Lord Jesus, fount of peace, help us to be generous missionaries, to bring your message of brotherly love to those who live in anguish, to be brothers of the needy and to free the oppressed, in the manner of Saint Daniel Comboni. Lord, hear us.
Spirituality
Massimo, a wise brother who knew how to live and be “mission”
One day, leaving the monastery, St. Francis met Brother Ginepro: “Brother Ginepro,” he said, “come, let us go and preach.” Brother Ginepro agreed. They walked around the city, praying silently for those who worked in shops and gardens. They smiled at the children, especially the poorest ones. They exchanged a few words with the elderly. They caressed the sick. They helped those in need.
After crossing the city several times, “Friar Ginepro,” said Francis, “it’s time to return to the monastery.” “What about our sermon?” “We’ve done it… we’ve done it!” replied the saint with a smile. “You are the best sermon!” This anecdote helps us remember Massimo, a dear friend and brother of the CLM group in Verona, who suddenly passed away on July 16. He had made practicality and attentive presence a way of life. Welcoming everyone, faith, and love for the mission were, in fact, his characteristics. In short, he was a “wise man” who gradually revealed himself in being together and in doing, and who leaves a huge void in anyone who shared life paths with him. His practical approach had already seen him involved in the Gim work camps in Friuli in 1976 and 1977, which had been hit by a terrible earthquake, and in his years of service as a scout leader, living with them an intense missionary experience in Tanzania. He was involved in the parish, in diocesan family ministry, in programs for newly married couples, devoting himself to the preparation and conduct of seminars and meetings around Italy, as well as in work and sports groups.
And then in the Comboni family and with our group of Comboni Lay Missionaries. The same practicality led him to be enthusiastic, in recent years, about the departure of some young people from our group in which, with his beloved Rita, he could give concrete expression to their passion for the mission, always present in the various activities. “Know that we are leaving with you and will always be present in your communities and for any need,” he told them, speaking on behalf of the group that accompanied them with their thoughts and prayers towards the mission. Thus, Ilaria and Federica were sent to Mozambique, and with the same spirit, he accompanied Giulia in her preparation, who recently left for Kenya.
Massimo’s life unfolded as a true Comboni lay person, not only through the mission trips he made with Rita, immersing himself in a rich and fragile humanity, but also in living the missionary spirit in everyday life, as service in those experiences that were close to his and Rita’s hearts, and where the concrete witness of their faith was firm and profound: “There, in the place where the Lord asks us to be, because we are all called to be missionaries,” he said. And like the “light of dead stars that illuminates the night,” the light of Massimo’s life reaches us through the words of those who knew him, those who enjoyed his ability to listen, his constructive criticism, his witness of Love with a capital L lived with his Rita, the value and respect he gave to everyone, and the feeling that he made us feel “welcome.” Together with St. Daniel Comboni, Massimo will help us to walk and to see, however and wherever, the face of that good Father God whom he sought, prayed to, loved, and chose so much. Massimo, we will always carry you with us.
Source: Nigrizia
A chair will remain empty at our meetings, as a sign to remember him and continue our usual activities with him.
Prayer Intentions of the Comboni Family November 2025
For the children of our world who see selfish adults destroying our climate protection with their decisions. That they may be brave enough to stand up and defend their future. Lord, hear us.
Silent Retreat – A Time of Encounter with God and with Ourselves
From October 15th to 21st, our CLM members experienced a truly special silent retreat at Napenda Kuishi in Nairobi. It was a week filled with deep spiritual experiences, inner reflection, and encounters with God, with ourselves, and with the community. The retreat was led by Father Daniel Villaverde, who guided us through this time of prayer, reflection, and discovery of the spirituality of Saint Daniel Comboni.
Each day of the retreat followed a gentle rhythm: morning prayer, the Eucharist, inputs from fr. Daniel on human aspect, catechesis and Comboni’s spirituality, and personal time for meditation and adoration. The silence that accompanied us throughout the week became a sacred space where we could hear God’s voice more clearly and look more deeply into our own lives.
