Today, November 12, 2025, as part of the Comboni Family Forum on Integral Ecology 2025, we had an intense day, beginning with a community prayer at the Sagrada Familia Social Center in Belem, Brazil, where, after placing ourselves in God’s hands, we gathered in small groups and went to different locations where the COP30 International Conference on Climate Change is taking place.
An interesting reflection took place at the Church Symposium at COP30, where church leaders from various continents, authorities, and representatives of traditional peoples gathered for a dialogue on paths to ecological conservation.
At the same time, conferences were held at other locations, such as the Federal University of Pará, the blue zone, and the Pará River, where a boat trip took place.
Among the topics of conversation and denunciation at this summit were: the defense of the most needy peoples, an end to violence, peace, solidarity, and care for our common home, climate justice, the sovereignty of peoples, integral solidarity, and above all, such important issues as the protection of natural resources and saying no to mining and polluting practices.
The first day ended with the opening of COP30 at the University and the presentation of important figures, including the Rector, and artistic performances. At the same time, there was a march for the martyrs, which ended with Holy Mass in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Nazareth, concluding a day full of reflection, commitment, and hope for a more just, sustainable, and supportive world, respecting all those who do not just talk about ecology but live it in their daily lives….
During the month of October, we had many significant celebrations, beginning on Saturday, October 4, with the joyful celebration of Children’s Day in the Community of León El Manzanillo, which we all attended with great joy and deeply inspired by the Holy Spirit. The activity began around 9:00 a.m. and throughout the day, we shared a snack, held contests, played games, and enjoyed breaking piñatas. Likewise, without neglecting the spiritual aspect, we presented the theme: Jesus, salvation. We finished this activity around noon, but our commitment continued: we visited some people who were facing health problems to offer them support, words of encouragement, and share with them the richness of God’s word.
On October 10, another special ceremony took place: a Mass in honor of St. Daniel Comboni, celebrated at the San Luis Parish in Petén. We also commemorated 20 years of the presence of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ) in the community. That day was particularly important for the Comboni Lay Missionaries (CLM), as ten members made their official commitment, reaffirming their dedication to missionary service and their identity as Comboni lay people.
Two days later, on October 12, we gathered again for the Eucharistic Celebration on the Feast of St. Daniel Comboni and to give thanks for the closing of the 2025 cycle at the Comboni School. During this special celebration, the Camey Figueroa family, who will soon be leaving on mission to Brazil, had the honor of leading the opening procession, a moment filled with gratitude and hope.
The joy continued in the afternoon, and we all enjoyed a pleasant lunch together. Around 2:00 p.m., the traditional Bingo organized by the CLM began. In addition, we had various items available for sale, including religious objects, books, flower pots, and more. The day was filled with joy and reflection as we remembered the importance of our mission by celebrating the day of our founder’s birth into eternal life.
We concluded the month by joyfully participating in the Pilgrimage and Mass of the Second Archdiocesan Synod under the theme “Living and Proclaiming the Gospel,” celebrated on Sunday, October 26. This event sought to renew the pastoral spirit, promoting a more inclusive, missionary Church committed to synodality. The Archdiocese of Santiago de Guatemala has used these synods to strengthen the sense of community, celebration, and evangelization within the sacraments and all ecclesial life.
October was a month that invited us to reflect on our mission and live with true purpose. Each activity not only brought us closer to our faith but also to our community and missionary commitment.
With God’s grace, we have continued our missionary work in the community of León El Manzanillo, which we have been sharing with you in previous posts. On Saturday, August 2, as we do every month, we went door to door in the village, encouraging families to participate in the activity planned for that day and extending an invitation to attend Sunday Mass.
In the afternoon, we shared with those in attendance the theme: “The Love of the Father” and continued with the making of baskets from recycled newspaper. In addition, a special activity was held with the children to teach them the importance of proper hand washing, and we took the opportunity to introduce them to the idea of the Holy Spirit using the idea of Living Water.
On Sunday, August 24, we gathered for our monthly get-together. After participating in the Eucharist and sharing breakfast, we began with training on the topic “Home Visit Guide.” This topic was extremely important, as it will allow us to make improvements to the visits we already make in the “El Manzanillo” Project, as well as in future mission projects. It should be noted that, as part of our call to share the Gospel, we go to meet our brothers and sisters in their homes or wherever they carry out their activities, and it is prudent to follow certain guidelines. After introducing ourselves respectfully, and provided they are willing, we share the Word of God with them.
Home visits are a true pillar of our calling, as they enable direct contact with people who may be going through difficult times, such as hopelessness, poverty, marginalization, etc. Through these visits, we offer them a different path, guided and strengthened by the light of God’s Word.
The second topic we discussed during the gathering was “Sincerity, honesty, and integrity.” Below is a brief description of these values:
Integrity is a fundamental virtue that invites us to act with righteousness and justice, respecting what belongs to others and approaching our responsibilities with integrity. It is a commitment both to the proper management of goods and resources and to the fair treatment of others, implying not taking advantage of or taking what does not belong to us.
Sincerity reflects our authenticity in words and actions. It is the ability to interact without hiding our true intentions or resorting to falsehoods. However, this virtue must be accompanied by prudence, which helps us choose the right moment and the right words to express our thoughts. In this way, we not only care for other people’s feelings but also our own, since not everyone reacts well, understands, or appreciates what we want to share with them.
Finally, honesty is related to living in accordance with truth, justice, and integrity. It is also understood as the virtue of always acting with righteousness in our intentions and decisions.
Each of these values reflects aspects of Christ’s character in us. They not only strengthen our personal and family lives, but also contribute to building a trustworthy, strong church with a good witness before the world.
