Africa – Page 2 – Comboni Lay Missionaries

Missionary Outreach on the Occasion of the 100th World Mission Sunday

23 October, 2026 by Alberto de la Portilla

On the occasion of the 100th World Mission Sunday, the Comboni Lay Missionaries (CLM) of Togo organized a missionary outreach activity in two Christian communities: St. Joseph Parish in Akato and the Mary Gate of Heaven outstation, attached to Mary Mother of the Redeemer Parish in Adidogomé.

For this activity, the CLM members divided into two teams. At the Mary Gate of Heaven outstation in Lankouvi, the team was made up of Ernest Botri and Jean Akitibi, while the outreach at St. Joseph Parish in Akato was led by Jean-Baptiste Gnimassoun and Benjamin Adjogble.

In both communities, the CLM members participated in the Eucharistic celebrations. After the Masses, they introduced the faithful to the identity, spirituality, and mission of the Comboni Lay Missionaries, inviting everyone to learn more about the Movement and to take part in its mission in service of the Church and the poorest and most marginalized.

Information leaflets were also distributed to the faithful. Those interested in learning more about the movement were invited to provide their contact details so that they could receive information about upcoming activities and the process of joining the CLM.

The priests present expressed their support for this missionary initiative. At Mary Gate of Heaven, Fr. Yves Gbenou, and at St. Joseph in Akato, Frs. Augustin Soedjede and Abraham Agnimaka, encouraged the faithful to take a greater interest in the missionary vocation of the laity. They also invited those interested to approach the CLM for further information and to discern their possible commitment to the movement.

At the end of the activity, the Lankouvi team joined the Akato team for a meeting with the Parish Priest, Fr. Augustin Soedjede. He congratulated the CLM members for their availability and missionary commitment. He also encouraged them to strengthen their collaboration with the parish and invited them to contribute to the animation of various pastoral activities.

The fraternal meeting concluded with a shared lunch in a warm and convivial atmosphere.

Through this initiative, the CLM of Togo once again sought to respond to the Church’s call to make every baptized person an active participant in the mission. The outreach also provided a valuable opportunity to make the vocation of the Comboni Lay Missionaries better known and to inspire new vocations to missionary service.

“A thousand lives for the mission”: a commitment that continues at the heart of our communities.

Ernest Segno Botri, CLM Togo

First provincial assembly of the Comboni Lay Missionaries of Togo-Ghana-Benin province

19 October, 2026 by Alberto de la Portilla

From 9th to 11th October 2026, the Comboni Lay Missionaries (CLM) of Togo-Ghana-Benin Province gathered at the Leo XIII Spirituality Centre of the Canossian Sisters in Lomé for their first Provincial Assembly.

The gathering brought together CLM members from Togo, Ghana and Benin for prayer, fellowship, formation, discernment and mission. It provided an opportunity to review the life and activities of the national groups and establish common directions for the future.

One of the highlights of the Assembly was a presentation by Sr. Elizabeth Corte Imperial (SMC) on “The Laity in Comboni’s Plan.” Drawing on St. Daniel Comboni’s Plan for the Regeneration of Africa, she recalled that Africans are called to be the protagonists of their own history, evangelisation and liberation. The Assembly thus invited CLM members to reflect more deeply on the question: “What is our role today in St. Daniel Comboni’s Plan?” Comboni’s famous call, “Save Africa through Africa,” remains a source of inspiration for mission today.

One of the most significant moments was the celebration of the definitive commitment of five new CLM members: Lucien Aboe from Benin, Ernest Botri, Jean Akitibi, Benjamin Adjogble and Jean Baptiste Gbêssi Gnimassoun from Togo. The commitment ceremony took place during a Mass on 10th October 2026, commemorating the Solemnity of St. Daniel Comboni. Through this commitment, they chose to live out the Comboni charism and dedicate themselves to serving the poorest and most abandoned, wherever the mission may call them.

Participants also reflected on the CLM formation process, pastoral experience, ad gentes mission, language learning, administration, project management and fundraising. These discussions highlighted the need to prepare CLM members who can respond to contemporary missionary challenges with competence, faith and availability.

The Assembly established a new Provincial Coordination:

Coordinator: Justin Nougnui (Ghana)
Secretary: Ernest Segno Botri (Togo)
Treasurer: Lucien Aboe (Benin)
Counselor: Christian Wotormenyo (Ghana)

The national coordinations in Togo, Ghana and Benin were also updated.

The Assembly decided that the next Provincial Assembly would be held in Benin in 2028. It also emphasised the need to strengthen the financial autonomy of the national groups, facilitate French-English interpretation during meetings, and prepare the province’s participation in the Fifth African Assembly in 2027.

The gathering concluded on 11th October with Sunday Mass at Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish in Adidogomé, followed by a fraternal meal.

This first Provincial Assembly was a significant moment of communion, discernment, renewal and commitment.

Ernest Segno Botri

Comboni Lay Missionary – Togo

We Celebrate the Feast of St. Daniel Comboni

7 October, 2026 by Alberto de la Portilla

On October 10, we will celebrate the feast of St. Daniel Comboni.

It is a special occasion to return to the roots of our missionary vocation, renew our commitment, and continue to make Comboni’s dream a reality.

As Comboni Lay Missionaries, we wish to join in this celebration by inviting our groups, communities, and all those who share the missionary spirit to set aside a moment for prayer.

To that end, we have prepared a brief prayer to be said in our missionary groups—a simple prayer designed to help us come together, give thanks for the journey we have made, and allow ourselves to be challenged anew by Comboni’s missionary dream.

We invite you to celebrate this together, wherever you may be, feeling part of the same family and the same mission.

May Saint Daniel Comboni help us keep our hearts open and our eyes fixed on the mission.

Happy Feast of Saint Daniel Comboni!

Saint Daniel Comboni, pray for us and accompany us on our mission.

Oración día de Comboni EN Download

(Prayer prepared by the Spanish CLM for Comboni Day)

We continue the mission

7 October, 20262 October, 2026 by Alberto de la Portilla

Hello to all of you—friends, family, and benefactors.

We’ve been back for almost two months now, after a very brief stop in Italy, and the mission has kept us busy with our usual activities as well as with an extraordinary event: the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Comboni Missionaries’ presence here in Mozambique. We put a lot of effort into making this day happen and sharing it with so many people.

We’re continuing to contribute our efforts and your support in various pastoral and social areas, always striving to heed the promptings of the Holy Spirit so we can walk among the Macua people with purpose and love.

In the meantime, we send you a warm hug, and as soon as we can, we’ll send more detailed information. Have a blessed start to the Missionary Month, and thank you for continuing to remember us in your prayers. With respect and gratitude, a huge hug

Ilaria and Federica from Mozambique

Prayer Intentions of the Comboni Family October 2026

1 October, 2026 by Alberto de la Portilla

We pray that all members of the Comboni Family, sustained by the Holy Spirit and inspired by Saint Daniel Comboni, may proclaim the Gospel with joy and be signs of light, hope, and tenderness among the peoples to whom they are sent. Let us pray.