Blog – Comboni Lay Missionaries

Comboni Bishops: “It is from the heart that mission is born”

23 September, 2026 by Alberto de la Portilla

Sixteen of the 23 Comboni bishops serving the local Churches in Africa and Latin America met in Rome from September 16 to 21 for a meeting of formation and sharing, also leaving a message for the Comboni Family at this time of reconfiguration.

MESSAGE OF THE COMBONIAN BISHOPS TO THE COMBONIAN FAMILY

“When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them” Mt 9:36

Dear brothers and sisters,

we, the Comboni bishops, met at the General House of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus for a moment of ongoing formation and sharing. With this letter, we wish first of all to express our deep gratitude for this opportunity to meet and for the welcome we received at the General House. Being here, in the house that preserves the memory and journey of the Institute, allows us to share not only an institutional moment, but above all a Comboni fraternity that springs from the same missionary calling.

We wish to give thanks for the gift of missionary vocation in our Institutes, for the service that so many brothers and sisters offer to the Church on the different continents and, above all, for the witness of so many missionaries who, often in silence and in difficult situations, continue to live the charisma of Comboni faithfully, participating in the mission of Christ wherever the Church is called to be a presence, listening, reconciliation and hope.

We would like to share with you a word that seems particularly important to us at this moment in the life of our Institutes and the mission: the heart. Pope Francis, in Dilexit nos, invited us to return to the heart. Not as an inward-looking refuge, but as the place where the person rediscovers his or her unity, recognizes what truly matters and opens himself or herself to the encounter with God and with others. Pope Leo, with Dilexi te, has deepened this theme by speaking of the need to love the poor. Today, as always, the world needs a Church that sets no limits to love, that knows no enemies to fight but only men and women to love (DT 120). Love for the poor is the evangelical hallmark of a Church faithful to the heart of God (DT 103).

It is from the heart that mission is born. And perhaps precisely here lies one of the deepest challenges we face today: renewing mission means, first of all, allowing our hearts to be renewed. In a time of epochal change, our Institutes too are undergoing profound transformations and feel the need to rethink structures and ways of operating. Mission calls us to make courageous choices. But every reorganization acquires its true meaning when it arises from listening to God’s call and remains oriented towards the good of the mission, without ever losing sight of the good of each person.

For this reason, we must not simply ask ourselves: how can we continue to do what we have always done with fewer people and fewer resources? The deeper question is: what is the Holy Spirit asking of the Comboni charism today? What new form of mission? What renewed understanding of our way of being Church? Which structures are truly at the service of the Gospel and which, instead, risk becoming ends in themselves? The reorganization of our Institutes is therefore a necessary journey to be undertaken without fear and can also become a grace: an opportunity to return to what is essential and to allow the charism received from Comboni to find new forms, suited to the realities in which we are called to live today. We hope that this journey will take place in a spirit of synodality, through a renewed relationship between the local Churches and the Institutes of consecrated life, between priests and lay people, women and men, the elderly and the young.

Mission is participation in the mission of Christ. And a missionary Church is a Church that does not live for itself, but for others. For this reason, we need a renewed understanding of our way of being Church. We cannot proclaim reconciliation if our communities do not become places of reconciliation. We cannot speak of peace if we do not learn to preserve peace in our relationships. We cannot proclaim fraternity to a divided world if we ourselves do not become brothers capable of listening to one another, forgiving one another and supporting one another.

For this reason, we would also like to renew together an appeal for peace, disarmament and reconciliation. We live in a world marked by wars, violence, rearmament, polarisation and fear. In many of the places where missionaries are present, populations carry in their bodies and memories the wounds of conflicts. As a Church, we cannot resign ourselves to the logic of violence. And we missionaries are called to be artisans of peace. Disarmament concerns not only political and international decisions: it also calls for conversion of the heart and fosters a non-violent and peaceful disposition in relationships. It means disarming our hands, but also our words, judgments, fears and mistrust. A reconciled mission can become a seed of reconciliation.

During our meeting, we encountered another word that seems decisive to us: care. Care for ourselves, for our brother, for the ecclesial communities to which we are sent, together with care for our common home. Care is neither weakness nor withdrawal into ourselves, but loving attention to life. We are aware that care is an essential part of the ministry of a bishop; therefore, we ask the Lord for the wisdom and sensitivity necessary to be welcoming fathers and companions on the journey of our communities. The Church also needs missionaries who know how to care for their spiritual life, their humanity, their formation, the deepening of Comboni spirituality, their health, their relationships and their vocation. A missionary who does not care for himself risks, over time, losing the ability to care for others. We need to build communities in which everyone can feel welcomed, listened to and accompanied. We need to learn once again that our brother is not an obstacle to mission: he is part of the mission itself. And we need to care for creation, because in the beauty of the earth we can still recognise something of the beauty of God’s love.

