Comboni Lay Missionaries

My experience lived in Chiapas

IsabelHello to all my friends, the CLM of Mexico and the world, the Comboni Family, colleagues and family!
Here I share a summary of my lived experience in Chiapas, at this stage of my life that was very special and different and that God has given me, where he took me to a mission for the period from January to August of this year 2015.
I was living, working and sharing community life with my friend Rocio, who is also a CLM and we together were in Altamirano a Municipal Head of the State of Chiapas.
Chiapas is one of the 32 states of Mexico. It is located in the southeast, on the border with Guatemala. Its capital is Tuxtla Gutierrez, has several of the most important tourist destinations in Mexico, mainly Archaeological and Ecological Niche areas of great beauty. There are 122 municipalities; it is one of the states with the largest indigenous population in Mexico, since 30% of the population speaks an indigenous language of the continent. Besides the Spanish language, its official languages are: Tzeltal, Tojolabal, Tzoxil, Chol, Zoque, Lacandon, Chuj, Quiche, Kakchikel. The territory of Chiapas has a very complex morphology: the mountains formed by extensive mountainous areas, large valleys, coastal and flood plains, for this reason has great climate and biodiversity. Some areas have been declared “Biosphere Reserves” for hosting several animal and plant species. In Chiapas, important cultures were developed during the Mesoamerican pre-Columbian era: the Olmec, the Maya and Chiapaneca. Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in the State was reproduced and strengthened a wide social inequality. The abuses against indigenous peoples and rural communities generated a latent conflict until 1994 when it broke the Chiapas conflict led by the Zapatista Army of National Liberation, conflict that continues unresolved so far.
In the history of Altamirano, it is told that this town was founded in 1806 by residents of the Hacienda de San Antonio and San Vicente which asked the Vicariate of Ocosingo, own land to found a new town, choosing the place of Nacashlan to about 30 km south of Comitan, near River Tzaconeja, which in 1814 already had 90 indigenous families, all of them Tzeltal Ethnicity. First was called Ashlumal San Carlos. Ashlumal (new village). In 1911, this town that had belonged to the Department of Chilo, stands as a municipality. In 1935 the Governor Victorio R. Grajales renamed the village San Carlos to Villa Altamirano in tribute to poet Ignacio Manuel Altamirano and in 1942 it amounted to second-class municipality. In January 1994 became one of the towns occupied by the Zapatista Army of National Liberation.
We were working in the San Carlos Hospital, which was built by the Dutch government and is maintained and funded in large part by a Dutch NGO. In this health unit, all the people it attends, especially indigenous people, which are mostly Tzeltal, but also come Tojolabales Tzoxiles, Choles and Zoque.
The Parish of San Carlos Altamirano has 85 communities, but received indigenous communities belonging to other municipalities such as: Ocosingo, Oxchú, Palenque, Yajalón, Chilón … it is sad to see these poor people travel so much for medical care in this small hospital, which has resources for a first class medical care with general doctors only and has no specialists. Only in certain times of the year received medical specialists volunteer from Mexico, United States, Spain and Italy which help our people in Medical Surgical Campaigns of: Gynecology, Urology, Plastic Surgery and Dermatology. It has programs Nutrition, Tuberculosis and Mental Health.
I was shocked too, realizing that in the State of Chiapas the health sector is very poor, have few public hospitals. That’s why in this hospital, quite often it cannot be transferred serious ill patients who need specialized second- or third-level attention and we know that here will be complicated more or even die, and many fatalities could have been avoided if we count on good state health service.
Well, I also want to share my feelings in this land, because on one side has been good to work for the poor, yet have lived different feelings of sadness, pain, impotence, anger, uncertainty, because I encountered a very strong and depressing context, our indigenous brothers still live in poverty, are isolated and excluded, abandoned and trampled by the government, the institutions and the people who are not indigenous and call themselves as mestizos.
Indigenous people live in remote communities where they do not even have the basic services for a dignified life and not have rural health care. Almost no schools and for this reason a large percentage are illiterate, have no financial resources to produce their land, and there is great maternal, neonatal, child and of all ages mortality, as they are consuming by hunger, malnutrition, infections, parasites, tuberculosis, cancer, alcoholism, among other…
It is very painful to watch as they come to hospital with very advanced, complex or terminal conditions, because there was no one to attend in their communities and could not afford to move to a hospital. Some even tell us that walked for hours in the jungle and others in a truck along a road to get to our hospital. Another problem they have is that sometimes they say they are not attend in hospitals from the IMSS or Health because they do not speak Spanish and these institutions do not have staff who serve as translators. Something we liked from San Carlos Hospital was that in previous years a small school of nursing was open where they trained indigenous people as nurses and themselves translate the patients. Because all physicians are from outside and do not speak the language. I liked being there because I identified with the Comboni charisma too, as I always had in mind the motto of the Plan of Comboni: “save Africa with Africa” because here was: “save the indigenous with the indigenous people themselves.”
Isabel

