Poland – Comboni Lay Missionaries

Second CLM community in Kenya: a dream come true!

21 November, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

Sunday the 16 November 2025, what a historic day! It’s the beginning of a new adventure for us CLM here in Kenya, as on this day we opened a second community in Chelopoy, West Pokot!

We are so grateful to all those who made it happen: our “ancestor” (as we fondly call him), fr. Maciek Zielinski, the MCCJ provincial of Kenya, fr. Andrew Wanjohi, the CLM of Kenya and all the CLM!

The members of the new community are: Mercy Lodikai (from Kenya), Giulia Lampo (from Italy) and Iza Tobiasiewicz (from Poland). Round of applause, please!!! These three pioneers are ready to start serving in the area of Chelopoy, and will probably join the community of Kitelakapel in the Life Skills project, expanding it to the schools in their area, while also collaborating with the local dispensary, run by the Franciscan sisters of St. Joseph – Asumbi. They will also engage in pastoral activities, of course. For now, the plan is for them to take their time to settle in and get to know the place and the people, create bonds of friendship and get to know their culture, their situation, their needs.

On their very first day, as we celebrated the opening of the community and the works of renovation in the house they’ll be using, they were received with great warmth and joy by the local people. We, the community of Kitelakapel, accompanied them, and we were blessed by the presence of our dear fr. Maciek, our equally dear MCCJ provincial, fr. Andrew, the parish priest (fr. Philip Andruga) and Comboni sisters of Amakuriat (the parish to which the new community belongs), and even two representatives of the CLM of Uganda, the very coordinator Beatrice Akite, and treasurer, Asege Teddy, accompanied by two Italian volunteers and a local member of Kalya peace village, Uganda.

The Mass was lively and participated, so well animated by the local people, who gave us all some gifts and made us feel at home from the very beginning. The provincial then proceeded to blessing the house and then we all had something to eat. It was a simple but lovely moment of celebration.

As usual, starting a new community in a new place is not something easy. It requires a lot of patience, humility and ability to adjust. However, our friends are not alone! They have the Franciscan sisters as caring neighbours, local families and church members as their new friends and new extended family, and the fathers and sisters from Amakuriat as a strong source of emotional and practical support. Not to forget us, the community of Kitelakapel, who are also so happy to have them as our “neighbours” in West Pokot! Together we will walk on this journey, grow, support each other, and do wonderful things! And of course, all this is possible only with the broader support of all CLM, the whole Comboni family and all those who believe in us!

So, thank you all! Keep being with us in prayer, and stay tuned!

Linda Micheletti, CLM Kitelakapel, Kenya

Bright Smiles in Mikinduri

4 November, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

At the parish of Mikinduri, together with Belinda, we organized an educational and fun workshop on proper tooth brushing.

The event was attended by as many as 160 children!

Thanks to the support of donors from Poland, the children were able not only to learn how to take care of their teeth but also to have a wonderful time.

During the session, we talked about healthy and harmful foods, sang songs, and the children each drew one product that is good for their teeth and one that is bad.

At the end, every child received a toothbrush and toothpaste, and I demonstrated the correct brushing technique.

It was a beautiful meeting full of learning, smiles, and kindness.

Iza Tobiasiewicz, CLM in Kenya

Silent Retreat – A Time of Encounter with God and with Ourselves

29 October, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

From October 15th to 21st, our CLM members experienced a truly special silent retreat at Napenda Kuishi in Nairobi. It was a week filled with deep spiritual experiences, inner reflection, and encounters with God, with ourselves, and with the community. The retreat was led by Father Daniel Villaverde, who guided us through this time of prayer, reflection, and discovery of the spirituality of Saint Daniel Comboni.

Each day of the retreat followed a gentle rhythm: morning prayer, the Eucharist, inputs from fr. Daniel on human aspect, catechesis and Comboni’s spirituality, and personal time for meditation and adoration. The silence that accompanied us throughout the week became a sacred space where we could hear God’s voice more clearly and look more deeply into our own lives.

During the retreat, we had the opportunity to delve in the missionary spirituality of Saint Daniel Comboni – a man who dedicated his entire life to proclaiming the Gospel and serving others. His example teaches us that true mission stems from a personal encounter with Christ and from love for our brothers and sisters.

In silence and prayer, each of us experienced profound inner spiritual moments – times of emotion, discovery, gratitude, and peace. It was a period when we could allow God to speak to us without hurry and without distraction.

