Comboni Family – Page 73 – Comboni Lay Missionaries

Yearly Assembly of CLM in Brazil

6 July, 2017 by Alberto de la Portilla

On June 21-22 we held our Yearly Assembly of the CLM of Brazil at the Comboni Minor Seminary Bro. Alfredo Fiorini of Curitiba, PR.

The theme, “To celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the ACLM with daring and missionary commitment,” helped us to review our history and to have a privileged time of exchange, sharing, community living and celebration during this year when we complete 20 years since the creation of the Association of Comboni Lay Missionaries – ACLM.

In the context of the 150^th anniversary of the foundation of the Comboni Institute, we were graced by having with us the MCCJ provincial, Fr. Dario, who helped us reflect, by way of a comparative diagram, on some of the fundamental intuitions of Comboni and of Pope Francis. We also the enjoyed the presence Sr. Nilma de Jesús, provincial of the Comboni Missionary Sisters of Brazil, who shared some of the essential moments of the missionary journey. As a united Comboni Family, Mission takes shape in our being as relationship, nearness, reaching planned goals in the world of our peripheries, of the prisons, of those who have no land, of the indigenous people, of those who have no voice and no chances: all those who live at the margins. We lived through a great fraternal meeting because, due to the distances and the realities around us, we cannot meet as often as we would like. It was a privileged moment to nourish what is mystical, replenish the strength, reinforce the ties and reflect on our faith and on our missionary identity.

Each day the invitation is renewed to be open to others, to widen the horizons, to be on the move, to share faith and life, and be signs. Our missionary vocation impels us to move out of our reality, to break through borders, to go to meet God with the least, to celebrate hope and to become family with humankind.

We had the opportunity to talk about the present situation of the ACLM, its progress and difficulties. It is a journey that is taking shape, despite its frailties. Thus we recognize this treasure we carry with us and our responsibility to continue to promote mission in the Church and to awaken all to our common commitment as people who have been baptized.

The highlight of our meeting was the Thanksgiving Mass for the 20^th anniversary of the ACLM celebrated in the parish of Santa Amelia, which has been a great source of support in the CLM journey since the beginning in 1995. The welcoming of the CLM couple, Liliana and Flávio, who are traveling to Maranhão, in the region of Piquía, and their missionary sharing, touched all present in a special way and very fraternally we celebrated and shared our new projects in a mix of joy, as well as tears, dreams and desires.

We left with some stated objectives and the desire to work more united as Comboni Family, both in mission and in mission promotion, strengthening the groups of Comboni spirituality found in Curitiba and Balsas as well as other places where the Spirit blows. We also felt united to the journey of the International CLM and with our brothers and sisters spread over more than 20 countries across the globe with whom we will hold the International Assembly of the CLM in 2018.

With the grace of celebrating the 300^th anniversary of Our Mother Aparecida, inspired by St. Daniel Comboni in the following of Jesus and united to the missionary journey of the Church in Brazil and in the world, may we be ready to guard and to help flourish every day more the missionary call of the Comboni vocation. Let us stay in touch!

CLM of Brazil

Announcement of the Comboni Family at the general level

4 July, 2017 by Alberto de la Portilla

On June 2, 2017, the annual meeting of the Central Committee of the Comboni Lay Missionary and the General Councils of the Comboni Missionaries, the Comboni Secular Missionaries and the Comboni Missionary Sisters was held in Rome at the General House of the Comboni Missionaries Sisters. A full day lived with moments of prayer, exchange, reflection, programming, meals together and Holy Mass. The MCCJs had just finished their Symposium on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of its founding, and therefore shared with us all the fruits and provocations gathered during the symposium.
Fifteen years after the letter written together by the three General Councils on “Collaboration for the Mission” we now wanted to return to our intuitions, recognizing the path cover, reinforcing certain aspects and exploring new proposals for cooperation. The Comboni Lay Missionary are an integral part of the Comboni family that now also wants to open to new forms of Combonian laity that arise in the different realities.
The publication of two letters, one for all members of the Institutes and movement and another for those in charge of formation will collect the work and guidelines that emerged during this day.

General Counsels of MCCJ, SMC, MSC and the Central Committee of the CLM

Formation Week in Granada, Spain

1 July, 2017 by Alberto de la Portilla

Last week I visited the Lisanga community in Granada. This time the formation was in Spanish, which paradoxically was a drag because most of the material I had was either in English or in Portuguese, but it turned out well in view of having the material available in various languages.

This is always a special time for me: To leave the office, away from e-mails and video-conferences and have the opportunity to share personally with our CLM. In this case it was with David and Aitana, Spanish CLM, and especially with Paula and Neuza, Portuguese CLM who are in Spain preparing to go to Peru.

David and Aitana are teachers and they were in their last week of classes so they were very busy with exams, evaluations and activities typical of this time. Just the same, they took time to share in some important moments of formation and of the week. They volunteered to welcome and make community with Paula and Neuza during the months thy will be here to study Spanish and to prepare to leave for Peru.

I spent most of my time with Paula and Neuza. We would get up early in the morning to say Lauds and start the day. The first few days we studied Spanish in the morning, but for the rest we took advantage of the first part of the morning to do some sports. We have to keep in shape, as mission requires it of them. Above all, they must be ready to do a lot of walking with the people.

After that, we had plenty of time to talk about mission, about community, to share our Comboni charism, to speak of Church and of the different styles of mission, to get to know more deeply our CLM at the international level and lots of other things.

