Comboni Lay Missionaries

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Formation

Annual Peruvian CLM meeting in Pangoa

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LMC PangoaAs in previous years, the Comboni Lay Missionaries of Peru have had the CLM Annual Meeting. This year we have made in San Martin de Pangoa – Junin on 5, 6 and 7 February in the Comboni parish of that place in the jungle. We met almost all CLM from Lima and Trujillo, and some that are in a period of knowledge of the group.

During those three days we could talk and deepen our work and missionary style, sharing experiences lived in different mission fields where we are present as CLM. We were accompany by the Comboni fathers Valentin Garcia, advisor of the CLM in Peru and Father José Chinguel advisor of the CLM in Trujillo. Comboni fathers of the parish welcomed us very well and we got all the facilities for our meeting.

We begin our meeting reflecting the theme of early Christian communities. Making a comparison with the way of life in native communities, where up to this day they still lives a sense of belonging to the community. Where they shared, sitting by the fire, the joys and sorrows of the day and if someone in the community is fortunate to catch some kind of edible animal the whole community gathers to share as a family the dam, narrating in detail the adventures of hunting. A native of the place shows us its art, culture and how to face the challenges that the avalanche of modernity is threatens native traditions.

The second day we share our experiences of the mission field of a month. We conclude with this coexistence, and reflecting on justice, peace and integrity of creation (JPIC).
LMC Pangoa

On Sunday, the last day, we visited the native community of San Antonio de Sonomoro that is one of the native communities where mission field has taking place in other occasions. There we dialogue with the authorities of this native community and its people.

This annual event strengthens us as a group and the example of indigenous communities motivates us to continue working to strengthen Peruvian CLM community and feel as a family not only in word but in heart and vocation as the first Christian communities.

Fisher Ayquipa P.

CLM-Peru Coordinator

Africanize-me

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Africa, a cry that resounds from childhood.
A silent scream … I hope for so long.
Africa that makes me dream! That makes my heart beat a rhythmically. Africa that fascinates me!
Fantasy and reality they meet now, utopia and concreteness are given and inspire me to Africanize-me.
That my feet touch you without invade.
That my hands greet you without hurting you.
Let my heart love you more than he already loves you and that you, O Africa, show me your love!
A love that does not constrict. Love that does not destroy.
Join our knowledge without mine drowning yours, without yours inhibit mine.
Africa… Africa… Africa…
Welcome me! Accept me! Teach me!
That the childhood dream of touching you, now matured and possible can be made at a meeting of souls, in a true encounter of ME with YOU. Let everything be done with love.


Priscila Garcia. CLM

My time in London

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MagdaIt has been a month since I came to London. I’m here to learn English as I will need it at my mission in Ethiopia. I’m staying in Comboni Missionaries House in Notting Hill in London. Comboni Fathers are very kind and helpful. Every day we spend time together on meals, prayers and a Mass. They are my advisors – correcting my language mistakes and they are very big-hearted if I don’t understand something. Fortunately, there is less and less of situations like this 🙂 .

I try to use the time I spend here, the best I can.

 

Magda

I go to the language school in the morning, so afternoons and evenings are totally at my disposal. I usually spend this time on learning. However, the biggest problem for me is still to talk to people, so I am constantly looking for some opportunities to practice English. I usually spend time with my classmates: on bowling, walking or drinking coffee – once a week at least. They are from different countries and even different continents, so the meetings are very interesting and varied. Recently, I have discovered that there are special meetings in London where people who are learning the language can come and …practice 🙂 . Once a week I go also to the meetings of group ‘Soul Food’. We pray, develop spiritually, listen to conference or testimony and share our faith with each other.

Apart from Comboni Fathers community, there are also Comboni Sisters in London. I had the opportunity to meet some of them. We visited them and I can say they were very hospitable, we had coffee and biscuits and talked a little. They invited me to visit them again, and regretted they could not talk to us longer, due to their other commitments and duties. I really think it is worth to take care of the relationships in our Comboni family.

MagdaLondon is a multicultural, various and vibrant city. I have already visited many places: famous streets, buildings, parks and museums. Street artists show their talents on squares; modern and multimedia museums are full of amazing exhibitions. Palaces, old buildings and monuments revive a history. Restaurants and pubs can’t complain about the lack of customers, as every minute there are hundred of tourists passing the street. All of that it is interesting, it delights and impresses, but on the other hand it is a little exhausting, especially the very center of the city – crowded and noisy. And in the middle of everything, there are homeless people – sitting, sleeping or begging for money. I think that’s the view of bother me the most.

Madzia Fiec CLM in London

Formation Meeting of the CLM in Portugal

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ComboniOn days 22, 23 and 24 January 2016 another formation of Lay Comboni Missionaries was performed, the first in 2016, in the house of MCCJ in Viseu. Training by the CLM Pedro Moreira, that focused on the role of the laity in evangelization, using the documents of the Church.

On Saturday morning, we started the day with the celebration of the Eucharist with the community of Viseu. In the morning, after breakfast, we start with the Lumen Gentium, Cristifidelis Laici and Redemptoris Missio encyclical. The aim was to deepen the true role of the laity in the Church. The laity incorporated into the Church through baptism should always be witnesses of Christ in the family, at work, with friends, in short, in all situations of life. Still in the morning, we were invited to meditate individually some of the texts proposed. The silence was very productive and allowed us to listen to God who wanted to talk to us. In fact, the life of a Christian, of a missionary, has to pass through the arid desert to Jesus returns us productive. As we emphasized at the meeting, faith is a personal encounter, is an experience of personal encounter.

In the afternoon, we move into our training as lay with a missionary charism. As CLM, we were invited to reflect on various writings of Comboni, deepen the spirituality of Comboni, whose essential characteristics are: the Cross, the Good Shepherd, the Heart of Jesus and life in the cenacles (of prayer). Before dinner, we had a moment of prayer with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. In this encounter with Jesus, face to face, between meditation of a text and silence, we let Jesus look us, as Pope Francisco says.

After dinner, we heard the moving testimony of Barbara, Italian CLM preparing to go to Carapira, Mozambique. We heard a testimony of life rich in Gospel, where Barbara clearly substantiated us the option to leave a stable job, which culminated in home, car, family and social life, “it is Him that asks us to leave everything and follow Him.” A very interesting testimony.

The 24 began at 08:00 with the prayer of Lauds. In the morning, we were asked to form four groups and then go to ponder some of the texts proposed. During this time, the group had the opportunity to exchange our points of views with colleagues, a very interesting dialogue. At noon, we celebrate the Eucharist, which is always time for unity, sharing and joy. After lunch, the candidates started on their journey back home, because it was the day of the presidential elections and most of us still must fulfill our civic duty.

I believe that this meeting was very important and intense. It challenged us to grow spiritually, to become aware of what the Church calls and wants of the laity, in addition to seeking God in silence. I appreciate the wonderful meeting that the CLM, through Pedro Moreira, provide us with the certainty that we are a real family which is passionate for Christ and mission in the manner of Comboni.

By Pedro Nascimento (CLM candidate)

January events in Poland

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CLM PolandWe 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