Familia Comboniana 716 - February 2014

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

Meeting with the Circumscription Superiors

The meeting between the General Administration and the circumscription Superiors at the beginning of their mandate is taking place in Rome (8 – 23 February) at the Generalate.

This meeting is dealing not only with formation or, rather, how to carry out this task, but also with planning for the circumscriptions and the Institute. Let us pray for this important meeting.

Bible Course at Bethany House

We again wish to remind those interested that the Comboni Missionary Sisters are holding a Bible Course at their house in Bethany, in Jerusalem, running from Holy Week to Pentecost 2014. It is also open to all Comboni Missionaries, including the Seculars and the LCM. Those who wish to participate may contact the person responsible for the course Sr. Fulgida Gasparini by email: fulgidacms@gmail.com

Limone: Spiritual Exercises 2014 (second reminder)

On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the draft of the “Plan”, two courses of spiritual exercises, open only to Comboni confreres and Comboni Sisters, will be held in Limone in 2014.

13-19 July: Fr. Joaquim Valente – Theme: from the “Plan” of Comboni to the Plan of the regeneration of one’s own mission.

14-20 September: Fr. Carmelo Casile – Theme: The spirituality of the Heart of Jesus in the life experience of St. Daniel Comboni: a spirituality for us Comboni Missionaries of today.

To make a booking, contact Fr. Danilo Castello, e-mail: danycastello@hotmail.com

The situation on Central Africa

In recent hours, the attention of the international observers of the crisis in the Central African Republic has been drawn to political developments after the election of the interim president but the situation remains such that the UNO fears possible genocide. This was stated by Mr John Ging, head of OCHA operations, the UN office which coordinates humanitarian relief, and recently returned from a mission to that country. According to Mr Ging, “we have all the ingredients of genocide” which could repeat the horrors of the early nineties in Rwanda or the countries of former Yugoslavia.

The situation in South Sudan

In the view of Fr. Sebhatleab Ayele Tesemma, despite it being unilateral, the Kampala initiative gave voice to demands shared by other capitals in the region. Support for Kiir is seen in the light of the fact that South Sudan has too much oil “to be abandoned to chaos”. This gave rise to the negotiations sponsored by the Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD), an organisation that represents seven countries in eastern Africa. It was these negotiations that brought about a cease-fire, after the Ugandan artillery was used. (MISNA – 24/01/2014)

Holy redeemer Guild

February         01 – 15 C             16 – 28 EGSD

March              01 – 07 CO          08 – 15 E                  16 – 31 DSP

Prayer Intentions

February – That all consecrated persons may succeed in arousing in the hearts of the men and women of today a longing for God and the desire to communicate his love to all. Lord hear us

March – That the intercession of St Joseph and St Daniel Comboni may obtain for us to grow strong in faith, hope and total self-giving to others to build up a more just and caring world. Let us pray.

Publications

Fr. Gabriel Estrada Santoyo, “Francisco: Buenos Aires per la Chiesa”, written in the first month of the pontificate of Pope Francis, is a personal account of what this event meant for the world. The preface is by Fr. Jorge García Castillo, Secretary General of AM. “La Missione”, editions. Guatemala 2013, 170p (published simultaneously in Costa Rica and Peru).

BRASIL

Press statement on violence in prison

On 10 January 2014, the Comboni Missionaries working in Brazil published a statement in which they express their concern at the recent barbaric acts that took place in Pedrinhas prison, São Luís, in Maranhão. The Comboni Missionaries who carry out their pastoral service in various prisons in the country, aware of the complexity and gravity of the situation of the prison system, reaffirm their willingness to: 1) accompany, welcome and support the detainees, both humanly and spiritually, regardless of what crimes they have been found guilty or condemned, convinced that human beings may always redeem themselves and become ‘new people’. 2) Vigorously defend, together with all the active forces of society, the life and rights of the prisoners and their families. 3) Invest in the pedagogy adopted by the ‘Circles of Restorative Justice’ as the best means for the peaceful resolution of conflicts and the building of a culture of peace. 4) To diffuse and reinforce initiatives that demonstrate the possibility reviewing punishment according to new paradigms, aiming at the reform of the detainee and his positive return to social life through the participation of the community.