Dear brothers and sisters, looking at the world with the heart of Christ, we no longer see merely problems to be solved, but people to love, communities to accompany in faith, wounds to bind up, and beauty to preserve. The times in which we live are not easy, but if our heart remains aflame with the love of Christ, then, even in our poverty, we will be hope for the world. Let us therefore ask the Lord to renew in us the missionary heart of Comboni. A heart capable of seeing, listening, making common cause with those who suffer and with those who rejoice, sharing their wounds and their hopes.

We assure you of our prayers and ask you to pray for us too, so that together we may serve the People of God with humility and courage.

The Comboni Bishops

2026 Youth leaders training session at holy family of Nazareth parish – Klikamé-Dangbessito Lome from 10-15th August

15 September, 2026 by Alberto de la Portilla

Theme: “Young People, Talents for Mary”

About fifty young people, six days of training, talents discovered, and a meaningful experience of faith, sharing, and learning!

From August 10 to 15, 2026, Holy Family of Nazareth Parish in Klikamé-Dangbessito hosted the 2026 Youth Leaders Training Session, organized by the Comboni Lay Missionary Candidates of Togo (CLM) in collaboration with the Legion of Mary.

The initiative brought together about fifty young people for a program designed to support their human and spiritual development while enabling them to discover, develop, and make the most of their talents.

The session was centered on Mary, who was presented on the first day as the “Star of Youth” by Father Aubin-Ephrem Biney, parish priest.

Through the life and virtues of Mary, the young participants were encouraged to cultivate humility, patience, resilience, compassion, prayer, and a spirit of service—values that are essential for becoming responsible leaders.

Topics Addressing the Challenges Facing Young People

Throughout the session, several important topics were addressed.

Personal and Environmental Hygiene, presented by Jean-Baptiste Gnimassoun, LMC, helped raise awareness among the young participants about the importance of personal hygiene, cleanliness, and environmental protection.

21st-Century Skills, presented by Ernest Botri, LMC, helped participants discover the importance of creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and other skills needed to succeed in today’s world.

Human and Spiritual Formation

Young People, social media and Artificial Intelligence, presented by Sister Elizabeth Corte Imperial, Comboni Missionary Sister, provided an opportunity to reflect on the responsible use of digital technologies.

The session also addressed human sexuality, its different dimensions, and the risks associated with irresponsible sexual behavior, with the aim of promoting responsibility and respect for oneself and others.

A Screening of the Film “Bernadette Soubirous”

The third day featured a special cultural and spiritual activity: the screening of a film about Bernadette Soubirous.

Through the story of this young girl and her experience of faith, the participants were invited to reflect on values such as faith, perseverance, humility, and fidelity to one’s convictions.

The screening complemented the spiritual teachings of the session and provided an opportunity for reflection and sharing among the young participants.

Turning Talents into Skills

An important part of the session was devoted to practical workshops, allowing the young people to learn by doing and develop concrete skills.

Knitting: making beanies and scrunchies; Beadwork: making necklaces, bracelets, and key rings.

Shoemaking: learning about different models and patterns and making “Prince,” “Princess,” and crossed-shoe models. Cooking: preparing peanut snacks, cakes, finger foods, decorating a wedding cake, and making liquid soap.

These workshops encouraged creativity, patience, precision, self-reliance, initiative, and teamwork.

A Closing Celebration of Young People’s Talents

The session concluded with a Closing Mass, followed by an exhibition and sale of products made by the young participants.

The exhibition gave participants an opportunity to showcase their creations and demonstrate how a talent can be discovered, developed, and transformed into a useful skill.

Through this session, the organizers sought to remind everyone that young people are not only the future: they are a vital force in the present, capable of actively contributing to the transformation of society.

“Young People, Talents for Mary”: Discover, develop, value, and serve!

Ernest A. S. Botri

We Keep Moving Forward

14 September, 2026 by Alberto de la Portilla

We are happy to share with you that we have just celebrated our 6-month anniversary in Brazil; it has been a challenge to settle back in and readjust. Thank God we’ve been able to get started with various activities and projects, since a helping hand is always welcome.

We’re working pastorally with two communities, trying to encourage them to grow little by little and to get more people involved in the work. We’re also supporting prison ministry, working with ministers of the Word, and providing catechumenate instruction, among other things.

We have carried out various activities, including family ministry with married couples, catechizing engaged couples preparing for marriage, and participating in an evangelization and awareness-raising event focused on the BETS theme. This initiative brought to light many cases of gambling abuse in the area and raises the question: What must we do as Christians to prevent this in our society?

We have also been working to identify and implement projects that can support the development of children, youth, and adults in the region. With great joy, we launched several language courses at the Comboni House—including English, Spanish, and French—as well as at the Ype Amarelo Association. It encourages us to see that there are young people and adults interested in acquiring new knowledge and skills that can help them secure better job opportunities and fulfill their dreams at the same time.