It is always exciting to share these moments prior to the departure: The worries, the challenges to be faced and above all the trust in the One who calls us by name to serve far away from home.

During this time in Spain many people have shared with them their experiences of mission, have visited them or they themselves were able to visit many Spanish CLM and religious who have served in mission, in Peru and in other places. This way mission becomes community. They are not going on a personal quest, but they are sent as missionaries by our CLM community, which is always present, commits to their formation and follows them as well with prayers. Some commented that we all go to Peru with them.

The week ended with a meeting to evaluate the CLM of the Southern Zone of Spain. I think they felt most welcome by all and by the religious Comboni family of Granada with whom they are sharing lots of time during this month. And for the Southern Zone it was an electrifying moment, because any time mission knocks at our door, it mobilizes us, it animates us, it sets us moving and feeling alive. And so it was here in Spain as well with the preparation of our companions from Portugal.

Thank you.

We pray that all may go well in their mission and we will always be ready to accompany them on this journey of service to our brothers and sisters in Peru.

Greetings

Alberto de la Portilla

Mission Promotion – San Mamede Infesta

26 June, 2017 by Alberto de la Portilla

Last weekend, June 11, we held a program of mission promotion in the parish church of St. Mamede Infesta, in the town of Matosinhos. It was a sunny day and at around 10:00 a.m. we started. I must confess that I was a little worried because 70% of the parishioners were seniors. Would the words of Carlos and Sandra resonate in their hearts? But the Lord reaches everyone and truly, between the two celebrations where we were present and at the missionary rosary that we were allowed to hold, the results were very positive.

Fr. Dario celebrated the Mass at 7:00 p.m. and he gave a different tone to the usual celebration.

To identify myself as part of the Comboni family in front of my parish community made me very happy. It gives you the feeling that you are on the right path, in the way that the Lord showed to me.

Thank you, Comboni Family, for having received me in your bosom with so much kindness and fraternal love.

Maria José Martins

Happy Feast Day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

23 June, 2017 by Alberto de la Portilla

The solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated next Friday, June 23. “Let us therefore live this Feast so dear to all of us with our gaze fixed on the Heart of Jesus, allowing ourselves to be enriched by the testimony of those who have gone before us in the history of our Institute and devoting ourselves ever more deeply in daily fidelity to the values of the Gospel. Happy Feast of the Sacred Heart! In the Year of the 150^th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Institute.” (The General Council).

“Yes, God so loved”

“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life. For God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world but so that through him the world might be saved”
(Jn 3, 16)

Most Dear confreres,
Greetings and Prayers: Happy Feast Day of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

God our Father sent his only Son as a sign of his love for needy and suffering humanity and consoled us all through the Holy Spirit, the gift of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord Crucified and Risen. We believe that every disciple is called and sent to announce, give testimony of and serve this love of God. Let us all thank the Lord for he has made of Saint Daniel Comboni, and of us, his children, Comboni Missionaries, messengers, witnesses and servants of his love.

All that our Father and Founder, Saint Daniel Comboni, understood of the great love of God, he brought to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, symbol of God’s love for humanity.

“Since I have an extreme need of the help of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Sovereign of Central Africa, the very joy, hope fortune and the all of her poor Missionaries, I write to you my friend…to commend and entrust to the Sacred Heart the most precious interests of my trying and difficult Mission to which I have vowed my whole soul, my body, my blood and my life!! (Writings, 5255-5256).

Most Dear Confreres, in this year in which we are celebrating 150 years of our Missionary Institute, we wish to continue to contemplate and thank God for the love that was lived in the life of Saint Daniel Comboni and that of many of our confreres and for the great generosity shown to the people of God despite our fragility, our limits and our sins.

“I make common cause with each one of you, and the happiest day of my life will be the one on which I may be able to give my life for you” (Writings, 3159).

Indeed, Comboni and our confreres allowed their hearts to open so that they might more resemble that of Jesus, in such a way as to make common cause and share generously in the mission of God among the peoples where we are and especially among those who suffer, are marginalised and impoverished.

“I am always with my dear lepers; I speak to them of the goodness of God and I teach them the Word of God. He chapel is attached to my little house so Jesus is close to Giosuè: who can be happier than me? Is this not a little Paradise? As to the evil which is upon me, O, I kiss the hand of the Lord that gave me leprosy; is it not a grace to be able to suffer so for these souls? I have but one desire: to die a leper among my lepers!” (Bro. Giosuè Dei Cas, 1880-1932).

Yes, we continue to thank the Lord for each of our confreres who makes common cause and proclaims Jesus Christ and his Gospel to build up the Kingdom of God, remembering that some have paid the price of their testimony with their lives.

“The Cross is the solidarity of God that takes up the human journey and human sorrow, not to make it eternal but to put an end to it. The manner in which he wishes to end it is not through force or domination but by the way of love. Christ preached and lived this new dimension. Fear of death did not make him desist from his project of love. Love is stronger than death” (Fr. Ezechiele Ramin, Homily to the Faithful, Good Friday, Cacoal, 05-04-1985).

Let us therefore live this Feast so dear to all of us with our gaze fixed on the Heart of Jesus, allowing ourselves to be enriched by the testimony of those who have gone before us in the history of our Institute and devoting ourselves ever more deeply in daily fidelity to the values of the Gospel.
Happy Feast of the Sacred Heart!

In the Year of the 150^th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Institute

The MCCJ General Counsil