Poland – Comboni Lay Missionaries

Leszek – the Newest Lay Member of the CLM Movement in Poland

11 July, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

On the first weekend of July 2025 (July 4–6), the last formation meeting of the CLM movement for this formation year took place in Warsaw. It was a very special event. Not only did we celebrate the Day of the Comboni Family but we also welcomed a new member – Leszek – into the movement.

During a solemn Holy Mass on Saturday afternoon, Leszek officially joined the CLM movement. In his prayer he said that he heard the first missionary call when he was 5 but he had to wait almost 50 years more in order to finally respond to this call.” But as they say “better late than never”. In September, he will depart for a missionary experience in Kenya. After the Mass, we enjoyed a barbecue with Leszek’s family and friends.

Saturday also included the official introduction of the new Coordinating Group: Asia, Ania, and Paweł, as well as a summary of the most important events of this formation year, such as the international meeting in Maia, Portugal, with members from around the world, and our missionary Iza parting on her first mission to Kenya.

CLM Poland

Iza from Poland Arrives in Kenya to Begin Mission.

20 May, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

Kenya warmly welcomes Iza from Poland, who arrived on 6th May to begin her mission here in Kenya. Her arrival is a significant moment, and she was greeted with enthusiasm by a group of Comboni Lay Missionary Kenya who went to the airport to welcome her. The atmosphere was filled with anticipation and heartfelt greetings.

As Iza stepped out, she was met with smiles and warm embraces. We are incredibly excited to have Iza with us. We look forward to supporting her in her mission. Iza expressed her gratitude, stating, ‘I’m so grateful to be here and eager to start working with the community.

CLM Kenya

Community experience in Czerwonak

13 February, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

My name is Izabela, on 22 June 2024, during a solemn Mass, I joined the CLM.

I will be leaving for a mission to Kenya in a few weeks.

Preparing to go on a mission field for two years.

The final stage is the community experience I am currently on. It involves sharing life together with Comboni Lay Missionaries.

During the experience, I have many meetings with the lay missionaries who are currently or have been on missions. We discuss various issues concerning mission-related matters, e.g., inculturation, security issues, pastoral care in the mission, etc.

Twice a week there are meetings with the international coordinator of the CLM – Alberto de la Portilla. We learn about the history of the founding of the CLM and discuss documents tied to the lay missionary movement.

There is also time for lecitio divina prayer, that I have with Br. Tomek, and catechesis with Sister Joanna Nowińska. With which I study selected books of the Holy Scriptures.

It is also an intensive time for me to learn English. When I go to Kenya, I will be learning the Swahili language.

On Friday, I go as a volunteer at an eatery for the poor run by the Albertine Sisters in Poznań.

My community experience is with Bogusia and Andrzej in a small village near Poznań. We spend our free time together and pray. We prepare and consume meals together.

Bogusia and Andrew take me around to show me the beautiful surroundings.

The experience is a very valuable and good time that I think will help me adapt to my new place in the mission.

Izabela, Polish CLM

Family on mission

18 December, 2024 by Alberto de la Portilla

Me, Tobiasz, together with my wife, Adela, have spent already a few years on mission: two years in South Africa and over two years in Ethiopia. We came back to Poland when our son was about to be born. Five years has passed since that time and three children appeared. With our family increased by Leo (5 years), Jeremi (almost 4 years) and Beniamin (1 and a half year), we decided to refresh our missionary vocation and came back to Africa, this time for a five weeks.

We visited international CLM community in Kitelakapel, Kenya, where we were hosted by Pius, Linda and Marzenka. It was great to see such a beautiful community, having good relationship with local people and among themselves. They welcomed us warmly and made us a real part of their community for that time.

It was beginning of school holiday and we organized activities for children from the neighbourhood. They were eager to spend their time playing, and were excited to see white people the same size as they are, i.e., our children. We took part in jumuias – meetings of small communities, where they read the Bible and speak about that. After Sunday Masses we had meetings with parishoners, where we shared our understanding of God, marriage and raising up children. The words always mean less than example of life, and we hope that being there even for a few weeks only would inspire some of them to pursue the Christian vision of family.

Realities in West Pokot region are very different than those we know from Europe. Men don’t participate in the family life – people were shocked I carried Beniamin in a carrier and played with my children. Most of them don’t come to the church, sometimes not allowing their wives to come, knowing that the church don’t approve polygamy which they practice. Small children are often left alone, with the only care of their not much older sisters. On the other hand life there is beautiful in its simplicity. People are joyful and very hospitable. Surely there is much to be inspired from them and they can learn much from us as well.

We are coming back to Poland with more just good memories of exceptional trip, but with our missionary vocation refreshed. It’s possible to be a missionary staying in your home town. But staying in your home town it’s very easy not to be a missionary. We are so happy we could experience the mission again.

Tobiasz Lemański, CLM

New CLM in Poland

8 July, 2024 by Alberto de la Portilla

On Saturday, June 23 this year, during the meeting of the Combonian family in Krakow, Paweł and Iza ceremonially joined the movement of the Comboni Lay Missionaries.

The event took place before the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, loved by the founder of the congregation, Daniel Comboni. He wrote many times in his letters to always have “eyes fixed on Christ”, these words are the foundation of a missionary’s life.

During the solemn Holy Mass, both candidates read the handwritten act of ac-cession and then presented it to Father Adam Zagaja, who is responsible for CLM in Poland on behalf of the Congregation of the Comboni Missionaries.

CLM, family and friends were present on this important day for Paweł and Iza.

CLM Poland