Familia Comboniana 746 - November 2016

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

GENERAL NOTES

October Consulta of October 2016

1. New Comboni Bishop in Peru

On Wednesday, 26 October, 2016, the Holy Father nominated Fr. Luis Alberto Barrera Pacheco as bishop of the diocese of Tarma (Peru). Fr. Luis Alberto, 50, was born in Gorgor, Cajatambo, in the diocese of Huacho (PE). During his missionary life, he occupied the following posts: from 1996 to 2000, he was parish priest of Santa Ana a Dékoa, in the Central African Republic; from 2001 to 2007, he was formator of Comboni postulants at Bangui; from 2008 to 2010, he was formator in the Comboni scholasticate of Lima; from 2011 to 2016, he was provincial superior of Peru-Chile. The GC members assure the newly-elected bishop of their closeness in prayer and wish him a fruitful apostolate.

2. Nomination of Circumscription Superiors

The GC has nominated the following confreres as Circumscription Superiors for the period beginning on 1 January, 2017 and ending on 31 December, 2019:

Provinces:

BR              Bossi Dario

CN              Mumbere Musanga Joseph

DSP            Peinhopf Karl

E                 Andrés Miguel Pedro

EC              González Ponce Rafael

EGSD         Kyankaaga S. John Richard

ET               Agostini Sisto

I                  Munari Giovanni

KE              Radol Austine Odhiambo

LP               Devenish Martin James

M                Sánchez González Enrique

MO             António Manuel Bogaio Constantino

MZ              Kanyike Mayanja Edward

NAP            Converset John Michael

P                 José da Silva Vieira

PCA            Castillo Matarrita Víctor-Hugo

PE               Martín Vargas Francisco José

RSA            Burgers Jude Eugene

SS               Okot Ochermoi Louis Tony

T                 Kouande Adekoun Victor

U                 Kiwanuka Achilles Kasozi

Delegations:

A                 David da Costa Domingues

CO              Villarino Rodríguez Antonio

ER              Habtu Teklay Tiluq

RCA            Longba Guéndé Godefroy-Médard

TCH            Katsan Fodagni Kokouvi (Fidèle)

Poland:

PO         Marek Tomasz – Nominated ad nutum Representative in Poland of the Vicar General as from 1 January 2017.

The GC thanks the confreres who are about to end their period of service as Circumscription Superiors for their dedication, their service and their witness.

The GC thanks both those continuing in office as well as those just elected for having accepted to dedicate themselves to the ministry of authority on behalf of their confreres and the Institute.

3. Nomination of Formators

The GC has nominated:

- Fr. Sylvester Hategek’Imana, Father Master at Namugongo Novitiate (U) for the period from 1 January, 2017, to 1 July, 2018

- Fr. Ramón Eguíluz Eguíluz, Father Master of Sarh Novitiate (TCH) for the period from 1 January, 2017, to 1 July, 2018

- Fr. Amaxsandro Feitosa da Silva, Second Formator at Sao Paulo Scholasticate (BR).

4. New General Council of the Comboni Sisters

We have been informed of the composition of the new direction of the Comboni Sisters who were chosen during their recent General Chapter: Mother Luigia Coccia, Superior General; Sr. Rosa Matilde Tellez Soto, Vicar General; and the Councillors Sr. Kudusan Debesai Tesfamicael, Sr. Eulalia Capdevila Enriquez and Sr. Ida Colombo. To them we send the fraternal best wishes of all the Comboni confreres that their service of authority may be rich in blessings.

5. Assemblies of out-going and newly-elected circumscription Superiors

The various continental and sub-continental groups will organise their meetings as follows: APDESAM 07-12 November, in Nairobi; Asia-America 21-26 November, in Sao Paulo; Francophone Africa 19-21 December at Lomé; Europe 18-21 December in Madrid.

6. Assembly of Circumscription Superiors (4-25 February, 2017)

The GC invites all the newly-elected and re-elected Circumscription Superiors to the meeting to be held in Rome from 4 to 25 February, 2017. The purpose of this traditional encounter of Superiors is for them to prepare themselves for the service of authority and to strengthen the bonds of communion between the various Circumscriptions and the General Council.

