Comboni Lay Missionaries

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Africa

Report day 1 of the Maia 2024 assembly December 9, 2024.

by
Asamblea Maia 2024

The day began with a delicious breakfast, in which we enjoyed the typical delicacies of Portugal.

The opening of the assembly was led by Alberto de la Portilla, in which important points were highlighted such as

  • It is time to show the good or the bad that we have done and from there to be able to grow, review the path and develop the growth of the groups from the different countries.
  • What has been developed for 6 years is brought to the assembly, the life of the LMC, dreams and future plans that we want to live in the community.
  • Everything that is spoken and discussed will be collected in a document to share with the other LMCs in each country and is the responsibility of each of the LMC members in each country.
  • The assembly seeks general agreements so that each country can adapt to its reality; we do not seek to go into detail but rather to seek a general line that helps us grow; Consensus will be sought for each of these aspects.

It continued with a reflection developed by Kenyan group; we began with a Swahili dance and song that talked about how great God is and that we can find him wherever we want; we learned its meaning and danced it to warm up. Following this, we proceeded to reflect on four questions that guided a 30-minute meditation, reinforced by some biblical texts that made us search for the presence of God and the Holy Spirit in the assembly.

  • We do not walk alone. How to travel together?
  • A transformative encounter. Lord, talk to me.
  • Mister; why me? Why here?
  • Saints and capable. What can I offer?

The next activity was the presentation of the countries, then we began with the report of each of the countries. In this presentation, the video or support material that each one brought was shown. These presentations were developed from the topics that they sent us to prepare the report by country. The following annotations that correspond to all the communities were highlighted.

  • The responsibility of the people who are part of the LMCs must be those of the LMCs themselves; so we must have the autonomy of these decisions with responsibility. However, it must be noted that the last person responsible for the people who make up the LMC is the provincial of each province.
  • In Egypt, they have three moments of vows or commitments, after finishing the first year with a commitment to service, after finishing the second year of formation another vow and after finishing the third year of formation other vows that lead to growth of commitment to the Comboni charism.
  • The situation of RCA is a unfavorable reality of a community; It is worth noting that these situations must always be shown to know what type of community a missionary faces when applying for this type of mission places.
  • In some places like Congo and others, despite having a large number of people making up the LMC groups, it must be taken into account that the purpose of the LMC must be to assume the commitment to leave their country to provide their services in a place other than yours.

The day closed with the exhibition by country of its culture, its typical products and its particularities enriched by its people and their charisma; Photographic records of the activity and the exposed stands are left.

Message to the confrères in Mozambique

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Mozambique

Dear confrères of the Province of Mozambique,

as the General Council, we follow with great concern the news and images of violence and destruction of public and private property coming out of Mozambique as a reaction to fraud and lack of transparency in the announcement of the results of the general elections – presidential, legislative, and provincial assemblies and governors – last 9th October.

The popular demonstrations, which were supposed to be peaceful, degenerated into acts of violence, which were forcefully repressed by the police forces – especially in the big cities –, causing over twenty deaths and hundreds of people injured. These manifestations of violence, which generate only hatred and death, anguish and fear, have prompted us to express, on behalf of the Institute, our closeness to each of you and to all the people of Mozambique.

We know that the whole country is going through a difficult time, and that, as a rule, those who end up suffering the harmful consequences of violent conflicts are the poorest and most defenceless people.

As the situation worsens, we ask all the confrères to remain vigilant and informed about events, and to show solidarity with those seeking truth and justice, in communion with the local Church. Undoubtedly, resilience can and must help us overcome the present adversity and find peaceful ways to give direction and hope to the people and the country.

Our presence in Mozambique over the past 77 years, inspired by the Word of God and the testimony of St. Daniel Comboni, has always stood out for its concrete ability to take on a style of mission that is committed and inserted in the reality of the people, and to make common cause with the joys and sorrows of those entrusted to us.

We encourage you, therefore, to continue to be in solidarity with the people around you, passing on to them the hope born of the Gospel. Today more than ever we are called to proclaim the Good News of peace as the only way to build a society based on respect for human dignity and concern for the most disadvantaged.

We thank God for your witness of dedication to the people with whom you share the mission, and we also feel solidarity with all Mozambican men and women who long for a better future and – today above all – for peace.

We also hope that the deep Christian tradition and the ancestral values of the people will be the pillar from which to start a serene and just reflection that will help overcome the current polarisation of forces between the government and civil society.

We pray for an immediate end to the violence in Mozambique and ask for the intercession of Saint Daniel Comboni that he may help you to live this painful moment with faith and hope.

May God bless you, protect you and give you the strength and wisdom to face these difficult times.

Let us remain united in solidarity, praying together for peace.

The MCCJ General Council

Golden Jubilee of the MCCJ’s presence in Benin

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Benin

On Sunday, October 27 at 10 a.m., the Pontifical High Mass was held presided over by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Cotonou to mark the 50th anniversary of the presence in Benin of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus. After this great celebration which was attended by the Reverend Father Provincial of Togo-Ghana-Benin and several Comboni religious, the Reverend Father Chaplain invited us to the fraternal agape organized for this purpose by the Community of Comboni Missionaries residing in Benin.

After the feast, an information session and official launch of the formation of the Comboni Lay Missionaries was presided over by the Reverend Father Chaplain of the Comboni Lay Missionaries in the presence of Rose, Ulrich, Isabella, Dénise, Esperanzia of myself and the Scholastic Constantine. The Reverend Father Chaplain entrusted us to the good care of the Scholastic Constantine for our formation. From 10 a.m. when we started the celebrations, we left at 3:45 p.m. We were all very happy with the feast of COMBONI and the beginning of our accompaniment by the Reverend Father Chaplain.

Lucien Aboe