Daniel Comboni
Comboni Missionaries
Institutional area
Other links
Newsletter
Time for discernment in the XVIII General Chapter in Rome
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
After the first phase dedicated to listening to what is happening on the ground in our institute, the Chapter begins the time of discernment in order to identify the priorities of our mission as combonis. Yesterday the “phase of seeing” has come to an end after listening to the reports which started on Thursday 10 September. The first report was that of the General council read by our superior general Father Enrique Sanchez, followed by the reports of the general secretariats and the Comboni Curia offices, and by those coming from the continents: Francophone Africa, America and Asia, Anglophone Africa and lastly Europe. In the picture: Fr. Jeremias dos Santos Martins, provincial superior in South Africa.
Fr. Giovanni Munari,
provincial superior
in Italy.
This initial phase offered an opportunity to us delegates at the Chapter to have an overview of the complex reality in our Institute. We have heard the concerns, problems and dreams of our confreres involved in various fields of our mission in diverse parts of the world. In a special way we keep in mind the grave situation of war in South Sudan, Central African Republic and the north east area of the Democratic Republic of Congo where our confreres give witness to their faith by sharing in the life and suffering of the people, that is a fundamental value of our comboni charism. From the reports emerged also signs of vitality, such as the growth of Christian communities committed in announcing the Gospel and human promotion.
From the left:
Isabella d’Alessandro,
head of the Secolari comboniane;
e Sister Luzia Premoli,
superior general of the Comboni sisters.
It was interesting too to listen to the reports presented to us by the superior general of the Comboni sisters, sister Luzia Premoli; of the head of the Secolari comboniane, Isabella Dalessandro and of the international coordinator of the Comboni lay missionaries, Alberto de la Portilla. Through their sharing we have understood better the need of the richness and complementarity of each embodiment of the Comboni’s charism in order to answer more aptly to the challenges of the new evangelization.
During the phase of seeing it has surfaced quite clearly the need of a prophetic and concrete commitment in the field of reconciliation, justice, peace and care of creation. We believe that this is an essential aspect of our activity and missionary witness. The poor and marginalized call us to walk and struggle with them for social transformation and for a more just and fraternal world.
The end of this phase ushers in a second one devoted to “judging” (discernment) starting from the 16th of September. During this time the delegates will try to identify what are the priorities and the major challenges for our mission.
Alberto de la Portilla, international coordinator of the Comboni lay missionaries (CLM).