7. Meeting of the GC with the Secretaries General and those heading General Offices

The General Council recently met with all the confreres in charge of the various secretariats and offices of the Curia to review their commitments and to plan together the work of the coming year according to what was established in the Guide to the Implementation of the XVIII General Chapter.

8. Course for the Elderly 2016

Apart from Fr. Fernando Colombo being taken to hospital, the second Course for the Elderly Confreres was carried out without incident from 4 September to 30 October. Twenty one confreres, all with many years of experience and abundant wisdom to share with one another, took part. Many of them had never met before but, as the days went by, the ideals and motivation of their vocation prevailed and our elderly missionaries ended the course content with the opportunity provided by the Institute to help them live out their old age serenely and fruitfully. This experience of ongoing formation ended with a week of spiritual exercises at Limone sul Garda.

9. Renewal Course, 4 January to 31 May, 2017

The General Administration again invites the confreres to take part in the next edition of the Renewal Course. Unlike the Course for Elderly Confreres, the renewal Course is intended for confreres between fifty and seventy years of age. Once they have received the approval of the Circumscription Superior, the confreres should contact the Course co-ordinator, Fr. Siro Stocchetti: siro.stocchetti@gmail.com without delay. The GC would like the Circumscription Superiors to try to find confreres available for the next edition of the Comboni year.

10. The next Consulta

The GC has established that the next Consulta will be held from 5 to 13 December, 2016. The dates of Consultas to be held in 2017 will be determined on that occasion.

11. Journeys and commitments of the GC

Fr. Tesfaye Tadesse

23 – 25 November:            USG Assembly, Rome

1 - 22 January, 2017          Visit to Chad

Fr. Jeremias dos Santos Martins

3 – 12 November:       Nairobi

13 November – 3 December:    in Ethiopia

16 – 27 December:     holidays in Portugal

30 December – 27 January 2017:    visit to Congo with Fr. Ciuciulla

Fr. Rogelio Bustos Juárez

18 – 29 November: S. Paulo (BR), Provincials Continental Assembly

26 – 31 December: in Rome, spiritual exercises for a group of Sisters

9 – 24 January 2017: in Colombia, spiritual exercises for the confreres

Fr. Pietro Ciuciulla

26 October – 7 November:     Ethiopia and Mozambique

14 – 23 December:                 Togo

30 December – 27 January 2017:    Visit to Congo with Fr. Jeremias

Bro. Alberto Lamana Cónsola

18 – 21 December:   In Madrid (E) for the Continental Assembly

26 December – 27 January: in Colombia / Ecuador for the Brothers.

General Secretariat for Formation (SGF)

Publication of the Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis et Studiorum (RFIS) in different languages

The General Secretariat for Formation (SGF) announces with joy the publication of the new edition of the Ratio Fundamentalis, revised and updated, in the different languages in use in our Institute. We thank all the confreres and other people who have worked in the preparation of the new edition of RFIS, starting with the ad-hoc Commission (Fr. Jorge Garcia, Fr. Mariano Tibaldo, Fr. Fermo Bernasconi, Fr. Siro Stocchetti and Fr. John Baptist Opargiw).

In addition we also would like to thank those who have taken care of the translations into the different languages: Spanish, Fr. Antonio Villarino; French, Fr. Fermo Bernasconi; Portuguese, Province of Portugal; English, Fr. Paul Felix, Fr. Enrico Redaelli and Fr. John Baptist Opargiw.

Sincere thanks also to Ms. Giannina di Paolo of the General Secretariat for corrections, and to the Secretary General, Fr. Umberto Pescantini, for the connection to the GESP (the printing press).

The text in Italian has already been printed and distributed. Some copies are always available at the General Secretariat for Formation in Rome, in case anyone needs them. All the other texts in different languages have already been sent to the GESP for printing and publication. When they are ready we will distribute them to the confreres. All the members of the Institute may read with profit this document, especially those who are more directly involved in formative accompaniment: the major superiors, the vocation promoters, formators and those in charge of ongoing formation.

