Africa – Page 93 – Comboni Lay Missionaries

Echoes of CLM mission

19 October, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

From an early age I wanted to be as close as possible to those who have nothing, and above all, be one with them, to become a bridge between the poorest of the poor and their local authorities and of course between them and Europe.

I remember when I left at 24, on a mission to the Central African Republic had no idea what to expect. I just knew that God was calling me and the heart of Africa needed me as much as I needed it.

In this sense, the formation of Comboni Lay Missionaries (CLM) was very important and helped me to confirm my vocation as a lay missionary and with the charism of Comboni. At that time I loved Africa, and did not conceive the idea of ”happiness” without actively strive for a happier, more just and true world. Today, after five years spent in the heart of Africa, I can say that the donation to Mission brings me more than happiness, brings me the meaning of life, the strength and hope in the new morning and, above all, I feel the love and presence of God more than ever, after all, being among the poorest in the world, I am among the most beloved people of God.

Forgotten by men

In Central African Republic, this country forgotten by men and loved by God, I joined what was the first international CLM community: Mongoumba, in the forest, living and working with Pygmies and Bantus (not pygmies’ population).

One of my daily struggles was the fight so that increasing deforestation ended. Indeed, if logging continues, soon will no longer exist in the region Pygmies; and Bantus, who live in the villages, will become cheap labor for those who want to exploit the region.

Currently, due to this situation, the Pygmies and non-Pygmies have been forced to live too close and, of course, the culture shock arise – for which no one was prepared and came by the interests of the European woods companies. This has made that Pygmies live in a state of slavery and total social exclusion. To work against this social exclusion, the mission has created and manages six schools for the integration of the pygmies. The schools are scattered throughout the jungle in a radius of about 60 km. We try, from a specific method, that the Pygmy children attend the early years of primary education and then be better integrated into public schools.

Other problems, abounding here, have to deal with health. To the extent that the Pygmies live in the jungle, and because it is being destroyed, opens a path of starvation and disease. On one hand we find hunger, because trees, which are the staple diet, are slaughtered. On the other hand, health, diseases increase because trees and medicinal plants used in traditional medicine begin to be hard to find. In this sense, and in order to help integration of the Pygmies in the public health system, the mission runs a health clinic. This is especially directed to the Pygmies and the poorest of the village. Here we pass no consultation, only serves as a bridge between patients and the public health center, in addition to providing the support necessary for taking medication. We work with a nurse-Central African lifeguard that helps us control that patients take the right medicines and make health awareness in the pygmies’ camps.

In this area, the struggles are more than everyday: are every minute! At all times we are facing serious medical errors in the public health center, which is resultant from both ignorance and negligence of those who work there, as well as discrimination and lack of awareness of the importance and value of life.

In this sense, there are days that this health center seems to produce more death than life. So when deaths occur “without having to occur”, brings us to the fights that sometimes end up in court and sometimes in the Ministry of Health.

Giving voice

Looking at these people – Pygmies and Bantu – one realizes that they are simply victims of the global corruption that helps Central African Government to be more concerned about arms supplies than to health and education. How can we, in this context, paddle upstream? It is certainly no easy task, but does not discourage us. However, makes us fight for life and true freedom in this country, theoretically independent, that continues to suffer daily abuses of colonization.

Today, this CLM community here counts with the help of the Comboni Missionaries and the Secular Comboni Missionaries. Within this Comboni Family, and working from the apostolic community, we develop projects in different areas trying, by the witness of life; announce the One who sends us to the Mission.

In fact, the mission in all parts of the World needs life testimonies that are keys to the liberation of the people. Today, in the mission, the challenge is not to “do something for others,” but “to be someone with others”. Prayer without action is useless and far from Gospel values.

Today, the mission challenges us to live according to the values we stand for and for a World where everyone, without exception, are considered, in fact, sons of God, so that in Him may encounter life in abundance.

Susana Vilas Boas CLM

[Mozambique] Jubilee of the Plan for the Regeneration of Africa

15 October, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

There are difficult things to say, as we hear sometimes, you can only understand it if you see it. The parish of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Carapira is celebrating a big party. We commemorate this year (2014) one hundred and fifty years of the Comboni plan for the regeneration of Africa. A plan designed to alleviate the suffering of the African people. A poor, suffering, subject to slavery people, without knowing the good news of Jesus. The dream of Daniel Comboni, that is God’s plan became reality, a reality surrounded by large difficulties but full of life and progress. One of the ways adopted to overcome these difficulties was to “Save Africa with Africa”.

