Familia Comboniana 808 - June 2022

XIX General Chapter
1-30 June 2022

The XIX General Chapter of the Comboni Missionaries, drawing inspiration from the Biblical icon “I am the vine, you are the branches” (Jn 15,5), will take place from 1 to 30 June, at the Generalate of the Institute in Roma. Sixty-five chapter members are due to participate as well as four observers. The first four days will be devoted to preparation. The Chapter will officially start with the solemn Mass of Pentecost Sunday, 5 June.

Besides the five members of the General Council – 7% of the participants – the other capitulars are: from Anglophone Africa and Mozambique, 21 (30% of the total); America-Asia, 18 (27%); Europe, 16 (23%); Francophone Africa, 9 (13%). As to nationalities, the Comboni Missionaries called to the Chapter belong to 24 different nationalities: 30 Africans, 28 Europeans and 11 Americans. The nations with the most Chapter members are Italy (13), Uganda (7), DR Congo (6), Mexico, and Spain and Portugal with 5 each. The four observers are the General Secretaries of the Institute: Mission, Formation, Finance and the General Secretary. Overall, it is a fine cenacle of apostles and quite international, just as come Saint Daniel Comboni wanted – a truly ‘catholic’ enterprise.

The Chapter actually began some time ago when it was convoked by the Letter of Convocation dated 19 June 2020, which expected it to be held in September 2021. Due to the Covid pandemic, it was postponed to this month of June. During all this time, a synodal process of personal, community, circumscription and continental reflection was launched. The Pre-Capitular Commission gathered together all these reflections and proposals for new pathways in a document that will be presented to the Chapter as an “Instrument of Discernment”.

The Chapter will have three basic phases. The first is the preparatory phase which includes getting to know one another, the election of the various persons in charge of the services aimed at helping carry out the work, a retreat for prayer and some brief input on the missionary, synodal and fraternal Church along the lines of the Magisterium of Pope Francis. This will be followed by a phase devoted to listening to the various reports: those of the General Direction and the continent-circumscriptions, that of the Precapitular Commission on the four paths (Rule of Life, ministeriality, formation and the sustainability of the Institute), those of the Comboni Bishops, the Comboni Sisters (SMC), the Secular Comboni Missionaries (MSC) and the Comboni Lay Missionaries (CLM). The final phase will be one of discerning the fundamental elements to be dealt with during the Chapter with the choice of priorities and the paths to be followed in the coming years. Lastly, there will be the election of the Superior General and his Council.

The Declaration of the Closure of the Chapter is planned for 29 June and the concluding Mass will be celebrated on the following day, 30 June.

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

GENERAL NOTES OF CONSULTA N. 68 – MAY 2022

Appointments

During the 68th General Consulta, the General Council proceeded to make the following appointments:

With immediate effect from 18.5.2022

• Fr. Benedict Kaliya (CN) is appointed Vice-Provincial of the CN

As from 1.7.2022

• Fr. Fermo Bernasconi (C) is appointed Coordinator of the Ongoing Formation Centre and Superior of the OGFC Community/team
• Fr. Alberto de Oliveira Silva (C) is appointed the Person in Charge of Ongoing Formation at the General Level within the GSF and Bursar of the OGFC/CCS.
• Fr. Sylvester Hategek’Imana (KE) is appointed Superior and Formator of the Nairobi Scholasticate Community
• Fr. Bernard Domara Alagbé (KE) is appointed Formator of the Nairobi Scholasticate and Bursar of the same
• Fr. Tosi Corrado (CN) is appointed Formator of the Kinshasa Scholasticate
• Fr. Gaim Haileselassie (ER) is appointed Formator of the Asmara Scholasticate
• Fr. Mboka Ngere Faustin (EGSD) is appointed Formator of the Cairo-Beirut Formative Community
• Fr. Nzigiye Bruno (U) is appointed Father Master of the Namugongo Novitiate
• Fr. Fraile Gomez Juan Antonio (CN) is appointed Father Master of Magambe Novitiate
• Fr. Farronato Lorenzo (CN) is appointed Socius of the Father Master of Magambe Novitiate
• Fr. Davide De Guidi (MO) is appointed Socius of the Father Master of Nampula Novitiate
• Fr. Ezama Ruffino (NAP) is appointed the ad interim Contact person in the NAP for VIVAT International – N.Y.

The Council wishes to thank the confreres for their willingness to render these services of particular responsibility and entrusts their mandate to our Founder.