Perpetual Vows:

Sc. Ndhlovu Justin (MZ)	Roma (C)	09/10/2016
Sc. Mandozi Tondi-ise Franck (CN)	Cairo (EGSD)	09/10/2016
Bro. Díaz Beltrán Eloy Rogelio (MO)	Muxúnguè (MO)	16/10/2016

Priestly ordinations

Fr. Avoga Benjamin (KE)	Nyamira-Kisii (KE)	08/10/2016
Fr. Ahiro David Khayesi (KE)	Erusui-Kakamega (KE)	22/10/2016
Fr. Chola Ben (MZ)	Holy Saviour, Lusaka (Z)	22/10/2016
Fr. Sireu Ang'Irotum Abraham (KE)	Amakuriat (KE)	29/10/2016

Holy Redeemer Guild

November        01 – 15 SS           16 – 30 T

December        01 – 15 PE           16 – 31 U

Prayer intentions

November – That all Comboni Missionary men and women who have ended their journey on this earth may enjoy the vision of the Lord whom they always desired. Lord hear us.

December – That all Comboni Missionary men and women may be able to share the joy of our “God-with-us” in their daily fraternal contact with the people. Lord hear us.

Publications

A new book on the life of St. Daniel Comboni

Coinciding with the annual Feast of St. Daniel Comboni on 10 October, a new biography has been published entitled San Daniele Comboni – Profeta delle Missioni d’Africa. Written by Graziano Pesenti, it is not too bulky and is easy to read. It goes to the heart of the matter without ignoring or reducing the importance of the experience and message of St. Daniel. A century and a half after the “Plan for the regeneration of Africa”, the proposal of the Founder has lost nothing of its relevance. Published by Ed. Velar Elledici, it has 48 pages of illustrations and is on sale in catholic bookshops.

ASIA

Catholic Mass Media Award Ceremony in Manila

On 12 October the Catholic Mass Media Award Ceremony took place in Manila. The “World Mission” Magazine received an Award for the best website, and two honourable citations for merits as a Family Oriented Magazine and the short story “Tsunami of Forgiveness” by Fr. Lorenzo Carraro.

We thank the Lord for these signs of encouragement to continue our work of Mission Promotion through World Mission Magazine and we share our joy with all the collaborators who make “World Mission” possible, from production to administration, circulation and promotion... and, naturally, with all our subscribers and readers.

BRASIL

Provincial Assembly

The Comboni Missionaries working in Brazil gathered for their Provincial Assembly from 20 to 24 September, 2016, in the state of São Paulo. Fr. Alcides Costa, the Circumscription Superior, welcomed the participants and presented the provincial report for the period 2014-2016.

The main points: the election of the new provincial – Fr. Dario Bossi was the person chosen –, debating pastoral priorities, approving the activities plan for the next six years and the text of the new Provincial Directory. More than 50 confreres took part.

During the Assembly, Fr. Alcides Costa gave a brief evaluation of the previous three years of his period as Superior and re-emphasised that the strength of the mission lies in the unity of all the members of the small cenacle of apostles and in its witness.

CURIA

Feast of St. Daniel Comboni

On Monday, 10 October, the General Curia community celebrated the feast of St. Daniel Comboni together with the confreres present in Rome, some Comboni Sisters and a group of friends and benefactors. All the members of the MCCJ and CMS General Councils were present.

The Mass was presided by Comboni Bishop Mgr. Jaime Rodríguez Salazar, Bishop emeritus of Huánuco (Peru). The Comboni scholastics from Casavatore (Naples) also came for the occasion and animated the liturgy.

“On this occasion – said Mgr. Jaime – we are celebrating three events that are very meaningful for our religious family and for the Mission: the anniversary of the entry into heaven of our Founder, St. Daniel Comboni who died on 10 October, 1881; the priestly Golden Jubilee of the Comboni Missionaries ordained in 1966 and the perpetual religious profession of Justin Ndhlovu”.

Gathering of Comboni Missionaries for their Golden Jubilees

Some confreres ordained in 1966 met from 8 to10 October, 2016, at the Curia in Rome: Mgr. Jaime Rodríguez Salazar and Frs. Reinhold Baumann, Daniele Coppe, Giancarlo Guiducci, Josef König, Mario Porto, Piergiorgio Prandina, Enrico Redaelli and Bruno Tonolli.

After so many years, these confreres were able to meet again and celebrate together, missionary style, their fifty years of priesthood with Eucharistic concelebrations at the church of the Martyrdom of St. Paul (Tre Fontane) and at St. Paul Outside-the-Walls.

