On this second day, the Comboni symposium focused on the Plan of Comboni, from the context it was written to the application and understanding in our current context.
To help in this reflection, Fr Joaquim Valente (MCCJ) helped all participants, presenting and contextualizing, in yesterday and today, the cardinal points of the Plan of Comboni and throwing some challenges for us that the Plan places.
In fact, Comboni acknowledges that it does not work, recognizes that he doesn´t known the solution, acknowledges that he is not and neither has the solution for the regeneration of Africa, recognizes that we should listen to God, and only God is and has the solution.
Comboni is open to the new movements of the Spirit acting into reality and in human history. Meanwhile, traveling to Europe and learning from the experiences of all who work for the mission. With all these testimonies and all this learning, Comboni aims to “unite all things in Christ.”
In turn, the P. Johnson Uchenna Ozioko (priest from Nigeria), helped us make a reading of the Plan of Comboni from Africa today, calling attention especially of the current importance of “saving Africa with Africa” as well as the importance and urgency of changing the language we use to talk about the mission and Africans.
Meanwhile, according to their specificity, the sister. Fernanda Cristinelli (CMS) briefly presented a reflection on this topic, made by the Comboni Missionary Sisters, underlining the significance and urgency of change ministeriality of being and living the missionary spirit in feminine.
At the end of the day, remains at the heart of each participant the final words uttered by P. Johnson Uchenna Ozioko: Jesus washes the feet of his disciples and said to them, “Go and do the same.” Comboni loved Africa, I say: “Go and do the same.”
Susana Vilas Boas
