Poland – Page 11 – Comboni Lay Missionaries

Poland – Hawassa World Youth Day

17 August, 2016 by Alberto de la Portilla

In Krakow, Poland, over a million people celebrated World Youth Day from July 25 to 31. My own little dream had been to attend the event (in Krakow). However, following my greater dream – that of going on mission to Africa, I had to drop it. However, I still wanted to join with Poland and the whole world in celebrating World Youth Day in whatever way I could. Because of that I got the idea of trying to organize a festival for the youth in Awassa, coinciding with the visit of Pope Francis and the program in Poland. As things turned out, it wasn’t easy.

Cooperation was a big challenge: some would come late, others would not keep their promises; things were disorganized and not everybody was very committed. Before the festival, I tried to build a team, but the leaders who were supposed to have helped did not always come to our meetings.

Two people helped with most of the issues: Tesfa, a young man very involved in Church activities and Engida, a parish worker. I was rather disappointed with the first day of the festival. Some people who were supposed to prepare some items were either late or did not turn up at all. Sometimes I had to improvise. Later on, things improved quite a bit.

Despite the difficulties, we managed to keep to our original plan. During the festival, we sang the WYD hymn, said the official WYD prayer, got to know St John Paul II and St Faustina Kowalska and listened to sermons about mercy. We had adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Thursday. On Friday, we prepared the Stations of the Cross and a Reconciliation Service. Each day, we followed what was happening in Poland and we watched the news or even the live transmissions together.

On Saturday we went to Mother Theresa House – a centre for the sick – and we organized a short walk together. In the afternoon we had an artistic program including a theatre play, we had singing with various hymns, choreographies, poetry, a quiz about Poland and a conference. All parts of the celebration were associated with the Divine Mercy. I have to say that Saturday was wonderful.

We had some technical problems on Sunday, but we finally managed to watch part of the live transmission from Poland. We sang some hymns and evaluated the whole program. The participants seemed to be very happy. Even when some things went totally haywire, even with all the defects, the huge delays and different problems, I can say that, with the help of God, things worked out quite well. It was certainly a big lesson in humility. My lack of deep knowledge of the language created some difficulties and the lack of a well-organized team was also a huge drawback. Some people put great effort into the event, especially Tesfa who worked so hard on the program. I also got great help from people who just volunteered. In addition I have to say that local people were, as always, very kind, understanding and supportive when they saw I needed help. It was a great privilege to help organize the festival. It taught me a great deal about the place and the culture. I thank God for this wonderful experience; I thank everyone who helped make it a success. I have no regrets whatever!

Magda Fiec, CLM Ethiopia

2 new members of Polish CLM comunity!

23 June, 2016 by Alberto de la Portilla

On 3 June – in Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ Day, 2 new members officialy joined our polish CLM comunity. During the High Mass, Adela and Tobiasz formally showed their desire to follow their missionary vocation in Saint Daniel Combioni’s Spirit. They read their declarations among Comboni Fathers, friends and invited guests. They were thankful for faith, God’s presence in their life and for their vocation. Together, they underlined that because of their married love, they want to be a sign of God. As a comunity, we would like to thank God for Adela and Tobias and we pray for them so they were able to trust him with courage and let Him lead them. First step on this Comboni’s path is just behind them 🙂

Times of change

1 June, 2016 by Alberto de la Portilla

On the 13^th, day of the Virgin of Fátima, began the changes in the Apostolic Community of Mongoumba, with Fr Maurice leaving to Rome, where he will take part in a training course to become a trainer of young people who want to be Comboni missionaries. Mary intercede for him to adapt well to his new community, where he will spend this period of training, and to give a good witness of faith and love to all who cross his path.

The 23th we had the joy of receiving Ana, young Polish CLM, she came from Kinshasa, where she has been learning French. We ask the Lord of the harvest to help us in this integration time for Anna to be an example of love, joy and compassion and service to the people we were sent.

