Formation – Page 6 – Comboni Lay Missionaries

Empty yourself before the Lord

27 May, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

Belinda, CLM Kenya, shares with us her reflections after the spiritual exercises she has done in her preparation for the mission.

Empty yourself of all your responsibilities, thoughts and burdens that may cause disruption, create space in you for concentration in the things of God (reading of the word, prayer).

Listen attentively to the Holy Spirit (his guidance, teaching and direction)

Allow the Lord to be in control of everything, surrender yourself fully to Him.

Quite your spirit and your soul becoming aware that you are placing yourself in the presence of God in a special way.

Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you closer to the Father.

Be open to receive his graces, do not figure out things for yourself let the Holy Spirit pray through you.

Be patient, be still and know that he is God and He makes things beautiful at His own time.

Be obedient to his will so that he may bestow his graces upon you. As Christ was obedient to the will of our Father in heaven unto death and was glorified.

Let the Holy Spirit immerse you in the love of Christ and show you His mercies that know no bound, His forgiveness, His power and majesty and His kingdom that is forever and ever. Psalms 103

The Good Shepherd – John 10:1-42

The Lord desires to have an intimate relationship with all his children. He reminded me that He is the good shepherd those who belong to his flock know Him and can distinguish between His voice and the voice of the enemy (false teachings, doctrines and compromise).

Christ is the good shepherd, He Lays down His life for our salvation, He will not allow us to go astray, but brings those who are lost back to God our Father.

He knows our sinful nature and calls us to repentance in order to be renewed and returned back to His flock.

Heaven rejoices whenever we are reconciled to Christ through repentance. Luke 15:1-7

Christ The True Vine-John 15:1-17

As lay missionaries our source of life is Christ. He nourishes our spirits and we are able to bear good fruits amongst those He sends us to serve.

If we forget He who sent us, forsake him and drift away from Him, we have no life and we can never bear good fruits, no amount of effort or resources we give to others without Christ is empty.

John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches, whoever remains in me and i in him will bear much fruits because without me you can do nothing”.

Christ reminds us that those who love Him truly are obedient and keeps His commandments.

He loves us dearly, He instruct us to remain in His love.

Love one another for it is in love that we are able to serve others.

Christ is the one who chooses us, He sends us to spread his love to his people and in love whatever we ask in his name we shall be given

Serve One Another -John 13 :1-15

With humility Christ being the son of God washed his disciples’ feet, He taught us that nobody is greater or lesser than the other, we ought to serve one another.

Philippians 2:2-3

Do not do anything in pride or jealousy, be one in love, mind and heart with humility of Christ value others above yourself.

Christ has forgiven us we ought to do the same to others, put on love peace of Christ.

Always be thankful.

In God’s company there is no fear

As Comboni Lay Missionaries we are called to serve God’s people, He who called us is the one who sends us and is the one who goes before us and is the one who goes with us, when we fix our eyes on him, we don’t lose direction.

Colossians 3:11 Christ is all and in all

Through his persecution, death and resurrection.

In Him we have strength to face death, temptations, persecution and all the troubles that life in the mission may offer for he will always be with us.

Isaiah 43:1

Fear not for I have redeemed you I have called you by name, you are mine.

When you pass through the water, I will be with you.

In the rivers you shall not drawn.

When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned the flames shall not consume you.

TAKE LORD

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will. All I have and call my own, You have given all to me. To, you, Lord, i return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace, that is enough for me. Amen

Belinda Awino, CLM Kenya

In the footsteps of the Risen Christ (IV)

26 May, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

Some years ago in a village, belonging to the parish of Mongoumba, there was a Christian family, engaged in the parish, the father, a catechist, had several children; one of them, Eloy, was 10 years old.

One day Eloy went to bathe in the river, as usual, and when he returned home he collapsed, without consciousness, and went into a coma.

His father quickly took him to the health center, where there was nothing they could do, because the center was very basic, and they directed him to the hospital in Mongoumba.

