Familia Comboniana 747 - December 2016

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

Khartoum: Letter of Cardinal Zubeir

On November 21, 2016, Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako wrote a letter to Fr. Tesfaye Tadesse G., Superior General, informing him of his resignation as Archbishop of Khartoum and expressing his gratitude, first of all to have had in his diocese the Comboni missionaries: “It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve God and his people with personnel from your Congregation in this Diocese. I am deeply grateful for their leadership and witness to Christ in their ministry, which has been a gift to this Church and the country at large”.

The Comboni Missionaries, writes the Cardinal, have helped in the realization of God’s Plan of Salvation by heeding the appeal of St. Daniel Comboni who, inspired by God, called the whole Church to come to Africa and preach the Gospel. In particular, they have taught and formed countless young people in our schools, and assisted them in building up their lives. “Many of us have been taught, formed and inspired by religious men and women. I appreciate their kindness and love in fulfilling their Charism in this Church”. Cardinal Zubeir ends his letter with the hope and prayer that the Comboni Institute may continue to support his successor with the same spirit.

Specializations

Bro. Simone Della Monica, on 4 November, 2016, was awarded a degree in Political Science for Cooperation and Development at the Rome Three University with the thesis “Cooperation for development in the field of health in Africa – case study: South Sudan”.

Perpetual profession

Bro. Lumami Mwanza Patrick (SS) Bibwa-Kinshasa (RDC) 20.11.2016

Priestly ordinations

Fr. Garrido Santiago Margarito (A) Matnog-Sorsogon (RP) 5.11.2016

Fr. Atohoun Comlan Aflihoun Armel (T)   Cotonou (BEN)  12.11.2016

Holy Redeemer Guild

December               01 – 15 PE                16 – 31 U

January                  01 – 15 A                  16 – 31 BR

Prayer intentions

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.

January – That young people may allow themselves to be challenged by the quest for meaning they bear in their hearts and may encounter witnesses to Christ who will show them the path of the Gospel. Lord hear us.

Publications

Raimundo Nonato Rocha dos Santos: Justice and Peace Manual, printed by Universal Printers Co. Ltd., Juba, SS, 2016. This Justice and Peace Manual is a tool for formation, reflection and action. It is an attempt to provide some guidelines and training for individuals, Justice and Peace Committees and communities that have been engaged or want to get involved in Justice and Peace activities. It is meant to be primarily an instrument to improve the ministry of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) in parishes, but also a guide for all people who feel called to action in this field.

ASIA

Priestly Ordination of Margarito Santiago Garrido III

The Comboni Missionaries in Asia celebrated a great occasion of joy and gratitude to God: on the 5^th of November 2016, our confrere Margarito (“Mar”) Santiago Garrido was ordained priest by Bishop Arturo M. Bastes, SVD, Bishop of the Diocese of Sorsogon, Philippines.

The ordination took place in the parish church of the Holy Infant Jesus in Matnog – Sorsogon. A large number of people took part in the celebration: the members of Mar’s family, his relatives and friends, many parishioners, confreres from Manila, Macau, Taiwan and Vietnam, aspirants and postulants from the Daniel Comboni Seminary, groups of friends and Comboni volunteers from Manila and from Taiwan, where Mar did his missionary service and had his pastoral experience as a deacon.

Mar joined the Comboni Missionaries after having obtained a B.S. in Agricultural Engineering and a Master’s in Management and after having been employed by the Local Government Unit of Matnogon, in the field of research for two years. He had his novitiate in Mexico and studied Theology in Peru.

Bishop Arturo spoke about St. Daniel Comboni with enthusiasm and asked Mar to imitate his great missionary zeal and to keep his eyes fixed upon Christ. In his homily he praised our magazine ‘World Mission’ as a good means of mission promotion and encouraged the Comboni Missionaries to continue making their presence in the Philippines and Asia more and more visible.

