English – Page 135 – Comboni Lay Missionaries

First week in Ethiopia

14 July, 201613 July, 2016 by Alberto de la Portilla

We have been in Ethiopia a week already but it feels like we flew in yesterday. For the time being, it has been a week of welcomes and of beginning to learn.

We spent the first day in Addis Ababa to visit the provincial house where we met Fr. Julio Ocaña with whom we had shared our time of training as a community when we were leaving for Mozambique. We remembered those very special times when we were preparing to leave for Africa for the first time and he himself was getting ready for his mission. Now, almost 18 years later, we meet again in Ethiopia, each one of us with a larger baggage of history.

We also had a special moment as we met Fr. Juan Nuñez after so many years. We first met when he was provincial in Spain and we were just beginning as CLM. After these old acquaintances, we also met several other Comboni missionaries of the province who selcomed us with great kindness.

Our trip to Awassa was very nice, with a stop in a gorgeous place near one of the large lakes of this area. It is good to travel by car, because it gives you an overview of the situation of the country, its roads, people, crops. It was inevitable to compare it with our experience in Mozambique or in other countries. We observed so many fields ploughed with oxen and an infinite number of donkeys pulling carts loaded with water, potatoes and such.

Finally, we reached Awassa, the capital of the southern region. We met Fr. Mansueto, the superior of the house, who gave us a good reception very attentive to our individual needs, and also met the rest of the community. This is a house of transit for the various communities of the South, where missionaries stay when they come to shop, have the car fixed or pick up the mail.

And, of course, finally we met with our beloved CLM community. Mark was the first to get to the Comboni house when he heard that we had arrived and, without even unpacking we went to greet the rest of the community (it’s a little over a five minute walk from the house) There we met Maggie and the children, Emebet, Isayas and Teibe, together with Magda and Madzia. [We were welcomed] with a colorful poster made by the little ones and a good supper enlivened by conversation.

This is the beauty of internationality where Canadians, Poles and Spaniards meet as members of one family.

Each day we engage in different activities. Members of the community accompany us as show us the places and activities where they are engaged and also take time to show us the city and its various areas (we will keep this for our next post). They take good care of us and have a plan for each day, something new at every moment.

It is an experience that as family we greatly appreciate and from which we hope to profit to the fullest.

Greetings to all.

Welcome Élia!

9 July, 20167 July, 2016 by Alberto de la Portilla

On July 3 arrived at Lisbon airport the CLM Élia- She returns from the Central African Republic after five years of missionary service in the mission of Mongoumba.

After the reception at the airport from the CLM Pedro, Liliana and Flávio and sister Carmen, we went with great joy by to eat at the house of the Comboni Sisters in Olivais. In addition to the community of the Comboni sisters, where there were the Family of Pedro. During lunch, we talk and share mission´s adventures. It was a beautiful moment of conviviality. After lunch, there was still room for some delicious Welcoming´s cakes!

In the afternoon, Élia continued her way home in the Algarve, where she is now with her family.

We appreciate the availability of the Comboni Sisters and wish Élia a good return and readjustment to the reality of our country.

Welcome Élia!

Portuguese CLM

New CLM logo in Portugal

6 July, 2016 by Alberto de la Portilla

On 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!

23 June, 2016 by Alberto de la Portilla

On 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 🙂

Surgery in Mongoumba. 25 years of dedication and availability

22 June, 201620 June, 2016 by Alberto de la Portilla

“For more than 25 years, Dr. Michel Onimus, French orthopaedist, devotes his free time to operate in the Central African Republic, particularly in Mongoumba. The patients who are treated are especially children, people with congenital malformations (congenital dislocation in the foot, cleft lip), polio sequelae, burns and fractures. Due to the country’s instability, medical activity has declined during the last three years since Dr. Onimus comes to help, that is, almost exclusively in Bangui”, writes Élia Gomes, a Portuguese lay Comboni missionary, working in Mongoumba.

Before the “crisis”, he used to work with a team of young volunteers (anaesthetists, nurses …). Now he travels just with his wife, Michelle, who deals with logistics. Therefore, he is supported by Barthelemy, a Central African anaesthesiologist from the paediatric Centre of Bangui who always finds a “little time” to spare and work with the professor.

In their luggage, the couple brings everything they need for the medical operations, from surgical material to tapes … and when they go back, they donate to us whatever has not being used.

Since I’ve been here in Mongoumba, we have received the visit of Dr. Onimus four times, the last in February in which 31 patients were treated, 15 operated and 4 scheduled to be operated in Bangui in March.

They arrived early, on February 17. Since I was unable to go to fetch them, Brother Alberto, a Comboni missionary, brought them here and spend a few days in Mongoumba. Then the team started the marathon for the consultations, preparations and surgeries of the patients: a process completed in just three days.

The routine was every day the same: into the operating theatre (so to speak) at 8 am and out at around 15 pm, for a bit of lunch. After a short break, at 16 pm we continued the medical consultations and visits of the patients who had been operated on.

Surgeries are performed in the Health Centre, in an empty room with just the operating table, but with no light sources, without suction of secretions, no air conditioning, no recovery room … A room that has three windows facing the street, with a net to prevent flies from entering inside but not to protect the place from the dust, and curtains to provide privacy but also precluding some light. The only “luxury” is an oxygen bottle that is used only when the professor arrives.

Despite all the shortcomings, we have to thank the availability of the head of the Centre of Health, who not only allows us the use of the room as a place of surgery but makes available the autoclave to sterilize the material.

The patients, before and after the operations, are housed in our Rehabilitation Centre, called “Da Ti Ndoye”, under the responsibility of Bob, the physiotherapist who works at the Centre since its foundation.

Dr. Onimus accomplishes a difficult job in difficult conditions, a labour of love, which has provided a better quality of life for many children and adults. “In so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me” (Mt 25:40).

A missionary hug

Elia Gomes. CLM CAR