Comboni Lay Missionaries

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Missionary Experiences

Beyond the Language Barrier: Finding Connection in C.A.R.

by
LMC RCA

It has been just over two months since we arrived in the Central African Republic (C.A.R.). From the moment we landed, we were warmly welcomed at the airport by the Lay Comboni Missionaries (LMC) and the priest in charge. Since then, we have been journeying together in faith and service. In Bangui, we have been able to familiarize ourselves with the country as the Comboni family shows us around—from the bustling markets to the beauty of the capital. We have also had the privilege of accompanying the MCCJ (Comboni Missionaries) as they celebrate Mass in various locations.

A significant highlight of our stay in Bangui was the opportunity to meet with the three Comboni Bishops currently serving in C.A.R. Speaking with them gave us a deeper sense of the history and the strength of the Comboni mission, making us feel even more connected to the larger family we are now a part of.

Overcoming Barriers

Initially, the language barrier felt like a “blocking stone” between us and the local community. However, we are striving daily to bridge that gap. We are currently taking intensive French lessons while staying at the provincial house in Bangui, so that we can communicate more effectively and serve more deeply in the months to come.

Easter in Mongoumba

Because we arrived during Lent, the LMC invited us to celebrate Easter together as a family. During Holy Week, we traveled to Mongoumba, the heart of our mission. It felt wonderful to finally step onto the mission grounds and reconnect with the LMC and the local community.

The journey was filled with anticipation. When we were later asked about our impressions, we realized we each saw the experience through different lenses. Despite these different backgrounds, we were united by the lovely welcome we received from the Comboni Missionaries and the people of Mongoumba. Celebrating Easter with the local Christians was a gift; the worship, the dancing, the singing, and the vibrant sense of togetherness reminded us that, indeed, Christ has risen!

Even though the community in Mongoumba speaks the local language, Sango, which remains a barrier for us, the people still found ways to understand our presence and intentions. Each day offered a new opportunity to learn a few words from them, proving that connection often goes beyond spoken language.

Service at the Clinic

After Easter, we stayed an additional week to assist our teammate, Elia, as she prepared to return to Portugal. She managed the clinic and spent her final days guiding us through the operations, showing us the coordination with the neighboring hospital and the vital work being done with the Pygmy community and the wider population.

The experience at the clinic was deeply moving and, at times, difficult. Witnessing patients arrive for wound dressings and treatments allowed us to literally feel their pain. It was a somber, humbling moment for both of us to witness the raw reality of the mission and the work that lies ahead. While we focused on the hospital during this visit, we look forward to engaging with other mission activities soon. We also had the unique opportunity to participate in a Laudato Si’ workshop conducted for the Pygmy community.

Looking Ahead

Returning to Bangui was emotional, as it meant bidding farewell to Elia. It is difficult to say goodbye so soon, and as we watch her go, we are struck by the reality of the task ahead. Realizing that the continuity of this vital work now rests with us is both a humbling responsibility and a challenge we are preparing to meet with all our hearts.

To honor her time here, we held a small party to celebrate her many contributions. While it was hard to see her leave, we are deeply grateful to God for all she accomplished and we send her off with many blessings.

As we continue our French lessons, we are preparing for the next chapter. We know that learning Sango is our next great task, especially as Teresa will also be returning to her home country soon, passing her responsibilities on to us.

We are still learning from one another and growing as a team. Although the path is challenging, our hearts remain focused on the mission and the people we are here to serve.

Greetings to everyone, and peace be with you all.

Neema, CLM in CAR

Our Experience in Lima (Peru)

by
LMC Peru

After traveling quite a bit, we arrived in Lima, Peru. We were warmly welcomed by Mrs. Ana and Mr. Fisher from the CLM in Peru. It was the first time we had spent Holy Week away from our country and family.

We celebrated Palm Sunday at the chapel near our home. We enjoyed the songs and prayers. People were very happy to meet us. They gave us a brief moment to introduce ourselves.

On Good Friday, we went to the Pamplona neighborhood for the Stations of the Cross. It was a new experience. Everywhere we went, we shared food and joy.

On other days, we visited the families of the CLM members who live in Lima, and we also went to the scholastics’ house and the provincial house. We also visited downtown Lima to do some sightseeing and see some very beautiful places.

So far, we’re having a very good experience. We like the food in Peru. The climate suits us well. We’ve learned about the culture, about money, and how people pay for food and other things.