I arrived in January, and then in April joined this experience my colleague CLM and friend Rocio.
Together we were working in the Hospital San Carlos, she in administration and human resources, since her profession is Business Administration and I as General Doctor. There, we shared working life, as well as shared community life where renting a cottage in the village. It was nice that every day we got up early, we were going to walk and exercise, and returning home, did together the morning prayer consecrating our day and asking for all; and after that each one were going to the hospital to do our own work task. We could share, live and learn together in this missionary experience. We share life with the Indians, we learned part of their culture, we learned to speak a few little words in Tzeltal as Jocolawal = Thanks, Cashan = come in, ban ti cux? = Where it hurts? deep breath = icha ik!, etc. We enjoyed the taste of Pozol which is its popular drink made with corn and water hammer. We ate their rich pumpkin gorditas, which are stuffed with bean… It was something very special to know them, heal them, listen to them, encourage them and motivate them, give them a word of encouragement and hope, speak of God’s love, comfort them spiritually especially when one of their relatives was serious ill or died in the hospital…
We made new friends, had good colleagues and find good people in the streets, in stores, at church and even in tourist places where we had the joy of moving and know… In the last month, Rocio could be doing mission also with the children in a suburb, where there are indigenous and lack of many things, especially education, Chío could help a bit with their homework, teach to read and write those who still did not know and even he taught some young computer skill. I accompanied her on some occasion because I spent more time in the hospital attending people and doing 24 hours guards and sometimes even more. In this respect was heavy work, because they were very long and superhuman, difficult to take much time with this pace… But although it was a short time we were sharing with the children and their families, it was very nice and comforting as missionaries… I think for Rocio was even more intense, because it was her own initiative…
And, as a law of life, there were positives and negatives in this time of mission, something more negative or disappointing was that we could not act with the sick, the staff and the people, as we would have liked. We had too many limitations and obstacles, as Vincentian religious (Sisters of Charity) who are directing this hospital, had a much-closed system and was difficult for them to open to changes…
In addition, we could not get to indigenous communities, where we wanted to do a project with our pastoral ministry and missionary work, as is currently strong Zapatista conflict and confrontations and divisions exist between these villages. They do not let people to get in their villages so easy. For this reason, it has been difficult for the same pastor priest, for religious and other volunteers and other organizations that want to work in these lands to help fighting this material and spiritual poverty that exists. Up to the very evangelization it has been difficult because different religions and sects are infiltrating, it is sad to see that there are villages where they have several churches of different faiths and we even met some where they have no Catholic church, but of another religion.
There is a real need of more missionaries, laity, priests and religious to these lands…
Although it was a short time we could be in Altamirano and we decided to go for the moment, I do not stay convinced to retire, give up and never return to these people, who are so poor and abandoned… It has been a big concern inside me, because I know they need help. This is where the mission called, is where we see the suffering Christs, where it is necessary to stay as missionary and give our life, carrying our own cross with them, carrying a cross that weighs more and that together we can carry and make it weigh less. It is in these lands where it is necessary to do human promotion, to develop and achieve their own dignity as human beings. It is necessary that the feel that they are children of God too and deserve to be happy on this earth.
I faithfully think it is not impossible and with my heart in hand, I tell you we can find an alternative and a way to build a missionary project… As lay, we can research and seek for support in an institution or a national or international NGO, in the Comboni Congregation, in the diocese, or perhaps more options to work with these peoples of Chiapas, because it really is one of the poorest and neediest states of our country. I’m not happy to say that I went, worked and met great wonders of nature, for me is still drilling into my mind and in my heart all these faces of suffering, bitterness, pain, illness, depression, helplessness, sadness, despair, thirst and hunger of God and for human dignity… May God help us to help, the laity have many capabilities and potential, have a lot of crazy ideas, but they are good desires and above all, have the missionary spirit of charity, and that challenging soul, but sometimes alone we cannot, we need people and resources; and a head does not think like a lot. I invite you to reflect on this and if as CLM of Mexico and the world someday we may launch into action a project for the indigenous people of Chiapas, let us do it. Although I know we have other places of mission where we need the CLM, we are aware that sometimes we cannot meet those needs either for lack of economy or even for lack of personal health, meditate and strive to go covering those people who are not so remote or in difficult climates and environments, and it is possible to go and give the best of us with everything we are and have. Pray God to continue to bless all indigenous in the world, African-Americans and Africans … May St. Daniel Comboni intercede for them and for all missionaries.