Capitulars who have resigned and their substitution

The following have resigned as delegates to the XIX General Chapter:

• Bro. Joel Cruz Reyes, representative of the mixed circumscription for the Brothers of A, PCA, M and the NAP for health reasons; he has been substituted by Bro. Fabio Patt.
• Fr. Alberto Pelucchi, Provincial of the London Province, for health reasons; he has been substituted by Fr. Alvarado Ayala Javier.

The Council thanks the two substitute confreres for their availability to carry out this important service to the entire Institute despite being notified only at the last minute. It wishes a swift recovery to the two confreres who were obliged to resign.

Communication concerning observers

The General Council, after having assessed the capacity of the Chapter House of EUR House, taking into account the need to maintain a certain distance between the participants in the Chapter during the plenary sessions, has decided to limit the permanent presence of observers to the minimum necessary. For this reason, only the General Secretaries, those recording the minutes and the facilitator will participate in the plenary sessions. Other speakers and guests will participate only for the days on which their presence is expected. The unusual date of the Chapter has also made it impossible for the representatives of the scholastics to participate since the vast majority of them are committed to their studies.

75^th Anniversary of Presence in Portugal

The GC joins the province of Portugal in celebrating the 75th anniversary of the opening of the house in Viseu, which also marks the beginning of our presence in this country. Together with the whole Institute, we thank the Lord for the gift that the Portuguese missionaries represent for the Institute and the Comboni mission in the world. We also remember all the relatives of our confreres, the benefactors and all the members of the Comboni Family. We ask that the intercession of Our Lady of Fatima may continue to accompany the Province in its work of evangelization.

Decree of the Pope to allow Brothers to be elected Superiors

By a rescript dated May 2022, Pope Francis changed canon 588 §2 of the CIC and the regulations of the Institutes regarding the access of non-clerical religious belonging to clerical Institutes of pontifical right, such as ours, to government offices at all levels. From this date, the appointment of a Brother as local superior can take place with the simple assent of the Superior General. Breaking a very long tradition, it is now possible for the brothers to assume the office of Circumscription Superior and of Superior General. For the first, without prejudice to the proper provisions regarding obtaining the necessary majority and the consent of the General Council, it is necessary to justify the reasons for the choice to the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. For the election as Superior General, the General Chapter must ask for written permission from the same Congregation. The response of the Congregation is based on the evaluation of the individual case and of the reasons given by the applicants.

This decision, which has long been urged by our General Chapters, is the result of the work done by a group of Institutes, including ours, under the aegis of the USG. It completes a journey of many years to achieve the recognition of the real equality of all the confreres in the same Fraternity.

First Professions

Bro. Mantegazza Giuseppe Luca (I) – Lecce - 06.1.2022
Sc. Ts'ooana April Karabo (RSA Lesotho) – Namugongo - 30.4.2022
Bro. Assai James Franco Esiak (SS) - Namugongo - 30.4.2022
Sc. Woldemariam Atinafu Assefa (ET) - Namugongo - 30.4.2022
Sc. Atwijukye Osward (U) - Namugongo - 30.4.2022
Sc. Kasereka Mwami Charles (CN) - Namugongo - 30.4.2022
Sc. Constant Mukataba Simiyu (KE) - Namugongo - 30.4.2022
Sc. Obuola James Vitalis (KE) - Namugongo - 30.4.2022
Sc. Phinis Joseph (MZ M) - Namugongo - 30.4.2022
Sc. Kigongo Edward (U) - Namugongo - 30.4.2022
Bro. Mihiretu Tundedo Lintamo (ET) - Namugongo - 30.4.2022
Sc. Mujurizi Acleo (U) - Namugongo - 30.4.2022
Sc. Musiime Joseph (U) - Namugongo - 30.4.2022
Sc. Kambale Musumba Oscar (CN) - Namugongo - 30.4.2022
Sc. Bimaywarugaba Otto (U) - Namugongo - 30.4.2022
Bro. Pasiya Vincent (MZ M) - Namugongo - 30.4.2022
Sc. Oloya Peter (U) - Namugongo - 30.4.2022
Sc. Petros Demisu Tefera (ET) - Namugongo - 30.4.2022
Bro. Simangi Dominic (SS) - Namugongo - 30.4.2022
Sc. Duku Lumago Thomas Eugenio (SS) - Namugongo - 30.4.2022
Sc. Muhindo Kasitu Vedastus (CN) - Namugongo - 30.4.2022
Sc. Dao Quang Vinh Francis Xavier (A VN) - Manila - 07.5.2022
Sc. Bokilini Lifeta John (CN) - Magambe - 08.5.2022
Sc. Idiakan David (CN) - Magambe - 08.5.2022
Sc. Agbokabulo Bayaa Jacques (CN) - Magambe - 08.5.2022
Sc. Kamambu Lemba Aaron (CN) - Magambe - 08.5.2022
Sc. Kambale Masambo Grace (CN) - Magambe - 08.5.2022
Sc. Kibulandumu Kiramfu Jules-Glodly (CN) - Magambe - 08.5.2022
Sc. Mumbere Mapendo Kanyandale (CN) - Magambe - 08.5.2022
Sc. Mumbere Kavuthe Delphin (CN) - Magambe - 08.5.2022
Bro. Mumbere Muhongya Alpha (CN) - Magambe - 08.5.2022
Sc. Ndemisa Giresse Otsha (CN) - Magambe - 08.5.2022
Sc. Paluku Mukiranya Adelard (CN) - Magambe - 08.5.2022
Sc. Senga Laurent Andalia (CN) - Magambe - 08.5.2022
Sc. Allayambaye Emmanuel Toguinouba (TCH) - Sarh - 08.5.2022
Sc. Ametepe Kokou Fabrice (T) - Sarh - 08.5.2022
Sc. Kegue Azonke Elom-Kossi Michel (T) - Sarh - 08.5.2022
Sc. Kpogo Komi Jules Amétéfé Aimé (T) - Sarh - 08.5.2022
Sc. Latoundji Affolabi O. Magister François (T B) - Sarh - 08.5.2022
Sc. Moutougoto Jean-Hilaire Diony (RCA) - Sarh - 08.5.2022
Sc. Saramale Saint Cyr Salvador Stanislas (RCA) - Sarh - 08.5.2022
Sc. Sovimi Sêtondji Constantin (T B) - Sarh - 08.5.2022
Sc. Tomety Yawo Emile (T) - Sarh - 08.5.2022
Sc. Aguehunde Mindessé Marc-Aurel (T) - Nampula - 21.5.2022
Sc. Apetokou Kossivi Paul (T) - Nampula - 21.5.2022

