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On the way to the Mission – Sending Maria Augusta to CAR

1 November, 2015 by Alberto de la Portilla

On October 25, echoing the message that brings the October missionary, celebrated around the world, we celebrated with joy and faith, the ceremony of sending of Maria Augusta Pires for the Central African Republic.

We thank God for a week of missionary animation in the schools of Dornelas do Zêzere and Pampilhosa, with great joy we share with the children our missionary experiences, while we gave testimony of Him who sends us always on mission.

In the four homes in the area, after a moment of prayer, was wonderful to see the faces of the elderly who opened into a big smile when we started singing and clapping… Everyone was very happy and promised to pray for missionaries every day.

On Saturday afternoon, in the Eucharist celebrated by three priests (Fr. João and Fr. Orlando, from these parishes and Father Dario of the Comboni Missionaries) in six parishes around Janeiro de Baixo (birthplace of Maria Augusta), we gave our missionary testimony as Comboni Lay Missionaries.

This missionary week culminated with a Mass in the parish church of Janeiro de Baixo, chaired by monsignor Virgilio, bishop of Coimbra, where we solemnly celebrated the sending of the CLM Maria Augusta Pires, that will leave next November 9 to the Mission of Mongoumba – CAR – where will make community with the CLM Elia Gomes that it is there since 2011.

In this so special and meaningful Eucharist, the church was full of Christians from the various parishes in the area who wanted to join us to pray for all missionaries. At the end of the Mass there were tears and emotion on the faces of almost everyone, moved by the words of Maria Augusta about the Mission. Many, many people came to say hello and to wish good luck for the mission and telling that they would pray for her.

After Mass Mgr. Virgilio greeted and spoke to all the people who wanted to be with him (and there were many!).

At the end of this day, I can only, thanks, thank the Bishop for his presence, his secretary Father Pedro, Father Dario, a Comboni missionary and the Fathers Juan and Orlando for the effort they put into making possible this missionary week. Everything went very well, so thank the Lord wholeheartedly.

Maria Augusta Pires (CLM on the way to the Mission)

“Do not be afraid!”

30 October, 2015 by Maggie and Mark Banga

Saint John Paul II These are perhaps the most common words Pope John Paul II repeated over and over again around the world, encouraging people to not fear and to entrust their lives totally to Christ. “J – P – 2, we love you; J – P – 2, we love you!” These are the words that enthusiastic crowds of young people chanted over and over again back to their beloved Pope. The youth shouted this with sincere joy, because they recognized in this old man a genuine model of total fidelity and hope in God.

This year marks the 10 year anniversary of the passing of John Paul II. Last year on April 27, 2014, Catholic faithful around the world celebrated the canonization of Saint John Paul II (JPII), as his example of faith was elevated to sainthood. Here in Awassa, Catholics were very excited for the canonization day, especially the youth. We watched the television coverage with some university student friends. Because it was too hot inside, they moved the TV out into their yard under the shade of a big tree. For most of us, JPII was pope for most of our lives, which is why he is so special. Indeed he had one of the most dramatic, longest and public of all pontificates. He was the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church but was also renowned as an ambassador of hope and peace by politicians, other religious leaders and common people all around the world. Here are some highlights of his grand papacy:

JPII was by far the most widely travelled pope, visiting 129 countries on 104 international trips, meeting with over 1,600 world political leaders – truly he was bringing the Gospel to “every nation and tribe and language and people” (Rev 14:6).
JPII wanted to give the modern world credible models of faith and therefore, he beatified 1,338 and canonized 482 saints, far more than other pope in history.
JPII was a prolific author – his writings include 14 encyclicals, 14 apostolic exhortations, 3,288 speeches and 5 books. He had a distinctive writing style that was dense in character yet flowed freely. He examined topics from several different angles (not only theological), because if the Church’s teachings were to be deeply understood they had to be validated by our practical experiences of life.
JPII loved youth and initiated the World Youth Days to gather the international catholic youth. Indeed he was the champion of youth.
JPII was always teaching on the meaning and value of man, repeating often a key sentence from the Second Vatican II document Gaudium et Spes which he helped draft: “Christ fully reveals man to himself and makes his supreme calling clear” (par. 22). Jesus shows us precisely the model of how to live an abundant life of love.
JPII has been described as the “most Marian pope”. In fact, his papal motto was “Totus tuus” meaning Totally Yours (Mary). JPII expanded the understanding of Mary playing a unique role in the plan of salvation, perfectly embracing the will of the Holy Spirit and being the spiritual Mother of all of us by always helping us draw closer to her son, the Savior.
JPII pioneered the “Theology of the Body” teachings, explaining that a natural moral law has been written by God into the sexuality of man and woman that directs us towards true love.
JPII fervently promoted the “culture of life” and strongly defended the dignity of life in all its stages (from conception until natural death), a teaching he exemplified by accepting gracefully the challenges of old age and illness in his final years.

