Mozambique – Page 9 – Comboni Lay Missionaries

Experience in Mozambique

5 January, 2015 by Alberto de la Portilla

Beloved Missionary Family:

In the joy of receiving the Baby Jesus in our hearts transforming everything that we can not do by ourselves and hurt us, having closed our calendar year in harmony with ourselves and our brothers. I start this new year sharing with you what I’ve lived in this mission until today.

I end this 2014, making community with the Comboni Lay Missionaries, Flávio Schmidt (Brazilian) and Márcia Costa (Portuguese), and joining forces with the Mozambican CLM in formation Francisco and Margarida better known as marriage Martinho, Ancha (all three are teachers) Zeferino (young from the community); working in harmony with the missionary team of the Comboni Missionaries (Fathers and Brothers) and the Comboni Sisters, in the parish of Carapira.

As relates to me, I do what it takes to stay well in the human, spiritual and mental. Even with the care I take, I do not escaped common diseases of this area. I have had my moments of spiritual weariness for neglecting my personal prayer however; I try to take it up again, to achieve inner peace. In relation to the study, the local language for me has been a limiting factor because I cannot take the time and concentration to study, most of the time people speak Portuguese. Personally, I feel blessed by God for allowing me and entrust this mission where by my presence and contributions will give the message that God has for this people leaving in the heart of the people I meet every day.

The community for me has been the home that we are built, we have a community day a week distributed as follows: 1st retreat, 2nd free, 3rd issue of training, 4th evaluation and when there is a 5th free. We recognize that it is not always easy. We are limited in our communication and integration for teamwork; important to work together as entrusted to us. We centralize our gaze on the person of Christ, our engine, our source for announcing “The Joy of Gospel”. Going through times of trial where each of us show our strengths and our limits. Pooling areas for improvement has been a way in which we manage to restore dialogue when we’ve moved away from each other, we’ve managed to walk together in this time, making in the best possible way our work and commitments. We have gone through different stages where we have learned to respect, act in solidarity and support us in what we are required or permitted, in times of illness, home activities, needs work, apostolate in the parish, days off, etc.

The CML in formation have been an important support in putting me on my missionary walk, in tune with the reality of the community that frequently, naked eye, is not seen. It is a challenge for me to be responsible in forming them, following a proposal made by international committee. We developed a training plan that meets the needs of the group and thus get to be in tune with the CLM of the world. With them, we make Morning Prayer Tuesday and Thursday one week in each house. They have participated in our annual meeting enriching the results we achieve because they always made their contributions to decision making. We did some missionary animation in the Comboni parishes and Women’s School of Nacala where the Comboni Sisters work, we find a group of Lay accompanying the sisters in Nampula; in some of the animations we put some religious accessories on sale to raise funds for the realization of our missionary work.

We had a missionary week in the community of Namajuba. We met another reality as it is an area where they are exploiting minerals from the earth and also some of the problems of our community (water, schools, land) are repeated and especially forming a good team with two young students of the ISC who joined the CLM group.

In the school, my work has been in accordance with what it is needed. Mainly in the Secretariat, from there you can do any work: cleaning at different school locations, sales, inventories, operating manuals, counseling and vocational guidance to students, etc. Always in coordination with the management, administration, pedagogical and head of boarding school; with the arrival of two workers, who sends the district, has boosted the tasks.

I am part of the vocational parish team with Brother Luis (Ita), Sister Lily (Mex) and in her absence Sister Maria Pia (Ita) joined. We organize monthly retreats with young people who want to have a vocational guidance to enter the seminary or religious congregations. It has been a missionary space I’ve always liked to work.

It was a jubilee year full of parties, starting with the opening of the 150th anniversary of the Comboni´s plan. We had our bimonthly meetings where we used the method see-judge-act to analyze the reality of our mission. Continuing with the diaconal ordination of MCCJ José Alberto and Abelino Diocesan, and also had their priestly ordination in May and December I participate in both of them. The perpetual vows of Sister Lily, the 50th anniversary of Carapira Parish, the Comboni assembly, the assembly the Comboni Missionary Sisters celebrating its 60 years in Mozambique. Celebrations of the Sacred Heart and St. Daniel Comboni, the 50 years of the School Carapira Industries, farewells, welcome and anniversaries.

In the village of Carapira I always learn something new: their patience and availability committed me every day to give my best in performing any activity. It is not easy because I do not know the language, but training the leaders, in each of the different ministries, has being our main activity. All missionary experiences that I lived in Mexico have served me very much, allowing me to share what I have with respect for what they have, without imposing the way to live the faith, but enriching. We have great challenges as a missionary team in this sharing and receiving.

I sincerely appreciate your help and cooperation. We will keep in touch, united in prayer for the good of the mission, your Sister in Christ Missionary Beatriz CLM

P.D Jesus Missionary, who was born to show us with simplicity to be a Human Being in the Love of God, grant us the graces we need for this 2015.

[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

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.