During the retreat, we had the opportunity to delve in the missionary spirituality of Saint Daniel Comboni – a man who dedicated his entire life to proclaiming the Gospel and serving others. His example teaches us that true mission stems from a personal encounter with Christ and from love for our brothers and sisters.
In silence and prayer, each of us experienced profound inner spiritual moments – times of emotion, discovery, gratitude, and peace. It was a period when we could allow God to speak to us without hurry and without distraction.
At the end of the retreat, we shared our personal experiences with one another. Although silence had accompanied us most of the week, it was precisely during these moments of sharing that we came to know one another more deeply and truthfully – through heartfelt testimonies that touched our hearts.
We return from this retreat with renewed strength, peace in our hearts, and a desire to live more consciously – in a spirit of trust, simplicity, and missionary commitment. We thank Father Daniel for his spiritual guidance and all the participants for their openness and companionship on this journey of silence and prayer.
“In silence, God speaks the loudest.”
Iza Tobiasiewicz, CLM Kenya
Our life and mission routed in prayer, in the footsteps of Jesus
In the silence. If today you hear his voice hardened not your hearts. God is in the silence
1st Kings 19:11-12
When the prophet Elijah fled from his enemies to the mountain to seek the help of God.
The Lords presence was not in the strong wind, earthquake or in the fire but it was felt in the small whispering sound
As missionaries we should find our mountains and in silence we hear the sound of God, like Moses we find the burning bush which is not consumed by fire, take out our sandals which is our sins and comforts
Create silence and peace within yourself offer the silence as a gift to others
PRAYER
Jesus was a man of prayer we learn from his style of prayer in silence and in solitude. Lk 6:12, Mk 6:46
He taught us to pray a simple prayer that carries great reference to our Father in heaven which is the Lords prayer Lk 11:1
A real prayer is in silence, you listen to God and He comes to you, through you it reaches the others.
We should pray without ceasing and with understanding a Christian who does not pray is proud and is not humble.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
Luke 3:21,5:16
In our prayers the Holy Spirit should be present for he is the Spirit that comes from our Father in heaven to teach, cleanse and to strengthen us during tribulations and persecution
Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit, he prayed with the holy spirit and the spirit testified that he was the beloved son of God during his baptism.
We learn from the disciples of Christ they were full of the Holy Spirit and they preached the gospel to the ends of world facing persecution and even death
REFLECTION OF COMBONI’S LIFE
God shaped and modelled Comboni through the people he lived with and interacted with
The environment of his family and village influenced his Spiritualty, his parents were very religious, rich in faith and rich in devotions
What brings out the uniqueness of Comboni was his characters, he was impulsive, lively jovial, highly passionate, emotive which made him highly sensitive to other people’s sufferings. He fostered and cultivated friendships from all walks of life
His love for the mission, sacred heart of Jesus and Mary, St Joseph and the people of Africa is an inspiration to all of us
THE TRINITY
Mistry of the blessed trinity
Three in one and one in three, equal but are different. Father, son and the Holy Spirit they share everything, they have constant communication and there is equality in love
The Trinity teaches us to share our values, emotions, experiences on a very intimate level, when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, we evoke empathy from others the goal is to create a loving atmosphere of caring and understanding of each other
In the Trinity communication is perfect, for us communication is not perfect yet with the smallest steps with the right direction we can help it to improve.
We should learn to see the trinity in each and every one of us and also ask ourselves which aspect of our relationships are not in line with the blessed trinity
There is no trinity without you and I, if we want to enter into the mysterious heart of our faith we fix our eyes on Jesus who is visible among us He draw us to our Father in heaven and the Holy Spirit comes and lives in us
Through Christ we learn the ministry of the trinity ” The one who sees me has seen the Father and his spirit will live in him, me the Father and Holy Spirit are one being each one himself”.
The vocabulary of trinity is complete with all of us included.
Belinda, CLM Kenya
