Comboni Lay Missionaries

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Report day 1 of the Maia 2024 assembly December 9, 2024.

by
Asamblea Maia 2024

The day began with a delicious breakfast, in which we enjoyed the typical delicacies of Portugal.

The opening of the assembly was led by Alberto de la Portilla, in which important points were highlighted such as

  • It is time to show the good or the bad that we have done and from there to be able to grow, review the path and develop the growth of the groups from the different countries.
  • What has been developed for 6 years is brought to the assembly, the life of the LMC, dreams and future plans that we want to live in the community.
  • Everything that is spoken and discussed will be collected in a document to share with the other LMCs in each country and is the responsibility of each of the LMC members in each country.
  • The assembly seeks general agreements so that each country can adapt to its reality; we do not seek to go into detail but rather to seek a general line that helps us grow; Consensus will be sought for each of these aspects.

It continued with a reflection developed by Kenyan group; we began with a Swahili dance and song that talked about how great God is and that we can find him wherever we want; we learned its meaning and danced it to warm up. Following this, we proceeded to reflect on four questions that guided a 30-minute meditation, reinforced by some biblical texts that made us search for the presence of God and the Holy Spirit in the assembly.

  • We do not walk alone. How to travel together?
  • A transformative encounter. Lord, talk to me.
  • Mister; why me? Why here?
  • Saints and capable. What can I offer?

The next activity was the presentation of the countries, then we began with the report of each of the countries. In this presentation, the video or support material that each one brought was shown. These presentations were developed from the topics that they sent us to prepare the report by country. The following annotations that correspond to all the communities were highlighted.

  • The responsibility of the people who are part of the LMCs must be those of the LMCs themselves; so we must have the autonomy of these decisions with responsibility. However, it must be noted that the last person responsible for the people who make up the LMC is the provincial of each province.
  • In Egypt, they have three moments of vows or commitments, after finishing the first year with a commitment to service, after finishing the second year of formation another vow and after finishing the third year of formation other vows that lead to growth of commitment to the Comboni charism.
  • The situation of RCA is a unfavorable reality of a community; It is worth noting that these situations must always be shown to know what type of community a missionary faces when applying for this type of mission places.
  • In some places like Congo and others, despite having a large number of people making up the LMC groups, it must be taken into account that the purpose of the LMC must be to assume the commitment to leave their country to provide their services in a place other than yours.

The day closed with the exhibition by country of its culture, its typical products and its particularities enriched by its people and their charisma; Photographic records of the activity and the exposed stands are left.

Vocation is a call

by
LMC Perú

There is always a response to God’s call, when people say yes, a celebration can be held over the years, where we can all participate to celebrate, I Lety was invited by a religious to support her Missionary Animation and so it happened from November 9 to 17, in the community of Bocja Arenal Hidalgo, a community between Actopan and Pachuca we participated.

It was a week of sharing where I participated and not alone; I was able to live it with Sandra CLM from Guadalajara, a companion of the local group and who will soon begin her community formation to be able to go out to the ad-gentes mission.

Sharing with the people our Catholic Christian Joy in the style of St. Daniel Comboni, the reason for the week of Missionary Animation was the 25th anniversary of religious life of my friend, a vocation of this place to awaken the vocation in new generations. We are grateful for all that we lived; always filled with the presence of God.

María Leticia Ordoñez. CLM Mexico

VI American Missionary Congress – America, with the power of the Spirit, witnesses of Christ!

by
CAM

Since Thursday I have witnessed the work that OMPE PUERTO RICO is doing to live our congress as a church in America.

I have had the opportunity to meet persons of the people who with their joy are able to transmit the Love and Joy of the Gospel in their work spaces.

We coincided with a group of missionary friends from different countries who gathered since Friday to be attentive and participate 100% as CAM6 congress participants, KNOWING THAT FROM YOUR HOME YOU CAN PARTICIPATE and MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD on the topics that as a Church we are going to deal with.

A press conference has been held with those responsible for the realization of the event. Where they share the details of the topics to be discussed, who will participate and everything that the Missionary Church is interested in.

Join us through the virtual transmission if you are still at home.

Pray and make written contributions within the topics to generate opinion, YOU WILL BE HEARD.

CLM, Beatriz Maldonado

Message to the confrères in Mozambique

by
Mozambique

Dear confrères of the Province of Mozambique,

as the General Council, we follow with great concern the news and images of violence and destruction of public and private property coming out of Mozambique as a reaction to fraud and lack of transparency in the announcement of the results of the general elections – presidential, legislative, and provincial assemblies and governors – last 9th October.

The popular demonstrations, which were supposed to be peaceful, degenerated into acts of violence, which were forcefully repressed by the police forces – especially in the big cities –, causing over twenty deaths and hundreds of people injured. These manifestations of violence, which generate only hatred and death, anguish and fear, have prompted us to express, on behalf of the Institute, our closeness to each of you and to all the people of Mozambique.

We know that the whole country is going through a difficult time, and that, as a rule, those who end up suffering the harmful consequences of violent conflicts are the poorest and most defenceless people.

As the situation worsens, we ask all the confrères to remain vigilant and informed about events, and to show solidarity with those seeking truth and justice, in communion with the local Church. Undoubtedly, resilience can and must help us overcome the present adversity and find peaceful ways to give direction and hope to the people and the country.

Our presence in Mozambique over the past 77 years, inspired by the Word of God and the testimony of St. Daniel Comboni, has always stood out for its concrete ability to take on a style of mission that is committed and inserted in the reality of the people, and to make common cause with the joys and sorrows of those entrusted to us.

We encourage you, therefore, to continue to be in solidarity with the people around you, passing on to them the hope born of the Gospel. Today more than ever we are called to proclaim the Good News of peace as the only way to build a society based on respect for human dignity and concern for the most disadvantaged.

We thank God for your witness of dedication to the people with whom you share the mission, and we also feel solidarity with all Mozambican men and women who long for a better future and – today above all – for peace.

We also hope that the deep Christian tradition and the ancestral values of the people will be the pillar from which to start a serene and just reflection that will help overcome the current polarisation of forces between the government and civil society.

We pray for an immediate end to the violence in Mozambique and ask for the intercession of Saint Daniel Comboni that he may help you to live this painful moment with faith and hope.

May God bless you, protect you and give you the strength and wisdom to face these difficult times.

Let us remain united in solidarity, praying together for peace.

The MCCJ General Council