Yesterday was the turn to arrive from Paris, where Fr. Fernando, from Mexico, was learning French. In these first months of his stay in Central Africa the Mongoumba apostolic community will grow, it will be where Fr Fernando will learn Sango. Where he will go afterwards, we do not know…

July will be again time of changing with the departure of Elia. The mission will run out a very strong plaster stone…! Will she return someday? That only God knows! For now, we can only be grateful from now, all the good she did for this people and this community. May the Lord accompany her, always.

A big hug to all CLM and especially to all those who have celebrated their birthdays.

Maria Augusta and Elia.

CLM CAR

Interview with Ana Obyrtacz in Radio Mary in Congo

18 May, 2016 by Alberto de la Portilla

Hi Anna. Could you introduce yourself to the audience? Tell us about your family.Good morning father. Good morning everyone.My name is Anna Obyrtacz. I am from Krakow in Poland. I am a Christian Catholic, Comboni Lay Missionary. I am 30 years old. I am in Kinshasa since 22 January 2016. I came here to learn French. I am still in Kinshasa for a week and then I will go to the Central African Republic for the mission for two years. I will work with the Pygmies of Mongoumba. The village is located about 200 km south of Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic.
My family lives in Poland and is awaiting my return, 🙂 but I hope they come to see me one day in Africa. I was born in a family of 4 children and I am the penultimate.

My family consists of my father Jean, my mother Joséphine, my brothers and sisters. My older sister is called Kinga after she comes my brother Christoper, then me and finally my little brother Michel. My older brother is married and is a father of two children, a boy and a girl.
1. Is Poland a more Catholic country than Congo?
After the time I have spent here in Kinshasa, when I look at the numbers, I can say that in Congo as in Poland there are many Christians Catholic. However, we can also say that the numbers does not reflect the truth.

For me the comparison is difficult because we have not the same realities and I do not like to compare faith. Besides, I think it is not about numbers but the “quality” of our faith.
1. How is your lay Comboni vocation?
People say that vocation is a mystery 🙂

I think my vocation began long before I think.

When I was young, I never thought about the missions. I always wanted to live and work in Poland, my country. But today I think the work is the same everywhere in the world, also people are the same everywhere in the world.

I met the Comboni Missionaries (MCCJ) in March 2012 in Krakow in a worship that they organized for missionary martyrs. In Poland, there are two Comboni communities, one in Cracow and one in Warsaw.

I was involved in missionary pastoral meetings with students.

I am also part of the missionary movement TUCUM associated with the Comboni Missionaries in Poland who exercise their missionary activity in parishes. They are people who want to live consciously and work together. Our activities: prayer, acts of charity, promoting the mission. We have a sign of belonging to the movement that is the black ring.

I also worked with children. It was a group of children in my parish. Then I also took a group of Missionary Childhood for children of my parish in Krakow. We had meetings once a week, study the Word of God and talk about missionaries issues. We invite missionaries to our group and we also watch missionary movies. We always pray for missions.

Also did volunteer work with a Polish foundation that helps patients of hematology and oncology.

Before coming here, I was working as a specialist in the department of investments – in a public institution for the construction and maintenance of public roads.

My whole life is a time of discernment of my vocation. Fully and truly, I want to live for God, yet humanly can often waver, I know there is Someone you can always trust.

God is with me every day, in every step of my life. He has prepared for me a path, and has shown me signs. It allowed me to discover my lay identity, my missionary identity and my Comboni identity. Then He helped me make the decision for a mission. God has taken away the fear and gave me strength and confidence.

The most important moment of my vocation has been the formation in the CLM community:
- Each month we had a training session to explore and discover the charism and spirituality of St. Daniel Comboni
- The individual prayer (meditation)
- Community prayer
- Discernment with others
- Spiritual direction
Every day I discover my vocation, for me it is a continuous process.
1. Why did you choose Africa, Central Africa precisely to go to mission and not elsewhere?
After discovering my CLM vocation, I have not thought any mission-place in particular. I just knew I would have to go where I may be necessary or where I can be useful, as the words of our founder, St. Daniel Comboni says “for the poorest and most abandoned”. For me the place does not matter. As for the location, it was open to what God prepared for me, because I have confidence that He will choose better than I do, God knows better than me.