BRASIL

Meeting of Circumscription Superiors of America and Asia

The meeting of circumscription superiors of America and Asia took place from 22 to 26 November, in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

The missionaries, following the magisterium of Pope Francis, especially the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium and the Encyclical Laudato Si’, felt themselves urged on to develop the theology of communion and inclusion that should also integrate concerns for Mother Earth. “Our mission is an invitation to build up new relations – said Fr. Dario Bossi, newly elected Provincial Superior of Brazil – so as not to be indifferent to any aspect of evangelisation, especially the social and environmental dimension of justice”.

The recently elected superiors received their handover from those who ended their mandate and the entire group planned the continuation of our missionary project in both continents. The situation of each province was examined, with its signs of hope and the concerns that the missionaries face in the territories in which they are inserted. Relations between the Comboni provinces of America and Asia are becoming ever more harmonised and common pastoral policies are becoming evident.

CONGO

Perpetual vows

On the feast of Christ the King, the Comboni family in the Congo had the joy of the perpetual consecration to the Lord of Bro. Patrick Lumami Mwanza. The celebration took place at the Comboni parish of Notre Dame du Bon Secours in Bibwa, in the deanery of St. Jacques and in the Archdiocese of Kinshasa. The day began with Mass presided by Fr. Joseph Mumbere, Provincial Superior.

In his homily, Fr. Mumbere explained the meaning of the three vows, connecting them to the missionary life of Bro. Patrick and to his mission among the people of South Sudan.

At the end of the celebration, Bro. Patrick said he was aware that his life had become a total gift to God for humanity, especially the suffering humanity of South Sudan and thanked all those who accompanied him on his journey, especially his parents, formators, teachers and companions.

CURIA

Diaconal ordination

On Sunday, 13 November, 2016, at the General Curia, the feast of the ordination to the diaconate of the young Zambian Comboni confrere, Justin Ndhlovu, took place. He had the joy of having with him his mother, a sister and some relatives from Zambia and of other priests and friends residing in Rome. The Mass was presided by Mgr. Miguel Angel Ayuso Guixot, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, concelebrated by Mgr. Paulino Lukudu Loro, Archbishop of Juba (South Sudan) and by Fr. Tesfaye Tadesse Gebresilasie, Superior General, in the presence of other confreres working or studying in Rome, priests, missionary men and women religious and friends of Justin and the Comboni Missionaries.

In his homily, Mgr. Ayuso referred to two very important verbs in the mission of the Church, proclaim and serve, quoting the discourse of Pope Francis to deacons on 29 May, 2016, in St. Peter’s Square: “apostle and servant are two terms that go together, impossible to separate: whoever proclaims Jesus is called to serve and whoever serves, proclaims Jesus”.

ECUADOR

On 25, 26 and 27 November, the celebration of forty years of Comboni presence in the parish of El Carmen, in the Archdiocese of Portoviejo, took place.

Among the first to arrive, on 14 November, 1976, were Fr. Giorgio Bevilacqua (†), Fr. Giovanni Riva (†) and Bro. Juan Benjumea; shortly afterwards arrived Fr. Enea Mauri, the present Parish Priest. The community wanted to celebrate this event to thank the Lord for the pastoral work of the 38 priests and four Brothers who worked in the parish, sowing the seed of the Gospel.

Attendance was beyond all expectations. The parish has 46.000 inhabitants in the centre alone and 33 rural communities. In the course of the years, three new parishes, administered by the local clergy, were formed; another dedicated to St. Daniel Comboni will follow.

On Friday, during the solemn session, the work of evangelisation in the areas of education, formation of leaders, human promotion and the protection of the territory of Manga del Cura, were remembered. All the civil authorities were present together with the representatives of the various institutions that recognised the commendable work of the missionaries during the past forty years. During the solemn session, the mayor presented a beautiful commemorative plaque on behalf of the entire population of El Carmen.

On Saturday there was a great pilgrimage: the fourteen chapels of the centre, the rural communities and many people with allegorical floats accompanied the procession, preceded by boys dressed as priests carrying a banner with the names of twelve Parish Priests who had guided the parish. The Archbishop celebrated the Mass and then there was a theatrical presentation on the life of Comboni, prepared by the lay people, to the emotional admiration of those present. The day was concluded with a meal for more than one thousand people gathered together.

