On the evening of Friday, September 26, Casa Familiar Rural de Açailândia (CFR) held the 13th edition of its traditional Peasant Philosophy Night. This annual celebration aims to highlight the knowledge and awareness of the peasant people.
The event, organized by the school’s pedagogical coordination, administration, and student body, had as its theme this year “CFR, 20 Years Planting Knowledge and Harvesting Wisdom: rural education, youth, and family farming.” The evening was filled with memorable moments, such as the opening ceremony, the reading of the speech by the Comboni Missionary from Congo, Father Joseph Mumbere, the artistic presentation by the first-year class, and the awarding of agricultural technician degrees to the graduates, followed by a spectacular fireworks display accompanied by tears and hugs.
The Rural Family Houses, a model that originated in France and was brought to Brazil in the late 1960s, are structured around alternating pedagogy, general and technical training, and family succession. The CFR in Açailândia was founded by Comboni Lay Missionaries in 2001, welcoming its first classes of young people from the countryside in 2005. Despite facing many challenges, it has already trained more than 200 students, children of the peasant class from various municipalities in the region.
Throughout history, many human activities have contributed to the destruction of creation.
Today, more than ever, some of these activities take the form of a war against creation. Some bear more responsibility for this crisis than others.
However, there is hope for a peaceful earth. Isaiah 32:14-18 envisions a peaceful creation where God’s people will live only when justice is achieved.
Hope is being able to see that there is light, despite all the darkness, said Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
We cannot and must not combat climate change without working closely together.
The Laudato Si Circle of the Archdiocese of Nampula, Mozambique, in union with several Christian churches, held an ecumenical prayer service for creation on Sunday, September 21, with the theme “Peace for Creation” and the symbol “Garden of Peace,” inspired by Isaiah 32:18, as part of Creation Time. A time of prayer and action for our common home, which occurs every year from September 1 to October 4.
The service was celebrated by the Catholic Church, nine Evangelical churches, and the Laudato Si movement, with approximately 500 people in attendance.
It was an afternoon of praise, thanksgiving, and asking God for forgiveness.
We recognize the urgent call to action, and we recognize that we can only respond on the basis of faith. The season of creation is a source of strength and unity (Dr. Anne Burghardt, general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation).
We are all invited to care for the place God has given us to live.
The next interfaith meeting in Nampula is already scheduled for October 4.
Updates from the Comboni Lay Missionary Community in Kitelakapel, West Pokot
Some background information on our area of mission:
Kitelakapel is under Kacheliba parish. It has 17 villages and 17 elders with a chief who works closely to see on the wellbeing of the people of the community.
West Pokot County is one of the 14 Counties in the Rift Valley region. It is situated in the North Rift along Kenya’s Western boundary with Uganda border. It borders Turkana County to the North and North East, Trans Nzoia County to the South, Elgeyo Marakwet County and Baringo County to the South East and East respectively. The County lies within Longitudes 34° 47’ and 35° 49’ East and Latitude 1° and 2° North and covers an area of approximately 9,169.4 km2. West Pokot County, whose Headquarters is Kapenguria, is mainly inhabited by Pokot community and minority community of Sengwer. They are religious people, and most of them are Christians, but there are also Muslims. The culture is rich, and we embrace it. The County is known for its rich cultural heritage, agriculture and livestock. Agriculture and livestock sector is the backbone of the county’s economy with more than 80% of the population engaging in farming and related activities. The county is characterized by a variety of topographic features. On the northern and north eastern parts are the dry plains, with an altitude of less than 900 m above sea level. On the southeastern part are Cherangani Hills with an altitude of 3,370 m above sea level. Landscapes associated with this range of altitude include spectacular escarpments of more than 700 m. The high-altitude areas have high agricultural potential while medium altitude areas lie between 1,500 m and 2,100 m above sea level and receive low rainfall in addition to being predominantly pastoral land. The low altitude areas include Alale, Kacheliba, Kongelai, Kitelakapel.
