English – Comboni Lay Missionaries

Community experience in Kitelakapel

19 February, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

My name is Belinda Awino, I am a Comboni Lay Missionary from Kenya currently doing my community experience in Kitelakapel, west Pokot County as I prepare to go to for mission in Peru.

I am glad to have joined the CLM international community in Kitelakapel for my community experience the members of the community have been very supportive since the day I arrived in their community.

Living in the community has taught me the benefits of community life such as praying together, sharing ideas and learning to respect one another. I’ve also learned some of the challenges a community might face and their possible solutions example conflicts and its resolution, management of resources i.e. finances, proper budgeting

Through the community I’ve been able to interact with the local community.

On Sundays I join Linda in Sunday school where we read the Word of God, sing songs and pray together with the children.

On Wednesday, i join Linda and Pius for Life Skill in St Bakhita girls Highschool, where we teach the girls about life, love, relationships…

On Friday I join Marzena in Kitelakapel dispensary where we assist the nurse in charge.

I am grateful for the experience and look forward for more growth in community life.

Belinda Awino, CLM Kenya

Tribute by the Comboni Lay Missionaries for Our Brother Benjamin

18 February, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

A great tree has fallen

On that faithful Sunday 27th day of October 2024, was a heavy slap on the face of Comboni Lay Missionaries CLM, Togo-Ghana-Benin Province, the Catholic communities of both Bakpa Avedo, and as well as Sogakorpe. A coordinating team member Mr. Benjamin Kwame Amekor was granted an exit to join and continue his services, an everlasting rest in his final home of destination with his maker.

He is a native of Bakpa Avedo in Volta Region, Ghana. He was a teacher by profession, and a community leader. The first head Christian, a founding member of the Sacred Heart Parish Church of Bakpa Avedo.

Brother Ben is a father and friend of all, including the CLM members in Ghana. It is obvious, nothing is most beautiful than to serve the Lord through to the end of one’s life especially as a Lay Missionary in this world.

Being the Secretary, he renders his services with joy and obedience to the call of the group. What a loss of dedicated in service, display of knowledge and wisdom, above all active in almost every activity in life of the group, be it pastoral experiences. A man who makes sure he is counted among the members of the group is no more.

He ended his vocation as a Comboni Lay Missionary which he cherished a lot. Jokes were flowing from him as a sign of shared wisdom with other members of the group. Such as laughing in the different languages, another is ‘if till now you do not know what Jesus Christ had done for you then that is your own problem’ are still fresh in our memories. Why should such a lovely person could not have stayed longer and shared with us in order to influence our growth in faith? Only God knows.

Who knows, this could be a divine call for a better life in the Kingdom of God, a service which is everlasting. We may say this is surely a wakeup call to all members of the CLM family to work hard and get ready for such a divine home everlasting call.

Our brother Benjamin, may you be united to the Saints, especially St. Daniel Comboni our founder and with him, please, intercede for us. Amen.

Christian Wotormenyo, CLM.

Community experience in Czerwonak

13 February, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

My name is Izabela, on 22 June 2024, during a solemn Mass, I joined the CLM.

I will be leaving for a mission to Kenya in a few weeks.

Preparing to go on a mission field for two years.

The final stage is the community experience I am currently on. It involves sharing life together with Comboni Lay Missionaries.

During the experience, I have many meetings with the lay missionaries who are currently or have been on missions. We discuss various issues concerning mission-related matters, e.g., inculturation, security issues, pastoral care in the mission, etc.

Twice a week there are meetings with the international coordinator of the CLM – Alberto de la Portilla. We learn about the history of the founding of the CLM and discuss documents tied to the lay missionary movement.

There is also time for lecitio divina prayer, that I have with Br. Tomek, and catechesis with Sister Joanna Nowińska. With which I study selected books of the Holy Scriptures.

It is also an intensive time for me to learn English. When I go to Kenya, I will be learning the Swahili language.

On Friday, I go as a volunteer at an eatery for the poor run by the Albertine Sisters in Poznań.

My community experience is with Bogusia and Andrzej in a small village near Poznań. We spend our free time together and pray. We prepare and consume meals together.

Bogusia and Andrew take me around to show me the beautiful surroundings.

The experience is a very valuable and good time that I think will help me adapt to my new place in the mission.

Izabela, Polish CLM

A Fruitful Start to 2025: Reflections on Our Annual Assembly in Kenya

5 February, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

2025 began on a high note with our annual assembly, which took place from Thursday 9th through Sunday 12th January. It was a time of deep reflection, evaluation, and planning as we looked back on the past year and prepared for the journey ahead.

Throughout the assembly, we assessed our activities, formation meetings, and the service we carried out. We also reviewed and updated our charter, ensuring it continues to guide us effectively in our mission. Additionally, we evaluated our financial report and laid out concrete plans for the year 2025.

A particularly special moment was the celebration of our members who are preparing for their mission experience in Kitelakapel. Their commitment is a beautiful witness to the call we all share—to go forth and proclaim the Gospel.

The cakes were from the Kitelakapel community to thank the CLM of Kenya for their support, and to welcome the new CLM preparing for mission and who would later join us in Kitelakapel for their community experience.

What stood out most about this assembly was the sense of shared responsibility and the desire for growth. It was inspiring to see how deeply each member is involved in shaping the future of our mission. The emphasis on formation, service, and careful planning shows a strong commitment not just to action, but to sustainable and meaningful missionary work.

Among the plans for 2025, a key focus is on supporting those preparing for mission abroad and ensuring they are well-equipped spiritually and practically. There is also a strong commitment to strengthening our local initiatives, improving how we accompany communities, and fostering deeper missionary engagement.

As we step into this new year, we pray for God’s abundant blessings upon our mission. May He guide our steps and strengthen our resolve. And may our beloved Saint—Daniel Comboni—intercede for us as we continue to walk in faith and service.

CLM Kenya

Community Experience in Mexico

4 February, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

“BECAUSE TO SERVE YOU MUST BE PREPARED”.

The final stage in the formation of the American candidates of the “Comboni Lay Missionaries” (CLM) movement has begun, a time of being in tune with themselves and with the other CLM before leaving for the ad-gente mission to give a generous response to the call received to go to the evangelization of the most abandoned peoples, the main reason why we exist as a group.

There are four people who share this experience: Mariana Meléndez Cándido, 36 years old; Rosalinda Olivo Oria, 69 years old; Sandra Luisa Rodríguez Andalón, 64 years old; all Mexican and José David Rojas Quesada, Costa Rican, 43 years old; from a human point of view it is not understandable to leave family, work, friends, customs, knowing that only the ideal of Comboni unites them, with the only objective of being ready for the mission.

Now they are part of the same family where, strengthened by prayer, it makes sense to be together. United, remembering that being children of the same Father makes them brothers, rescued by Jesus Christ who from daily life invites them to be with Him and moved by the Holy Spirit to be sent to the most needy as Daniel Comboni did in his time.

Today this legacy continues as heirs of the Charism, the Comboni Family (MCCJ, HC, SC, LMC).

CLM Mexico