Meeting of the General Councils of the Comboni Family

We spent the morning reflecting on the challenges presented by the missionary life in the context of the places where we work. Each of the branches shared on the challenges we are facing in the mission.

It was a reflection that touched on points such as the need to live and to do mission starting with being close to the people: being close to their needs, walking according to the rhythm of the communities and accompanying everyone according to their stride. Keeping the necessary balance between human development and help to meet the most immediate needs. Ensuring that projects do not come before the people and that we, as missionaries, are not only seen as development agents but above all as bearers of joy, the joy of the gospel and the desire for a better life for all, which flows from the Father's love. Save Africa with Africa, as Comboni said, always seeking the leadership of the people and not of the missionaries. Relying on the skills of the others, enhancing their strengths and discovering new ways of doing things, open to the new ways proposed by the people.

We also reflected on our decreasing numbers, of being fewer missionaries than we were years ago; at the same time we reflected on the greatest diversity of our members, fewer Europeans and more Americans and Africans, prompting us to treasure our greater diversity and the resulting new style of mission. This reduction in numbers requires us to ask the people around us and working with us for more involvement.

It is a challenge to deepen our spirituality, which allows us to have a solid foundation for our doing. A challenge to make of us agents of reconciliation, especially in war and post-war situations, by our continuous presence, by speaking of peace, love and forgiveness as the basis for a better future.

Along with this, the need to rethink the ministries that we carry out, and receive the necessary training to better adapt ourselves to the needs of men and women of today in the different continents. Being missionaries in the context where each one of us is located. Updating our charism, which after all is the only way to remain faithful to our vocation. Talking the new language that reaches people today. Remaining open to young people and offering them a life worth living, embodied, with its struggle and sacrifice, but also with its happiness and joy. Providing our members a formation that will help them grow from the heart, which does not remain superficial or self-interested but which also helps us grow as people, individually as well as a Christian community.

Finally, we are invited to reflect on our own reality as charismatic Family. Our style of presence and especially our commitment as a family has to be the seed of a community church where priests, religious, secular and lay people can share responsibilities and, according to our abilities and specificities, serve the people by being seeds of new relationships as brothers and sisters in our Christian communities.

We ended the morning with the Eucharist, placing on the altar all these reflections and the life of all the missionaries scattered around the world and of the people they serve.

In the afternoon we took time to share the most important events of this past year 2014 for each of the branches. The committee in charge of preparing the celebrative event, informed us of the 150th anniversary of the Plan of Comboni to be held from 13 to 15 March in Rome.

We hope that these meetings and every little encounter we have in our communities will keep us walking and serving the mission as the Comboni Family.
Alberto de la Portilla
Comboni Lay Missionary