JPII always encouraged people to become saints. T-shirts were spotted in the throng at the canonization with the words: “Be not afraid to become a saint”. He did not mean that everyone should endeavor to be officially acknowledged as saints in the Church, but rather that God holds out the invitation to each one of us to mold us into other Christs, despite our imperfections and faults. In other words, each one of us has the capacity to be holy, to become a saint. Only two things are needed: our free decision to cooperate in this transformation by continually striving to live according to the Truth; and the undeserved gift of God’s grace. Well, JPII, you’ve given us a good example!

On Easter Sunday, March 27, 2005, six days before his death, JPII blessed the faithful with his final public words. Well, 10 years later these words are still valid and inspiring:

“We, the men and women of the third millennium, we too need you, Risen Lord! Stay with us now and until the end of time…Sustain us, we pray, on our journey. In you do we believe, in you do we hope, for you alone have the words of everlasting life. Alleluia!”

– Mark & Maggie Banga

Comboni Lay Missionaries serving in Awassa, Ethiopia

Let your kingdom come

28 October, 2015 by Alberto de la Portilla

That rainy weekend from 9 to 11 October, we were welcomed in Viseu in the house of the Comboni Missionaries for the second formation meeting.

For me it was the first time I have experienced, and very successfully, this monthly walk I propose myself: a trip to Viseu, the warm welcome in the house of our missionary brothers, the deepening of faith and love for Jesus, St. Daniel Comboni and the neighbor.

In the previous meeting in Fatima, they had met for the first time the new candidates that are now beginning the process of formation, to know the CLM Movement. This encouraged me to decide, take inner awareness and the decision to start “now”.

Now we face a first issue as a question or challenge

– Kingdom of God: myth or reality? For this, the Comboni Missionary Secular Clara Carvalho guided us and helped deepen.

First, what is a myth? What is reality?

From common sense, if we think that reality is not only the body but also the mind, sensations, feelings and emotions, our relationship with God and his love are realities.

– Is the Kingdom of God something that already exists and is still under construction? Or is it something that may come here in many centuries? Nothing better than God’s Word to answers.

From a long list of references to biblical texts of the Old and New Testaments, we create two working groups, one to examine the question How is the kingdom of God?, the other to answer the question How can we enter in the Kingdom of God?

A kingdom for all, universal. For all time, which it cannot be destroyed. Which it is already among us (and in us), but does not seem visible. Unlike the kingdoms and republics of men, the kingdom of God is not “eat and drink”, but righteousness, peace and joy. It grows as the grain germinates on earth (even while the farmer sleeps) and fruits such as mustard seed, like yeast that makes the dough rise.

– What it is needed to “join” the kingdom of God?

(How to “enter” the Kingdom?, who “deserves” the Kingdom? … do not seem successful ways to place the question. Will not deserve all the men, leaving the wheat and the weeds grow next to each other until harvest?).

“Let the children come to me”.

“Blessed are the poor … … those who cry, the humble … the hungry … thirsty for justice … the merciful … the pure of heart … the peacemakers … those who are persecuted … “.

“You are the salt of the earth … the light of the world …”.

What a responsibility for us! And what an honor!

What is our role here and now, as subjects and servants of this kingdom? Where and who have yet to come? Believe in the Good News is accepting the mission to go and take the good news.

Leave everything and go without looking back. How this challenge calls us and scare us! How many of us are willing to do so? We trust in God that He providence the rest, how and when He called us.

On the second day, Clara shared with us her testimony of love for God and our brothers who suffer, in the various parts of the world where she was called. I retain, from her fiery words, the idea that “the mission is always action of God, we are only their collaborators”.

I cannot stop from evoke and emphasize the moments of prayer and Eucharistic celebration in which everyone participated and made me feel (as in the Upper Room of Jesus’ disciples) the presence of the Holy Spirit and the Comboni missionary spirit.

It was a very special meeting because, at the same time passed the annual meeting of the CLM of Portugal and we had the opportunity to live and share moments of prayer with the laity. And above all, for having the presence, quiet but determined, of Maria Augusta that will depart shortly for Mongoumba mission in the Central African Republic. Let us pray that the Lord will protect and bless the mission.

The rain that fell during the weekend, blessed by the Lord, make germinate seeds thrown to the ground and grow His harvest.