Greetings to all, your friend: ISA. CLM.

A happy time in Carapira – Mozambique

Germano

The going of Jesus, as told in the Gospel of Sunday XXIII Ordinary Time, to a territory outside the Jewish tradition tells us that God’s concern is with everyone, not leaving anyone out. A deaf is brought before Jesus, he knows nothing about Him because he did not hear and, of course, could not seek Him by his own initiative. Who does not know Jesus we do not have to censor, but rather lead to Him.

On the way we did for the trip to Mozambique we went to meet those forgotten by society, I talk about the homeless and the poor, because, however much people are supportive, we forget the real suffering of these our friends, loneliness. How many times have told us that we were different, we brought a smile, a hug, a kind word…? The feeling that I wanted to take with me to Carapira. I did not know what I was going to find, but I took an open heart, cheerful, full of love to give. We must learn from Jesus to feel the problems of others and get involved in their solution. It was that feeling and purpose that we try to achieve, and the Fe and Mission group conducted. We open ourselves, we listen, look, get involved and engaged with students of the Industrial School of Carapira, with the missionary family (fathers, brothers, sisters, laity) and with the community of Carapira. Where I loved the beautiful work of everyone, especially Lay Missionaries, who are close to people, communities and their everyday problems, as well as students of the Industrial School of Carapira.

Every day we went to meet the community of Carapira, after praying Lauds (06:00), after the “mata bicho” funny expression means having breakfast, from 1:30 to 2:00 I stay with the kids, playing with them, wearing a smile, I helped the moms to draw water… to be with people, give them a hug and a kind word for everyone we met. I learned that those who have nothing of material goods, are the happiest, they do not care for physical appearance of the other, about the dress or the way we are, but they appreciate the joy of life and the ability to share the little things We have to each other.

Highlighting some important moments of my stay. I visited on a Friday with Father Firmino the community of Caserna, it was the day of baptism. I loved to participate in this beautiful celebration and a special culture, while Fr. Firmino confessed youth they were to be baptized, I went for a walk around the community, and in one of the houses, was a young man of 12 years, David, lying at the entrance, moaning in pain. After having asked what was going on and not getting response appeared young David’s mother, who informed me that he was bitten by an animal. David’s hand was very swollen, so I got scared and tried to warn the mother to go to the doctor, but she said they could not, they live far from the health center, and had no money to go by public transport, the only transportation that could take. I could not escape this situation, however, I took from the backpack drinking water to clean the hand of the young and offered him a piece of cake, which I have to eat if I was hungry, David loved to eat something sweet and so good.

