Missionary Experiences – Page 18 – Comboni Lay Missionaries

Community Experience in Guatemala

23 May, 2022 by Alberto de la Portilla

St. Daniel Comboni had an IMMENSE LOVE FOR THE SOULS OF THE POOREST AND ABANDONED and this can only be lived from a MISSION EXPERIENCE.

For the CLM of Guatemala, having accompanied Maximina and Mercedes in their process of Community Experience, is today a school of learning full of LOVE AND MISSIONARY HOPE; why, many may ask, because each member of the community has participation; Everyone in prayer, in the economy, in the personal accompaniment, in the formation in so many activities that a missionary experience needs and no one said no, we are all in the same boat where GOD the FATHER guides us under the intercession of SAN DANIEL COMBONI, Our Mother the Virgin Mary and SANTO DOMINGO DE GUZMAN Patron of the Community of Xenacoj who opened the doors of his house and his heart, so that they could carry out this experience during 6 months.

In these 6 months there were doors so wide that they were easily passed, but also so narrow that they required for them and the community to be full of prayer, wisdom, understanding, tolerance, tiredness and full of FAITH to be able to pass them.

Thank you Merceditas and Maxi for your availability and abandoning yourselves to the poorest and neediest whom we are sure you carry in your heart and were for them your first school of FRATERNAL LOVE and COMMUNITY UNION.

Miriam Herrador

CLM Guatemala

CLM Ecuador experience during Holy Week 2022

20 May, 202220 May, 2022 by Alberto de la Portilla

After overcoming the pandemic and having the opportunity to share in person with the communities, we shared this Lent and Holy Week with some communities in the Province of Esmeraldas.

But let’s see the images that say more than words.

During Lent and Holy Week the CLM and accompanied by a candidate and friends of the mission; we were once again present in the community of San Lorenzo in Esmeraldas north of Ecuador visiting and encouraging several rural communities in that region of the country, during that period of time we carried out activities such as:

Tour through the communities, accompanied by groups of young people:

Visit to families of the visited populations.

Talks and prayer of the Stations of the Cross during Lent.

Palm Sunday Procession

With the accompaniment of local Afro music groups.

Holy Way of the Cross personified on Holy Friday

Additionally, I attach a video that was prepared by the youth group, with the graphics obtained during the tour with them during the liturgical time mentioned above.

Meanwhile, other CLM in Guayaquil participated actively in the parishes, in which they do apostolate or accompaniment, in the activities that took place during the days of Holy Week.

We thank God for these moments in which we could once again live the experience of personal contact and walk together with the people of the peripheral areas of our country.

CLM Ecuador

Inauguration of the new CLM house in Kenya

18 May, 202217 May, 2022 by Alberto de la Portilla

Last Sunday 15th of May it took place historical event – the CLM house of CLM in Kitelakapel (Kenya) was officially opened and blessed by the bishop Maurice.

The ceremony was done in the presence of CLM Kenya (Beatrice, Margaret, Alexina), MCCJ from Kacheliba (fr. Chrisantus and fr. Charles) some brothers from Nairobi and fr. Korir – who represent Provincial of MCCJ Kenya, many Christians and students from surrounding schools and of course… the members of the CLM international community – Linda and Josephine.

Let us accompany this new CLM community with our prayers.

A new international Comboni Lay Missionaries community is starting up in Kenya

18 April, 2022 by Alberto de la Portilla

Already for some years the Comboni Lay Missionaries (CLM) have been thinking of opening an international community in Kenya. To meet this desire, the Comboni Missionaries are finishing the construction of a house in Kitelakapel (Kacheliba Parish), among the Pokot, which will welcome the lay missionaries. With the arrival of Linda Micheletti, an Italian CLM woman and Josephine Loree, CLM from Kenya, this dream is beginning to become a reality. Now we are waiting for more candidates who can go and make community with Linda and Josephine.

‘Subira huvuta heri’ is a Swahili expression meaning, good things come to those who wait. Thursday, 7th April 2022, and Linda Micheletti our long awaited guest is finally here! We are extremely delighted that she has finally arrived. Culturally, we hold family values and welcoming guests high, so we are beyond happy to welcome our guest to our growing family the CLM of Kenya.

The Comboni Lay Missionaries in Kenya are a small group composed of four members having completed their formation in December. Others are still in formation. The group meets monthly in Nairobi and is also setting up a community in Kitelakapel which has been boosted by the arrival of Linda. Linda together with Josephine will be the first members of the community.

We are happy that our family is growing and look forward to welcoming even more members in the future!

https://www.comboni.org/en/contenuti/114332

A story in Central Africa

8 April, 2022 by Alberto de la Portilla

We recovered a video recorded by the Spanish program, Pueblo de Dios, where Jesus Ruiz (currently bishop of the diocese) tells us his missionary experience when he was a missionary in Mongoumba where he shares presence with our CLM community.

It is a video of some years ago, but it helps us to understand our missionary presence in the area. The life of the missionary and the reality of the Central African people. (In Spanish)