Germany – Page 4 – Comboni Lay Missionaries

German CLM Group Meeting in Nuremberg, 9th to 11th October 2015

14 October, 2015 by Alberto de la Portilla

It was nice to start the Comboni Day, on 10 October, with the celebration together with the Comboni Missionaries of the house. After that we worked in the encyclical “Laudato Si” of Pope Francisco. Pia Schildmair explained the theological basis of the document. Steffen Riedel gave us, from the point of view of a technical advisor for energy, the good news that we can meet the challenges of our land and preserve it in the broad sense. Of course, there was a discussion about it. In addition to the encyclical we perform the program for 2016 and have taken the first steps to participate in the 100. Katholikentag in Leipzig, where the Comboni Family from Germany wants to present. On Sunday Mass in the community of Kunigunda we celebrate again St. Daniel Comboni. The Provincial, Father Karl, spoke of the charism of Daniel and the main points of the General Chapter in Rome. The CLM enriched the mass with songs and texts of the encyclical “Laudato Si”.

CLM Germany

“Mission in the world today”: Meeting of the Comboni Lay Missionaries (CLM) in Mellatz on 3 and 4 July 2015

12 August, 2015 by Alberto de la Portilla

On 3 and 4 July 2015, some members of the Comboni Lay Missionaries (CLM) met with the Comboni Missionaries Fr. Franz Weber and Br. Friedbert Tremmel in the mission home in Mellatz to exchange views on the theme “mission in world today”. On Saturday, some members of the “Mellatzer Weggemeinde” arrived at the group and we increase at least 15 persons.

At the beginning of the meeting Fr. Franz Weber gave a brief introductory presentation: the term “mission” is quite negatively affected by the history of the conquest and colonization that sometimes went hand in hand with the evangelization of the peoples of Africa, America and Asia. Today, this term should be rediscovered. The mission must come from the heart from where one can live and act as missionaries, that is, the mission begins with me.

Jesus was the “first missionary and the source of all missionary work” brings good news to the poor, and this is testified by his life and his cures. The core mission is the Good News, the Kingdom of God is present with Jesus. “We have to speak about the things which we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).

After this introduction to the topic, the group began to think about how they can act in the sense of Jesus, as individuals and as a group. One of the options that can be done starts in the family, with friends, at work or in the parish.

In conclusion, we can say that the mission is made by and for men and women. The essence is given by me. It is give and take. The day ended with a Mass in which we thanked God for our skills and talents.

The next time the CML Group will meet in the Comboni house in Nuremberg will be on Friday night (9/10/2015) till Sunday (11/10/2015) at noon. The theme will be the new encyclical “Laudato Sí” from Pope Francisco. All people who are interested are invited.

CLM Germany

In the footsteps of Jesus – spiritual retreat in the streets of Berlin

11 June, 2015 by Alberto de la Portilla

On May 13, three women of the small group of German CLM went to Berlin, to make a spiritual retreat in the streets. We were anxious, how will that be? Full of gratitude we can say that it was worth it! The Jesuit Christian Herwartz and the Comboni sister Margit Forster affectionately accompanied us. Each of us made her personal and profound experience, going to places that made possible an encounter with God in a special way: the jail, a drug sales point, a meeting place for the homeless, tourist places in the center… Like Moses, we take off our sandals (fears, prejudices, judgments) and in the holy places we find God in a new way. Unfortunately, we had to return home on May 17. It was a brief but very rich experience, especially together. THANK YOU!

Barbara Ludewig CLM Germany

Meeting of the CLM in Nürnberg about the “Evangelii Gaudium”

29 October, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

The German CLM group met in Nürnebrg in the house of the Comboni Missionaries from 17 to 19 of October 2014. Even the machinists strike could stop it 🙂 .

On Saturday, We dedicated to the intensive study of the encyclical “Evangelii Gaudium” with the help of Pia Schildmair. On Sunday we highlight the common points of the encyclical with the Comboni spirituality. We look for specific impulses for everyone and for the group and agreed steps to implement them. We ask that the joy of the Gospel continue to accompany us along the way!

Barbara Ludewig

Meeting of the CLM with stakeholders from Mellatz Christian Community

7 September, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

In the middle of the holidays, from 15 to 17 August, our CLM group gathered. For Saturday Martina and Brigitte had prepared a program on Daniel Comboni and his spirituality. We invite to participated interested persons from the ecclesial community of Mellatz. We deepen our knowledge about the life and work of St. Daniel Comboni and seek the meaning of his spirituality to our reality today. We found it very interesting, the exchange of ideas with the 12 community stakeholders brought so much to us all. This encouraged every one of us to continue or re-start our missionary service: each in their daily personal life but also together as a group. There was also a time to speak personally and to continue the presentation work (website, poster) and plan the next steps for the group. On Sunday we had the opportunity to celebrate Mass with the parish community. After Mass there was time for many conversations with the community about the CLM.

Special thanks to Brigitte and Martina for preparing the meeting so fondly, to brother Friedbert for his support and to all participants.

The next meeting will be from 17 to 19 October in Nuremberg with the theme “The common points between the exhortation of Pope Francis ‘Evangelii Gaudium’ and the Comboni spirituality.”

Barbara Ludewig