Africa – Comboni Lay Missionaries

“KENYA SHINING: When you have VIP visitors and you’re humble enough to… brag about it!”

13 July, 2024 by Alberto de la Portilla

Kenya, Kenya, Kenya… a lot is happening in Kenya. People leaving, people coming, visitors of excellence to strengthen our ties with the movement, to grow and shine. Last month it was Hani from Egypt, our African coordinator, accompanied by another Egyptian CLM, Mira, talking to us in our monthly meeting, accompanying the CLM of Kitelakapel in their activities and particularly with the Mental Health Workshops. These days, instead, the house is full of “Have you read that document?” “This is in the conclusions of Maia!” “Elwangen 2006” “Formation guide!”… And I’m sure, unless you are still unfamiliar with the Comboni Lay Missionaries, only that one name must have surfaced to your mind: Alberto de la Portilla!!!

Indeed, our guest of honour this month is our general coordinator, invited by the CLM community of Kitelakapel and the CLM of Kenya to spend some time with us, with the specific aim of guiding our Kitelakapel team as they keep laying the foundations for their young mission.

Our Alberto arrived well, and immediately delved into CLM matters, as he was taken to Kariobangi, in Nairobi, to attend our monthly formation meeting. For the occasion, all CLM and candidates gathered, so it was indeed a unique event! We got the chance to hire a house belonging to the Comboni sisters, not far from the parish, where we had all the space, peace and quiet we needed, to focus eagerly on the history of our movement, its most important documents, our identity as CLM, and a personal testimony of Alberto on his own mission experience, with his family and within a community, in Mozambique, a few years ago.

It was surely a wonderful opportunity we had to grow as a group, as we expand our awareness and knowledge of our origins and our identity.

On Sunday, while the candidates were doing mission animation in another parish in Nairobi, the commissioned CLM had their own special moment with our general coordinator, reflecting on how they can keep living, experiencing, practising their vocation as Comboni Lay Missionaries, whether serving in the country or abroad.

All this was obviously accompanied by moments of prayer and sharing.

We are deeply grateful that Alberto’s visit was made possible, as it has given us a chance to reflect again and in depth on who we are and who we want to be, and we hope he will enjoy his time in Kenya, until we meet again before he returns to Spain!

Linda, CLM Kitelakapel

Prayer Intentions of the Comboni Family July 2024

1 July, 2024 by Alberto de la Portilla

For those taking part in the Formation Assembly of the Comboni Missionaries: that the Holy Spirit may grant them an abundance of wisdom and discernment, creativity and service, communion and concord of vision. Let us pray.

Meeting of the General Councils of the Comboni Family in Verona

19 June, 2024 by Alberto de la Portilla

From 14 to 16 June, we celebrated the meeting of the General Councils of the Comboni Family in Verona at the house of the Comboni Missionary Seculars.

We felt very welcome in the new house they have acquired in Verona.

We had time to reflect on various topics. We began with an update on the various activities carried out during the past year by the different branches of the family. It was a very rich moment to get to know the reality that each one is living.

On Saturday morning we visited the Calabrian family who shared with us their process as a charismatic family and the progress they have made in terms of collaboration during these years. It was a very inspiring and challenging visit that helped us to reflect on the kind of collaboration we are having and how to improve it. Afterwards we had time to reflect among ourselves and also to look at some concrete proposals of collaboration. Among them to see how to deepen the reflection on Mission and Mission Animation as a Comboni family. We also talked about vocation promotion and the possibility of creating a brochure that could help in this service by presenting us as Comboni family with the different ways of living the charism, as well as a small dossier to prepare, which will help us to know each other better.

Finally, we approved a small directory that can help in the organization of these annual meetings.

The weekend ended with the celebration of the Eucharist and a family lunch.

Alberto de la Portilla, Coordinator of the Central Committee of the CLM.

P.S. During the weekend the “Africae” festival was held at the MCCJ’s motherhouse in Verona, an event that is held every year in Verona to bring the reality of Africa closer to everyone. It features lectures on Africa, performances by African musical groups and where food and experiences are also shared among all.

The CLM organized the sale of handicrafts, cakes and fruit to raise funds for the mission of Carapira.

It was very nice to come back from the meeting every evening, from Friday to Sunday, and to be able to share some time with the CLM group of Verona in such a festive atmosphere.

Prayer Intentions of the Comboni Family June 2024

2 June, 2024 by Alberto de la Portilla

That, following the example of St Daniel Comboni, we may keep our eyes fixed on Jesus crucified to assimilate the sentiments of his Heart and bear witness to this through communion between us, with the local Churches and with the poorest. Let us pray.

What is mission, if it’s not connecting people?

23 May, 2024 by Alberto de la Portilla

Here we are, CLM of Kenya, at the recent Friends of Comboni feast in Utawala, on Ascension day, to arouse people’s enthusiasm about missionary work, about what it means to be a CLM, whether in Nairobi, or West Pokot, or wherever we are. To build bridges between our mission in Kitelakapel and this Comboni parish within Nairobi, and all the Friends of Comboni gathered there.

As we keep reaching new parishes with our mission animations, more and more people are getting to know us, embracing our cause, getting involved, supporting us spiritually and economically, and more importantly, increasing our numbers. We are now so many that we are looking for a new place for our monthly meetings, as we don’t fit anymore in the guesthouse which we’ve been using so far.

Mission is a passion, which can drive each one of us to contribute in their own way: those who are in the field, abroad or doing service in the place where they live, those who support economically near and far, those who dedicate their time and service to fundraise, to make our work and charism known, to build relationships, to involve new members and form them, to connect with the other branches of CLM and remain united.

And as we thank the Comboni family for involving us in this exercise, we want to send a message of encouragement to all CLM: let’s not lose hope and keep reaching new places, physically and virtually (social media!) with our mission animation! The only tool for us to keep growing, in numbers and strength, so that the good work we’re doing everywhere in the world, and especially in the international communities where we so need more missionaries, will not be wasted.

May the Spirit give us this courage!!!

CLM Kenya