On October 10, the Comboni Lay Missionaries of the North American Province (CLM NAP) came together to celebrate the feast of our beloved missionary father and inspiration, St. Daniel Comboni. It was a beautiful day of prayer, fellowship, and renewed missionary spirit as we celebrated not only the life of St. Daniel Comboni but also the gift of our shared vocation.
United in Prayer, Even Across the Miles
Our celebration began with a morning Zoom prayer gathering, bringing CLMs together from different places to pray and give thanks for the gift of our Comboni charism. We began by praying the final day of our novena to St. Daniel Comboni, entrusting our community, our missionary vocations, and the people we serve to his intercession.
Knowing that not everyone could join us online, we also made space for the voices of our absent members. Through their personal reflections and messages, they were able to share what they are grateful for about being CLMs and what St. Daniel Comboni means to them. Although we could not all be physically present or connected at the same time, we were reminded that we remain one missionary family, united in prayer and in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Our gathering was also a meaningful opportunity to look toward the future as we begin a new chapter of ongoing formation. Inspired by Comboni’s example, we renewed our desire to grow in faith, deepen our missionary spirituality, and continue supporting one another in our vocation.
Celebrating Together in Faith and Community
Following our morning prayer, we continued the celebration with Holy Mass alongside the local community in California, giving thanks to God for the life and missionary witness of St. Daniel Comboni.
We concluded the morning with a joyful, in-person gathering at the Comboni Mission Center in Covina, California, alongside the young adult ministry, Missionary Souls. We shared fellowship, celebrated our missionary family, and, of course, enjoyed some cake! It was a simple but beautiful way to bring our celebration to a close, sharing the joy of our faith and the spirit of Comboni with the next generation.
Rekindling the Fire of Mission
As the CLM NAP community continues its journey of renewal, this feast day was a reminder that the Comboni charism is alive in each of us. St. Daniel Comboni allowed the love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to transform his life and send him out in service to others. His example continues to inspire us to respond generously to God’s call, recognizing the dignity of every person and serving with hearts full of love.
Though we may be separated by distance, we remain connected through our shared vocation and commitment to mission. We are grateful for everyone who participated, sent a message, prayed with us, or joined us in spirit.
May St. Daniel Comboni continue to intercede for our CLM community as we grow together in faith, strengthen our bonds of fraternity, and renew our commitment to serve wherever the Lord calls us.
St. Daniel Comboni, pray for us!
Sacred Heart of Jesus, make our hearts like Yours!
Rossie Patlan from NAP CLM