The Pokot have always been solidly rooted in their own traditions and lifestyle, so only recently have they started to value school education, and the general level of scholarization remains low. Families are mainly polygamous, girls are often married at a very early age, which means, for those going to school, dropping out, as in the case of underage pregnancies, which are also quite common.
The families are quite fragmented, with cases of divorces and separations, causing inevitable consequences on the children’s behavior, feelings and wellbeing. Among young and adults, there is a widespread problem of alcohol and drug addiction, as well as HIV and other sexually related illnesses. Kitelakapel community has 90% of very poor and 10% of middle class consisting mainly of teachers and local government officials and a few commercial farmers.
The agricultural sector is growing and improving given favorable consistent rain and fertility of the soil by application of cow dung. Mostly they plant maize and vegetables in wide fenced area to avoid animals on free range system to destroy them, high breed animals have been introduced to a few to increase milk and meat production.
With improvement in the soil and constant rains the members are fully engaged in growing maize at a large scale which is used for domestic and commercial consumption. Since Majority have a lot of land, the need of equipment’s like a tractor, fertile soil and good seeds will support the community have enough food that can be stored and used in the dry and drought seasons. Maize being a food and cash crop, some households use it to look after chicken and animals which has increased income and food like meat , eggs etc. Reclaiming the dry and idol land trough irrigation that needs availability of pumped water from the underground, onions green paper, tomatoes and greens are coming up from the abandoned land.
A new project: the KITELAKAPEL INTEGRATED COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT COMMUNITY BASED ORGANISATION (KICE-CBO):
This is a CBO which we have recently formed in Kitelakapel, as an instrument to empower our community and family households. 175 members have officially applied and joined the CBO and we are still receiving more applicants willing to join the group. We are now fully registered and certified by the government, and we are at the stage of starting a set of income generating activities, for example bee-keeping, handicrafts, catering, poultry keeping, etc. It is also a SACCO, so the revenues will be given to the members as loans, as well as interests for their savings. We are hoping that this will enable men and women, especially those who don’t have any other source of income, to get involved in economic activities which will allow them to be independent and stay away from addictions and violence. The people love unity and self-support groups through which they are able to get opportunities, save money, trade and participate in socio-economic activities.
Members of KICE –CBO during AGM “It was an honorable atmosphere of joy, great unity, smile for the photo and a good feeling of belonging together to a certified Community Based organization in a village of the poorest and most abandoned”
Comboni lay missionary Pius Oyoma Showing the certificate of registration and constitution to THE KITELAKAPEL INTEGRATED COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT -CBO members.
As the coordinator Comboni Lay Missionary of the international community of Kitelakapel, member of parish development committee and treasurer of CLMK with my profession as a business administrator and accountant and project management skills, sharing my skills to unite and empower people gives me satisfaction through impactful positive influence to the local people that are in need of my work. This helped the group to be certified and recognized by the government and the community. The catholic universal church encourages unity and development through JPIC, CARITAS, parish council, development committee and other NGOs.
The Board members and Leaders of the KICE CBO from the left is the treasurer Christable Cheyech, v/chair Musa Napa, v/secretary Ann Barasa, secretary Samson Changorok, chairlady Paulina Titika
The AGM meeting of the KICE-CBO
Other positive effects of the creation of the KICE-CBO:
In my encounter for the 1st year the majority of men never wanted to go to church, you could only find two but after the campaign SEND MEN TO CHURCH through CMA and KICE –CBO today we celebrate more than 30 men attending church and excited to integrate with women to work for a common goal.
The CWA and CMA visit each other and to support those in serious need with money contributions and prayers.
Integrating and empowering the CMA, CWA, YOUTH and the non-Catholic to build a solid community is a game changer for Kitelakapel, as previously people where not united but staying far apart from each other
This Sunday (20), the Father Ezequiel Ramin Community celebrated a historic and symbolic milestone: the 40th anniversary of the martyrdom of the Comboni missionary Ezequiel Ramin and also the 40th anniversary of the existence of the community that bears his name, in the municipality of Mirante da Serra (RO). The event brought together around 300 people, with representatives from neighboring communities and the Father Ezequiel Settlement, which also celebrates 25 years of its foundation.
