Mission animation – Page 24 – Comboni Lay Missionaries

Closing Mass of the community formation experience in Mexico

14 July, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

Hello to the Comboni Family and Friends!

On this day I want to greet you with great joy of heart, and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Heart of Mary our Mother in heaven and St. Daniel Comboni. I send a big hug to each of you, wishing you to be great in the mission that each of you have received at this time from our God.

Here I share some photos of the day from our Sending Mass (Caro and mine). It was the Eucharist of Thanksgiving and sending at the end of our Missionary Community Experience and Training as CLM “Comboni Lay Missionaries”.

We thank God for this time, for all our life experiences, friendship and knowledge received. Greetings to each of you, I remember with great fondness, affection and respect, and in my prayer and missionary spirit keep join to this family that God has given me. May God bless each and every one of your carnal family and personal friends and also our people where we work. Also attached are some pictures of our training period and Mission Community Experience.

Yours Forever! And thanks for the support and friendship you gave me and Caro in this particular stage of our missionary life.

😉 ISA.

Magda Plekan, “New” Comboni Lay Missionary

7 July, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

On the 27-29 of June we had the last CLM meeting before holydays during which we concluded our formation year. This was special meeting not only for the CLM group but for the all Comboni Family as well.

On the 27^th of June during the Holy Mass of Solemnity of Sacred Heart of Jesus, presided by Fr. Maciek Miąsik, Magda Plekan officially entered into group of CLM Community. The most important moment was the official reading of her prayer as free act and wish to join the community of CLM.

It was big celebration for all our community, although young in age courageously answered the call of God. We are proud and happy for Magda, who beside to Danka, Ewa, Asia and Monika is already fifth Polish full member of the community of Comboni Lay Missionaries. All the girls and all international community of CLM we embrace with our prayer and we wish them unfading enthusiasm taking as their model S. Daniel Comboni.

During the Eucharistic Celebration on Saturday we celebrated missionary sending for monthly experience of our group of seven people. Zuza, Magda, Kasia, Piotrek, Maciek and sister Ula under the eye of fr. Maciek will spend one month in Africa experiencing a bit of missionary life discerning their own vocation.

On Sunday we’ve heard the testimony of Magda, our new CLM. She underlined that the community was very important for her during the missionary experiences and how important is prayer which unites. She shared with us how looked like her way to decide to enter to CLM community. She underlined that during the discernment is important patience and trust in God.

We thank God for Magda and her vocation to be a CLM.

CLM group of Poland

We need missionaries

8 June, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

During this time, where I have been fortunate to serve in the international organization of the CLM, I have had the treasure of meeting and interacting with many missionaries around the world.

Many letters we have crossed from one side to another. Many share the joy of a life in service to others, how in their commitment have realized how their life have been filled and they become happier. They tell me about their dreams and difficulties in their work in the outskirts of the large cities, the adventures of teaching in a school with few resources but with amazing students. Looking for a good professional training for students and families of the communities where they live, care for the sick in hospitals and health posts where they are.

They also share how they live their faith with the communities where they are; the responsibility of each member of the community, bringing the Word of God to remote places on foot, by bike, jeep or canoe.

There are a myriad of experiences, joys and difficulties shared with people.

But I also get many requests for staff. Missionaries are needed! In many places the call repeats: are there people available to come to our community?

Cooperation projects are important, schools, hospitals, cooperatives, denunciation of the injustices… all is central and needs people to continue encouraging and being bridges. Someone reminded me that “the bricks do not embrace.” And it’s true, if there is something that I usually hear from the simple people is to thank for the company that offer the missionaries, to be with them, supporting them in tough times, celebrating the joys together… to have this close embrace. Make present the love of God through their hands supporting them and accompanying the road.

Therefore, in this celebration of Pentecost let the Spirit fill us, take us out of our closed rooms and bring us to the middle of the square, to the road.

If you feel a missionary concern I invite you to find the nearest group in the place where you live. You can also visit our website where you will find the contact of the 20 countries where we are in Europe, Africa or America. Find other people like you and find a time to discern your vocation.

Do not wait! Now is the time! Do not delay the response and start your formation that may lead you to your missionary service.

Comboni said that “the mission is a plan of love for which we shouldn´t spare any effort”.

Is up to you!

[Mozambique] Youth meeting in the parish of Mossuril

22 April, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

The meeting took place in the town of Namitatar, community of Saint John the Baptist, where 130 adolescents and youth participants assist from various areas of the Parish of Mossuril, motivated by the celebration of the “World Youth Day”, with the following schedule: Saturday; welcoming, games, dynamics for integration, Stations of the Cross prayer and a film. Sunday; reflection on topics of JPIC for youth such as “recenseamento” and the law of the land; and a topic about the stage of adolescence with the adolescents. After, animation, culminating with the celebration of Palm Sunday, where young people proclaimed singing and dancing that Jesus is the King of the Universe.

On Saturday the group of CLM of Mozambique organizes the procession of the Cross, as a sign every young wear a cross to their personal reflection within the family and community. On Sunday, we share together the celebration of Palm Sunday, we had a moment to do missionary animation where we invite people who feel called to live this lifestyle to approach our responsible, Father Paulo, pastor of that Parish. I liked so much to have participated in this event and I hope to continue to do it more times in order to prepare myself in my journey to the mission and God bless the youth of Mossuril.

Ancha Luis, candidate of the CLM in Mozambique

Missionary animation in Meixomil (Portugal)

3 April, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

The weekend of 14, 15 and 16 of March the community of life of Porto met in the house of MCCJ in Maia for another occasion of missionary animation in the parish of Meixomil in Paços de Ferreira. The meeting was opened praying in the day when the 183 anniversary of the birth of St. Daniel Comboni was commemorated. Participating in the charisma of this special day, God told us in the daily liturgy: “The Lord has exalted you today to be one people, as he told you, and to keep all his commandments;” Deuteronomy 26, 18. This is how God has called us to another day of consecration to Him, a day where we are happy to be chosen to fulfill His commandments, in order to be God’s people.

Embedded in this environment where we share the joy of the gift of being Comboni Lay Missionaries, we are encouraged to go in search of paths of faith, always having the joy of living in communion with all. We share this with all catechized, the happiness of having in common, with all people of this world, that God loves us so much; we sang happy birthday to Saint Daniel Comboni and challenged the young people preparing for confirmation to participate in the JIM project of the Meixomil Ativo group.

During this weekend, in the same parish, a campaign of fundraising organized by the JIM Meixomil Activo group for the KWE ZO ZO (“Every person is a person”) project was also launched. Thus, during the weekend we gave voice and share with everyone the many challenges of the pygmies who are vetted daily some of the fundamental human rights. We take this opportunity to thank everyone who helped make this weekend possible, the group of JIM Meixomil Ativo, the parish priest, catechists and catechized and the entire parish community, who received us very well.

During this tour, it was always the joy of serving, of being people of God. As God said in the Sunday readings “Leave your country, your family and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you”. Genesis 12:1 is this constant call to go to serve without fear that leads us to spend our time each day to this task, which makes us evangelize and be evangelized. As Pope Francisco says, “Go, without fear, to serve. Following these three words, you will experience that who evangelizes, is evangelized, who conveys the joy of faith, receives more joy. ”

by Paula Sousa