Missionary Experiences – Comboni Lay Missionaries

Memories of Holy Week in Metlatónoc

2 June, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

“After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’” (Luke 10:1-9 Latin American Bible)

I cannot stop thinking about this biblical quote without remembering what it must have been like when Jesus sent out the 72, and imagining the experiences of those who were sent.

Last April, we, the group of Costa Rican Comboni Lay Missionaries, had the experience of living the Holy Week mission field as preparation for the Mission Ad gentes, in the state of Guerrero, Mexico, specifically in the municipality of Metlatónoc.

This experience undoubtedly left a mark on me culturally, spiritually, and personally, allowing me to appreciate the gift of the call to a vocation of service to others and, at the same time, to understand the essence of missionary life: the challenges faced by our missionaries in each of the countries to which they are sent.

In my case, I was assigned to the community of Valle Hermoso, made up of Mixtec indigenous people, in the company of José David Rojas (CLM) where we participated, accompanied, and lived Holy Week in a very special way, listening, observing, and contributing, always with respect for the community and its culture, our company, and suggestions for the celebrations.

As a health professional (nurse) and addiction therapist, this time I avoided any situation that would prevent me from getting involved in the spiritual and personal experience and I stripped myself of any expectations, to clear my mind and be able to receive, learn, and objectively accompany all these people who came to us many times with their concerns, customs, and culture. This led me to understand that sometimes, just being there and living the way we’ve been called to live speaks for itself.

I must confess that the experience was wonderful, the learning invaluable, and I was overcome with nostalgia when we said goodbye. Without a doubt, I learned that you can be happy with very little, and it also made me wonder if I would be prepared to live in such austere conditions for a long time among them.

I can say that I am still happy with my calling, sometimes with concerns, but also with many dreams. Feeling called and sent at the same time makes me recall the aforementioned quote from the Gospel of Luke and confirm that my vocation is the best gift the Lord has given me.

To the community of Metlatónoc, and to Valle Hermoso, its people, children, youth, and adults, thank you for your welcome.

I also extend my special thanks to our guide in Costa Rica, Brother Jesús Pérez, for his advice, and in a very special way to Fathers Miguel Navarrete and Wojciech Chwaliszewski. May God bless you!

Jorge Zamora, CLM Costa Rica

Mission with the CLM of Mexico in Metlatonoc

28 May, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

Missionary experience in Holy Week in Mexico (Tlapa – Metlatónoc), an indigenous people with customs, traditions, with another language (the Misteco), with its doctrine of Catholic Faith, with different rites but with the same God and His praise and glory for our Lord Jesus Christ.

A Mission with great blessing for us and the people of Metlatonoc. Living and sharing with children, teenagers, adults and seniors, seeing the smile, the joy, the happiness in every face of our brothers and sisters. I realize that bringing the Word, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, came to life in the different religious activities carried out: the Procession of the encounter, the Institution of the Eucharist live, with its customs, the surrender of Jesus and the crucifixion of Christ.

Living together in the different communities with all the members, from the children to the adults, was very beautiful; where we evangelized and enjoyed different dynamics, we sang and danced, we colored, we played and danced, we sang with the adults.

This missionary experience is an opportunity to get involved in the lives of others, share the gospel and serve those in need. It is an experience of solidarity where relationships are forged, we collaborate in community solutions and live in an intercultural community, seeking personal transformation and evangelization.

It involves helping, collaborating in solutions and being present in the daily life of the community where the mission takes place. It focuses on announcing the Good News, sharing the faith and making disciples of Jesus through the Word and testimony. The mission is lived in community, sharing the experience and learning together, both from others and from the situation being lived. It can represent a before and an after in the life of the missionary, strengthening faith and generating a positive change.

And I lived it in this way, especially in each activity throughout that week: from the first prayer in the morning, the going out to the houses, the sharing in the meetings with the children, celebrating the Eucharist, until the end of sharing in the evening with my brothers and sisters, no longer so unknown, companions of the community, I began to embrace this “Mission”.

That is where the mission began. That is when I began to try to look a little with the eyes of Christ: every entrance to a house was a reason for joy and gratitude, which I was allowed to feel by listening, by talking, by smiles, by tears of the most precious treasure of Jesus, which is the heart of each one of those faces we met. The meetings with the children were the engine of each day, a moment to forget the worries, the structures, the “big things” to enter into that simple and tender world of playing and laughing regardless of time or place, simply to become like children.

Karol Chacón, CLM Candidate, Costa Rica

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

Iza from Poland Arrives in Kenya to Begin Mission.

20 May, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

Kenya warmly welcomes Iza from Poland, who arrived on 6th May to begin her mission here in Kenya. Her arrival is a significant moment, and she was greeted with enthusiasm by a group of Comboni Lay Missionary Kenya who went to the airport to welcome her. The atmosphere was filled with anticipation and heartfelt greetings.

As Iza stepped out, she was met with smiles and warm embraces. We are incredibly excited to have Iza with us. We look forward to supporting her in her mission. Iza expressed her gratitude, stating, ‘I’m so grateful to be here and eager to start working with the community.

CLM Kenya

Easter celebration CLM Kenya

28 April, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

Our Easter celebration was amazing. The celebration was held in Kitelakapel international community. We were joined by other CLM members and candidates from Nairobi

On Holy Thursday

The day was started by welcoming our CLM members and candidates from Nairobi to Kitelakapel community, it was a moment of community building amongst us by sharing responsibilities

In the afternoon we had the privilege of showing our appreciation and gratitude by celebrating our assessor Fr Maciej on priest day

During the afternoon in Holy Triduum, we had moments of sharing our testimonies and vocations with the local community

On Good Friday

We joined the local community in prayer and singing during the way of the cross.

After which we continued building and engaging ourselves in our community by sharing of chores, eating together and praying together

On Holy Saturday

We had Bible catechesis with Fr Maciej, a short retreat where we reflected on the Word of God and prayer and later, we shared our individual reflections.

In the afternoon we joined the local community in celebrating Holy Saturday where we participated in the liturgy

We also took that moment to welcome two of our new members to the group, Gabriel and Anastasia

Resurrection Sunday

It was a day filled with joy and hope for our Lord Jesus Christ had resurrected from the dead. We joined the local community during mass where we participated in the liturgy and Sunday school with the children.

On Monday our dearest pope Francis passed away. We pray for his eternal rest and for all our Catholic church. Let’s be united in prayer.

Belinda Awino, CLM Kenya