When they arrived at the hospital and admitted him, no one knew how to give an answer, the possibilities of doing tests, analysis are nonexistent, there is no equipment to do a CAT scan. And his father, Jean Batiste, not knowing what to do and where to call, went to seek comfort at the church and spoke to the parish priest; and from that moment on in community prayer, Eloy and his family were always present and we tried to support the family, both physically and spiritually.

We do not know how or why, but one day Eloy began to wake up, his body was still paralyzed.

The rehabilitation center “DA TI NDOYE”, which belongs to the parish, took him in. With everyone’s effort and hope, the physiotherapist began to work with him.

After a month of daily work and effort Eloy, in his wheelchair, began to attend the mission school, his dream was to play soccer.

In Mongoumba, he continued his life, as normal as possible, attended catechesis, as in his community, and received baptism and first communion.

One Sunday, during mass, at the moment of approaching communion and in front of everyone, he stood up and without anyone’s help he managed to get there by himself.

Ten years later, on Easter Sunday, I met Eloy in his community, with his friends; he is a young man of 20 years old, autonomous, who walks without any external support and has a smile that fills the heart of those who receive it.

Teresa Monzon, CLM Mongoumba

Finding Myself in Mission: My Enneagram Journey with the Comboni Lay Missionaries

25 May, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

I had the privilege of attending an enriching Enneagram workshop organized by the Comboni Lay Missionaries in Nairobi. The Enneagram is a system of classifying personality type, which can help someone better understand themselves and how to relate to others. The workshop brought together around 20 vibrant and diverse participants, both CLM members and candidates. All eager to grow in self-awareness and community spirit.

Our sessions were animated by the ever-energetic Lorna Tumbo, whose warmth and enthusiasm lit up every moment. Her passion and deep understanding of the Enneagram created an engaging, reflective, and at times, emotional learning environment. Everyone was truly impressed and inspired by her facilitation.

We shared stories, laughed together, reflected deeply, and built meaningful connections. It was not just a workshop, it was a heartfelt journey of transformation and discovery.

I joined the Comboni Lay Missionaries in February, and so far, my experience has been incredibly fulfilling. I feel part of a mission-driven family that values faith, service, and personal growth.

One of the highlights for me was discovering my Enneagram personality type. I came to know myself as a Type 6 – The Loyalist. This insight helped me understand my core motivations, fears, and how I respond to the world. It’s a discovery that is already helping me become more intentional in how I live, serve, and relate with others.

This workshop reminded me that mission starts within, with knowing and loving ourselves. I’m grateful for the opportunity, and I look forward to continuing this journey of faith and transformation.

By Michaela Cheptoo

In the footsteps of the Risen Christ (III)

19 May, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

Sometimes, in the hospital, days go by immersed in daily routine, in routine work. It is often difficult to break the monotony. Although we deal with different people, the same moments are repeated: the crying, the disorientation, the exhausting wait before a farewell that we do not want to come, a diagnosis that stops our life, an unwanted loneliness, persistent and chronic pain…

In the midst of all this suffering, and in the context of the Easter season that we are celebrating, I ask myself again and again: Where are you, Lord? How can I see you and discover you risen? What signs of Life can I find in the midst of so much pain?

And then I see you. I discover you in those words full of tenderness that ask for permission to clean a patient in bed, to take a blood test. I recognize you in the hands that caress with comfort the cheeks of those who suffer, in the eyes of the bedridden person who, with a look and a smile, says good morning to us. You are in the hands always ready to help, in those who, despite the daily hustle and bustle, find time to listen.

Yes, Lord, you dwell in all these situations. And it is there where I recognize you and see you Risen, giving LIFE in the midst of so many experiences of death that sometimes we have to live as health-care workers.

Esther Nieto, CLM

We welcome the new Pope Leo XIV

9 May, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

“Peace be with you all! This was the first greeting of the Risen Jesus. The good shepherd who gave his life for the people of God”.

This is how the new Pope Leo XIV began his first greeting upon his election.

He is an Augustinian missionary, son of immigrants, American by birth and Peruvian by adoption, who for twelve years served as Prior General of the Augustinians and who has been a missionary in Peru for 18 years.

