Comboni Family – Page 89 – Comboni Lay Missionaries

Great Missionary “Kermes”

5 November, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

On October 12 the CLM of Mexico joins the great feast of the Comboni Family celebrating our founder and guide: St. Daniel Comboni. The priests, brothers, sisters, laity and a large number of benefactors and friends live a great missionary kermes. The activities began very early preparing the place with much enthusiasm. Both breakfast and lunch we were able to taste several Mexican dishes and some desserts; there were even international cuisine, represented by sushi and kimbap. In the area of amusement we have the raffle (it’s always fun to know what you’re going to win), inflatable, civil registration and the big auction that were a success. By the way, we were in charge of the chopped fruit.

Amid such missionary environment, could not miss the sacrament of reconciliation, and to celebrate with a flourish, our Holy Eucharist, which was enlivened by Comboni´s and missionaries songs. The most important thing we must remember that it’s all for a great cause: THE MISSIONS. We thank everyone who supported this noble work either selling, consuming or simply by their presence and prayer, as their bit was definitely necessary and essential to accomplish our great event. May God continue to bless us all and with the guidance and strength of St. Daniel Comboni we move on.

José Luis Hernández (CLM, México).

Echoes of the Comboni Symposium

25 October, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

It took place in Rome from 15 to 19 September the reflection on Comboni´s Plan for the regeneration of Africa after 150 years from the time it was written and inspired till the current time. For this reflection came representatives of the various provinces of the Comboni Missionaries (MCCJ) and was attended by representatives of the Comboni Missionary Sisters (MC), Secular Comboni Missionaries (SCM) and Comboni Lay Missionaries (CLM).

Throughout this week of work, we have come to some conclusions that will “provoke” the next chapter of MCCJ and can also help us for a deeper reflection:

Comboni´s Plan keeps actualize as far as allows us to realize the urgency and priority of our time. We do many important things, but we cannot respond to all needs, so we must discern what is vital in today’s world and reshape our missionary service consequently.
Comboni receives the inspiration of the Plan because he places himself at the foot of the cross. Today the mission no longer has a “geographical” look. Therefore, at the foot of the cross, we must try to realize the movements of the Spirit and how we respond our world, no matter where we are called to be.
The motto “Save Africa with Africa” cannot limit our action. Rather, it should lead us to take a renovated approach to the extent of our abilities. Consequently, the mission in Europe involves re-believe in the values of the European culture and adopts its language as a way of liberation and evangelization. The same applies to other cultures where we recognize so “vital” the Comboni presence.
“I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security”, says the Pope Francisco in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (# 49). The appeal of Pope Francisco challenges us to dare to grow and specialize in ministries that we believe are the most urgent priority in today’s world.

After a week of work and reflection, based on the Plan of Comboni and the demands of the Church itself, it was concluded that today’s mission will always pass, and above all, by the struggle for Life.

Thus, inspired by the charism of Comboni, we are called to rethink and reshape our being missionaries for many “have life and have it abundantly.”

Susana Vilas Boas

[Mozambique] Jubilee of the Plan for the Regeneration of Africa

15 October, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

There are difficult things to say, as we hear sometimes, you can only understand it if you see it. The parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Carapira is celebrating a big party. We commemorate this year (2014) one hundred and fifty years of the Comboni plan for the regeneration of Africa. A plan designed to alleviate the suffering of the African people. A poor, suffering, subject to slavery people, without knowing the good news of Jesus. The dream of Daniel Comboni, that is God’s plan became reality, a reality surrounded by large difficulties but full of life and progress. One of the ways adopted to overcome these difficulties was to “Save Africa with Africa”.

Also this year we commemorate the fifty (50) anniversary from the opening of our wonderful church, the parish built by the disciples of Jesus guided by the charism of Daniel Comboni. It was very nice and charming to hear the parish history from the older members of the Christian community, from the arrival of the first missionaries, through construction and opening of the church until the present day. They will not have forgotten the times of civil war and the Comboni missionaries (men and women) with whom passed tough times, giving a significant and valuable assistance.

The Comboni Missionaries Sisters also marks 60 years making presence in Mozambique, making a tour of its history visiting the “Island of Mozambique and the Parish of Mussoril” where they had their first mission.

Also commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the creation of the Industrial School of Carapira founded by the Comboni Missionaries, work that aims to respond to the slogan “Save Africa with Africa”. A school that, faced with many difficulties, always wagered by the formation of young Mozambicans with high technical-professional and human level to serve the people. It is within these jubilees that the parish attended the ordination of Fr José Alberto Mozambican and the religious consecration of the Mexican sister Lilia Karina, increasing the Comboni Family.

It’s wonderful the way the Comboni family – fathers, brothers, sisters and lay people (foreigners and Mozambicans) – coordinate the work of evangelization. This team works closely in the tasks that the reality set before us, also for the preparation and implementation of an event or party.

Across Africa, particularly Mozambique, the gospel is being lived by more people, thanks to the Comboni Missionaries. We thank God for this legacy.

Martinho Matrimony.

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

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