During those days they shared experiences and accounts of their history and missionary life, telling how the chalice that was presented to them on the day of their ordination was filled each day, not only with their own personal histories but also with the lives of the many people they encountered on the sometimes rough pathways of life, as they searched for God and rediscovered love, faithfulness and forgiveness.

It was especially meaningful for the group of Jubilarians to bring those three days to a close with the celebration of the feast of St. Daniel Comboni.

DSP

“Cross of Merit” awarded to Fr. Josef Schmidpeter

In the name of the President of the Federal Republic of Germany Joaquim Gauck, the minister for the rural environment and consumer protection of Land Baden-Württemberg, Peter Hauk, conferred the “Cross of Merit” on our confrere Fr. Josef (José) Schmidtpeter, in the capital Stuttgart.

In his “Laudatio”, the minister indicated the reason for this honour: the constant and generous commitment of Fr. Schmidtpeter to the people, especially the sick and the poor. He also highlighted above all else the work of this eighty-year-old Combonian in founding two polyclinics in Arequipa and a health centre in Lima. The polyclinic in Arequipa treats over 2,200 people every day, most of whom are very poor.

The minister spoke of Fr. José as a builder of bridges between people and cultures, an example for our society so much in need of people like him who remind us that we live in luxury and invite us to share our goods with the needy.

Eloisa Tupia Salazár, General Administrator at the great “House of Doctors“ in Arequipa, took part in the solemn event. In her brief speech, she defined Fr. Schmidtpeter as an extraordinary person who dedicated himself, body and soul, to the poorest and the sick.

ETHIOPIA

Episcopal consecration of Mgr. Roberto Bergamaschi

On 8 October, 2016, Fr. Roberto Bergamaschi (SDB) was consecrated Bishop in the Cathedral of the Hawassa Apostolic Vicariate by Cardinal Berhaneyesus of Addis Ababa. This solemn and joyous celebration took place in order to fill the vacancy that occurred in the Vicariate due to the unexpected passing away of Bishop Giovanni Migliorati, mccj, in Brescia (Italy) on 12 May this year, a sad untimely loss accompanied by much sorrow among his relatives, confreres and the Christian communities of the Apostolic Vicariate of Hawassa.

Abba Roberto Bergamaschi is a Salesian of Don Bosco and came to Ethiopia in 1982 where he served in various dioceses. His election was made public on 29 June, 2016. After the Comboni Missionary Bishops Armido Gasparini, Lorenzo Ceresoli and Giovanni Migliorati, he is the fourth Bishop of the Hawassa Vicariate which, after fifty years, now has more than 220,000 baptized Catholics, the fruit of the Holy Spirit through the prayer and labour carried out mostly by the missionary Brothers, Sisters and Priests of St. Daniel Comboni.

ITALIA

Tinga Tinga Display

The African Museum in Verona will open its doors to the Tinga Tinga display of Tanzanian paintings from 29 October to 27 November. The figures represented, in a style similar to the naïf, are connected with the flora and fauna of Africa with stylised decorative elements that convey an enchanting atmosphere and become icons beyond time and space.

African Film Festival

The XXXVI edition of the African Film Festival will be held in Verona from 4 to 13 November. Thirty-two short and full length films will be presented. From 14 November to 4 December, a number of films will be shown in about twenty different localities throughout the Province, one of which will be our house in Castel d’Azzano.

MOÇAMBIQUE

Perpetual Vows

Bro. Eloy Rogelio Días Beltrán, 37, pronounced perpetual vows on 16 October in the Comboni community of Muxúnguè, in Mozambique. Born in the Peruvian city of Arequipa, he completed the course of formation at Bogotá (Colombia) and was assigned to Mozambique. “His religious profession” said Provincial Superior Fr. José Luis Rodríguez López, “was a truly missionary celebration being a sign of hope and a witness to love, especially for the Christian communities of Mozambique that are living in times of tension and insecurity due to the political and military conflict that has lasted almost two years”.

The celebration was attended by the community of Muxúnguè, the Comboni Sisters of the nearby community of Mangunde, some confreres and his Peruvian confrere and friend Fr. Ibercio Rojas Zevallos, a native of Huánuco, who ministers in the parish of Orange Farm, in the archdiocese of Johannesburg (South Africa) and who came especially for the occasion.

