Comboni Lay Missionaries

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New CLM Bulletin in Costa Rica

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Costa RicaComboni asked the missionaries to be holy and capable.

Saints, for all who follow Christ should aspire to be a perfect image and likeness of the Lord, in everything, even the cross. A Christian, who does not want to be like Christ, is half on their spiritual journey. And capable, because, like Christ, the missionary must also perfected a work, with concrete actions to build the Kingdom of God here on earth.

In this missionary walking, every member of the community will discover their gifts and talents working together will refine their own skills, and placed at the service of others. And it is in this community effort, where everyone discovers it is essential to build the Church, and to be the Body of Christ.

Thus, little by little, the CLM of Costa Rica have seen the need –following the example of other CLM communities- to communicate and encourage the local church, with means and tools to raise awareness of the missionary charism, and attract more people willing to live the mission to its ultimate consequences.

The first project undertaken by Costa Ricans CLM in the area of communication is the missionary’s newsletter, which first came out in the month of missions. This bulletin is the result of a joint effort in which everyone developed one of the sections of the newsletter.

It is the first experiment which must get better, of course, but also a joy to see realized a dream that began earlier this year. The idea is that, through the bulletin, we may inform of important news of the mission of the whole Church, and more specifically of the work performed by the CLM worldwide.

In fact, we hope that everyone, as a single Comboni family, can be present in this newsletter, which will be monthly spread. For this reason, we encourage you to share your experiences or missionary projects in their various communities and missions to make them known in our country- printed and digitally- and develop, in this way, a strong missionary animation. Any writing or testimony you wish to share can be send by mail to the CLM in Costa Rica: laicosmisioneroscombonianos.cr@gmail.com.

We hope you enjoy this first edition, and, with your prayers and comments we can improve it every day. United in prayer.

We leave you here a digital copy of it: BoletinCR

Christian Madriz

[Mozambique] Working together

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This semester, the discipline of civic and moral education for students in the third year at the Industrial School of Carapira, has been on the subject of sexual education. It is a subject that attracts attention and arouses the curiosity of the students, especially something so present in this period of adolescence for which they are going through.

In the latter period, the subject is STD (sexually transmitted infections), among which is also AIDS.

Aula da turma do 3oB
Clase de tercero B
Aula da Turma do 3ºA
Clase de tercero A

Thus, to provide students with access to quality information on the subject, I invited health technician working at the Health Center in Carapira to present this topic, clarify doubts and raise awareness regarding the importance and ways to prevent diseases.

Thus, the technical participate in the classes for both classrooms of the third year, explaining about the disease and its effects, making use of visual material.

Students actively participated with questions and testimonies in a timid start, but as it was passing the class more freely. Also the way the technical invigorated, speaking in the language of young people, provide this opening. It was a time of enrichment and interesting information, training and collaboration between the Health Center and the School. So we worked together on the Human Formation of these young people, following the example of Comboni, in collaboration with local professionals.

Flávio Schmidt

 

CLM Annual Retreat 2014 in Peru

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Retiro PeruOn 26, 27 and 28 of this month of September the Comboni Lay Missionaries of Peru had the opportunity to live a spiritual retreat in the Foyer de Charité in Ñaña home, a district of Lima. There were present CLM from Trujillo, Arequipa, Lima and Huanuco. The occasion was propitious to reflect important points of our life as Comboni Lay Missionaries, share our life experiences on the mission especially with our foreign and national brother’s Ad Gentes.

Difficulties come and go in our lives, occur daily the economic, family, work… problems. But our strength is in our prayer and faith that we share in the midst of these storms.

Being a Lay Missionary in these times requires great dedication and passion. For this way of life St. Daniel Comboni sought missionaries “Saints and Able.”

This retreat comforts us and encourages us to make significant strides in our life as CLM and grow as a missionary family.

