April – That cooperation with all people of good will may stimulate each one of us to contribute, in our particular ministry of service to the Gospel, to a more just world and a more dignified life for all. Lord hear us.
Spirituality
Easter Message
Easter 2020
Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb? (Mc 16, 3)
We are dealing with a true gentleman, God, who always keeps his word and fulfils it in eternity
(Writings 2624).
Dearly confreres,
May the risen Lord, who conquers death, enlighten our lives and fill our hearts with joy.
This year 2020 we have lived through Lent in a pandemic situation for the coronavirus that is spreading increasingly in almost every country in the world. We will celebrate the Easter of Resurrection again in this pandemic climate.
We too, like so many Christians in many countries of the world, will not be able to come together as a community to celebrate the central mystery of our faith. The social networks are helping us all to come together at least virtually to continue to “live” the life of the community. We are increasingly encouraging to use these means to be close to one another and to God’s people as we celebrate the triumph of life over death.
In this climate of uncertainty and suffering we feel a bit like Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James and Salome who go to the tomb very early in the morning asking one another: Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb? (Mk 16:3). No one is indeed capable of rolling away the stone that locks us in our sepulchres, in our fears and resistances. But, when they looked, they could see that the stone – which was very big – had already been rolled back (Mk 16:4). Now, the seal of death has been broken from within.
In this time of pandemic, we too are called to “look” and recognize the presence of the Risen Lord in our midst. God walks with us and suffers with us and in Christ Jesus. He invites us to walk with him on the way that, passing through the cross, leads us to the dawn of a new day. God’s last word for humanity is life, the life that he gave us in Christ Jesus, who took upon himself our death and conquered it by emerging victorious from the tomb.
Like our Father and Founder, St. Daniel Comboni, we are certain that God does not withdraw his favour for humanity as a whole and is faithful forever. He sent his Son to give us “life and life to the full” (Jn 10:10).
This Easter lived in an atmosphere of a pandemic strengthens our faith in the God of life, in the certainty that no one can ever separate us from this eternal love. “Who then will separate us from the love of Christ? Perhaps tribulation, anguish, persecution, hunger, nudity, danger or sword? But in all these things we are more than victorious by virtue of him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor present nor future, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any created thing can ever separate us from the love of God, in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:35, 37-39).
Happy Easter of Resurrection and a Happy Feast of Life to each of you and to your Christian communities.
The MCCJ General Council
Prayer Intentions of the Comboni Family March 2020
March – That, in their ministry, women may continue to offer support to families and create a sense of belonging in the communities where they live. Lord hear us.
Agnieszka and Ewelina officially sent to Peru!
Within a week, our CLMs – Ewelina and Agnieszka, were sent to their mission to Peru by their diocesan bishops.
Agnieszka’s Sending Mass took place on 2 February 2020 at 12:00 (still with Christmas decorations) in the parish church in Rybnik-Zamysłów, and it was done on behalf of the whole Church by bishop Grzegorz Olszowski.
“Go and proclaim the Gospel to all creation,” he said, handing her a missionary cross. He also addressed to those gathered in the church: “the rite of sending to missionary paths is not only for Agnieszka, but also for all of you, so you remember about her and support her with your prayers and collections. Everywhere in Peu, where Agnieszka will be, part of your parish will be with her as well” he said.
A week later, on 9 February 2020 at 10:00am, in Krakow, in Our Lady of the Rosary parish, Ewelina was sent to the mission as well.
In his homily, Bishop Jan Zając reminded us that Christ does not say to us that he wants us to become the salt of the earth and the light of the world …
– He says: the moment you joined Me, from the moment the world began to recognize you as My disciples, and since I look at you as my disciples, you are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. It happens without your merit, but thanks to Me, because I decided to use you for the salvation of others.
Handing Ewelina the missionary cross, he also said that God chose her to go and bear fruit. The cross is to be her help and a sign of hope and comfort.
The girls agree that the whole ceremony was quite stressful for them from the organizational point of view, but at the same time it was very beautiful and touching experience.
The girls agree that the whole ceremony was quite stressful for them from the organizational point of view, but at the same time it was very beautiful and touching experience.
Comboni Lay Missionaries, Poland
Prayer Intentions of the Comboni Family February 2020
February – That MCCJ Circumscription Superiors meeting in Rome may be enlightened by the Spirit and so discover the best ways to impart new vigour to our missionary service in the various continents. Lord hear us.