Perpetual Professions

Sc. Attigan Jean Koffi (T) - Djougou (BEN) - 29.04.2022
Sc. Deivith Harly Zanioli Gonçalves (BR) - Boa Vista (BR) - 14.05.2022

Ordinations

Fr. Felizardo João J. Ntsicuzacuenda (MO) - Tete (MO) - 07.05.2022
Fr. Inácio Manuel (MO) -  - Nampula (MO) - 15.05.2022

Holy Redeemer Guild

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

July                 01 – 15 KE           16 – 31 M

Prayer Intentions

June – We pray that the celebration of the XIX General Chapter of the Comboni Missionaries may bring such abundant fruits of joy and enthusiasm in rediscovering the charismatic experience of Saint Daniel Comboni as to render present today the mystery of the grace granted to him in the mission to the peripheries of human experience. Lord hear us.

July – We pray for the young volunteers who visit the missions of the Comboni Family in various parts of the world that their encounter with other peoples and cultures may strengthen their faith and Christian witness. Lord hear us.

Comboni liturgical calendar JUNE

Friday following the second Sunday after Pentecost

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Titular of the Institute                     Solemnity

Meaningful anniversaries JUNE

1     Anniversary of the foundation of the Institute

Saturday before Pentecost

The Virgin Mary, Queen of Apostles

3     Saint Charles Lwanga and companions, martyrs            Uganda

5     Saint Boniface, bishop and martyr                           Memoria DSP (South Tyrol, Austria, Germany)

Friday following the second Sunday after Pentecost

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Titular of the Institute               Solemnity  [Togo-Ghana-Benin]

Saturday after the solemnity of The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

The Immaculate Heart of Mary

Specialisations

On 28 October 2021, Fr. Andrew Bwalya defended the thesis entitled: “Examining the use of social media for Evangelisation among Catholic youth: a case of the Catholic Church in Nairobi” for the conferral of a Master of Arts in Communication at the Daystar University of Nairobi (Kenya).

Congratulations to our confrere.

