Formation – Comboni Lay Missionaries

Missionary Day in Guatemala

31 July, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

“Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (1 Corinthians 3:7)

On July 5, we had the opportunity to carry out a missionary day in the community of León El Manzanillo, an enriching experience for both us and the local residents. During the morning, we visited community members in their homes, approaching them with the purpose of informing them about the initiatives we had planned for that day. We also took advantage of each conversation to introduce ourselves as a missionary group and extend a special invitation to participate in the monthly celebration of the Eucharist, which takes place on the second Sunday of each month.

In the afternoon, we shared with those in attendance a brief reflection on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, seeking to spread his message of love and mercy. The day ended with a practical workshop focused on caring for the environment, during which we taught how to make baskets using recycled newspaper, thus fostering creativity and ecological awareness.

As we mentioned, one of the objectives of the missionary work in Manzanillo is for the inhabitants to participate in the Eucharist. After sowing the seed and continuing to water it, it is God who will take care of its growth in their hearts. On Sunday the 13th, some of our members accompanied the community in the Eucharist and noticed that more people attended, which gives us great joy because the Eucharist is the center of our faith.

Gathering on July 20

On Sunday, July 20, in addition to sharing as a community and reviewing our missionary work, we received the following formation topics:

The first proclamation and the missionary role

As missionaries, we must remember that our work does not focus on worrying about results, for triumphs or failures are not evaluated according to human parameters. The essential thing is that when we sow the seed of God’s love, we trust that it will be the Lord who will take care of the harvest. Within the content of the proclamation of the Kerygma, we reflected on the main idea: God is a loving Father who loves us personally and unconditionally. His love does not depend on our being good, but on His being good. However, we may not experience this divine love because of sin, from which we cannot free ourselves by our own strength. Likewise, we cannot defeat our main enemies on our own: the world, the flesh, and Satan. Therefore, we need salvation.

But THE GOOD NEWS is that Jesus has already saved and forgiven us by paying our debt with the sacrifice of his blood. By dying and rising again for us, he has given us new life as children of God, a gift we can receive by believing in him, trusting in his love, and continually converting ourselves. A true encounter with Christ leads us to become part of his body and brings us closer to our brothers and sisters, especially those most in need, in order to build the Kingdom of God.

This central message must be adapted to the particularities of each person, considering the different levels of spiritual development in which they may find themselves. Therefore, when proclaiming the GOOD NEWS, we must first analyze individual needs and develop an appropriate plan that responds to them.

Consciousness

Human beings are made up of three fundamental areas which, although closely interconnected, are analyzed separately in order to better understand and address them. These areas are: the mind, the body, and the spirit.

Consciousness is an inner force that allows us to discern and make sense of every situation in our lives. It plays a crucial role in the search for purpose, helping us to identify meaningful values, goals, and objectives.

To illustrate the concept of consciousness, the parable of the compass was presented as a metaphor:

Direction: symbolizes the most relevant goal in a person’s life.
The body of the compass: represents the individual’s mindset.
Needle: reflects a specific responsibility necessary to achieve the goal.

It is important to foster both social awareness and personal awareness. Social awareness involves having empathy for the perspectives and emotions of those around us, respecting collective norms, and behaving responsibly within the community. On the other hand, personal awareness is oriented toward introspection, managing our emotions, understanding our feelings, thoughts, and the way we interact with others.

By cultivating our awareness as part of our integral development, we take a firm step toward authentic freedom.

CLM Guatemala

On the reality of life in Sudan

17 July, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

Father Jorge Naranjo, a Comboni missionary, tells us in an interview about the reality of life since the outbreak of war in Sudan.

In particular, he tells us about the University in Khartoum, run by the Comboni missionaries, during the war and how training programs are being reestablished to serve young people and give hope to the Sudanese people.
(Interview in Spanish)

A provincial opportunity

15 July, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

For the first time, representatives from the three countries of Togo Ghana Benin Province met in Adidogome, Lomé on July 5, 2025.

The three countries of the province were represented to participate in the funeral mass of our colleague BOTRI Ernest’s mother. This Saturday, after the funeral mass, we held a meeting at the Comboni Sisters’ house in Lomé. The meeting was led by the Provincial Coordinator Justin together with Reverend Father Badou Ephrem, Chaplain of the CLM in the province.

The meeting began with a prayer before the roundtable for the introduction of the participants at the meeting. The atmosphere was very friendly and warm. We finally met face to face after being in telephone contact for months.

The Provincial Coordinator conveyed useful information from the Province, and the Chaplain emphasized the necessity of training and participation in training sessions.

The meeting ended with the blessing from our Chaplain. Each of us took the road back home, and through the intercession of Saint Daniel Comboni, we had safe travels.

Lucien Aboe

Leszek – the Newest Lay Member of the CLM Movement in Poland

11 July, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

On the first weekend of July 2025 (July 4–6), the last formation meeting of the CLM movement for this formation year took place in Warsaw. It was a very special event. Not only did we celebrate the Day of the Comboni Family but we also welcomed a new member – Leszek – into the movement.

