Comboni Lay Missionaries

You Are Christmas

Navidad eres tu

On December 17 we met in Bologna, Italy, to prepare for Christmas, to be surprised by a baby who is born – being surprised by seeing God who turns into an infant out of love for us.

We wanted to live as a group a gathering that would have the flavor of this marvelous waiting. It is a waiting that holds our attention, an announcement leading to love and a love leading to God.

We listened to the Word in the Gospel of Luke (Lk 2:8-20) and together we built the crib. Each one of us took a shepherd and we placed ourselves near the baby Jesus, reading this prayer and making it our own:

You are Christmas, when you decide to be born again every day and let God enter your soul.

You are Christmas, when you sing to the world a message of peace, justice and love.

Christmas is when you lead someone to meet the Lord.

You, too, are one of the Magi when you give of the best of what you have, independently of who the recipient is.

You are the Christmas music, when you achieve internal harmony.

You are the Christmas wishes, when you forgive and bring about peace, even as you suffer.

Endurace is a new member of our group: a young Nigerian who shared with us his difficulties as an immigrant and the agonies he underwent in order to get to Italy.

In our intentions we remember the tragedy of immigration and the many deaths shrouded by our indifference and our silence.

To accept all this and to make ourselves small is the Christmas that challenges us every day, not just on December 25.

Emma also took part in our meeting. She has just return from three years of mission in Brazil.

She told us her story, her missionary journey from the CLM of Bologna and those of Brazil.

She showed us visuals of her service in prison ministry, in the peripheries of Contagem, her experience with the homeless in Salvador. Her words and the witness of her mission ad gentes were beautiful and powerful. Welcome back to the group to resume the journey with us!

The gathering ended with a community supper to which every member contributes something and where we mention important events:

The midnight Mass celebrated with the homeless at the station, and the march for peace on December 31 in Bologna.

We are very happy with these two initiatives that see us involved together with other social and missionary organizations, something that implies the participation of all since it is only by working together that we build and change the world.

Navidad eres tuMerry Christmas to all… no one excluded!

CLM of Bologna

In the Spirit of Christmas we celebrated together another weekend as breat as the CLM of Portugal!

LMC Portugal

On December 9-11The CLM of Portugal held another meeting in Santarem.

In the Spirit of Christmas we celebrated together another weekend as breat as the CLM of Portugal!

Each meeting begins with a welcome, warm hugs, laughter and jokes typical of people who meet in a joyful mood and hoping to spend the day conversing with each member of this growing “family,” sharing in friendship.

On Saturday morning, after prayer and breakfast, we started with the report from Rufina García on the topic of “Refugees in the world and in Portugal.” Following the presentation of this very relevant reality, she spoke to us of her work in the Caritas of Porto Alegre, Brazil, as an example of how much needs to be done for refugees who run away from war, with nothing, hoping to survive and find peace. Following the charism of St. Daniel Comboni and remembering the challenge formulated at the European meeting of the CLM, we need to keep track of this crisis and act accordingly.

LMC Portugal

Later, we were asked to put ourselves in the shoes of a refugee from different continents and build a Christmas tree with our desires and dreams. Only by placing ourselves in other people’s situation can we begin to understand a bit of their sorrow and become attentive to the refugees’ problems.

Finally we listened to the story of two refugees from Pakistan, Nadia and Milam. They told us about some of the many difficulties they encountered and still face. Nadia arrived about a year ago, thanks to the work of Caritas, but she does not speak Portuguese, because it has not been possible for her to exercise her right to be taught the language. Milam, currently unemployed and a driver by profession, arrived in Portugal four years ago after a six months journey. His greatest desire is to get his driver’s license in Portugal and find a job.

On Saturday afternoon, we held several activities designed to make us know the difference in the economic power of the different continents. The inequalities are abysmal! Finally, we were invited to go to the meeting of “love” which includes a time for reflection and personal prayer.

LMC Portugal

In the evening we had a time of relaxation together with other members who were not even present, such as Marisa, with whom we conversed extensively through Skype. In the spirit of Christmas we exchanged small gifts and good wishes.

On Sunday, family members and friends joined us for the Eucharist. After that we had the opportunity to listen to the witness of the CLM Elia, who recently returned after five years of missionary work in the Republic of Central Africa.

LMC Portugal

She spoke of “Christmas in Mission.” The sharing of Elia, simple and real, was marvelous and enriching, especially for us candidates who have not yet had mission experience. Other lay people joined us to share more briefly their experiences of Christmas lived in the missions, in poverty, but rich of the real meaning of Christmas, without materialism, consumerism and the distractions that are inescapable in our western world.

The desire to continue this path of formation and of sharing was evident in all of us. Following the example of Mary, the mother of Jesus, let us put our trust in the Lord.

We wish you all the continuation of a happy Advent! Let us welcome Jesus who may be coming, who knows in the person of a refugee!

By Gloria Rocha

“Christmas Eve” Polish CLM meeting

LMC Polonia

On 16-18th December we had our last formation meeting in 2016.

It was very extraordinary time. The main topic for this weekend was “Community”.

On Friday, after the supper, we had some introduction, and we talked a little bit about the components of CLM community. We looked closer at this issue on Saturday during some workshops conducted by Alberto de Portilla – our CLM International Coordinator from Spain.

LMC PoloniaDuring our Bible lesson with Sister Joanna, we were analysing Haggai Book. Israel as “exclusive People” needed to cooperate, live as a community and trust God in order to rebuild their Temple.

In the evening, there was a time for the Christmas Eve dinner. After reading story about Jesus’ birth from the Holy Bible, we shared  a special wafer when exchanging Christmas greetings. After that, we started to eat delicious Christmas food: croquettes with beetroot soup, dumplings with dried plums, a lot of gingerbreads and some traditional food from Silesia (administrative part of Poland) – “moczka”. It was also a time for the Christmas presents, it was a lot of fun and joy for all of us.

Late evening we started vigil in the Chapel, praying for all the continent in many different languages, having a special prayer for all the missionaries spread all over the World, and at midnight we participated in traditional Mass called “Pasterka”.

On Sunday, during the Comboni lesson we explored St. Daniel Comboni’s attitude regarding community and participation of everyone in the missions through the study of his Plan for the regeneration of Africa.
LMC PoloniaJesus is born every day, we just need to be courageous enough to notice it and accept Him in our hearts!

Merry Christmas to all of you!

CLM Poland