We continue with the training and therapy group for women, focused on evangelization, self-help topics, and crafts. We hope to start courses in drawing and painting, as well as monthly talks to inform and raise awareness about drug use and violence against women.

The peripheries always speak of a marginalization that shifts its focus over time—a neglect that affects new generations, especially today in the areas of education and family unity.

We ask for your prayers so that we may do God’s will and help those in need of comfort amid so much sadness and uncertainty.

May St. Daniel Comboni continue to intercede for the missionary work that all of us in the CLM carry out as one great community, and may everything be for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

A fraternal embrace.

Alejandro and Ana Cris

CLM of Guatemala in Brazil

A Retreat to Renew Our Hearts and Strengthen Our Mission

14 September, 202611 September, 2026 by Alberto de la Portilla

As Comboni Lay Missionaries of Peru, we lift our hearts to God and give thanks for the beautiful gift of experiencing our annual retreat on September 4, 5, and 6 in the city of Trujillo, in an atmosphere of fellowship, prayer, brotherhood, and deep reflection, accompanied by the MCCJ, Fr. David Nyinga Dunga. This retreat allowed us to step away from our daily activities to return to our hearts, listen to God’s voice, and renew the meaning of our missionary vocation. It was also a space to share our experiences, concerns, and hopes, strengthening our bonds as brothers and recognizing that we do not walk alone, but as a family called to serve.

In light of the encyclical *Dilexit te*, we were able to view the reality of poverty with fresh eyes. We came to understand that poverty is not limited to a lack of economic or material resources. There are also forms of spiritual, cultural, and social poverty that often remain hidden and may even be present within our own ecclesial communities.

This reflection has invited us to pause, to look with greater sensitivity, and to ask ourselves: Are we capable of recognizing our brother or sister who is suffering? Are we capable of drawing near to them and walking alongside them? Because when we learn to see with the eyes of the heart, we discover that behind every face there is a story, a need, and, above all, the presence of Jesus.

During these days, we have also reaffirmed the certainty that the face of the poor is the face of Christ. We are called to encounter God in the simple and everyday: in our families, at work, in our pastoral ministry, in our communities, and in every person with whom we share the journey.

But this gathering has also led us to look within and recognize our own shortcomings and frailties. We cannot approach others from a position of superiority or distance. We are brothers and sisters who need God and one another. That is why our mission springs from humility, empathy, solidarity, and a sincere desire to walk together.

Christ himself was born, lived, and died in poverty. He drew near to the little ones, the excluded, and those who suffered. He came as a poor man for the poor and showed us that true love is not merely words, but is transformed into service, self-giving, and closeness.

Saint Daniel Comboni deeply understood this call. He gave his life for the poorest and most forgotten peoples, convinced that the mission must be a concrete expression of God’s love. As Comboni Lay Missionaries, we wish to follow in his footsteps and make this charism our own, placing our lives at the service of evangelization and our brothers and sisters, especially those who most need our presence and solidarity.

As this retreat comes to a close, we carry in our hearts gratitude for what we have experienced, joy for the encounter, hope to continue on our journey, and the desire to renew our missionary commitment. We leave Trujillo with a renewed perspective on our mission, ready to recognize Jesus each day in our brothers and sisters—especially in those who suffer, feel alone, or experience various forms of poverty, and in those who look to us for a word of hope, a sense of closeness, and a helping hand.

May the Lord grant us the grace not to be indifferent to the suffering of our brothers and sisters. May He give us a simple, compassionate heart, ready to serve. And may we, following the example of St. Daniel Comboni, bring our charism to life and proclaim through our actions that the mission begins when we are able to love, serve, and walk alongside others.

Thank you, Lord, for this retreat, for our brothers and sisters, and for the gift of the missionary vocation! May we continue walking together, with faith, hope, and a Comboni heart.

CLM-PERU

The Mission Continues

9 September, 2026 by Alberto de la Portilla

During the week of August 23–30, Vocations Month, we experienced moments of deep Comboni spirituality here at the Comboni Mission in Piquiá, in Açailândia, in the state of Maranhão, in northeastern Brazil.

These were days marked by strong participation from the people of this region, where the Comboni Missionaries—priests, brothers, and laypeople—have been working for 35 years.

There were Masses, gatherings, visits, moments of sharing, and fellowship. And this past Sunday, the 30th, a Mass of Thanksgiving was celebrated for this entire missionary journey and for the 25th anniversary of the priestly ordination of Fr. Joseph Mumus Mumbere, currently parish priest of St. Luzia Parish in Piquiá.

The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Vilsom Basso of Imperatriz and concelebrated by four Comboni priests who have served in Piquiá over the course of these 35 years, along with the Comboni Lay Missionaries present there.

Tito and Regimar

CLM married couple at the Piquiá Mission.