Fisher CLM Peru

[Mozambique] Political Debate

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Mozambique is in period of election campaign for the presidential elections in the republic and the legislative and provincial assemblies, this which take place on 15 October of this year. There are three candidates approved by the constitutional council, representing the party FRELIMO, RENAMO and MDM.

PartidosMZ

Therefore, the Commission for Justice and Peace, organized a political debate, at the diocesan meeting for Justice and Peace of the Diocese of Nacala, it took place from 11 to 14 September, inviting representatives of the three parties in the District of Monapo to talk about the different proposals for their respective presidential candidates; they also answer questions and share with the animators how holds the process of the election campaign.

Thus, on the afternoon of September 12, the debate was held, attended by representatives of the parties and more than forty animators of Justice and Peace from the different parishes of the Diocese. It was a very interesting time for dialogue and questions, especially because of the participation of the animators, who made ​​pertinent questions about specific situations without fear. Stand out questions of two women who participated in the meeting, talking about the situation which faces in the hospitals concerning to illegal collection and the lack of medicine, asking about what to do in this situation.

As with any campaign, there were no lack of proposals and promises from those representing the parties. Therefore it was an important exercise of citizenship, which should continue, not just on election day, but also in the accompanying of the chosen candidate for the Government!

Flávio Schmidt

 

Ends the III American CLM meeting

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AntiguaThe Third Meeting of the Comboni Lay Missionaries in America took place in Guatemala City from 16 to 20 September, together with the Central Committee of the CLM. The seed planted by St. Daniel Comboni has continued to bear abundant fruit in the hearts that make silence to listen to the will of God.

The meeting was attended by the CLM of the continent -USA / Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Colombia, Peru, Brazil- and Comboni advisors and a Comboni sister. This was really a meeting full of cultures and languages, but united by a common Comboni missionary spirit.

Every day, we all met in the Holy Eucharist, which was the food necessary to meet the challenges of work presented to us as the meeting progressed.

After Mass starts, the working sessions in different themes, related to the Way of the CLM: coordination, structure, economics, education, mission, among others; in order to reach agreements and proposals to help each community to further deepen this beautiful charism we have received as a gift from God.

Those days were very tired, for debating and seeking a common path. But they were also days of joy, to share, to know and to feel part of a beautiful family that is growing, maybe not by leaps and bounds, but with firm steps under the lovely low weight of the cross of Christ.

Also, days to feel as brothers, beyond language or nationality, beyond physical boundaries, we felt children under the protection of Saint Daniel Comboni. Each day we could remember that our Comboni being flowed from the pierced heart of Christ nailed to the tree.

Between work sessions, we got to know also more about the work being done in each CLM Community of the participating countries, and thus enrich the lived experience of the community. And our Guatemalan brothers gave us several cultural activities, for more wealth, history and “chapinas” traditions.

Today, looking back, is nothing but smile, with peace in our heart for the work done, knowing that the real meeting has just begun. If we want the conclusions of the meeting will bear fruit, we must all get to work; we must work together and strive to bring the message of Christ to many brothers who do not yet know.

We need to be more in communication, recognizing that the mission does not belong to a country, but to the Church, that we all conform. We need the support of our older brothers, the MCCJ, and take our leading role as Comboni Lay Missionaries. We need to work together, and be engage in a more global missionary work. There is still some way to go, but our shortcomings are what should motivate us to keep going, looking to grow and improve, to get closer to God’s specific call. The road travels easier when we walk together.

Some, perhaps, will want to know if the meeting was worth it or if it was a success. I think the things of God cannot be measured in these terms, it could misunderstand the work. And this work is constructed from Love with Love and by Love. That Love which includes the sacrifice to be willing to give our lives.

However, something we can say is that the meeting helped to take our role together, for bonding, to know the faces-and hearts-especially those who, from their realities and countries are building the charism of St. Daniel Comboni in everyday life and anonymity, aware that the only protagonist of the work is Jesus Christ, as it was well understood by Comboni.

Christian Madriz