On Sunday, during all the celebrations, the offertory procession at Mass was accompanied by dancing and local gifts; a short version of the play on the life of Comboni was presented.

EGYPT

Diaconal ordination

The scholastic Franck Mandozi Tondi-Ise, a Congolese Comboni, was ordained a deacon on last October 14 by Mons. Adel Zaki, O.F.M., Apostolic Vicar of Alexandria of Egypt.

Franck, 31, was born in Kinshasa, where he began his vocational journey. He did his novitiate (2009-2011) in Cotonou, Benin, and the scholasticate (2011-2015) in Cape Coast, Ghana. He completed his theological studies in Cape Coast in 2015 and was sent to do his missionary service of two years in Cairo, Egypt, in the community of Dar Comboni, where, in 1994, the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, Dialogue with Islam and Ecumenism was opened.

ITALIA

Immigration

A “Statistical Immigration Dossier” was presented to the city and the Province in the Africa Hall of our house in Verona. It was prepared by the Idos Centre for study and research. It was very well attended.

Crib display

The African Museum has organised a display of more than 100 Christmas cribs from many countries of the world. This event is the happy continuation of something begun in 2012 and is visited by many children and families.

Requests to the Italian province for project contributions

We remind everyone to bear in mind that requests for contributions are to be sent to the “Commissione progetti”, (milaniven@gmail.com), Vicolo Pozzo 1, Verona. The project presentation should follow the Guidelines available from the circumscription superiors. Approved projects will be shared for financing by Mondo Aperto and Fondazione Nigrizia Onlus. One should bear in mind that as an Onlus we cannot finance purely religious projects such as churches, courses for catechists, parish or religious houses and the like. Instead, we welcome projects such as those for agriculture, wells, schools, vehicles (contributions for social activities have a €5,000 limit), courses for leadership training, justice and peace and the integrity of creation, development agents, social community animators, qualifications for teachers, etc. Please note that collaboration by the local people is required and should be quantified somehow. The confreres who have received funds for projects from Mondo Aperto or Fondazione Nigrizia are requested to send us, when the project is finished, some photos and a letter of thanks addressed to our benefactors which we will publish on our websites.

ACSE Activities

In September, ACSE (Comboni Association for the Service of Immigrants – centroacse.wordpress.com) resumed its activities full time, offering migrants the following services: Italian lessons (from the basic level of literacy to higher language proficiency, recognised by the university of Perugia), English lessons (3 levels), dressmaking and sewing, information technology with a Europe-wide qualification (2 classes), job-seekers service, a food bank, legal and psychological assistance to families in difficulty, an orthodontic service in a renovated surgery and a service for “Assisted Voluntary Repatriation”. The pastoral service and that for university students has been also resumed.

There are over 400 immigrants and “new” refugees in this academic year who have requested one or more forms of assistance from Acse. These are to be added to those already enrolled in previous years.

Also the volunteers (including some second-generation immigrants) who offer their services are increasing. Some of them are young people. This year we are fortunate enough to be able to avail of the services of two young people doing Civil Service.

KENYA

First Comboni Pokot Priest

On 29 October, 2016, after 34 years of missionary work among the Pastoralist Pokot in Kenya, the Comboni Missionaries in Kenya were able to rejoice at the ordination of the first Comboni Pokot priest. Approximately three thousand people converged on the grounds of Amakuriat mission to witness this historical event.

The Comboni Missionaries first came to Kenya officially in 1973 from Amudat mission in Uganda. Brother Dario Laurencig was the first Comboni missionary in 1982 to set foot on the soil of Amakuriat mission, the home parish of the newly ordained priest, Abraham Ang'Irotum Sireu, who was then only a few months old.

Thirty-four years later, dressed as a Pokot warrior, deacon Abraham was presented by his father for ordination. Msgr. Morris Crowly, Kitale diocese, presided over the Eucharist. Pokot songs and dancing punctuated the awesome ordination celebration.