On Sunday, August 31, we gathered for our first Spirituality Workshop. That day, we used the Lectio Divina guide to share a moment before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The reading we used was from the Gospel of the day, Luke 4:16-20.
We also meditated on section 1 of the document “Missionary Methodology: Spirituality, Lifestyle, and Model of Intervention LMC,” which emphasizes the importance of spiritual nourishment, since without it, our spirit weakens. We find this nourishment in the sacraments, in the Word, in prayer, in community, in spiritual retreats, etc.
“Neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (1 Corinthians 3:7)
On July 5, we had the opportunity to carry out a missionary day in the community of León El Manzanillo, an enriching experience for both us and the local residents. During the morning, we visited community members in their homes, approaching them with the purpose of informing them about the initiatives we had planned for that day. We also took advantage of each conversation to introduce ourselves as a missionary group and extend a special invitation to participate in the monthly celebration of the Eucharist, which takes place on the second Sunday of each month.
In the afternoon, we shared with those in attendance a brief reflection on the Sacred Heart of Jesus, seeking to spread his message of love and mercy. The day ended with a practical workshop focused on caring for the environment, during which we taught how to make baskets using recycled newspaper, thus fostering creativity and ecological awareness.
As we mentioned, one of the objectives of the missionary work in Manzanillo is for the inhabitants to participate in the Eucharist. After sowing the seed and continuing to water it, it is God who will take care of its growth in their hearts. On Sunday the 13th, some of our members accompanied the community in the Eucharist and noticed that more people attended, which gives us great joy because the Eucharist is the center of our faith.
Gathering on July 20
On Sunday, July 20, in addition to sharing as a community and reviewing our missionary work, we received the following formation topics:
The first proclamation and the missionary role
As missionaries, we must remember that our work does not focus on worrying about results, for triumphs or failures are not evaluated according to human parameters. The essential thing is that when we sow the seed of God’s love, we trust that it will be the Lord who will take care of the harvest. Within the content of the proclamation of the Kerygma, we reflected on the main idea: God is a loving Father who loves us personally and unconditionally. His love does not depend on our being good, but on His being good. However, we may not experience this divine love because of sin, from which we cannot free ourselves by our own strength. Likewise, we cannot defeat our main enemies on our own: the world, the flesh, and Satan. Therefore, we need salvation.
But THE GOOD NEWS is that Jesus has already saved and forgiven us by paying our debt with the sacrifice of his blood. By dying and rising again for us, he has given us new life as children of God, a gift we can receive by believing in him, trusting in his love, and continually converting ourselves. A true encounter with Christ leads us to become part of his body and brings us closer to our brothers and sisters, especially those most in need, in order to build the Kingdom of God.
This central message must be adapted to the particularities of each person, considering the different levels of spiritual development in which they may find themselves. Therefore, when proclaiming the GOOD NEWS, we must first analyze individual needs and develop an appropriate plan that responds to them.
Consciousness
Human beings are made up of three fundamental areas which, although closely interconnected, are analyzed separately in order to better understand and address them. These areas are: the mind, the body, and the spirit.
Consciousness is an inner force that allows us to discern and make sense of every situation in our lives. It plays a crucial role in the search for purpose, helping us to identify meaningful values, goals, and objectives.
To illustrate the concept of consciousness, the parable of the compass was presented as a metaphor:
Direction: symbolizes the most relevant goal in a person’s life.
The body of the compass: represents the individual’s mindset.
Needle: reflects a specific responsibility necessary to achieve the goal.
It is important to foster both social awareness and personal awareness. Social awareness involves having empathy for the perspectives and emotions of those around us, respecting collective norms, and behaving responsibly within the community. On the other hand, personal awareness is oriented toward introspection, managing our emotions, understanding our feelings, thoughts, and the way we interact with others.
By cultivating our awareness as part of our integral development, we take a firm step toward authentic freedom.
June was a month full of blessings for the CLM of Guatemala, by the grace of God and under the intercession of St. Daniel Comboni, with various initiatives that marked our missionary work.
On June 7, we carried out our missionary activity in the community of León El Manzanillo. During our visit, in addition to spending time with the members of the community, we gave a talk on the Holy Spirit and Pentecost. As part of the day, we held a workshop on making eco-friendly candles, and those who participated were very enthusiastic and satisfied with the experience.
On the same date, we celebrated the 8th anniversary of the Chispuditos Program. This nutritional project has focused on the children of the villages of La Salvadora I and II, in the municipality of Santa Catarina Pinula, as well as their mothers, bringing them the Word and promoting their development as leaders. It should be noted that last year the program was handed over to the community; since then, the mothers have been leading the program.
On Sunday, June 8, we participated in the Vocational Expo organized by the Vicariate of the Center: Our Lady of the Assumption, held in the gym of Don Bosco College. This event allowed us to share with young people interested in the different congregations present. In addition to the information stands, there were moments of praise, Eucharistic adoration, and Holy Mass. It was a valuable opportunity to transmit and live the charism of the Comboni Family together with those in attendance.
A week later, on Sunday, June 15, we held our monthly community gathering, beginning with the celebration of Holy Eucharist, followed by a shared breakfast. During the gathering, we reflected on the Comboni charism and worked on a special theme about the key elements that strengthen self-esteem. We addressed aspects such as self-control, personal goals, communication skills, and body image perception. As a pleasant surprise, we had a visit from a married couple interested in learning more about our community.
In each activity of the month, we reaffirmed our commitment to serve and accompany the communities, always driven by our faith and evangelizing mission.
LMC Guatemala
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