PORTUGAL

Three young men begin their novitiate in Santarem

Three European candidates began their novitiate on 10 October, during the feast of St. Daniel Comboni, in the Portuguese city of Santarem. Two of them, Samuele Salvato and Gabriele Messori, are Italian and one, Germano Ferreira, is Portuguese. The provincial Superior of Portugal, Fr. José da Silva Vieira, presided at the celebration.

Apart from some friends, those present included confreres from the Comboni communities of Lisbon and Camarate. The community of Lisbon took the opportunity to mark the fifty years of service of Mrs Rosalina, who has worked there since 10 October, 1966. “It was a very beautiful celebration”, said Fr. Carlos Alberto Nunes, “during which we thanked God and asked him, through the intercession of St. Daniel Comboni, to grant us many joys in our future service to the mission.”

SOUTH SUDAN

The “Good Shepherd Peace Centre”

The project of the combined Catholic Religious in South Sudan (RSASS) to build a Centre for human, pastoral and spiritual formation, peace-building and trauma healing at Kit, near Juba, was launched officially by Archbishop Paulino Lukudu Loro on 11 October 2014. On Saturday, 15 October 2016, the Centre, now named the ‘Good Shepherd Peace Centre’, was officially blessed and opened by the Apostolic Nuncio to South Sudan, Archbishop Charles Balvo, assisted by the Archbishop of Juba, three other Bishops, an Apostolic Administrator and a large number of Diocesan and Religious priests. A crowd of more than 800 people, including several ambassadors and local dignitaries, gathered for this happy occasion.

The building consists of forty bedrooms, accommodating two beds and a bathroom, plus a youth hostel that can accommodate sixty people, with spacious conference and dining rooms, a central chapel and many seminar rooms and outdoor ‘tukuls’. The project was built within the amount budgeted, with most of the funds donated by Italian and German Catholic charities, some international NGOs and several Catholic religious Institutes present in South Sudan. The Centre, whose simple but profound message is expressed above the chapel entrance in the words: “Be at Peace”, will be a very positive symbol of strength in the search for peace in South Sudan.

The initial community to staff the Centre will consist of a South Sudanese Comboni Priest, two members of Solidarity with South Sudan – a Vincentian priest from the Philippines, and a Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary from the USA – plus a Jesuit priest from Rwanda and a St. Martin De Porres Brother from Uganda. It is being staffed by a team living “unity in diversity”. That in itself is a message to South Sudan to work together in fraternity for a common vision and future.

The President of the Religious Superiors’ Association in South Sudan (RSASS), Fr. Daniele Moschetti, Provincial of the Comboni Missionaries, gave special thanks to all who contributed to achieve this common dream for the people of South Sudan and in a special way to the Supervising Engineer, Br. Hans Eigner, and to the Building Contractor, Mr. Robert Andama, for their energy and commitment to quality workmanship while completing this large Centre in 17 months. Tribute was paid to both the Christian and Muslim workers, Ugandan and South Sudanese, who worked side by side with respectful harmony to complete this Centre. The Centre is open to people of all faiths. It is a gift of hope for the people of South Sudan, especially for all who will receive formation from this Centre. It is also a great sign that the Catholic Church, through its religious Institutes and the local Church, is committed to peace, justice and reconciliation in the Country.

Visit of Fr. Jeremias dos Santos Martins to the province

Fr. Jeremias Dos Santos Martins, Vicar General, arrived in Juba on 13 September, 2016, accompanied by Fr. Daniele Moschetti, Provincial Superior, back from a short break in Italy. The main purpose of the visit was to show the closeness and solidarity of the General Administration and bring support and courage to those communities most affected by the conflict over the past years. On the day he arrived in Juba, Fr. Jeremias met Mgr. Paulino Lukudu Loro, Archbishop of Juba and Comboni Missionary, who welcomed him to the country and encouraged the Comboni Missionaries to continue to bring their important and vital contribution to the mission in South Sudan.

