Familia Comboniana 785 - May 2020

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

Perpetual Professions

Sc. Malema Bati Maurice (CN)     Kisangani (RDC)            25/04/2020

Sc. Mponda João Mponda (MO)  Beira (MO)                    26/04/2020

Holy Redeemer Guild

May: 01 – 15 ET; 16 – 31 I

June: 01 – 07 ER; 08 – 15 LP; 16 – 30 P

Prayer intentions

May – That those in positions of responsibility may entrust themselves to Our Lady in order to perceive the presence and wisdom of God in their decisions and actions and so serve with greater joy and effectiveness. Lord hear us.

June – That, with our gaze fixed on the Heart of Jesus we may see His face in all we meet, especially in the poorest and most abandoned. Lord hear us.

The Comboni Missionaries and the COVID-19 pandemic

Asia

Right from the start of this year, our work in China and in bordering countries was brought to a standstill. Also in the Philippines we are confined to our houses until May. The poor people have no work and no food. Only in Taiwan, though with some restrictions, it is possible for our two parishes to function to a degree. In Macau, we are restarting by holding some small meetings. Since it is not possible to go out, we accompany those who suffer with our prayers.

Central America

The first case occurred in Costa Rica on 6^th March and with it the virus was no longer just a problem of “other countries”. It has not been possible for us to go out because of the measures imposed by the governments of the three countries that make up the Province. The people have not been allowed to take part in religious functions so the services are now being transmitted via internet and people are happy to hear the Word of God every day. The virus has forced us to stay in our communities and pray for those in need.

Colombia

The Delegate, Fr. Antonio Villarino, was travelling back to Colombia after the meeting in Rome when he was obliged to stay in Madrid. None of our confreres in Colombia are ill with the virus but they all have to stay in our houses. Fr. Nascimbene and the other confreres have started to organise assistance for the poor.

Congo

The Coronavirus was first identified in Kinshasa on 10 March. Two weeks later, a state of emergency was declared: schools and churches, bars, hotels and restaurants were closed, with banks allowed to open during certain hours and national and international flights suspended. Normal social life has almost collapsed. In Kinshasa, our communities have to remain indoors. Each community organises times for fraternal life and prayer, observing the precautionary measures. The other communities of the Province have not been affected by the Coronavirus. All Fr. Provincial’s visits and all other meetings in the regions of Kinshasa and Kisangani have been postponed. We were much saddened by the news of the death of Fr. Bepi Simoni, who worked in the Congo. We celebrated, without the participation of anyone from outside, the perpetual profession of the Sc. Maurice Malema. Fr. Provincial sent us all an Easter message by video, encouraging us to live in hope and solidarity.

Curia

We have had no cases of the virus in our Rome communities. We all keep to the safety measures. The three communities always celebrate separately and that of the Comboni Year is coming to the end of the Course, having had to cancel some conferences by external facilitators. The students have been able to keep in touch with their teachers by internet and they hope to be able to sit for their exams and diplomas. In The General Curia we have some confreres who, on returning from other regions of Italy, have been kept in precautionary quarantine, including the Superior of the community, Fr. Celestino Prevedello, who had gone to Padua for treatment and also Fr. Michele Tondi, who had gone to his home town for his mother’s funeral. Two confreres have been waiting a long time to be able to leave for their circumscriptions to which they were assigned.

DSP

Due to movement prohibition and social distancing, the confreres involved in pastoral are out of work. Some have tried to create virtual connections using the social media (telephone, e-mail, internet) to help the faithful and friends to make the journey towards Easter. The average age of the confreres in this province is very high so we need to protect ourselves properly: for example, in Ellwangen community, some of the more elderly confreres have been isolated from the others. On 16 April, Fr. Karl Wetzel had to celebrate his ninetieth birthday with just the nurses and the eldest confreres for company. This crisis helps us to reflect and reconsider our mission and plan new ways to make a new start.

Ecuador

Starting in mid-March, the government of Ecuador has taken drastic measures to prevent the spread of the virus, allowing only basic services to function. By 20 April, the number of cases had risen to over twenty thousand with more than a thousand deaths. The most affected province is that of Guayaquil where the health and funeral services have been overwhelmed. A photograph of victims abandoned in the streets has been seen all over the world on the social media. The military forces had to intervene to remedy the situation. Very many poor people are disadvantaged by the national prohibition of movement; for them, staying closed in their little houses is uncomfortable, almost impossible. Not everyone can access the health service or medicine. The virus seems to have taken many people unawares in the provinces, in Quito, the capital and in popular touristic areas like the Galapagos Islands and among the indigenous peoples of the Amazonian provinces. In addition to the pandemic, we have also experienced a serious accident that caused the rupture of the pipelines, causing the leaking oil to pour into the Coca and Napo Rivers, resulting in an ecological and environmental disaster. This has worsened the already serious economic emergency in Ecuador. Since the places of worship are closed, the Church has organised the social media to accompany people in daily life and is trying to assist the needy through the services of Caritas.