CENTRO AMERICA (PCA)

Inauguration of the new Province

Since we had become a new Province in the Institute, we began the year with the Spiritual Exercises preached by Fr. Antonio Villarino, Assistant General, from 6 to 11 January at the Pastoral Centre of the diocese of Alajuela in Costa Rica. The theme for reflection was “Renew my faith, order my life”.

Sunday, 12 January, the feast of the baptism of Our Lord, was the day chosen to officially inaugurate the new “Province”, with a Mass celebrated by Mgr. José Rafael Quiroz, Archbishop of San José, and concelebrated by Mgr. Vittorino Girardi, the Comboni Bishop of Tilarán, accompanied by about thirty members of the circumscription and a good number of friends and benefactors who have been at our side during the past 35 years of Comboni presence in Costa Rica. The concluding message of the Provincial Superior Fr. Victor Hugo Castillo, was a very moving invitation to carry on with renewed vigour in our work of evangelisation, mission and vocations promotion in these lands of Central America.

During the next three days, the Provincial Assembly was held. It began with reports from the sectors and commissions followed by the preparation of the plan of the respective activities for the year 2014, as well as the Six-year Plan (2011-2016), planned goals and evaluations. Overall, the entire meeting was considered positive and a unique occasion for the coming together of the four countries in which we are present (Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica).

ITALIA

Events

* The Display of African Cribs was held at our African Museum in Verona, closing on Sunday, 26 January. Attendance was very high - more than 2,000 visitors – and it was well advertised by the media. Next year it will display Cribs from Latin America and Asia, trusting that the confreres will send us cribs from their own countries.

* Bearing in mind the demonstration “Arena of peace and disarmament” to be held on 25 April next, we intend to set up in the Museum a display on the same themes. It will be possible to hire this display and set it up elsewhere.

* Towards the end of March, Nigrizia Onlus Foundation will take part in the Fieramilanocity, Milan, in the initiative “Fa’ la cosa giusta” (Do the right thing). Comboni activities will be represented, especially the GIM and the CLM. The CLM of Milan will collaborate. Last year, this “national fair of critical consumption and sustainable lifestyles” was attended by a remarkable 73,000 people.

* The “Mondiario” 2014-2015 is now being printed. Its theme is “Anti-Spreco – per un nuovo stile di vita” (Against waste – for a new lifestyle). There is no change either to the format of Mondiario or its cost and the terms for our communities will be the same as last year. It is available from Fondazione Nigrizia Onlus, Amministrazione – Verona. Last year we sent out 25,000 copies.

* The PM initiative recupero abbonamenti (recover subscriptions) is going well: more than 300 have been recovered to date. The initiative, which values old subscription addresses, will continue until the end of February.

KENYA

Meeting of the Founders of the “Philosophy Centre - Jinja”

From 27 to 28 December, 2013, the first PCJ Summit was held in Nairobi (Kenya), a high-level meeting attended by the representatives of the General Councils of the Founding Institutes of the “Philosophy Centre - Jinja” (PCJ), Uganda, started in 1989.

The three objectives of the summit were: To reflect on the loss of control of the PCJ by the Founding Institutes; the commitment of the superiors of these Institutes as regards the assignment of qualified personnel to the PCJ; the need to clarify the role of the PCJ in relation to the Uganda Episcopal Conference.

In the list of the participants there were three categories: the representatives of the General Councils of the Founding Institutes (MCCJ, M.Afr, MHM, CSC and CMF); members of the Board of Governors (Major Local Superiors); members of the Administration of the PCJ (Rector, Dean, Secretary, etc.). It was to define at the highest level the policy of the Philosophy Centre - Jinja.

In the final statement some points were clarified, among which the acceptance of “more members to the Leadership of the Founding Institutes, under certain conditions, and the acceptance of a gradual enrolment of students from Ugandan dioceses”.