At the end of the retreat, we shared our personal experiences with one another. Although silence had accompanied us most of the week, it was precisely during these moments of sharing that we came to know one another more deeply and truthfully – through heartfelt testimonies that touched our hearts.

We return from this retreat with renewed strength, peace in our hearts, and a desire to live more consciously – in a spirit of trust, simplicity, and missionary commitment. We thank Father Daniel for his spiritual guidance and all the participants for their openness and companionship on this journey of silence and prayer.

“In silence, God speaks the loudest.”

Iza Tobiasiewicz, CLM Kenya

Mission in Kenya

18 September, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

First Steps on Kenyan Soil

At the beginning of June, I landed in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. It was here that my missionary journey began – full of new challenges, learning, and encounters with people who quickly became like a second family to me. I spent the first weeks in the Provincial House of the Comboni Missionaries, where I immediately experienced the great openness and warmth of the Comboni Fathers and the community of Lay Comboni Missionaries. Thanks to their heartfelt welcome, I felt at home, which gave me courage and hope for the next stages of my mission.

Learning the Language and First Trips

One of the first challenges was the intensive study of English. Every new word opened doors for me to better understand the culture and to build deeper relationships with the people among whom I now live.

In June, an Italian missionary, Giula, joined me. Together, on the very same day, we set off for Kiteakapel – a small missionary station in the northwest of Kenya. This place, run by an international community, allowed me to see the simplicity of life, the difficulties of everyday existence, and at the same time the great hospitality and openness of the people. This experience will remain in my heart for a long time as a reminder of the great strength of community and of simple, sincere hearts.

Kariobangi – the Heart of Nairobi

The next stage was moving to Kariobangi – one of the poorest districts of Nairobi. This place is full of contrasts: alongside hardship and poverty, there is also the extraordinary energy and hope of the residents. In the parish, the Comboni Fathers and Comboni Sisters carry out their ministry. The Sisters run a vocational school for girls and a daycare center for the children of young mothers, while the Fathers are involved in pastoral care and youth animation.

The time I spent in Kariobangi was extremely valuable to me – both practically and spiritually. I saw how God works in everyday life, in simple gestures of kindness, and in sharing oneself with others.

A New Stage – Mikinduri

Since September, I have started the next stage of my mission and am now staying in Mikinduri. This new place presents me with further challenges, but also brings much joy and hope. Each day is an opportunity to get to know the local reality, to learn patience and openness, and to discover the beauty of diversity. I believe that every step of this journey leads me deeper – toward greater trust, toward better understanding, and toward true service to others.

Iza, CLM in Kenya

News from the missionary experience in Kitelakapel

16 September, 2025 by Alberto de la Portilla

As we mentioned in previous post, Sunday on the missions is a very rich and intense day. Until noon, there is a solemn and long Mass filled with singing and dancing. It begins with a dancing procession of girls and women dressed in beautiful costumes. A similar procession is also repeated with the offerings. At the same time, lay missionary Linda leads Sunday school for children and at the end of Mass, she also enters the procession with the children for a blessing. Immediately after Mass, we had a meeting of the men’s community in the garden next to the chapel. At the same time, in one of the family homes, some of us participated in a mourning gathering for the loss of a family member. About 50 people from the area attended.

Monday is the community day of the Comboni Lay Missionaries. Four of us went shopping at the market and supermarket. On the way, we stopped at beautiful waterfalls. We were delighted that the community representatives showed us the vestibule of paradise!

On Tuesday, Linda organized and led French lessons for Neema and Leszek. After the lesson, we went to the health center where the lay missionary Marzena works. There, Malwina was able to share her talents by professionally rehabilitating the girl after a complex orthopedic surgery. The girl’s mother was also able to discuss her health situation and receive practical rehabilitation tips.

On the following days, we visited two schools where classes were led by lay missionaries Linda and Pius. Today, we participated in activities at the preschool and a neighboring school. We learned about community life by preparing and eating meals together.

The evening community prayer, prepared daily by different people, brings us solace and gives us the strength to continue.

We are also particularly pleased with the enthusiasm of the preschoolers, children, and youth, as well as the adults. We wonder how long they can continue to show such immense kindness and enthusiasm over the next few days and weeks. There are surprises as we walk through the village of Kitelakapel, and from behind the fence we hear greetings, and sometimes someone calls our name!

Greetings and we join in prayer

Malwina and Leszek (CLM Poland)