On September 14, Fr. Jeremias and Fr. Daniele set off to Nyal by WFP flight. They were welcomed by thousands of joyful parishioners and IDPs from Leer who settled in Panyijiar County. It was a great moment of sharing, encounter and listening to the struggles of the people. The journey continued to Rumbek where Fr. Jeremias met with Fr. John Mathiang, Diocesan Administrator of the diocese of Rumbek, and shared about the commitments of the Combonis in that diocese. Particularly important and touching was the visit to the tomb of our late Bishop Cesar Mazzolari, buried in the cathedral of Rumbek. The following day they travelled to Mapuordit to have a first taste of the road conditions of South Sudan during the rainy season. In Mapuordit Fr. Jeremias met with the Comboni community and the pastoral workers. He saw the outstanding commitment of the Brothers in the hospital. The journey continued to Yirol where Fr. Jeremias had to get out of the car several times and cross some huge potholes on the rough main road, strewn with trucks and cars often stuck for days and weeks. In Yirol, Fr. Jeremias met the confreres who are committed in the parish and in the field of education. The last journey was to Old Fangak with an hour flight from Yirol and three hours by boat along the river Bahr-el-Zeraf, to find also here a Christian community very united and joyful despite the miseries of the conflict. By Sept 27, Fr. Jeremias was back in Juba to meet the two communities present in the city and visit the provincial house and the pre-postulancy in Moroyok. All these were very important moments of encounter with the reality and Fr. Jeremias adapted himself very well to the tough situations which our confreres are going through.

Once back in Rome, Fr. Jeremias wrote: “I treasure every moment of the visit. Thanks to all the confreres for your example, for your presence among the people, for the work you do with joy and dedication. We can really talk about your missionary presences as ‘existential parables’, clear signs of God's Kingdom. I came to encourage you but I was actually the one encouraged by your example”.

Thanks a lot Jeremias and we shall be happy to welcome you back again to visit the other missions you could not visit this time.

SUDAN

St. Daniel Comboni lives on in the Sudan

The Celebration of St. Daniel Comboni in Sudan was, as usual, unique. We started from our little Cenacle on Friday 7, in the evening, with an hour of adoration together with the Comboni Sisters and a few selected guests. Fr. Davide Ferraboschi led us in a thoughtful dialogue with Jesus and St. Daniel, followed by a joyful agape.

On Saturday 8, various Comboni Schools organized programs that were well attended by staff, students and relatives. Comboni College was honoured by the presence of the Nuncio, Mons. Bert Van Megen. Songs, poems, dances, games and sport competitions made the day special. It is amazing to see how both Christians and Muslims in our schools respect and honour the memory of Daniel Comboni for his love for the Africans and for having lifted them up through education and faith.

On Sunday the feast continued in the parishes through the Eucharistic Celebrations. The evening Mass in the Parish of Khartoum North, where our Provincial House is located, was attended by a large number of faithful. The climax of the celebration, however, was on Monday the 10^th, when his eminence Card. Gabriel Zubeir Wako presided the Mass in St. Matthew Cathedral. In spite of visibly struggling to lead the Eucharistic concelebration, because of his weak health, he attracted the attention of the thousands of people gathered there with his charismatic presence. His deep and convincing words stressed the greatness of St. Daniel for having conferred on Africans the dignity of children of God, a dignity to be kept as a precious treasure and lived in the concrete events of everyday life.

We Comboni Missionaries working in the Sudan are continuously surprised as we witness how St. Daniel is really alive in this country and in the heart of the people.

Let us pray for our beloved dead

THE MOTHERS: Agripina Castillo, of Fr. Garcia Castillo Jorge Oscar (C); Alipui Aholoussigan, of Bro. Jonas Yawovi Dzinekou (KE).

THE BROTHERS: Ruggero, of Fr. Renzo Carraro (A); José Carlos, of Fr. José Júlio Martins Marques (MO); Mario, of Bro. Elia Dalla Fontana (I).

THE SISTERS: Maria Zanardi, of Fr. Silvestro Zanardi (MZ); Federica, of Fr. Umberto Rainoldi (I); Marianne Dorigo, of Fr. Josef Valentin Knapp (DSP).

THE COMBONI MISSIONARY SISTERS: Sr. Palmagnese Marchetti; Sr. M. Olimpia Generoso.

Let us pray for the happy repose of the soul of Don Giovanni Scalabrini, ex mccj, who died on 4 October, 2016, in Uganda.