The celebration was part of the 10th Pilgrimage of Father Ezequiel Ramin, which will take place on July 27th at the Fr. Ezequiel Ramin Community in Rondolândia, Mato Grosso. The Pilgrimage aims to keep alive the memory of the young missionary, who dedicated his life to defending the poor, rural workers, and indigenous peoples of the Amazon.
One of the most moving moments of the celebration was the presence and testimony of Fabiano Ramin, Father Ezequiel’s younger brother, who came from Italy especially to participate in the program commemorating the 40th anniversary of the martyrdom and the founding of the community. In his speech, marked by restrained emotion and profound gratitude, Fabiano emphasized the power of the memory that remains alive among the people Ezequiel chose to serve with his life.
“I feel like crying, but I won’t. Old people feel like crying when they’re very emotional. So, I’m in that situation. I’m the youngest of the Ramin family, and I’m very grateful to you for this celebration, for this occasion that commemorates not only the murder of Father Ezequiel, but also the birth of the community, the baptism of a people who continue to fight.”
He emphasized that the celebration is not just a remembrance of the past, but an act of hope and continuity: “I’m very happy to see that this community is alive. It fights, resists, and organizes itself. As the parish priest said, it requires sacrifice, time, and effort. The Christian mission, as Ezekiel wrote, is proclamation and denunciation. Denouncing injustice is part of faith. And you continue this mission.”
The presence of Comboni missionaries in Mirante da Serra throughout Missionary Week reaffirmed the continuity of the charism and mission of Father Ezequiel Ramin, who was also a Comboni missionary. They participated in pastoral activities, home visits, and moments of listening and prayer with the families of Our Lady of Migrants Parish, Diocese of Ji-Paraná.
The missionary presence reinforces the international and liberating dimension of the Church in the Amazon—a Church that walks with the people, listening to their pain and hopes. By visiting homes, the Comboni Missionaries strengthened community bonds and also revived Ezekiel’s missionary spirit: a faith that denounces injustice and proclaims hope.
The celebration continued with a community lunch, listening to residents, a performance by Clown Liro and closing with community bingo.
One of the most symbolic moments was the mystical performance performed by young people from the community, which portrayed the struggle for land and denounced the structures that led to Father Ezequiel’s martyrdom: “He was murdered because he defended the landless, the squatters, the indigenous people. Because he believed in a just society.“
“I would like to say something special to those of you who are sensitive to beautiful things: have a dream! Cultivate a beautiful dream and follow it throughout your life! A life that has a dream is a happy life. A life that follows a dream is a life that is renewed every day. Our life, which seems long, is actually short. May your dream make not only everyone happy, but also future generations. It is beautiful to dream of making all humanity happy. It is not impossible!” – Ezequiel Ramin
Father Ezequiel Ramin, a Comboni missionary, wrote this text four years before he was brutally murdered by gunmen on July 24, 1985, in Cacoal, in the state of Rondônia, at the age of 32. He had a dream. The dream of the Kingdom of God. He embraced the cause of the poorest. He died defending the small and unjustly treated, farmers and indigenous people. This year we commemorate the 40th anniversary of the martyrdom of Father Ezequiel Ramin, martyr of justice in the Amazon.
It is estimated that more than two thousand people from Rondônia and other parts of Brazil and the world participated in the 10th Fr. Ezequiel Ramin Pilgrimage and commemorated his martyrdom in Cacoal/RO and Rondolândia/MT on July 26 and 27. In 2025, the Comboni missionaries will also mark 50 years of presence in Rondônia.
May the testimony of Ezequiel Ramin encourage us in our mission.
“If my life belongs to you, my death also belongs to you.” – E. Ramin
Fr. Ezequiel Ramin, present!
LMC Brasil
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