a song composed by Comboni Brother Alfred Mbungi, a missionary in Buta.

In the final segment, they performed the late Father Makamba’s song “Po Po Botiaki Ntembe?”, which highlights the root causes of the evils that are plunging creation into crisis; it serves as a reminder that, despite the fact that nature provides everything for humanity, there is still so much hunger and misery in the world, especially in Africa. This happens because a small minority imposes a technocratic model that drives unlimited production with no respect for God’s providential plan—for He is the Father of all. With unbridled greed, they cut down forests and pollute rivers with chemicals. These are people who misappropriate common goods and, with the arrogance of force and weapons, seek only their own interests and profits.


This is why praise for the Creator must be put into practice in daily life, as demonstrated by the vision, creativity, and resilience of certain young people and women. Dino Zoli Mundele, on behalf of the Montngafula youth group, shared with us about door-to-door separate waste collection. Jean Denis Djamba spoke to us about the urgent need to reduce plastic use, a commitment promoted by the youth of the Laudato si’ movement. Scholastic Denis Mbaiornom, on behalf of the community’s ecological commission, emphasized the commitment to recycling and reusing tires and other items to reduce waste accumulation. Ms. Mayawa Miriam is dedicated to making organic products for personal hygiene and skin care. Justin Bosenge Isakolota creatively manages to make “Wiva Kamouna” wine from avocado leaves—undoubtedly a special drink worth trying. Comboni Lay Missionary Fabrice Aifa Wetu, in collaboration with CENCO, is committed to reducing and halting deforestation, aware that without forests, biodiversity declines dramatically and that there can no longer be life in abundance for people or other living beings. Finally, there is the vision of Luciana Mohila Mbongo, who is promoting the “One Boy—One Tree” project to plant trees in the desolate city of Kinshasa, which is growing out of proportion without trees or green spaces.

These testimonies, together with praise to God, showed each and every one of us the path to follow in our lives and daily routines: adopting a way of life that respects the laws of nature and fosters truly fraternal relationships, respecting and valuing differences—just as nature teaches us, for it is rich and beautiful thanks to its great biodiversity.

A final toast, offered by the Center, brought the day to a close, with plans already set for the meetings and initiatives scheduled for the coming months.

Fr. Fernando Zolli