Mario Breda (Portugal)

The blind man who became able to see

24 October, 2015 by Antonio Villarino

A commentary on Mk 10, 46-52 (Sunday XXX O.T., October 25th 2015

On his way up to Jerusalem, Jesus arrived at Jerico, a town with a long history in Israel. In this town, Mark places an interesting dialogue, quite different in nature from de one He had with the sons of Zebedee that we read last Sunday.
While the sons of Zebedee put up the question of power and their ranking as followers of Jesus (showing how little they had understood), the son of Timeo, Bartimeo, stands before de “son of David” as he really is: a blind man who wishes to see, somebody who has lost the meaning and feels lost in life.
Let us not forget that, in Marks’s intention, the son of Timeo, as the sons of the Zebedee, real persons as they might be, are brought here, to this story, as personalities that represent all of us, disciples of any time, who search for la light that sometimes we confuse with the glimpses of money, power, prestige or any other blinkering reality.
Let us stop a bit on this story and the dialogue between Bartimeo and Jesus, bearing in mind that somehow we are also taking part in it:
1.- At the road side, out of the town. Bartimeo was seating at the road’s side, marginalized from social life, unable to be among the human community.
Do we know in our experience such people as Bartimeo, people marginalized, not taken into consideration, despised because of a physical defect or otherwise? Remember that in our Christian communities there should not be any one discriminated.
But it may happen that we are the marginalized ones; it may happen that ourselves suffer despise in our own family, in the working place…or we may experience problems that seem bigger than what we can cope with. In that case, we should remain in contemplation of this Bartimeo and try to follow his steps as “blind” disciples.
2.- He shouts: “Son of David, have mercy on mi”. What a marvellous prayer! We all are in need, in one or other moment in life, of mercy, understanding, forgiveness… Only a stupid and false pride can lead us to think that we do not need God’s and our neighbour’s mercy. Bartimeo is teaching us one of the best prayers ever: “Lord, have mercy on me, help me, since I alone cannot overcome my troubles”. It’s a prayer to say with humility but without feeling of shame or false vanity. Somebody has said that never a human being is greater than when he kneels down. The opposite is just lie or hypocrisy.
3.- “What do you want me to do for you? To see again”. Physical blindness is a drama, but many blind people show that it’s not the end of the world and that worse than physical blindness y the spiritual one, to which Mark refers in this story; the blindness of so many people unable to understand God’s love, closed up in their own world of self-content and “self-reference”. This is also a precious prayer: “Lord, let me see your light, so that I may understand your love”.
4.- Your faith has saved you. The Italian theologian Bruno Forte says: “ Following a suggestive medieval etymology, “to believe (“credere”) means to give your heart (“cor-dare”), to put your heart into the hands of Somebody else… To believe is to trust in Somebody, say “yes” to his call, to put our own life in His hands, so that He is the Unique and true Lord” (B. Forte, Piccola introduzione alla fede, San Paolo, 1992, p. 16).
This faith-communion with the Other One is always healing, because it helps a person to come out of herself, out of her self-centrality and stablish links with other persons; that link becomes a sign and a means to be in touch with Reality ns, in the end, with God, the Reality that is backing all other reality. That link makes us true to ourselves and to other, healing our loneliness and vulnerability.

As I celebrate the Eucharist today, I enter into communion with the Son of David and, as the blind man, I pray: Lord Jesus, have pity on me; make me see and understand your great love, that love that gives colour, truthfulness and sense to what I am an live.

Fr. Antonio Villarino
Roma

The celebration of the 10th October in Ghana

21 October, 2015 by Alberto de la Portilla

For the first time, we celebrated as lay group the Solemnity of our Founder. We took the opportunity to talk about the founder, ourselves and the process of formation.

Everything started on Wednesday, the 7^th of October. Mr Adze Daniel, an old Comboni student, presented the life of Comboni. He talked about his birth, his parents, his vocation and mission. The presentation was so seducing that the workers, the youth and children around were filled with admiration towards the zeal of Comboni.

On the second day, the 8^th, Rev. Fr Joseph Rabbiosi, MCCJ, presented the Comboni Family. He presented the four branches, the Priest and Brothers, the Comboni Sisters, the Seculars and the Comboni Lay Missionaries. He emphasized a little upon the history of the male Congregation, the MCCJ, how it has started and how and when they came to the Province Togo-Ghana-Benin and what they are doing.

On the third day, the 9^th, Mr Justin Nougnui talked about the formation process for the MCCJ priest and clm. He insisted on the need of having a spiritual director, the disposition of community life, the disposition to witness the good news to the poor and vulnerable for both MCCJ and CLM; the academic performance so necessary to journey towards priesthood and the professionalism necessary for the CLM. The CLM can be married or single and we do not make any official vows. To a question, he explained clearly that some of the works we do cannot free us to give ourselves totally for the proclamation of the Good News and to fulfill what is required for a CLM candidate. Nevertheless, such workers can be friends of CLM and support them financially for achieving their goals.

The 10^th was a diocesan programme for priestly ordination. So the 10^th Mass was celebrated on Sunday 11^th to thank the Lord for giving us a so committed person in the name of Daniel Comboni who did not spare any effort to work for the regeneration of Africa. We prayed for the Comboni Family and especially for the CLM in our province that the Lord may strengthen them and provide them with means to carry out their activities.

Justin Nougnui, coordinator.