Portugal

On May 19-21 there took place in Viseu the 9^th Formation unit of the CLM. It was moderated by the psychologist Dr. Miguel Villas Freitas.

The formation started in the late afternoon of Friday 19^th. After a warm welcome we had time to mix exchanging smiles, kisses, hugs and news. Yes, these are hugs in the CLM style, as I call them, for being firm and genuine by people who look forward to meeting in order to share unique and nurturing moments!

We started our Saturday with a brief introduction by the formator, to help us better understand what it means to re-read: to make a detailed reading of what has happened in the past and of my characteristics; to be aware that no one does it for me. It consists in being present to the “Presence” for a meeting with myself! And since ‘we all define ourselves by how we relate to others,” this encounter took place in groups so that together we met the signs of this “Presence” in our lives.

Following that, under the direction of our formator, each member of the group was encouraged to take a journey into the past looking for a period of time when we felt very happy. After a brief analysis of the motives of this happiness, we were asked to move this state of peace, success, wellbeing, joy, fulfillment and happiness into the present. We all had the opportunity to meet this pearl of wisdom that had unleashed the happiness that we were living once again. It is necessary to recover this pearl, bring it to the present, take care of it…

We analyzed biblical experiences of this interior re-reading such as, for example, the meeting of Jesus with the disciples of Emmaus or the meeting of Jesus with Nicodemus. In these experiences there are inevitably the following stages: 1) To Reform; 2) To Conform; 3) To Transform; 4) To Confirm.

Those who go through them analyze the areas of their being that need conversion, seek to be reshaped in Jesus, are transformed and go on to live according to this transformation. This way, they get out of themselves, leaving behind false securities and move towards a logic of commitment and service. They move on to enjoy not only what is wellbeing, what satisfies, but even more what fulfills and leaves deeper marks in one’s character!

In the course of the morning we were given moments of individual reflection, followed by the opportunity of sharing two by two and finally with the entire group.

We ended this morning of reflection looking at the documentary, “Celebrating what is good in the world,” by the National Geographic, very rich in messages pointing at the search for what is good in the world.

In the afternoon we reflected on the 24 strengths of character, each one choosing the one that naturally gives way to activity. We asked ourselves individually which strengths we need to work on and which are the most indispensable in our mission as CLM.

Then we had personal reflection with very precise questions in order to understand and share on two points: 1) My passion; 2) My resolve.

In the afternoon prayers we reached moments of great depth and sharing. He, Jesus, is here with us and the Spirit speaks to each one. How beautiful it is to be so united here in the cenacle!

In the evening, to relax, but without losing our recollection, we watched the movie “The Butler.”

On Sunday there were further times of prayer and of sharing.

Three scenes were presented to us on which to concentrate and reflect:

1) “Jesus shows his wounds to Thomas”

– What are my wounds? How to embrace them rather than hiding them?

2) “Footprints in the sand”

– To re-read moments of my life when Jesus picked me up in his arms. With whom and by whom?

3) “To shrink the size of my cross is not a solution.”

– Am I conscious that every time I try to shrink my cross I miss the opportunity to grow both humanly and spiritually?

We search for a personal resolution to take home as a challenge and personal effort, keeping in mind that we will only be happy inasmuch as we commit to change.

In conclusion: Only by meeting myself, seeing myself as I really am, my wounds, my cross and placing it all in the hands of God, allowing myself to be transformed, I will learn to find the best of myself in the world, I will travel on the path that will lead me to my mission and be happy in the mission where I will be assigned.

Gloria Rocha

On April 29-30, 2017 we were very kindly welcomed in the house of the Secular Comboni Missionaries in Oporto, Portugal, where we held the 8^th formation session of the CLM with the theme, “And you, Mary, what do you tell us about mission?” The CLM Pedro Moreira moderated the session.

The meeting started on Friday evening with the arrival of the participants. For me in a special way it was a time of reconnection that filled my heart with joy, for being once again with people who are a family on a journey. Each one of us is a true gift of God and proof that “there is no distance or separation.”

The theme that was discussed during the entire day on Saturday and on Sunday morning was: “Do you want to offer yourselves to God?” This is the same question that Our Lady asked the three little shepherds of Fatima. It was also our initial question in order to know where we were headed and as a constant point of reference.

With the help of the “Treatise on the True Devotion to the Most Holy Virgin” of St. Luis Maria Grignion de Montfort and the Encyclical “Redemptoris Mater” of St. John Paul II, Pedro Moreira guided us and giving us his witness of simplicity, the beauty of his intimacy, devotion and love in and for Mary, our Mother.

“The more we delve deeply into Mary, the more we are missionaries.” This is one of the statements that resonate with me and that stirred me during the meeting.

Through our group work we meditated on the word of God looking for the missionary virtues of Mary. It was an opportunity to rediscover how missionary Mary was, from the moment of her “Yes up to Jesus Crucified who, from the cross, gave her to us as Our Mother, making her renew her “Yes” win obedience, fidelity and confidence in God’s will. All for the greater glory of God.

We had times of personal reflection that allowed us to deepen our relation with Our Lady and helped us to be missionaries like Mary.

“She was perplexed by these words.” (Lk 1:29)

And I? How do I react to the voice of God resounding in my soul? Especially when I know what the correct path is, but lack the courage to follow it…”

“To be missionaries demands that we be aware of our smallness and frailty, because that is where God manifests himself.”

“It is from the inside that Mary works at our own conversion. The proclamation of Jesus is deeply intimate, because in it the love of God for us and our eternal destiny are revealed.”

“Blessed is she who believed that what was said by the Lord would come to pass.”

I pass on to you these quotes that touched me, stirred me, as I realized how much I need to grow in my relation to Mary. Mary is the path of love towards Jesus. Who knows the son better than his own Mother? And if we follow those we love, and only love those we know, this is the path we are called to walk as missionaries.

As a community we prayed the rosary, offering our intentions and entrusting ourselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Queen of hope and of peace. We remembered the Consecration of Africa made by St. Daniel Comboni to the Virgin of La Salette: “O Mary, show yourself to be the queen also of the poor Africans. At this moment, I, their father and missionary, place them at your feet, that you may place them all in your heart. Show that you are the Mother!” (SC 1639-1644)

On Saturday evening we watched the movie, “Mary, daughter of your Son,” that shows the fundamental role of Mary in the work of her son Jesus, which she accepted without understanding it, trusted and hoped faithfully, uniting her life to the mission and the divine reality of her son.

On Sunday we had further occasions to reflect on the dimension of “Us and (in) Mary,” as children of Mary, through a meditation on the biblical story of Rebecca and Jacob.

We concluded our meeting by attending the Eucharist in the parish of Our Lady of Areosa, where we had the opportunity at communion to put into practice the devotion suggested by St. Luis Maria Montfort, because the more we let Mary act through communion, the more will Jesus be glorified.

I am very grateful for this time and for the participation of all!

“Those who do not have Mary as a Mother, will never have God as a Father,” said St. Luis Maria Montfort.

May the charism and the faith of St. Daniel Comboni continue to be our example in this journey as a Comboni Family, so as to be humble missionaries. I leave you with this quote from Comboni’s act of consecration of Central Africa to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, made on December 8, 1875. Let us pray together:

“And you, O Mary, O Virgin of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, protect us, your poor children, keep us safe as your inheritance and property.

Be our guide as we travel, our teacher in our doubts, our light in darkness. Be our health in sickness, our advocate, our mother near the Heart of your blessed Son Jesus throughout our life.”

By Vanessa Sofia Pedro

CLM Portugal