We continue this series with Fr. Antonio Guirao Casanova, Comboni priest and missionary, who has been twenty-three years in Kenya. On this occasion, he tells us about his approach and coexistence with the semi-nomadic tribe of the Pokots. During that time, he has carried out essential work in the field of education in both rural and urban areas in the capital, Nairobi. (Interview in Spanish)
Today we celebrate the International Day of Africa. A day to celebrate the life and hope that is contained in this great continent and its peoples.
From our ONGD Amani-Laicos Combonianos por el Sur we want to give voice to different African people by origin or heart so that they can share with us what Africa means to them.
By clicking on each image of the tree you will be able to listen to the testimony of each of the people who participate (in several languages Spanish, English, Italian, Portuguese, Macua, Amharic…).
Amani-Laicos Combonianos por el Sur
The diocesan center of the diocese of Bologna organized a meeting on the VI chapter of Fratelli Tutti in connection with Emma Chiolini (CLM in Brazil).
Here is the interview with her testimony (in Italian)
On March 13 we held a meeting of the American Committee with the coordinators of the Comboni Lay Missionary groups of the countries where the CLM is present in America.
Present were: Fr. Ottorino Poleto, Beatriz Maldonado and Mireya Soto for the American Committee; Alberto de la Portilla for the Central Committee; and 7 coordinators of the groups of America: Alexandra from Colombia, Flávio from Brazil, Mario from Peru, Adriana from Mexico, John from Ecuador, Paul from NAP, and Miriam from Guatemala.
We experienced once again the joy of being together and share our identity as Comboni Lay Missionaries. The main objective was to learn about the journey of each coordinator as CLM and the missionary work plan for the year 2021 of each group. Each country made its presentation and we lived our missionary being as we continue with the commitment to continue in mission without fear, but being responsible. We continue in pandemic, with an uncertain horizon, but with faith in Jesus Christ. The mission does not stop even in these times. There is more need for God.
Thank you coordinators for sharing your missionary work plan for this 2021, it was of mutual teaching. May God illuminate your way.
“THE WORKS OF JESUS CHRIST ARE BORN AND GROW AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS”.
St. Daniel Comboni
Mireya Soto, CLM Guatemala
From a young age, we have been interested in the world and people, and during the meetings missionaries have always told us in an interesting way that people in Africa and the world need help, support, and getting to know God.
There has come a moment in our lives that we don’t have to go to work anymore, we don’t have to play with the children, the parents are gone, and we want to give something of ourselves – be useful to people. Why not join the missionaries? Why not go?
We started looking for how and who could prepare us for such a trip. There was an obstacle here – we are “too old”, preparations are for young people.
Meanwhile, Father Dawid Stelmach came to our parish as an auxiliary priest. It turned out that he was responsible for the missions in the Poznań diocese – and it went on…
Everything started to come together. Some time passed by, Fr. Dawid contacted Magda Plekan – a CLM from Poznań (for four years on missions in Ethiopia), who has not been discouraged by our age and would be happy to see us in Ethiopia, but we need to prepare. We were helped in this by the Comboni Lay Missionaries from Krakow – they are MISSIONARIES – who proclaim Christ, not only with words, but above all with their actions, attitudes, love for others, responsible performance of their duties, and in addition their domain is Africa.
We went to Ethiopia as volunteers to two centers run by Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity – one in Awassa and the other one in Dire Dawa. Both centers are clinics and care centers.
We didn’t feel like strangers there, we had the impression that we didn’t travel far.
The path for a missionary is full of surprises, it is not always as we would like it to be. Sometimes the unexpected can frustrate your plans and expectations.
It turned out to be a coronavirus pandemic. We know that God protects us – He stands behind each of us, supports us and expects us to see it, trust and submit to His will.
Today we are learning the Ukrainian language, because our plans include a trip to Ukraine to Kamieniec Podolski, where we contacted the Polish priest Marcin. In May, the priest will come to Poland and asked us to go with him to Kamieniec Podolski and find out on the spot how we could find ourselves there. We hope that it will happen – it is not only up to us.
The Ukrainian language is taught by the Deacon who is in Poznań on preparation before his ordination in May this year in the Cathedral in Kamieniec Podolski.
He introduced us to the current conditions and the situation in Ukraine, customs, people’s behavior, a bit of history.
This is not Africa but Europe. Ukraine is at war with Russia and this is a very difficult and socially delicate matter for a missionary. This puts the missionary in a special situation where, in a civilized Europe, states fight each other.
Nowadays it is difficult to understand that in Europe there may again be a threat to peace.
Bogumiła and Andrzej – Comboni lay missionaries from Poland