The same spirit of joy continued also into the next day at Fr. Abraham’s thanksgiving mass. Fr. Barry of Kitale diocese in his homily underscored the miracle and gift of Fr. Abraham’s ordination. He urged the Pokot faithful to support their sons and daughters when answering to their call of vocation, by beginning to send them to school.

A group of Pokot nuns from different Institutes, a vocational team, added variety to the thanksgiving celebration. They spoke about and shared their experiences as vocation promoters. Their appeal was unanimous: It’s time for the Pokot youth to consider religious life and the priesthood seriously.

At the thanksgiving Eucharist, Brother Friedbert Tremmel was also present. His presence was very meaningful, not only because he represented the provincial of the DSP, where Abraham will have his first assignment, but also because as a young missionary he had accompanied Fr. Abraham in Amakuriat mission.

MOÇAMBIQUE

Continental Assembly of the Treasurers of Africa

The treasurers of the Comboni Missionaries circumscriptions of Africa met in Maputo, Mozambique, from October 31 through November 5. For the first time, this continental assembly gathered all the Comboni provincial and delegation treasurers from French-speaking Africa, English-speaking Africa and Mozambique to reflect on, evaluate and plan the financial activities of the Institute, keeping in mind the common characteristics of the situation of each African country. Sixteen Comboni Missionaries attended, representing the nine provinces and three delegations of Africa, plus two confreres from Mozambique, Fr. Claudio Lurati, Treasurer General, who moderated the assembly, and Fr. Pietro Ciuciulla, Assistant General in charge of overseeing the finances of the Institute.

In a serene environment, the participants reflected on how to put together a common journey, according to the rules of the Institute and the directives of the General Chapter of 2015, dealing with finances,  accounting, the Total Common Fund (TCF) and with how to support church and social projects at a continental level.

POLSKA

Initiatives together with other missionary Institutes

From 18 to 20 November, some members of the Krakow Comboni community took part in a meeting on missionary work in Poland. The meeting was organised by the Society of African Missions (SMA), and was held in Piwniczna-Zdrój, a beautiful city close to the Slovakian border. Two representatives of the Society for African Missions (White Fathers/Mafr.) also took part.

The SMA and Mafr. are two Institutes that we Comboni Missionaries often meet during our work in Africa. For this reason our confreres in Krakow were more than happy to accept the invitation to spend some time with them in an atmosphere of fraternity and prayer.

After exchanging the experiences in mission promotion, the missionaries spoke of the promotion of their Institutes among the youth of Poland. They also visited the Catholic Byzantine shrine of Litmanova, in Slovakia where Our Lady is said to have appeared to two adolescents in August, 1995.

TOGO-GHANA-BENIN

Priestly Ordination

On Saturday, 12 November, at the Comboni parish of St. Francis of Assisi, in the Fidjrosse quarter of Cotonou (Togo), Armel Atohoun Comlan Aflihoun, a Togolese, was ordained to the priesthood. The celebration was presided by the new Archbishop of Cotonou, Msgr. Roger Houngbedji, a Dominican who was consecrated on 24 November last.

The Archbishop invited the newly-ordained priest to live his priesthood in humility and gratuity, at the service of all, always willing to listen to others and to accompany all to their encounter with Christ.

On Sunday 13, Fr. Armel celebrated his first Mass at Fidjrosse, his native parish where he grew up and where his Comboni vocation was born. He has been appointed to the province of Egypt/Sudan, and so fulfil his desire to work in the Arab world, a desire that grew in him through his missionary service in the Comboni community of Toko-Toko, in the diocese of Djougou, and in a Moslem environment.

Let us pray for our beloved dead

THE FATHERS: Salvador, of Fr. Rodríguez López José Luis (MO); Laurent, of Fr. Elysée Laye Ayikoue Mawutodji (PE).

THE MOTHER: Maria Celina, of Fr. Manuel Lopes Ribeiro (P).

THE SISTER: Florentina, of Fr. Juan A. González Núñez (ET).

THE COMBONI MISSIONARY SISTERS: Sr. Francesca Amelia Molteni; Sr. M. Malvina Vallenari; Sr. Emerita Bottà