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Echoes of the Comboni Symposium

25 October, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

It took place in Rome from 15 to 19 September the reflection on Comboni´s Plan for the regeneration of Africa after 150 years from the time it was written and inspired till the current time. For this reflection came representatives of the various provinces of the Comboni Missionaries (MCCJ) and was attended by representatives of the Comboni Missionary Sisters (MC), Secular Comboni Missionaries (SCM) and Comboni Lay Missionaries (CLM).

Throughout this week of work, we have come to some conclusions that will “provoke” the next chapter of MCCJ and can also help us for a deeper reflection:

Comboni´s Plan keeps actualize as far as allows us to realize the urgency and priority of our time. We do many important things, but we cannot respond to all needs, so we must discern what is vital in today’s world and reshape our missionary service consequently.
Comboni receives the inspiration of the Plan because he places himself at the foot of the cross. Today the mission no longer has a “geographical” look. Therefore, at the foot of the cross, we must try to realize the movements of the Spirit and how we respond our world, no matter where we are called to be.
The motto “Save Africa with Africa” cannot limit our action. Rather, it should lead us to take a renovated approach to the extent of our abilities. Consequently, the mission in Europe involves re-believe in the values of the European culture and adopts its language as a way of liberation and evangelization. The same applies to other cultures where we recognize so “vital” the Comboni presence.
“I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security”, says the Pope Francisco in the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium (# 49). The appeal of Pope Francisco challenges us to dare to grow and specialize in ministries that we believe are the most urgent priority in today’s world.

After a week of work and reflection, based on the Plan of Comboni and the demands of the Church itself, it was concluded that today’s mission will always pass, and above all, by the struggle for Life.

Thus, inspired by the charism of Comboni, we are called to rethink and reshape our being missionaries for many “have life and have it abundantly.”

Susana Vilas Boas

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

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

Workshop on Comboni-From the Plan´s insights to the reality we face today

19 September, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

“I would rather have a hurt church, marked by the signs of walking with the people, than a hurt church because it is closed in the comfort zone trying to hold on to its own securities” (EG, 49). With these wise words of Pope Francis, we began our 4º day.

For today our aim is to summarize the intuitions of these days, and so, the commission presented us with for main topics for reflexion:

1) Mission perspective: in Comboni´s time and in our days

2) Mission style: in Comboni´s time and in in our days

3) Ministries and formation: in Comboni´s time and in in our days

4) Our own mission in the local church: in Comboni´s time and in our days

After the reflexion at a personal level and the groups discussion, took place the plenary assembly. We try to perceive what we have to change in our way of being today as missionaries, so that we can answer the Popes ‘challenge: we are all hurt but we are willing pursue the long road so that Christ will be known by all peoples and they may have life to the full.

Susana Vilas Boas

Comboni workshop-The reality of the Congregation of the Comboni Misssionaries today

18 September, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

This third day began, with the words of St. Paul to the Corinthians: “Love will never end” (1 Cor 13,8). These words were the starting point for the topic of the day started by the Superior General of The MCCJ – Fr Enrique Sanchez, who presented his view on the Plan and the reality of the Comboni Missionaries today. From these reflections, some clues about the reality of the mission of the MCCJ in our days emerged, and we can summarize them in three points: mission – as in the Plano of Comboni, mission is at the centre (heart) of our vocation and missionary life; resize – the urgency that today we need for the Institute due to social, ecclesial change (morphology) in the reality. The number decreases and in a few years’ time, 90% of the MCCJ will be Africans; interculturality – the reality that calls us to a change in our way of thinking and actions.

These three basic words expressing our reality were the starting point for the group´s discussion. After that, we had our discussion on the priorities emerging from the Comboni Missionaries challenges today, and these activities were conducted Oriented) by Fr. Antonio Villarino.

Susana Vilas Boas