In these days there will be much talk about his past, they will try to find out his style, his inclinations, they will debate whether he is more conservative or progressive….

By his fruits you will know him (Mt 7:16).

We pray for him and for his new mission, so important for the whole church and for the whole world.

But not only do we want to accompany him with our prayers, but we also want to be co-responsible. The Church has been praying that the Holy Spirit will accompany us at this time and help us to walk in the footsteps of Jesus and help in the needs of the world.

This is not only the task of the Pope, but of each and every one of us Christians. It is up to each and every one of us who are called to be faithful to the Gospel. If we want a Church close to those who suffer, of simple life, of deep hope that can transmit the peace that the risen Lord wants for all, … If we want it to be a helping hand that consoles and helps in difficult moments, the tireless companion that encourages in the struggle for a more just and humane world for all, that creates bridges so that war or violence is never the solution to conflicts, that helps to understand the richness of those who are different and drives away the fear of the unknown or of those who come from another country, another culture or who profess another faith. If we seek a world without so many inequalities where we know how to share the richness, more than enough for everyone but that many times is hoarded by few and causes difficulties for many… If we want to take care of the earth, our common home, which is a loan of future generations and a place to enjoy the wonders that God has given us… …. If we want a Church worthy of the Holy Spirit himself, it is up to all of us to discern the responsibility we have. It is up to each one of us personally to take a step forward. It is up to us as a community to help each other, to comfort each other, to question each other, to strengthen each other and to walk together because together we find God who makes himself present among us.

We pray for the new pope and for each of us Christians called to serve the world and to follow in the footsteps of the Risen Jesus who precedes us, who continues to open roads, accompanying and living on the peripheries, close to those who need him and faithful until his last breath.

First words of the new Pope Leo XIV

Here is his first message translated:

Peace be with you! Dear brothers and sisters, this was the first greeting of the Risen Christ, the Good Shepherd who gave his life for the flock of God. I too would like this greeting of peace to enter your hearts, to reach your families and all people, wherever they may be; and to all peoples and the whole earth: peace be with you.

This is the peace of the risen Christ, a disarming, humbling and preserving peace. It comes from God. God, who loves us all, without limits or conditions. Let us keep in our ears the faint but always courageous voice of Pope Francis, who blessed Rome, the Pope who blessed Rome and the world that day, on Easter morning.

Let me continue with that same blessing. God loves us, all of us, evil will not prevail. We are all in God’s hands. Without fear, united, hand in hand with God and with each other, we will go forward. We are disciples of Christ, Christ goes before us, and the world needs his light. Humanity needs him as a bridge to reach God and his love. Help us to build bridges with dialogue and encounter so that we may all be one people always at peace.

Thank you, Pope Francis!

Thank you to my brother cardinals who elected me to be the successor of Peter and to walk together with you as a united Church seeking all together peace and justice, working together as women and men, faithful to Jesus Christ without fear, proclaiming Christ, to be missionaries, faithful to the Gospel.

I am a son of St. Augustine, I am an Augustinian. He said: “With you I am a Christian, for you I am a bishop”. May we all walk together towards that homeland that God has prepared for us.

To the Church of Rome, a special greeting: we must seek together how to be a missionary Church, building bridges, dialoguing, always open to receive with open arms everyone, like this square, open to all, to whoever needs our charity, our presence, our dialogue, our love.

And if I may also say a word, a greeting, to all those, and in particular to my beloved Diocese of Chiclayo in Peru, where a faithful people have accompanied their Bishop, have shared their faith, and have given so much, in order to continue to be the faithful Church of Jesus Christ.

To all of you, brothers and sisters of Rome, of Italy, of the whole world, we want to be a synodal Church, walking and always seeking peace, charity, closeness, especially with those who suffer.

Today is the day of the Supplication to Our Lady of Pompeii.

Our Blessed Mother Mary always wants to walk with us, to be close to us, she always wants to help us with her intercession and her love. Therefore, let us pray together for this mission, for the whole Church and for peace in the world.

Let us ask this special grace to Mary, our mother.