JPIC_en – Comboni Lay Missionaries

Hope, respect, solidarity, and let’s get to work…

17 November, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

Today, November 12, 2025, as part of the Comboni Family Forum on Integral Ecology 2025, we had an intense day, beginning with a community prayer at the Sagrada Familia Social Center in Belem, Brazil, where, after placing ourselves in God’s hands, we gathered in small groups and went to different locations where the COP30 International Conference on Climate Change is taking place.

An interesting reflection took place at the Church Symposium at COP30, where church leaders from various continents, authorities, and representatives of traditional peoples gathered for a dialogue on paths to ecological conservation.

At the same time, conferences were held at other locations, such as the Federal University of Pará, the blue zone, and the Pará River, where a boat trip took place.

Among the topics of conversation and denunciation at this summit were: the defense of the most needy peoples, an end to violence, peace, solidarity, and care for our common home, climate justice, the sovereignty of peoples, integral solidarity, and above all, such important issues as the protection of natural resources and saying no to mining and polluting practices.

The first day ended with the opening of COP30 at the University and the presentation of important figures, including the Rector, and artistic performances. At the same time, there was a march for the martyrs, which ended with Holy Mass in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Nazareth, concluding a day full of reflection, commitment, and hope for a more just, sustainable, and supportive world, respecting all those who do not just talk about ecology but live it in their daily lives….

Maritza Rodríguez Pacheco

CLM Costa Rica

Responding to the cry of the earth and the abandoned.

12 November, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

Today, November 11, 2025, thirty-four members of the Comboni Family from around the world have gathered at the Sagrada Familia Social Center in Belém, Brazil, to celebrate the Comboni Family Forum on Integral Ecology 2025. This year’s forum is being held to coincide with COP30, an international conference on climate change.

The Comboni Family Forum on Integral Ecology (FFCEI) thus offers a concrete expression of communion with those who advocate for a just society that respects and protects our common home.

The opening session began with a prayer, followed by a brief introduction to the FFCEI, its purpose, and its mission. Participants then took part in group discussions, followed by a moment of sharing and presentation of the week’s program. The day concluded with the celebration of Holy Mass, during which participants gave thanks to God for the gift of creation and prayed for the grace to protect it.

Tomorrow we will continue to be present at the People’s Summit, which is part of COP30, with its various exhibitions and exchanges of ideas. We pray to God for the sensitivity and courage to heed and defend the cry of the earth. It is our commitment to raise awareness among the younger generations that we have only one common home and that it must be cared for with concrete actions that will endure over time.

CLM at COP30

ECOPAX in Ecuador

26 October, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

The Comboni Peace Teams ECOPAX is a civil association founded in Mexico, inspired by Brother Joel Cruz MCCJ, which is now taking root in Ecuador. It already has three Cultural Centers for Peace in Guayaquil, one of which is virtual, and one in the city of El Empalme. The Comboni Lay Missionaries of Ecuador are also part of these teams.

ECOPAX is a community made up of lay people who form teams and communities to reduce violence. How? By creating structures for training, planning, and accompanying groups and communities.

One of these Peace Teams has its center of activities in the Parish of Our Lady of Czestochowa, accompanied by John Villarroel CLM in Ecuador. On October 23, they had a gathering led by Fr. Serafin Kakwata MCCJ on the theme: “Peace in Families.”

This Saturday, October 25, the Afro Cultural Center of Guayaquil ECOPAX in Ecuador held its assembly, as established in its operating charter, in which the “Pillars of Peace in ECOPAX” were discussed.

John Villaroel, CLM Ecuador

Put the seed in the ground, it will not be in vain, don’t worry about harvesting it for your brother.

24 October, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

Hello brothers, I am Tito, a Comboni Lay Missionary from Brazil, currently on mission in Mozambique, Africa, more precisely in the mission of Anchilo, province of Nampula.

My job here is to coordinate and guide a group of workers in agricultural, horticultural, and animal production so that they can work the land and earn a living for their families.

Here in Anchilo, at the Paulo VI Catechetical Center, production is intended to help feed the leaders who participate in training meetings, as we have two to three, and sometimes even four, training meetings every month (Catechists, Elders, Justice and Peace, Family, Youth, IAM, Mothers, among other ministries).

I am happy to be able to help in this way in the formation of leaders.

This is also a mission.

Tito, Comboni Lay Missionary in Mozambique.

How wonderful it is to reap the fruits of one’s labor!

14 October, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

It is very rewarding to produce with dedication, striving for quality in nutritious, healthy, and unique food. But selling it and getting a fair price, hearing the praise of those who take it to their table, is even better.

This is what our third-year students at the Rural Family House in Açailândia experienced on Friday, thanks to a partnership between social movements, the Municipal Department of Agriculture of Açailândia, and the PAGES project of SAF/State of Maranhão. An Agroecological Fair for Family Farming.

This is the second year that the Rural Family House of Açailândia, in a project involving the subjects of Rural Economics, Introduction to Agroindustry, and others, has provided microcredit so that our students can have their first experience of entrepreneurship in the solidarity economy. We lend amounts of R$ 500 so that groups of 4 to 5 young people can produce a product based on ingredients from family farming and have a marketing experience. Thus, they produced geladim, truffles, cake in a jar, pé de moça… very tasty and sold them at school events and fairs.

Everyone repaid the microcredit and still made significant profits, in addition to learning how to organize production, marketing, working cooperatively, managing production costs, setting prices, and sharing profits. A win-win situation!

In addition, they also sold the routine production of all CFR students: fish, vegetables, fava beans, puba…

And they even helped other market vendors with their sales.

Cooperation is the way forward for family farming and overcoming capitalism!