Mozambique – Page 10 – Comboni Lay Missionaries

[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

Walking with Comboni

10 July, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

Hello fellow travelers, peace be with you!

These days was held the MCCJ Assembly in the Province of Mozambique. As Comboni Family, the Comboni Sisters and the CLM, we were invited to attend the first two days. This allowed us to better meet our Province and the Comboni Missionaries who are working here.

Being celebrating this jubilee year of the 150th anniversary of the Plan of Comboni, we start with a reflection presented by Father Vitor Dias, former in the novitiate of Santarém, Portugal. How to dream, to experience, to announce: Christ, Comboni and the joy of the Gospel today, in our daily lives, in our actions?

Among us, we were sharing our feelings, our experiences of Christ in the mission, and so, as craftspeople made a mat, we were sharing this reflection. I leave here, knowing that many things remain to be said, a few points:

We are invited, as Comboni, to encounter God, without letting our own tasks to bind us, so that with Him, remain in this attitude: “I am here for whatever you want me”, so let ourselves, therefore, every day, inspire, love, excite, challenge, by the Lord of the Mission.

A meeting methodology, that allows us to live the Pastoral of Meeting with the people in an attitude of listening and dialogue. Daring to live the mission as a “salute”, a beginning to “walk” with the communities, so that in the informal meetings, we announce Christ and allow ourselves to be evangelized by the people who welcome us.

Will you remember the attitude of Pope Francisco that leaving the car went to the old woman? Will it not result of greater impact, greater proclamation of Christ, than a thousand words spoken into a microphone?

For that, we also must leave our “car”, strip us of what we are and have (training, lifestyle, personal experiences), to find one another, our community and the people that welcomed us, from the essence of what the people are. It is an invitation to an attitude of humility; find the other starting from him. A major challenge, isn´t it?

Plan of Comboni, reproduction or upgrade? We would say that the two attitudes. An attitude of reproduction in relation to the Plan of Comboni in what is its highest expression: the freedom of the human person. On the other hand one of the fundamental aspects of the Plan is the dimension of Today. A plan that it is not just paper, but actions that generate life, a life that we want in abundance. For this it is essential starting from what is already built and contextualize our reality today, where we are. We try to leave the “old” to start the “new” from a continuous attitude of discernment.

Which is the new attitude? What we bet? Building structures or build with people? Stone buildings or human constructions?

The challenge is released: Let us not become mere administrators of created structures but seek, invent new possibilities, without fear, with hope and confidence, not in an attitude of “who comes to give”, but who “comes to learn and walk together”.

Seize the wealth of diversity, so that we can set the pace for a mission in increased collaboration and mutual assistance with the people we work, so they are increasingly the protagonists of the mission and their lives.

We leave you with the question: “How do we incarnate the Gospel today?”

With the knowledge that none of us has it all and that no culture drains the Gospel, we walk with the fear of walker and the heart full of trust in the Lord of the mission, which calls us to face the challenges with confidence and optimism.

“Peace be with you” and “Do not be afraid!”

I wait for you in Mozambique 😉

Márcia Costa. CLM in Mozambique.

[Mozambique] Meeting of the Missionary Team of Carapira

13 May, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

On the afternoon of April 28^th, we had the meeting of the missionary team of Carapira where participated the Comboni Missionaries, the Comboni missionary Sisters and the CLM. The meeting had as its theme “SEE”, from the reflection of the letter from the General of the MCCJ on the 150th anniversary of the plan of Comboni, taking as a guiding line for reflection the question “what is the reality that is challenging us today as a missionary opportunity and with what universal issues?” The evening began with the adoration of the Most Holy. Right away began the works, for which we formed three thematic groups: 1) Health and Women; 2) Education and Parishes; and 3) Justice and Peace, Questioning over land and labor. Each group makes a list of the different views on every issue from the perspective of the question placed at the beginning, later in a general plenary; we all share the results of the work. A summary was prepared that will be used for the preparation of the next meeting of the team that will address the JUDGING. We conclude the Comboni family evening with a typical dish of Mexican cuisine “Posole” prepared by Beatriz CLM.

[Mozambique] Training of monitors for Literacy and Adult Education

6 May, 2014 by Alberto de la Portilla

On days 24 to 26 April at the pastoral center of Mutoro take place literacy training. This formation included 33 monitors of the various areas of the parish of Carapira, having as principal speaker Professor Dr. Adelino Zacarias Ivala. It took place in a favorable environment, having good collaboration between the trainer and the trainees. It has also attended the three Comboni Lay Missionaries of Carapira and sister Paula, Comboni missionary sister. Of the 33 participants were three Mozambicans CLM trainees.

We thank you for participating in this training that will help us in enriching our missionary training.

May God continue to bless us in our walking!

Ancha, Margarida and Zeferino, CLM’s in training.