Vocation Promoters of the American Continent gather in Guatemala

The missionaries involved in vocation promotion in the ten countries of the American continent – and a representative from Asia – where the Comboni Missionaries are present gathered from January 28 to February 10 at the Center of Mission Promotion (CAM) of Guatemala City. The superior of the Comboni Delegation of Central America (DCA), Fr. Leonardo Leandro Araya, welcomed the 12 missionary promoters, gathered at Casa Comboni of the CAM.

The first topic of the course was a reflection on “the concrete situation of the youth in America,” a key topic both for the promoters and for the educators of young candidates to the Comboni missionary life. The second part of the course was led by Fr. José Villaseñor, a Mexican, educator of the international scholasticate in Naples. He presented the formation model of integration as applied to vocation promotion. “We are very grateful for the wisdom the pedagogy and the pragmatic approach of Fr. José de Jesús, and also for the life witness which he was able to pass on to those present,” said Fr. José Rafael Pérez Moreno, who is in charge of promotion and missionary formation in the DCA.

In the third part, the promoters tackled the topic of the “Ratio Fundamentalis” presented and explained in detail by Fr. Gaetano Beltrami. By means of reflections, comments and practical examples, Fr. Gaetano helped the missionaries to recognize and to treasure the importance and the richness of the document. The course ended with a time given to vocation promotion on the Continent, during which the participants had the opportunity to share their experiences in the various Comboni circumscriptions.

“All of us who participated recognized that we are living through a moment which is very important and precious because it is helping us to recognize and to carefully carry out the service which the Institute has entrusted to us as vocation promoters,” concluded Fr. José Rafael.

Painting of Rosamaria de Gómez. Title: Mystic and work of Daniel Comboni.
Year: 1996. Location: Casa Comboni, in Guatemala.

Fr. José de Jesús Villaseñor Gálvez, a Mexican,
educator at the international scholasticate of Casavatore (Naples, Italy).