When I got to the school of Carapira, I went to the house of the Lay Comboni Missionaries, and asked for help to Marcia, a laity working in this mission, Portuguese and from the District of Aveiro, who immediately offered to help David.

The next week I was with a group of five young of Carapira talking on the street, when suddenly I see a man carrying on his back a woman who was ill with malaria, and could not walk far. I asked the young people for help, to assist the man, but the response was negative, as was normal, the lady was with malaria… but I could not bear to see this situation without doing anything, so I helped him, the man took the woman in the back and it was leaning on my shoulders… that will not be very helpful, but I think it was useful. These are small gestures that can change the world.

What I liked least to live and see in Mozambique was the lack of conditions in relation to health, education and equal rights for women, which are considered inferior to men. But the joy, friendship, simplicity of these people are able to overcome any existing negativity, I want to emphasize “people’s education”, they are highly educated (they like greeting people), even without the right to education that many other peoples have.

We all had various responsibilities, some more heavies, other lighters, but all very important and meaningful for the mission. We live and work as a community. I thank all the people who greeted us, welcomed us, who trusted us… but above all the youth of the Industrial School of Carapira, the 3rd B, of which I felt closer and every day I remember them, I pray that they study, strive for a better future and do not forget that they can be what they want, they are not inferior to anyone.

I have lived a dream I will never forget. I can say “I smelled the Mission,” which helped me grow as a man and as a Christian. I want to come back!!

For this and for that, I ask the Lord to heal us of deafness and blindness, and put us in sincere communion with His love and with the world around us.

GermanoSee you son Carapira – Mozambique!

Germano Ferreira

Last day of the XVIII General Chapter in Rome

capitulares

“Now it’s time to bring the Chapter in the life of the Institute”, with these words the outgoing superior general Fr. Enrique Sánchez González, who presided at the concluding Mass of the XVIII General Chapter, called on the delegates to send to all the confreres the spirit and message of these weeks they had together. On this last day of the Chapter, in the morning session Fr. Enrique Sanchez read in the Assembly hall the formal decree of the Chapter’s closer that had been approved by the Chapter delegates.

At 11.30, the concluding Mass began. During the homily, Fr. Enrique focused on three words: courage, joy and hope. He invited everyone to renew the experience of the love of God, the source of our missionary commitment, to bring even with greater joy the proclamation of the Gospel to the poor and the outskirts of suffering. On the novelty of the Chapter is that “the Lord – said Fr. Enrique – has not tired of us, he is still with us … and the best is still to come”.

At the end of the Mass, the newly elected superior general, Fr. Tesfaye Tadesse, thanked Fr. Enrique and the outgoing Council for their commitment and enthusiasm in guiding the Institute in these past six years. Also the Superior General of the Comboni Sisters, Luzia Premoli, who participated in the Eucharist with some of her sisters, expressed gratitude for the cooperation experienced in the past five years, for her, with the General Direction of the Comboni Missionaries.

The celebration took place in the main Chapel of the house and wad then continued with the convivial and lunch.

www.comboni.org

The Ethiopian “Gursha”

Colourful Ethio food

During lunch time, at the clinic where I serve, I (Maggie) eat routinely with four of my coworkers.  They each bring their lunch from home – injera (Ethiopian spongy bread) wrapped around wot (stew) which fits the square little Tupperware perfectly, and even stays in the shape of a square when dumped out.  Surprising to me, instead of each eating their own lunch from home, they grab one dinner size plate and in sequence dump their cubes of injera/wot on top of each other forming the “Leaning Tower of Wot”. Then they eat collectively, sampling and sharing everything.  It is a letting go of what is theirs, and a welcoming in of friendship and fellowship.

In Ethiopia, food is always shared, and typically eaten like this from one large platter without the use of cutlery.  Even strangers will be invited with a simple “Enebela!” (let’s eat!).  To me it is fun and new and means simple clean-up and virtually no dishes but to Ethiopians the tradition is much more deeply rooted, and follows their saying: “those who eat from the same plate will not betray each other.”

