Hello everyone
We leave you a video recorded by the Spanish TV in Trujillo (Peru) where we can see the work of the Comboni Missionaries and of the Comboni Lay Missionaries in the place (is in Spanish).
Greetings to everybody, let us see who wants to joint!
Last weekend we met in Carraia (home of the secular missionaries) the General Councils of the Comboni Family.
Like every year, this event helps us to be close and attentive to the news that each of the branches are having.
The morning, after a set time of prayer, was dedicate for sharing these progresses.
The Comboni missionary sisters told us their walk and especially the steps that have being taken to prepare the chapter this year as well as the reorganization of the institute taking into account the new realities. The Chapter is been prepare with a first experience in a concrete and challenging reality in every community which split reflection and sharing. Looking guide the institute toward truly significant presences, knowing that not all is graspable.
The Comboni missionary Secular told us their way from the last assembly and the challenges that arise. The importance of reappropriate its own history and experience of the charisma while remaining faithful in their everyday to their vocation, keeping growing and trying to maintain a spirit of collaboration with other secular institutes and the rest of the Comboni Family.
This year the new general counsel of the MCCJ told us their way of preparation and conduct of the general chapter, collecting the reflections arising in each province and each brother. The inspiration they have had in the teaching of Pope Francisco. And the central themes that have come during the Chapter on the Mission, the Person and the Restructuration of the Institute.
For our part, the CLM explain the great challenges we are trying to pursue. Especially seek to strengthen each group and the CLM family in general, work with each group and at continental level, the importance of communication, training and the economy, ending with the commitment and challenge that from the charisma is presented as Comboni Family referring to our missionary work and witness our missionary being.
Later in the afternoon, we had a period of reflection on mercy in the life and mission of St. Daniel Comboni from a text of Father Carmelo Casile. A rich sharing time, which also helped us think as a family.
The day ended with the joint celebration of the Eucharist and dinner in a cordial atmosphere. In Carraia we felt very welcomed by the secular missionaries and enjoying the good atmosphere that characterizes these meetings.
Greetings
We have a lot of important events in January hence short delay in posting them 🙂
All of our Comboni Lay Missionaries who begin their mission in this year have already left to learn the language they will use during their mission. Madzia is in London to improve her English, Kasia is currently in Portugal with Barbara along with local CLM community to perfect her Portuguese (and English 🙂 ). Ania has just arrived to Democratic Republic of Congo to learn French.
On Girls and all Comboni Lay Missionaries Movement in Poland behalf, we would like to thank all communities who welcomed them so warmly: Comboni Fathers in London, Comboni Lay Missionaries community in Portugal and Comboni family in Kinshasa. It is very important to somebody who is leaving everything they know behind and go to discover unknown to feel they are in the family and have their support.
Thank you all, once again!
We are also preparing to welcome back our three Comboni Lay Missionaries – Asi, Ewy and Moniki who almost finished their mission in Africa. We will meet Asia and Ewa in March, and Monika at the beginning of April. Girls – we can’t wait to see you again!
CLM Poland
November 29, Sunday, at 10, we saw pass the Alitalia plane carrying the Holy Father.
We did not go to meet him, as many people did along the road between the airport and the city center… We just left for Bangui Cathedral around 14hs, the Mass was scheduled for 17. We get earlier, we didn´t have to wait long to get in and they gave us a good place from which you could see well His Holiness. This Mass was for bishops, priests, religious and committed lay people working in parishes. Several times during his homily, people stopped to applaud him. As we had five extra invitations, we could take five pilgrims from our parish. The rest were near the Cathedral, where they attended Mass transmitted through a giant screen where they remained during the prayer vigil that lasted all night, with moments of prayer for peace, confessions and many songs. “No revenge, violence or hatred.”
At five o’clock in the morning, people started heading for the stadium to attend the Mass celebrated by Pope Francisco. We arrived around seven and we had already many people in the stands.
At that time, the pope was visiting the Central Mosque of Bangui, the highlight of his visit. Due to the climate of hatred that exists in the country between Muslims and non-Muslims they are afraid that this time were canceled, thank God it was not!
Holy Father’s words: “We are all brothers”, “Make every effort to achieve peace, work, pray, but remember that there is no peace without love, friendship and tolerance”. The spokesman of the displaced Muslims of Km 5, said. “We are delighted to welcome the Pope. He is not here just for Christians; he is a server, a godsend for all Central Africans”.
According to François, he is working at the UN, Pope Francisco after the official speeches, took off his shoes, crossed the mosque and went to pray at the place where Muslims pray. He said everyone was very surprised and excited because this was not in the Protocol. As a token of gratitude, a group of youths Muslims on a motorcycle, “removed the site” of the Minusca (peacekeepers of UN) and escorted the Holy Father to the stadium.
In his homily at the Mass in the stadium Pope spoke again of Forgiveness, Reconciliation, Peace and “Pass to the other side” (“Passons a l’autre rive”), because “there is no peace without forgiveness”. “Say No to revenge, violence and hatred!”
In the street people were happy saying, “God came to us!” ” Nzapa a ga na é!”
Hopefully after the visit of the Holy Father Peace remain in this land and this people that have suffered so much have life and life in abundance.
From RCA
A missionary hug
Augusta and Elia (CLM)
On 25 November, the pilgrimage walk of the faithful of our parish started from Mongoumba to Bangui to participate in the ceremonies for the visit of the Pope. There were four groups of 18 people, one of them composed only of pygmies recently baptized.
We get up every day at 2.30am, ate a sweet rice porridge, so that everyone could have energy to walk. We began with prayer, then everybody start to walk, singing beautiful songs in Sango.
Every day they covered about 30kms, with joy, despite the “blisters” on the feet …
When it reached the intended location for the night, they have lunch and in the afternoon, after a short break, a catechesis on the theme of the day, followed by the Eucharist.
The topics presented were: “Reconciliation”, “Laudato Si”, “The joy of the Gospel” and “Blessed are the peacemakers”, interesting subjects that pilgrims greatly appreciated. In each catechesis was distributed to each pilgrim a symbolic ribbon theme: violet, green, red and white.
After the Mass we dined before the last rays of light.
To 20 pm everyone was in bed, I mean, sleeping on a sailcloth lying on the ground, inside or outside the chapel. The communities where we rest welcomed us warmly and showed all their support, fetching water and firewood. Two of them prepared food for more than 70 people.
Elia, three cooks (volunteers) and I were covering the pilgrimage by car, carrying everything you need to cook for six days, which eventually turned out to be seven.
Elia was tireless, with all who approached her with the injured or sore feet…
The arrival in Bangui was Saturday morning. People on the street stopped amazed to see all these people on pilgrimage, each with its cross highest than oneself, and a lively group of Pygmies in the middle. All of Mongoumba.
Activities in the house of the Comboni Missionaries in Bimbo, where the same as where we were staying, equal to those of the previous days.
It was four days of walking in which no one gave up despite the fatigue … we hope that this pilgrimage bear fruit; conversion to the Lord, in every heart, protective Earth people “hit Sopo/bata Sesse” happy preach the Gospel, men and women of peace.
A hug
Maria Augusta, Mongoumba CLM