Eritrea

According to the Ministry of Health, the first COVID-19 case in Eritrea was registered on 21 March; to date, there have been about forty cases but thirteen of these have already recovered. This is a sign of hope. Right from the start, preventive instructions were announced, limiting movements and gatherings. In our communities, we have let our employees stay at home and we are doing their work ourselves. This is a whole new experience. Many workers here are employed on a daily basis and so have no income. This is creating a situation of hunger in many families. Some are organising collections of food for the poor. We had to send our students home. The work of the delegation has been halted as we do not have the technological means of communication; we even have no telephone line at the seat of the delegation. All of us have had to celebrate Easter in their own houses. Like the first Christian community at the time of the apostles, we are united in prayer.

Ethiopia

Towards mid-March we began social distancing to avoid contact and to stay at home. Provincial meetings have been postponed and some confreres have had to change their plans. The proposal of various churches and religious groups to hold a month of fasting was well received by the majority (it almost coincided with lent and Ramadan) and many celebrations have been followed on TV. There are little more than a hundred homes with people suffering from the Coronavirus, but the government has declared a state of emergency to protect the citizens. Movement is restricted but checks are few and far between.

Italy

For the past three months the Province of Italy has been seriously affected by the Coronavirus. Milano has lost several confreres, though not all because of the virus. Among them was Fr. Giuseppe Simoni. A couple of confreres are still in isolation as a precaution. In Lucca, Fr. Giovanni Vedovato and Fr. Luciano Perina are still in hospital and the community is in quarantine. In Gozzano, Fr. Claudio Crimi is in quarantine in a clinic. In Castel d’Azzano, serum tests resulted in some confreres being placed in isolation as a precaution even though they are not unwell. The other communities are observing the preventive measures to avoid infection, but life goes on.

Kenya

The first case in Kenya came to light on 13 March. Almost immediately, the government imposed drastic measures, including the closure of the schools and the prohibition of all civil and religious gatherings. They even imposed a night-time curfew. Four regions have cases of infection: Nairobi, Kwale, Kilifi and Mombasa and they have been declared ‘red zones’. Many people live from day to day and are now out of work and without food. The health service is not equipped for this calamity and only a few of the sick have swab tests. To date there have been 320 cases, with 14 deaths and 89 recoveries.

London Province

The situation in the LP is much the same as that in Italy. The churches are all closed and movement is restricted to what is essential. This means we are not doing any Mission Appeals or promotion meetings, ministry or other activities, with the exception of funerals (just prayers at the cemetery or crematorium with just a few people present). The communities where the majority are elderly are quite concerned. The others are using the time to continue with activities in the pipeline (such as replying to the questions on ministeriality and the revision of the Rule of Life). There is also some concern about future finances since communities usually support themselves with their pastoral and mission promotion work. A considerable number of families are in difficulty ad are even short of food. There are many initiatives of assistance and solidarity being taken by volunteer groups. We are receiving a great lesson in fraternity that overcomes barriers and cultural and ideological differences.

Mexico

The virus appeared in Mexico at the beginning of March and the number of cases is growing all the time. On 31 March we lost our confrere Fr. Luis Carranza who contracted pneumonia, though his virus test proved negative. We are now isolated and cannot go out. Our workers are staying away and the rhythm of daily life made us discover the hidden qualities as they place themselves at the service of the others. Easter was celebrated in silence, without visiting the missions. There have been more than ten thousand cases in the country and around a thousand deaths.

Poland

All the confreres of our small group are safe and well. Thank God.

Spain

We began the quarantine without the least idea of what would happen later and we held the provincial council meeting by video link. On 25 March, we were shocked by the death, due to a heart attack, of Fr. Gabino Otero in Santiago and we were unable to celebrate his funeral. Four days later, the virus took away Fr. Gonzalo Dasilva from us in Madrid. For the time being, his ashes rest in our chapel and will accompany us in our celebrations until we can place them in the family cemetery in Vigo. The day after Fr. Gonzalo died, Fr. Jaime Calvera was rushed to hospital where he is being treated for the virus. None of the other members of the Madrid community have been infected, even though they were not very well. All the other Combonis in Spain have adopted the preventive measures imposed by the government and are well. We were showered with messages of solidarity from many confreres and friends encouraging us to trust in the mercy of God.

South Africa

The total lockdown for everyone began on 26 March and is due to end early in May. The number of virus cases is very low but, in the shanty towns, millions of people have to share toilets and running water; many cases will never be registered. The public money embezzled by different governments could have been used to build better homes and provide work for the poor people.