Fr. John Baptist Opargiw was the representative of the General Council in the meeting.

TOGO-GHANA-BENIN

Golden Jubilee of the Comboni Missionaries in Togo

On Sunday, 19 January, 2014, at the Cathedral of Lomé, dedicated to the Sacred Heart, there was a great feast to celebrate the arrival of the first eight Comboni Missionaries on these shores, fifty years ago, on 19 January, 1964. The Superior General, Fr. Enrique Sánchez G., was present as he was visiting the Province for the occasion of its Golden Jubilee.

The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Mgr. Benoît Alowonou, Bishop of Kpalime and President of the Episcopal Conference of Togo: fifty years ago, it was he who, as an altar server, led the procession from Lomé pier to the cathedral with the eight Comboni pioneers. Among the many concelebrants were: Mgr. Denis Amuzu Dzakpah, Archbishop of Lomé, Mgr. Ambroise Djoliba, Bishop of Sokodé, Mgr. Isaac Jogues Gaglo, Bishop of Aneho, Mgr. Philippe Fanoko Kpodzro, Archbishop Emeritus of Lomé, as well as numerous priests from our local Churches, Comboni confreres and other religious. All gathered together to thank the Lord for his marvels during all these long years of Comboni presence in the land of Togo.

In his homily, Mgr. Alowonou shared his memories of that important day, underlining the deeply-held values that moved those courageous missionaries to leave their native lands and come to Lomé desirous of witnessing to their faith and to point out the way to Christ like John the Baptist, the precursor, to all who came to them. One of those pioneers, Fr. Alfonso Zulianello, was among them and he is now carrying on his missionary work at Tabligbo. There was prolonged applause for Fr. Alfonso.

The Superior General, Fr. Enrique Sánchez G., thanked the Lord for the work of the 135 missionaries who worked in Togo, Ghana and Benin during the past fifty years to proclaim the Gospel, to be brothers to the poorest and most abandoned and to journey together with the local Churches of which we are part. The ripe fruit of these years is the eighty Comboni Missionaries from Togo, Ghana and Benin who today continue their witness to Christ throughout the world. Fr. Enrique mentioned especially the first of these missionaries, Fr. Jean Pierre Legonou, whose tomb is in the land of Mexico: the first seed to fall to the ground and help create Comboni vitality and hope for the future. In conclusion, Fr. Enrique thanked everyone for the joy of a shared faith that obliges every Christian to be, as Pope Francis said, missionary disciples of the risen Christ.

During the Mass, mention was made of Mgr. Robert Casimir Dosseh, Archbishop of Lomé, who fifty years ago invited the Comboni Missionaries to work in his diocese. He would have very much liked to have been present but was prevented from doing so for reasons of health. The celebration proceeded in the brotherhood and friendship of the many people from our parishes who had come to be close to and in communion with the Comboni Missionaries of the Province.

During the following days, the Provincial Assembly was held on the theme of “Golden Jubilee, giving thanks and a vision for the future”. The presence of Fr. Enrique was stimulating and thought-provoking in view of a more sound and convinced Comboni life.

On Sunday, 26 January, Fr. Enrique led a great Eucharistic celebration at the Comboni parish of Adidogome, at which the people participated with great enthusiasm, wearing the pagne (garment) of the Jubilee. The Superior General afterwards visited the communities of Ghana before returning to Rome.

Let us pray for our beloved dead

THE FATHER: Giulio, of Mgr. Giuseppe Filippi (U).

THE BROTHER: Rev. Gianrico, of Fr. Archimede Fornasari (I).

THE SISTERS: Carmela, of Fr. Pietro Coronella (I); Rita, of Bro. Antonio Marchi (I); Lídia, of Bro. António Almeida Borges (P).

THE COMBONI MISSIONARY SISTERS: Sr. Mariarosaria Gallo; Sr. Anna Maria Gugole; Sr. M. Francesca La Marra; Sr. M. Egidia Novello.