We’re currently studying hard to improve our Spanish. We want to learn Spanish well so we can provide the best missionary service possible. We’re learning a lot about the culture and history, and we’re also interacting well with the people.

Belinda, CLM in Peru

The Mission Born of the Incarnation

by
LMC Brasil
LMC Brasil

The 2026 Fraternity Campaign invites us to reflect on one of the most profound truths of the Christian faith: “He came to dwell among us” (John 1:14). The prologue of John’s Gospel reveals the heart of the mystery of the Incarnation. God did not remain distant from human reality. The Word became flesh, took on our condition, entered history, and chose to dwell in the midst of humanity. He did not come as a passing visitor, but as one who decided to share the life, the sufferings, and the hopes of his people.

The Incarnation is, therefore, God’s great gesture of closeness. In Jesus, God draws near to wounded humanity, especially to those living on the margins: the poor, the excluded, and those forgotten by society. Christ is born into a simple reality, grows up among the little ones, walks with those who suffer, and proclaims a Kingdom where the least are placed at the center. This logic of the Gospel breaks with the mentality of power and indifference, and reveals a God who chooses closeness, compassion, and service.

This perspective deeply illuminates Comboni missionary spirituality. Inspired by St. Daniel Comboni, the missionaries are called to make the same movement as Jesus: to go out to meet, to live among, and to walk alongside the poorest. Comboni understood that mission does not take place from a position of superiority or distance, but through the concrete sharing of life with those most in need. His missionary dream was clear: to save Africa with Africa itself, valuing the peoples, their cultures, and their dignity.

Within this logic, Comboni lay missionaries play an essential role. They bear witness that mission is not exclusive to religious or priests, but is a vocation of the entire People of God. The lay missionary is one who, immersed in daily life—at work, in the family, in the community—becomes a living presence of the Gospel. He embraces mission as a way of life, bringing the presence of Christ to places where the institutional Church often cannot reach.

The Incarnation teaches us that God does not transform the world from a distance. He commits himself to human reality. In the same way, Comboni lay missionaries are called to dwell in the existential peripheries, to draw near to the sufferings of humanity, and to build concrete signs of hope. Being with the poor is not merely an act of social solidarity, but a profound dimension of the Christian faith. In the faces of the poor and vulnerable, we encounter Christ himself, who continues to challenge us.

In this sense, the theme of the 2026 Fraternity Campaign, “He came to dwell among us,” also becomes an invitation to every Christian: to allow Christ to continue dwelling in the world through our actions. When we draw near to those who suffer, when we share life with the forgotten, when we fight so that all may have dignity, we are extending God’s presence in the midst of humanity.

For where life is defended, where dignity is restored, and where the poor are welcomed, there God continues to dwell among us.

Valdeci Antônio Ferreira – CLM Brazil

Returning to the Village of El Manzanillo

by
LMC Guatemala

Another Day Walking with Jesus

With hearts full of joy and hope, we continue our mission in the beloved village of El Manzanillo, living another day of encounter, service, and faith, always walking hand in hand with the Risen Jesus.

In the morning, we visited the families of the community, carrying with us the Paschal candle, a sign of Christ’s living presence. With each visit, we entered homes bringing the Light of the Risen Jesus Christ, sharing words of comfort, faith, and hope. It was a deeply meaningful moment, where we were able to listen, pray, and accompany each family, reminding them that God never abandons His children and that the Resurrection is a promise of new life for all.

In the afternoon, we shared a time of fraternal fellowship with the community, engaging in arts and crafts using basic materials, fostering creativity and everyone’s participation. We also enjoyed moments full of joy with the children, playing games, where their smiles and innocence reminded us of the beauty of serving with love and simplicity.

Thus we concluded a blessed day, filled with fraternity, dedication, and mission, where once again we were able to bring the Good News to this neighborhood, proclaiming with joy and conviction:

Jesus Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed!

Inspired by the witness of St. Daniel Comboni, we recall his words and his missionary spirit, which encourage us to go out to meet those most in need, to bring the Gospel with courage, and to always trust in God’s work, even in the midst of challenges. He taught us that mission is built on love, closeness, and total dedication to the service of others.

As Lay Missionaries of Guatemala, we wish to reaffirm that our entire missionary community remains united, walking together in faith, supporting one another, and keeping in our prayers every family, every child, and every person who is part of this beautiful mission.

We move forward with renewed hope and open hearts, knowing that every step we take is a seed of love sown in the name of the Risen Christ.

May God bless the village of El Manzanillo and each of its families.

CLM Guatemala