Togo-Ghana-Benin

All three of our nations have been hit by the virus but the number of deaths is still very low. Borders, schools and churches have been closed and all public celebrations forbidden. We are witnessing close collaboration among religious groups of all denominations in implementing preventive measures. The social media are busy spreading information about the seriousness of the situation; the people continue to crowd the means of public transport, bars and the shops that are open. Many believe in traditional remedies. There is still much to be done and our hospitals are not equipped to face this pandemic. The members of our communities are confined to their houses.

Uganda

We are still waiting for news from the communities. In Uganda the number of cases is very low but a proposal was made to have an hour of adoration every day to pray the Lord for an end to the pandemic.

ITALY

ACSE Association

The website of the association (acsemigranti) has been completely revamped. It now shows the activities of the association. Publications are also presented (see especially the text of the Italian language courses edited by ACSE teachers), the projects being run and a great deal of information taken from magazines, newspapers and agencies.

Unfortunately, on account of the Covid-19 pandemic, the ACSE activities and services have been reduced. The Italian language courses, employment advice and legal assistance continue on-line. The distribution of food also continues, though in a reduced form. Regrettably, many migrants are afraid to move as not all of them have their papers in order. ACSE hopes to keep the mobile dental surgery open at least two days a week: it is in great demand.

MOZAMBICO

Perpetual Vows in the time of the Virus

The Mozambican scholastic Mponda João Mponda, 34, expressed his definitive yes to God by taking perpetual vows on 26 April, the third Sunday of Easter, in the chapel of the Comboni community in Beira, his native city, in Mozambique.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, which led to a state of national emergency being declared by the Mozambican government, with strict measures of confinement and social distancing, the ceremony was held in a sober environment: only the confreres of the Beira community and those of Muxúngwè, where Mponda is doing his missionary service, and some close family members, were present.

The Eucharistic celebration was led by Fr. Leonello Bettini, the Delegate of the Provincial Superior, Fr. António Manuel Bogaio Constantino, now in Maputo. João Mponda himself animated the liturgy, playing the guitar and leading the hymns at the Mass.

After he pronounced his vows according to the formula, Mponda received from the hands of Fr. Leonello a Bible and a Cross, symbols showing that, on the path of the life of a missionary, the Word of God and the theology of the Cross – which means proclaiming and witnessing to Jesus who gave his life and is Risen – must never be absent.

At the end of the Mass, Fr. Leonello thanked God for the gift of the vocation of this young man which gives an increase in vigour to the missionary action of the Church and the Institute. He also remarked that, taking perpetual vows in a time of such great fears and suffering such as those the country of Mozambique and the whole world is going through, is providential, because it helps us to perceive and understand better the charism of St. Daniel Comboni, who understood the signs of his times and committed himself right to the end to the suffering, the poor and the abandoned.

On his part, Mponda expressed his thanks for everything he had received from God, his family and the Comboni Missionaries, and for the trust the Institute placed in him.

MEETING OF COMBONI BROTHERS IN EUROPE

Online meeting of Comboni Brothers in Europe

On the afternoon of 28 April, 20 Brothers based in Europe met “virtually” using the social network. Participating were Brothers of the provinces of Italy, Portugal, Spain, Poland, Germany (DSP), the District of the Curia and also the formators of the Brothers’ Centres (CIF) of Bogota (Colombia), Bro. Alberto Degan, and of Nairobi (Kenya), Bro. Matthias-Elie Adossi Koffissan Adekplovi. Fr. Fabio Baldan, Provincial Superior of the Province of Italy, was also present at the start of the meeting.

After greeting the participants and a moment of prayer, the points of the agenda were introduced: the present situation of the Brothers in Europe, presented by Bro. Alberto Lamana, Assistant General, the process of Brothers’ Vocational Promotion, the process of the CIF and proposals for the Assembly for Formation planned to be held this year in Maia (Portugal), on a date yet to be established.

During the fraternal dialogue, some points were shared such as the presence of the Brothers in the proposals and in vocational teams. Even though they have commitments within the Comboni communities, the Brothers must be “outgoing”, to the places and locations of sharing with youth; they must be willing to know and use the new means of social communication, to make known their vocation in the magazines and websites of the Institute, a vocation that is born of an experience of God and in response to the “needs of the Kingdom”.

The meeting was a nice experience and the brothers expressed their happiness at having met and shared some time together, thanks to the Internet.

LET US PRAY FOR OUR BELOVED DEAD

THE FATHER: António, of Fr. Jorge M. Pereira Brites (P).

THE BROTHERS: Armando, of Fr. Luigi Sergio Chesini (EGSD), Lawrence Lou, of Fr. Philip Zema (T); Hans, of Fr. Hubert Unterberger (DSP).

THE SISTERS: Dolores, of Fr. Juan Antonio González Nuñez (ET), Ermelina, of Fr. Egidio Melzani (I).

THE COMBONI MISSIONARY SISTERS: Sr. Margit Forster, Sr. Maria de Lurdes Magalhães, Sr. Ida Maria Gurini, Sr. Pia Lucia Piacentini.