Togo-Ghana-Benin – Comboni Lay Missionaries

This meeting had been successful

18 September, 2024 by Alberto de la Portilla

It was a great day when the Comboni Lay Missionaries of Togo Ghana Benin had been invited by Rev. Fr. Bonaventure (MCCJ). This was to attend a meeting with the Friends of Comboni association of Ghana. This gathering took place in Accra at the OLA Parish on September 8th 2024.

Being excited of the attendance, the priest in charged of the group had decided to lead the Rosary Prayer for the opening of this important meeting. The joint meeting with the Comboni Family that day was an interesting one. Two branches of the Comboni Family with the Friends of Comboni group were represented.

Welcoming the members for the day’s business, Rev. Fr. Bonaventure MCCJ, had stressed on the importance of prayer as the sole of a religious life. This was followed by self introduction which was another joyous moment because most of the friends of Comboni have met a Comboni Lay Missionary (CLM) for the first time.

As if the time we were all waiting for had come, when the CLM was invited for his presentation. His talk was captured in three sub topics such as: the Comboni Lay Missionaries as one of the branches of Comboni Family, another was on the criteria to become a member, in addition to the formation processes and stages.

The Comboni Missionary (MCCJ), Rev. Fr. Bonaventure could not hide his words of happiness and said emphatically that “this meeting had been successful.’ The meeting came to an end with exchange of contacts, closing prayer and benediction and finally rounded with a group photographs. Long live Comboni Family, long live the CLM.

Christian Wotormenyo, CLM.

Elan Missionary in Benin

31 July, 2024 by Alberto de la Portilla

Elan Missionary in Benin After participating in the diaconal ordination of certain MCCJs in Aného in the diocese of Aného this Saturday, July 27, the chaplain Fr. Ephrem, MCCJ and Justin, LMC took the road to Cotonou, the capital of the Republic of Benin. The fundamental goal is to visit our candidates and also do vocational promotion. We were welcomed to the MCCJ Novitiate in Cotonou where we stayed together with certain novices and scholastics, the father master and his assistant being in Rome for training. On Sunday morning, we were at the parish of St. Joan of Arc of Sedegbe (Parish where we celebrated the international day of CLM on December 15, 2022 at the end of the African Assembly in Cotonou). The mass was in honour of Grandparents, fourth Edition of the Archdiocese of Cotonou to have a special look for the elderly. This is in line with Pope Francis’ message titled ‘In my old age, forget me not’. A collection was made in this line. Towards the end of the celebration, the chaplain was able to briefly speak about the CLM and introduced the provincial coordinator. At the end, some people expressed their desire to know more about CLM. The coordinator told them a little about CLM and took their contacts to maintain communication with them.

In the evening, we met our candidates Lucien, his wife and Ulrich thanks to the effort of Brother Pascal, MCCJ who accompanies the group in Benin. We had to share about the history, mission, training and challenges of CLM in the world and in the province and reflect on the best strategy to adopt for the consolidation of the CLM Association in the province.

We were also able to meet certain members of the ’Friends of Comboni’ Association to inspire in them the desire to journey like CLM.

Monday July 29, around 2 o’clock in the afternoon, we headed back to Ghana.

Justin Nougnui, CLM Coordinator.

Golden jubilee celebration of the MCCJ in Ghana

8 May, 2024 by Alberto de la Portilla

The first group of MCCJ arrived in Ghana in 1974. Among this group was Rev. Fr. Joseph Rabbiosi who is still serving in Ghana and father Cuniberto of blessed memory.

To mark this fiftieth anniversary, the MCCJ in Togo-Ghana-Benin planned a conference on the 26th April at Good Shepherd Catholic Church of Mafi-Kumase and climaxed it with a thanksgiving mass on 27th at Our Lady of Assumption (OLA), Accra.

An exciting mark of the anniversary was the presence of the Father General of the MCCJ, Father Gabriel Tesfaye and one of his assistants Fr. Elias Sindjalim. The conference was facilitated by the Superior General and his Assistant together with the Superior Provincial, Fr. Timothy Hounake. The bishop of the diocese, his Lordship Gabriel Kumordji was also present for the conference. The theme of the conference was “Save Africa through Africa.” In his presentation, the Superior General laid emphasis on the Plan for the Regeneration of Africa of our Founder St. Daniel Comboni. The Father General insisted on the dream of Comboni, which he said, was a dream of faith. To show the realization of that dream in the MCCJ family, a statistic was presented by Fr. Elias on the presence of MCCJ in the world, in Africa and in Ghana. It was clear, the dream of Comboni is coming true. Another truth of the realization of the dream is the presence of the CLM who also said few words during the Superior General presentation.

On Saturday, the climax was the thanksgiving mass at Accra presided over by the Archbishop of Accra, Bishop Bonaventure Kwofie around which MCCJ priests and other priests and a chapel full of faithful among which the CLM. An award was presented to Fr. Joseph Rabbiosi a living testimony of the fifty years of presence. A cake was cut at the end of the celebration after which a meal sharing took place.

Justin Nougnui, CLM.

Preventive conflict management in a Christian family or community.

27 March, 2024 by Alberto de la Portilla

This theme was expounded to us by the Scholastic Constantine.

In his presentation, Sc. Constantine enumerated some of the causes of our conflicts in community before explaining the biblical basis of conflict management. It is Jesus himself who invites us to a loving resolution of our disagreements (Mt 18:15-17; Mt 6:12; Mt 5:23-24).

Open, sincere and honest communication; the mutual practice of forgiveness among members of the same Christian family; Prayer and Bible study in the family, the spirit of humility and compassion are some preventive strategies for managing conflicts in Christian communities. Conflict management is a pervasive challenge in all spheres of life. As followers of Jesus Christ, Christians are called to live in peace and harmony with one another.

At the end of his presentation, Sc Constantine concluded by saying that the preventive management of conflicts in Christian families and communities is a vital aspect of the Christian life. By following biblical principles, understanding the causes of conflict, and implementing effective prevention strategies, Christians can work together to prevent conflict, promote peace and unity, and witness to the love and grace of Jesus Christ in the world.

Aboe Lucien, CLM candidate.

Recollection in Ghana

20 March, 2024 by Alberto de la Portilla

From March 15 to 17, we had a meeting in Ghana at the Dadome Station for recollection, monthly meeting and pastoral activity.

On Friday March 15, we met in Dadome to do our recollection for this Lenten season. That evening, we meditated on the Stations of the Cross with the faithful of the station. On Saturday morning, after morning prayer, we had the first theme that our brother Christian shared. It was on Dying to oneself to Live with Christ. He invited us to renounce ourselves through certain practices: going against certain practices of our cultures and traditions, loving God more than our parents, being humble are ways of dying to ourselves.

The second theme was Lent: journey for a spiritual combat which was presented by Justin, the coordinator. He insisted on the three priorities of Lent which are prayer, asceticism and fraternity. He invited us to strive to please the Lord by practicing virtue, renouncing carnal pleasures and extending our arms to our brothers and sisters.

Saturday evening was dedicated to the Sacrament of Reconciliation with the presence of Father Chaplain Father Ephrem. Afterwards, we prayed the rosary to end the recollection.

After dinner, we reflected on the economic situation of the group.

On Sunday morning, we followed Father Ephrem for the outdooring ceremony of a newborn baby. Afterwards, we headed to Husikorpe for the Eucharistic celebration. From Husikorpe, we returned to Dadome for a second mass. It was after mass and the family meal that everyone took their way home.

Justin Nougnui, coordinator.