During a solemn Holy Mass on Saturday afternoon, Leszek officially joined the CLM movement. In his prayer he said that he heard the first missionary call when he was 5 but he had to wait almost 50 years more in order to finally respond to this call.” But as they say “better late than never”. In September, he will depart for a missionary experience in Kenya. After the Mass, we enjoyed a barbecue with Leszek’s family and friends.

Saturday also included the official introduction of the new Coordinating Group: Asia, Ania, and Paweł, as well as a summary of the most important events of this formation year, such as the international meeting in Maia, Portugal, with members from around the world, and our missionary Iza parting on her first mission to Kenya.

CLM Poland

Journeying Together in Mission: CLM Conflict Resolution Workshop

3 July, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

From the 13th to 15th of June, the CLM candidates of Kenya came together in unity and faith to deepen our understanding of conflict resolution. Guided by our motto, “Save Africa for Africa”, we gathered in Meru, Nairobi, and Kitelakapel, as members of one family – all connecting either in person or online, with a shared purpose of growth and transformation.

This important meeting was not just a routine workshop. It was a space of learning, reflection, and renewal of our commitment to the mission founded by St. Daniel Comboni, whose spirit still burns strong in each of us.

Teachings on Conflict and Its Resolution:

The session began with a rich and insightful lecture on Conflict Resolution by Linda from Kitelakapel. We explored the definition of conflict resolution, the characteristics and importance of conflict, and its three main aspects: cognitive, emotional, and behavioural. Linda also guided us through the steps involved in resolving conflict in a constructive and Christian manner. We also reflected on different styles of handling conflict: Compromising – Avoiding – Accommodating – Competing – Collaborating. Each style brought out how different personalities approach conflict, and how we can all learn to adapt and apply healthier methods in the mission context. We were reminded that conflict is not the absence of love, but rather an opportunity to grow, understand each other better, and strengthen our bonds.

Contributions from Fr. Sylvester, Alberto and fr. Maciek:

Fr. Sylvester followed with a lecture that connected conflict to our missionary life, drawing examples from the life of St. Daniel Comboni, our patron. He reminded us how Comboni navigated cultural tensions, resisted opposition to his vision, and continually sought reconciliation among divided groups in his mission. This showed us how to resolutely address conflict with compassion and clarity, guided by our faith and the teachings of Christ. Fr. Sylvester’s words emphasized that peaceful resolution begins from within, with prayer and humility.

Alberto gave us a practical and much-needed talk on handling conflict without drama or chaos. He reminded us that being missionaries means being ambassadors of peace, not just through words but through actions. He encouraged us to always aim for maturity, calm, and understanding in times of disagreement.

It was a thought-provoking lecture, which emphasized that conflict is a normal part of life. He encouraged us to establish principles for resolving conflicts before they arise. He also introduced us to a practical tool called STABEN, which breaks down conflict resolution into:

– S – Source

– T – Time and place

– A – Amicable approach

– B – Behaviour

– E – Emotion

– N – Need

Lastly, Fr. Maciek led a recap session on Lectio Divina, reminding us how to properly prepare ourselves—spiritually and mentally—before engaging with the Word of God. It was a call to deepen our relationship with Scripture as a regular part of our formation.

Moment of sharing:

We concluded with individual reflections, where each participant shared what they had learned, enjoyed, and taken to heart during the session.

New Beginnings

A very exciting highlight of this meeting was the Meru group welcoming four new members. These newcomers, after engaging fully in the sessions, expressed their joy and eagerness to become part of our mission. They have officially become candidates of CLM, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to journey with them. Their enthusiasm and openness brought new energy and hope, reminding us that our mission is growing, and the seed planted by St. Daniel Comboni continues to bear fruit.

And there is more! In Nairobi, we were delighted to welcome, as well, two new candidates to the Comboni family. Their joy and enthusiasm added a special touch to the session, and they expressed how meaningful and welcoming the formation experience was for them.

Participant Reflections:

“I really feel comfortable and I’m ready on this journey and I really love your bonding and hospitality.” – Eliphus, new candidate, Meru

“I thank God for connecting me with this group.” – Getrude, Meru

They joined CLM because they want to dedicate their lives in serving God and do acts of charity.

Looking Forward

As we concluded our sessions, we left feeling empowered, not only with knowledge but with a renewed sense of commitment to walk this path together. The weekend was a beautiful reminder that growth comes through honest conversations, listening with love, and facing conflict head-on with grace and faith. It was fruitful, enriching, and continued to equip us with essential tools as we journey forward in our missionary vocation. We look forward to more moments of learning, bonding, and deepening our mission. Together, we continue to Save Africa for Africa – in peace, in unity, and with hearts full of hope.

Yvonne Kilemi and Daniel Gaithuru