Comboni Lay Missionaries

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New CLM logo in Portugal

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Logo LMC PortugalOn January 25, 2016, the CLM of Portugal celebrated 18 years since its foundation. In this sense, and to commemorate this occasion, the Movement renews its image and will use a new logo.

This new logo incorporates key elements of Comboni lay spirituality:

  • The Cross
  • Jesus Christ

In first place, 4 figures forming a cross. “… The cross is the mark of all the redemptive acts of God, because all of them are born and grow at the foot of the cross.” (St. Daniel Comboni, W.4564). We are also aware that the mission constitutes acceptance of the inevitable difficulties and sufferings with the mark of the cross. However, we know that in the difficulties, in the feeling of failure or frustration, Jesus always generated and generates life for its people.

  • International and intercultural

The 4 figures forming the cross with the colors of the continents (Africa, Asia, America and Oceania), appear with open arms (which gives the idea of movement, going out), mean joy, availability and the call all Comboni Lay Missionary to proclaim Jesus Christ to those who still do not know Him. The white heart in the green figure represents the European continent.

A missionary characteristic is to live in provisionality, not “settling roots”, with all the precariousness and fragility that this may involve; feeling walkers toward God and pilgrim to the brother. As missionaries we are, we have a positive and real will to go towards other people, living the mission ad gentes among other cultures, creeds and races, which is constitutive of our specific vocation. “The Mission must be Catholic, not Spanish, French, German or Italian. All Catholics must help the poor Africans, because one nation alone can not help the whole black race.” (St. Daniel Comboni, W.944).

  • Sacred Heart of Jesus

The heart represented in the green figure intended to mean the great devotion of St. Daniel Comboni to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. In one of his letters, Comboni reveals that his Plan for the Regeneration of Africa was written in the Vatican at the time of the beatification of Margaret Mary. Coincidence or not, Comboni asks for her help, because she also loved much the Sacred Heart of Jesus. (St. Daniel Comboni, W.1736).

Is true that Comboni throughout his life always placed utmost confidence and devotion to the cross and the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to the point to devote all his Vicariate of Central Africa. “So I set the third Sunday of September, the 14th, dedicated to the Feast of the Cross, the day to solemnly consecrate the whole Vicariate of Central Africa to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.” (St. Daniel Comboni, W.3202).

  • Love Africa and the poor

It is no coincidence that, this heart in the logo, is on the chest of the green figure, representing the African continent. Daniel Comboni gave his life to the heart of Africa, with Africa in his heart. Present in the death in Africa of one of his missionary companions, Comboni rather than discouraged feel inside confirmed the decision to continue its mission. “The last words of my brothers and myself will always be ‘Nigrizia or death.” (St. Daniel Comboni, W.3004).

  • The importance of community life

The point of attachment of the 4 figures that make up the cross means our community life.

Our path has a Community dimension. It is important that the Movement seek structures that help strengthen the bond, the welcoming of those returning from mission, the group life, sharing life and faith, etc. This community life does not necessarily mean living “under the same roof” for the lay community life, it has its own characteristics and wealth. However, we believe that within this diversity of forms, it is essential to live in communion from the exchange of goods and faith. “Everything was bearable for these worthy ministers of Jesus Christ, who seek only the glory of God and the salvation of the most abandoned souls. In the small community of Khartoum was peace, order and the spirit of Jesus Christ.” (St. Daniel Comboni, W.2042).

CLM Portugal

2 new members of Polish CLM comunity!

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Adela e TobiaszOn 3 June – in Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ Day, 2 new members officialy  joined our polish CLM comunity. During the High Mass, Adela and Tobiasz formally showed their desire to follow their missionary vocation in Saint Daniel Combioni’s Spirit. They read their declarations among Comboni Fathers, friends and invited guests. They were thankful for faith, God’s presence in their life and for their vocation. Together, they underlined that because of their married love, they want to be a sign of God. As a comunity, we would like to thank God for Adela and Tobias and we pray for them so they were able to trust him with courage and let Him lead them. First step on this Comboni’s path is just behind them 🙂

Message of the MCCJ General Council for the feast of the Sacred Heart

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Comboni

Dear confreres
On the vigil of the feast of the Sacred Heart, we feel invited and attracted to contemplate in a special way this Heart, fruitful expression of the entire life of Jesus. We invite you especially to reflect on that historical moment of Jesus’ death on the Cross. An event that changes the course of history. A historical and at the same time symbolic event, which keeps happening in the lives of all who are crucified with Christ in today’s world.

That year the Passover of the Jews was different. On Friday, the day of preparation, as all were getting ready for the important feast, outside the walls of the city, at the place of the Skull, three men were ingloriously ending their young life on a cross. One of them was called Jesus. Most of his life had been quietly spent in a small, unknown village of Galilee. Then, during his last three years, he had become a pilgrim on the roads of Galilee, Samaria and Judea.

He was doing good to all, healing the sick, letting himself be moved by the crowds especially when he saw them weary and without direction. His words full of authority were listened to with pleasure and warmed everyone’s heart. An influential group, however, looked at him with suspicion, considered him a danger to the status quo and its privileges. And one day, on the Friday before Easter, lead him to the cross. The day was rapidly setting like many others. Jesus was hanging on the Cross, already dead: “Seeing that he was already dead, instead of breaking his legs, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance; and immediately came out blood and water” (Jn 19:33-34).

Near the cross of Jesus was Mary, his mother, and the disciple Jesus loved. They saw the heart, pierced by the lance, meekly opening up and were seized by the contemplation of that miracle. Other people came close, looked at it and believed. They saw water and blood come out of it as the fountain of new life for the world. Thus the words that Jesus himself had spoken shortly before in Jerusalem, on the Feast of Tabernacles, were fulfilled: “If any man is thirsty let him come to me! Let he come and drink who believes in me. As Scripture says: From his breast shall flow fountains of living water.”

As an inexhaustible fountain, this heart does not tire of quenching the thirst of all who approach him. Following Mary and the disciple whom Jesus loved, Mary Magdalene and Thomas, Margaret Mary Alacoque and Daniel Comboni and many others have found in this humble and merciful heart a new vision of the world and of life. They rediscovered joy and courage when their heart was embittered, strength and passion to throw themselves fully into the mission work when their hope was failing: “Now with the Cross which is a sublime outpouring of love from the Heart of Jesus, we become powerful” (W 1735).

The Feast of the Heart of Jesus, in this Year of Mercy, invites us to rediscover the supreme act of God’s love, right to the end. It is a call to learn from Comboni to contemplate the Heart of the Good Shepherd and to set it at the centre of our lives. When the confreres, the people or the difficult work of the mission wear us out and make us lose the enthusiasm and the joy of serving, we are invited to contemplate this Heart: “From the contemplation of the pierced Heart of Jesus may it always be possible to renew in you a passion for the people of our time, which is expressed through a gratuitous love in the commitment of solidarity, especially towards the weakest and most disadvantaged people. So that you may continue to promote justice and peace, the respect and dignity of every person” (Pope Francis to the Comboni missionaries, 1.10.2015).
The MCCJ General Council