As International Comboni Lay Missionaries Movement, we have several international communities in Africa: Ethiopia, Uganda, Mozambique, Central African Republic, Malawi and South America. We try to give continuity to those places where we are already serving, but we can also go elsewhere if necessary.

Choosing a place not only in terms of the profession, the preference of the person that part, but also, of course, of the need for the local church, our priority is the first evangelization and be near the poor, ensuring continuity of communities.

It is also important that the individual and coordination team in the country share the decision.

However, it had to be Africa or South America. During my training I was in Uganda for a month, this was my first experience in Africa. I think Africa has gotten my heart.

I have known the realities of our communities, and I knew that there was a need of staff in the CAR. We also talked about the difficult political situation, unstable and dangerous. In addition, I knew I had to learn French.

It was not an easy decision, I would say even difficult. I could have chosen something safer and easier. But, is it that my choice should be an easy one? Or should I go where God is calling me? We know that to do the will of God sometimes is not humanly easy. But I’m sure I have chosen the best. Therefore, as mission country, I decided to go to the Central African Republic.
1. What have you learned during your stay these 3 months of Congo and the Kinshasa´s church in particular?
If I came to Congo, it was to learn the language, which cost me a lot. In addition, every day I had to learn to live in another reality that I left in Poland and has sometimes it has been difficult. Why? Because now, with the Internet, we have the facility to have constant communication with my family, with my friends in Poland, so we can be close.

For me, the mission is primarily to live with people. Through the various conversations, I came to know the reality that I was sent on the mission, a reality is left to live another.

I think the future will show what I have learned in Congo and if I was a good student.

Another very important thing during my stay in Kinshasa has been learning openness to the new. Despite being very different from Poland.
1. What message would let to the youth and especially the African laity?
Seek the Lord in your life every day, in everything you do find out what He has prepared for you.

Young, live only God’s plan in your life because it is the best.

We know that life does not end on this earth, this is just a stage.

Be assured you are not alone. Despite suffering when you feel alone, God is always present.

Do not be afraid to live with passion and do what you love.

Another thing that my bishop told me before going to mission: “neither faith nor science, only love will help us to know and experience God”, and we have to tell the others that this is the greatest and first commandment of God. I tell everyone.
1. What Congolese dish do you prefer?
I love fish, especially salted fish and the pondu, especially prepared by Irene. Irene is a Comboni Laity of Kinshasa with whom I lived during my stay here.

Thank you very much

Anna Obyrtacz CLM

My beginning in Ethiopia

8 May, 2016 by Alberto de la Portilla

After long preparations at last I arrived in Ethiopia. Everybody welcomed me very cordially. Our Comboni Lay Missionary Madzia came from Awassa to pick me up at the airport, help me and explain everything at the beginning of my stay. Together with Father Sixtus and Father Julio (the Ethiopian Provincial) we made the decision that I would go to Awassa the next day. The first plan established was that I would learn Amharic in the capitol for at least 3 months. It turned out a new Amharic course is starting in June, so I could spend the time first getting to know my destination Awassa, the community and language’s basics. This information was a very nice surprise for me. My new community received me very kindly. Madzia, Maggie and Mark help me as much as they can. The three children of Maggie and Mark cause much joy and life. The kids also accepted me as a new member of their community. Awassa is a big city, however it’s peaceful and picturesque. Now I’m getting to know the place, the local people and missionaries’ jobs.

Last week we celebrated Easter. It wasn’t only a time to meet with the Risen Lord, but also an interesting experience of my new cultures celebration’s which is fulfilled by different surprising elements. The Catholic Church in Ethiopia has a lot in common with the Orthodox Church. We obviously spent Easter in our community. We cultivated two Polish traditions: egg painting and Easter Breakfast on Easter Sunday.

I’m starting learning Amharic this week. I’m going to have three classes per week with a professional teacher and five classes with a tutor- a local boy who speaks English. If I’m satisfied with the schooling system, maybe I will continue my studies here, in Awassa. In that case I could stay at home. A big challenge is waiting for me now – learning Amharic language!

Magda Fiec, CLM in Ethiopia