During lunch hour I am typically the recipient of the gursha. The “gursha” is a traditional custom that Mark and I initially found quite peculiar.  En route to Ethiopia we read about it in a culture book, and were curious yet nervous about the moment when we would experience our first gursha and how we would respond.  Gursha is when another person who is dining with you, unrolls a strip of injera, wraps it around a tasty bit of wot and then feeds you directly by hand.  It is the final breakdown of the notion of personal space! The trick is to take it without letting your mouth come into contact with the person’s fingers and without letting the food fall. One gursha is considered unlucky so it always repeats.  I think Mark and I each received our first gursha from our homestay sisters.  Since then I have been a regular gursha receiver and while it is still slightly peculiar I quite enjoy it.  I haven’t yet mastered the fine art of wrapping and dipping my injera properly to soak up the spicy wot so when my work colleagues feed me a bite of wot which they have personally selected it is much more delicious that what I have been feeding to myself!  Some days I receive so many gurshas that I don’t even need to eat on my own.  Not only is it tasty but it is also a sign of acceptance, like a hug between friends.  It’s a simple way to say I appreciate you.

A friend once said: “If you bring me to an Ethiopian meal, you are friend enough that I will gladly feed to you my first mouthful of food. If I am lucky you will feed to me your last — and if I am not, I have still profited the messy wonder of an Ethiopian meal.”

 

– Mark & Maggie Banga

Comboni Lay Missionaries serving in Awassa, Ethiopia

Fr. Tesfaye Tadesse elected as Superior General

TesfayeFr. Tesfaye Tadesse Gebresilasie was elected as Superior General of the Comboni Missionaries by almost all of the Chapter delegates. He is 46 years of age, Assistant General in charge of Basic Formation and the provinces/delegations of English-speaking Africa (except Eritrea) and Mozambique. Fr. Tesfaye Tadesse G. was born on September 22, 1969, in Harar (Ethiopia). He is the first African to hold the post of Superior General.

Immediately after the vote, the outgoing Superior General, Fr. Enrique Sánchez González, asked Fr. Tesfaye if he accepted the election.

Fr. Tesfaye replied: “My dear confreres, I would like to say a few words.

  1. Thanks. Thank you for the trust and mercy that you have shown me. Both in the vote as well as in personal dialogues with some, you have shown confidence, solidarity and support. Thanks for it. I would like to say thanks to the confreres who have expressed their reservations, their hesitation. I agree with you and thank you, because I myself am afraid, I too have my reservations and my hesitations. So thanks for your realism.
  2. Smallness. Our Institute, beginning with St. Daniel Comboni, is a great one, it is a beautiful family of disciples and martyrs for the mission, for Africa and for being at the side of the poor. Our Institute, too, has its problems. Faced by all this, I feel small, a little confrere who has had the experience of the great forgiveness of God and confreres. I feel small before the greatness of our Institute.
  3. Respect. The General Chapter among its activities must also give the Institute a General Council, as it has just elected the coordinator of this General Council. I respect your dialogue, your discernment and your vote. Out of respect for those who voted for me and for what these votes represent, after having prayed about it, I contacted my spiritual director and others, and especially after the encouragement of Fr. Enrique and the General councillors to accept, I, for the glory of God and trusting in God’s help, in the General Council, the General Direction here in Rome and in you, circumscription superiors, and humbly asking for mercy, I accept to serve as Superior General.”

After the acceptance by Fr. Tesfaye, Fr. Enrique Sánchez G., following the procedure of the elections as stated by the Statute approved on September 8, 2015, said: “Having the Rev. Father Tesfaye Tadesse Gebresilasie received enough votes on behalf of the Chapter, I, Enrique Sánchez González, declare the Rev. Father Tesfaye Tadesse Gebresilasie the elected Superior General of the Institute of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”