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Comboni Simposium- Concrete proposals for Apostolic Action Plan in view of the General Chapter XVIII

20 September, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

After a week of work from the Comboni Plan up to the reflection on the mission today, we wanted to make a synthesis of the work done, trying to reach conclusions unanimously accepted by the participants.

Thus, for groups, elaborate concrete proposals for the Comboni mission today. These were discussed in plenary in order to reach an apostolic action plan consistent with both the urgency of the mission and the Comboni identity.

In the afternoon, participants reflected and proposed certain aspects to be taken as a contribution to the General Chapter XVIII.

At the end of this week, remains a shout in the heart of each of us: We are missionaries “to give life and life in abundance.”

Susana Vilas Boas

Gathering of the Comboni Lay Missionary communities of the Americas

19 September, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

One hundred and fifty years ago, on September 15th, in Rome, lived a young priest named Daniel Comboni. He longed for the salvation of the most abandoned and marginalized. Guided by the love in his heart, he wrote a plan to bring a message of hope and joy. He never imagined that this seed would continue to bear fruit.

Today, so many years later, his charism continues to call many from around the world. It calls those who want to take action, those who feel compelled to share with the world the happiness of being loved by Christ.

This is what is happening this week, from September 15^th – 20th in Guatemala, where the Comboni Lay Missionaries from the Americas are gathering as one family. They are meeting to deepen their understanding of the history of the movement, strengthen the comunication, harmony, and relationship between the different communities across the continent of the Americas.

There are 20 people from eleven countries participating in this gathering. All are eager to work together and find new strategies and plans of action to respond to the current needs in our communities. People cry out to be heard and receive the life-giving message of Jesus the missionary who calls each of us, because he loves each of us. This multicultural identity enriches and increases the spirit of openness and of fellowship, which characterizes the Comboni Missionary.

The first day of the gathering began with an overview of the history of the Comboni Lay Missionaries across the various countries, from their beginnings until present, including current challenges and obstacles. These are invitations to continue to grow and perfect the path that God has presented to us. This first topic allowed us to more deeply understand all of the efforts put forth by the various Comboni Lay Mission groups. This allows us to feel more identified with and committed to the work that needs to be completed. It also gives us a greater understanding of our reality, to have a clear picture of the work that still needs to be done.

The second part of our meeting on this first day, was to further expand the vision of the Comboni Lay Missionaries, as there were two topics of importance for the communities; the structure and coordination of the Comboin Lay Missionaries, and our reference groups.

The general overview given by each community helped understand the extent of the differences of organization amongst the different Comboni Lay Missionary groups in America, and it clarified a little the direction in which we needed to go. This meeting was the base for later deepening, in small groups, in regards to these topics. In the small groups we came up with solutions and proposals necessary to be able to develop a work plan together, one which unifies us and makes us feel more connected to our identity as laity, missionaries, and Combonis.

Lastly, the communities of Peru, Costa Rica, and Guatemala presented the realities of their lay missionary groups, which was enriching to the participants, with its own journey and experiences. This allowed for a clearer understanding of what is currently happening within the Comboni Lay Missionary Groups within each country.

During the breaks between work sessions, the Comboni Lay Missionaries were able to come together, share, and exchange stories and experiences. This fostered fertile dialogue between communities as well as deepen relationships among participants.

A young priest 150 years ago, in love with Africa, dreamed of a better world for the most abandoned and marginalized. Today his dream is becoming a reality, yet like him there are many people with hearts yearning to break down barriers in the name of love, to come together and build a more just, equal, and unified world.

Today, these 20 people, without a language or background in common, have come together in Guatemala to work together. This group is driven by a passion for mission deep in their hearts, where one thing is understood: the love of God is able to go beyond languages, cultures, and boundaries, to transform the reality that surrounds us. Mission springs forth from the heart in love with Christ.

Workshop on Comboni-From the Plan´s insights to the reality we face today

19 September, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

“I would rather have a hurt church, marked by the signs of walking with the people, than a hurt church because it is closed in the comfort zone trying to hold on to its own securities” (EG, 49). With these wise words of Pope Francis, we began our 4º day.

For today our aim is to summarize the intuitions of these days, and so, the commission presented us with for main topics for reflexion:

1) Mission perspective: in Comboni´s time and in our days

2) Mission style: in Comboni´s time and in in our days

3) Ministries and formation: in Comboni´s time and in in our days

4) Our own mission in the local church: in Comboni´s time and in our days

After the reflexion at a personal level and the groups discussion, took place the plenary assembly. We try to perceive what we have to change in our way of being today as missionaries, so that we can answer the Popes ‘challenge: we are all hurt but we are willing pursue the long road so that Christ will be known by all peoples and they may have life to the full.

Susana Vilas Boas

Comboni workshop-The reality of the Congregation of the Comboni Misssionaries today

18 September, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

This third day began, with the words of St. Paul to the Corinthians: “Love will never end” (1 Cor 13,8). These words were the starting point for the topic of the day started by the Superior General of The MCCJ – Fr Enrique Sanchez, who presented his view on the Plan and the reality of the Comboni Missionaries today. From these reflections, some clues about the reality of the mission of the MCCJ in our days emerged, and we can summarize them in three points: mission – as in the Plano of Comboni, mission is at the centre (heart) of our vocation and missionary life; resize – the urgency that today we need for the Institute due to social, ecclesial change (morphology) in the reality. The number decreases and in a few years’ time, 90% of the MCCJ will be Africans; interculturality – the reality that calls us to a change in our way of thinking and actions.

These three basic words expressing our reality were the starting point for the group´s discussion. After that, we had our discussion on the priorities emerging from the Comboni Missionaries challenges today, and these activities were conducted Oriented) by Fr. Antonio Villarino.

Susana Vilas Boas

Comboni Symposium-The spirit of the Plan and the challenge of the African mission in 800

17 September, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

On this second day, the Comboni symposium focused on the Plan of Comboni, from the context it was written to the application and understanding in our current context.

To help in this reflection, Fr Joaquim Valente (MCCJ) helped all participants, presenting and contextualizing, in yesterday and today, the cardinal points of the Plan of Comboni and throwing some challenges for us that the Plan places.

In fact, Comboni acknowledges that it does not work, recognizes that he doesn´t known the solution, acknowledges that he is not and neither has the solution for the regeneration of Africa, recognizes that we should listen to God, and only God is and has the solution.

Comboni is open to the new movements of the Spirit acting into reality and in human history. Meanwhile, traveling to Europe and learning from the experiences of all who work for the mission. With all these testimonies and all this learning, Comboni aims to “unite all things in Christ.”

In turn, the P. Johnson Uchenna Ozioko (priest from Nigeria), helped us make a reading of the Plan of Comboni from Africa today, calling attention especially of the current importance of “saving Africa with Africa” as well as the importance and urgency of changing the language we use to talk about the mission and Africans.

Meanwhile, according to their specificity, the sister. Fernanda Cristinelli (CMS) briefly presented a reflection on this topic, made by the Comboni Missionary Sisters, underlining the significance and urgency of change ministeriality of being and living the missionary spirit in feminine.

At the end of the day, remains at the heart of each participant the final words uttered by P. Johnson Uchenna Ozioko: Jesus washes the feet of his disciples and said to them, “Go and do the same.” Comboni loved Africa, I say: “Go and do the same.”

Susana Vilas Boas