Also this year we commemorate the fifty (50) anniversary from the opening of our wonderful church, the parish built by the disciples of Jesus guided by the charism of Daniel Comboni. It was very nice and charming to hear the parish history from the older members of the Christian community, from the arrival of the first missionaries, through construction and opening of the church until the present day. They will not have forgotten the times of civil war and the Comboni missionaries (men and women) with whom passed tough times, giving a significant and valuable assistance.

The Comboni Missionaries Sisters also marks 60 years making presence in Mozambique, making a tour of its history visiting the “Island of Mozambique and the Parish of Mussoril” where they had their first mission.

Also commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the creation of the Industrial School of Carapira founded by the Comboni Missionaries, work that aims to respond to the slogan “Save Africa with Africa”. A school that, faced with many difficulties, always wagered by the formation of young Mozambicans with high technical-professional and human level to serve the people. It is within these jubilees that the parish attended the ordination of Fr José Alberto Mozambican and the religious consecration of the Mexican sister Lilia Karina, increasing the Comboni Family.

It’s wonderful the way the Comboni family – fathers, brothers, sisters and lay people (foreigners and Mozambicans) – coordinate the work of evangelization. This team works closely in the tasks that the reality set before us, also for the preparation and implementation of an event or party.

Across Africa, particularly Mozambique, the gospel is being lived by more people, thanks to the Comboni Missionaries. We thank God for this legacy.

Martinho Matrimony.

[Mozambique] Working together

8 October, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

This semester, the discipline of civic and moral education for students in the third year at the Industrial School of Carapira, has been on the subject of sexual education. It is a subject that attracts attention and arouses the curiosity of the students, especially something so present in this period of adolescence for which they are going through.

In the latter period, the subject is STD (sexually transmitted infections), among which is also AIDS.

Aula da turma do 3oB — Clase de tercero B

Aula da Turma do 3ºA — Clase de tercero A

Thus, to provide students with access to quality information on the subject, I invited health technician working at the Health Center in Carapira to present this topic, clarify doubts and raise awareness regarding the importance and ways to prevent diseases.

Thus, the technical participate in the classes for both classrooms of the third year, explaining about the disease and its effects, making use of visual material.

Students actively participated with questions and testimonies in a timid start, but as it was passing the class more freely. Also the way the technical invigorated, speaking in the language of young people, provide this opening. It was a time of enrichment and interesting information, training and collaboration between the Health Center and the School. So we worked together on the Human Formation of these young people, following the example of Comboni, in collaboration with local professionals.

Flávio Schmidt

[Mozambique] Political Debate

3 October, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

Mozambique is in period of election campaign for the presidential elections in the republic and the legislative and provincial assemblies, this which take place on 15 October of this year. There are three candidates approved by the constitutional council, representing the party FRELIMO, RENAMO and MDM.

Therefore, the Commission for Justice and Peace, organized a political debate, at the diocesan meeting for Justice and Peace of the Diocese of Nacala, it took place from 11 to 14 September, inviting representatives of the three parties in the District of Monapo to talk about the different proposals for their respective presidential candidates; they also answer questions and share with the animators how holds the process of the election campaign.

Thus, on the afternoon of September 12, the debate was held, attended by representatives of the parties and more than forty animators of Justice and Peace from the different parishes of the Diocese. It was a very interesting time for dialogue and questions, especially because of the participation of the animators, who made pertinent questions about specific situations without fear. Stand out questions of two women who participated in the meeting, talking about the situation which faces in the hospitals concerning to illegal collection and the lack of medicine, asking about what to do in this situation.

As with any campaign, there were no lack of proposals and promises from those representing the parties. Therefore it was an important exercise of citizenship, which should continue, not just on election day, but also in the accompanying of the chosen candidate for the Government!

Flávio Schmidt

Comboni Simposium- Concrete proposals for Apostolic Action Plan in view of the General Chapter XVIII

20 September, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

After a week of work from the Comboni Plan up to the reflection on the mission today, we wanted to make a synthesis of the work done, trying to reach conclusions unanimously accepted by the participants.

Thus, for groups, elaborate concrete proposals for the Comboni mission today. These were discussed in plenary in order to reach an apostolic action plan consistent with both the urgency of the mission and the Comboni identity.

In the afternoon, participants reflected and proposed certain aspects to be taken as a contribution to the General Chapter XVIII.

At the end of this week, remains a shout in the heart of each of us: We are missionaries “to give life and life in abundance.”

Susana Vilas Boas