Comboni Assembly of Indigenous Pastoral in Mexico

The Comboni assembly of pastoral work among the indigenous people of the Latin American continent, the first of its kind in the Comboni world, is organized at continental level, according to the indications of the last General Chapter. At the roots of this sector’s assembly, just as of others, is the awareness that mission is a commitment which requires different ways and structures in the process of contextualization of the Gospel message.

Besides the Comboni Missionaries involved in the pastoral among indigenous people, also some Comboni Lay Missionaries and some Sisters who work in the same field are present. The facilitator of this meeting is Fr. Eleazar Lopez Hernández, a diocesan priest and the coordinator of CENAMI (Centro de Ayuda a Misiones Indígenas), an organ of the Mexican Catholic Church founded in 1960. Fr. Eleazar will help the participants to get to know the many faces of indigenous life on the American continent. He will also offer a theological reflection on the pastoral among indigenous people and a synthesis of what Latin American Church documents have understood about this reality, plus highlighting out some common points that have emerged from the reports of the various Comboni circumscriptions.

“In Latin America there are three pastoral priorities: the work among the Afro-descendants, the pastoral work in the outskirts of the large cities and the pastoral work among the indigenous people. Of the three priorities, the work among the Afro-descendants seems to be the most detailed and structured. But the current Assembly could give a new impetus to the pastoral among indigenous people and make it a common and qualified part of the Comboni presence in Latin America; however, this will happen only if this commitment in the provinces will not end up in proclamations that will remain on paper, but will take the form of concrete and realistic decisions,” so said Fr. Mariano Tibaldo, secretary general of evangelization of the Comboni Missionaries, who is attending the meeting.

“The last day of the assembly – said Fr. Mariano – will be dedicated to a visit to the basilica of Guadalupe, where the most important moment will be the celebration of a Mass, and to the temples of Teotihuacan. Both places are very meaningful in the context of pastoral work among indigenous people: Teotihuacan witnesses the rich cultural and historical heritage of the people of Latin America before the Conquest; Guadalupe, the place of the apparition of the Virgin to the indigenous Juan Diego, is the symbol of the inculturation of the Gospel among indigenous people, expressed in the image of Mary imprinted on the tilma of Juan Diego, an image which is rich in symbols taken from their symbolic-religious world.”

Fr. Eleazar Lopez Hernández, a diocesan priest and the coordinator of CENAMI.

Fr. Claudio Bombieri, provincial superior of the Brazilian Nordeste.

Besides the Comboni Missionaries involved in the pastoral among indigenous people,
also some Comboni Lay Missionaries and some Sisters who work in the same field are present.