The General Councils of the Comboni Missionaries and the Comboni Missionary Sisters pray together in the Vatican

On 19 May, the General Councils of the Comboni Missionary Sisters and the Comboni Missionaries went to the Polish Chapel, in the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, to celebrate the Eucharist together, giving thanks for the journey made as a Comboni family during this six-year period. and entrusting to the Lord and to Our Lady their General Chapters – that of the Comboni Missionaries will take place in June and that of the Comboni Sisters in October. The Mass was presided over by Fr. Tesfaye Tadesse, Superior General, while Sr. Eulália Capdevila Enríquez, general councillor of the Comboni sisters, gave a beautiful reflection. Starting from the words of Peter, from the first reading, she said: "these are words with a missionary flavour, words with a broad horizon, that of the universal love of God, words that do not leave us indifferent, since we too have been called to encounter other peoples of different cultures, of distant worlds, such as those encountered by the apostle himself… Peter, a man who touched the bottom, only to be transformed; a porous unstable rock, he was able to embrace his vulnerability and entrusted himself to Christ. Clinging to Christ, the living stone rejected by men, but chosen and precious before God, he too, Peter, was used as a living stone for the construction of a spiritual edifice. Peter did not turn away his gaze from Jesus, and in that meeting of eyes with his Master, while a rooster crowed, he received the grace of being able to be loved to the end ". And she concluded: “Comboni, like Peter, let himself be compelled by Christ to become today the living stone of the Church. Let us to ask for the grace of becoming living stones in Christ”.

BRASIL

Perpetual vows and diaconal ordination

On 14 May the Sc. Deivith Harly Zanioli Gonçalves made his perpetual vows and was ordained a deacon on 15 May. Deivith, a Brazilian from the state of Rondônia, did his postulancy in Curitiba (Brazil), the novitiate in Sahuayo (Mexico) and studied theology in Naples (Italy).

The perpetual vows ceremony took place in the Catholic Church of St. Mathews in Boa Vista, diocese of Roraima, run by the Comboni Missionaries. Fr Jovercino Sirqueira, representative of the provincial superior Fr. Dario Bossi was present to receive the vows. In his homily, he emphasized the values of religious life in the spirit of poverty, chastity and obedience.

The following day, the diaconal ordination of Deivith was held in the indigenous community of Vista Alegre, in the maloca, a large open shed where the community meets. A symbolic gesture for us Combonis in Brazil, to reaffirm the essence of the mission: the preferential option for the indigenous peoples.

The Eucharistic celebration, which began with traditional dances, was presided over by Msgr. Roque Paloschi, Archbishop of Porto Velho, Rondônia. Archbishop Roque encouraged the deacon to serve the people entrusted to him with humility and love.

These ceremonies fall within the context of the celebrations of the seventy years since the arrival of the Comboni Missionaries in Brazil. Present were the relatives of Deivith, the diocesan administrator, the diocesan vocational director, numerous priests, men and women religious and laypeople from the various parishes. We thank the Lord for the gift of the missionary vocation in the Church. (Fr. Teddy Keyali Njaya, mccj).

CONGO

Perpetual profession and first professions

On Sunday 24 April, in the presence of the Christian faithful, members of the Comboni family, the consecrated persons of the city and the priests who had come for the occasion, the Province celebrated the perpetual profession of the Sc. Raoul Kasoso, in the parish of Malia wa Mashaidi, in the archdiocese of Kisangani. The mass was presided over by Fr. Léonard Ndjadi Ndjate, provincial, who urged Raoul to welcome the gift of his consecration as an even greater good from the Lord and to nourish his consecration daily with prayer and listening to the word of God, with the Eucharist but also with fraternity to open up more and more and give oneself to the mission ad gentes and ad pauperes.

On Saturday 30 April there was the first profession of the 20 novices in Namugongo (diocese of Kampala). The Mass, presided over by Fr. Achilles Kiwanuka, provincial of Uganda, was attended by members of the Comboni family, relatives, friends and benefactors. Present were the provincials (and representatives) who had come to receive the vows of their respective novices: Fr. Radol Odhiambo Austine (Kenya), Fr. Burgers Jude Eugene (South Africa), Fr. Mumba Michael Nyowani (Malawi-Zambia), Fr. Achilles Kiwanuka (Uganda), Fr. Weldeghiorghis Asfaha Yohannes (vice-provincial of Ethiopia) and Fr. Léonard Ndjadi (Congo). The three newly professed Congolese, Kasereka Mwami Charles, Kambale Musumba Oscar and Muhindo Kasitu Vedastus, spent three years in Uganda; before entering the novitiate of Namugongo, they had done a year of language study in Layibi. We sincerely thank the novice masters Fr. Alenyo John Peter and Fr. Manuel Fidelino Gomes Jardim for having accompanied our young people in responsible freedom, creating a climate of trust and a very positive formative alliance.

 After their profession and before returning to Congo, the provincial led the three newly professed to the shrine of the martyrs of Uganda to pray for the grace of fidelity to Christ. The newly professed will spend a period of family vacation before going on to the scholasticate, Vedastus to Cape Coast (Ghana) and Oscar and Charles to Cairo.

On 8 May, the province of Congo once again had the grace of celebrating the first religious profession of 12 Comboni novices from the Magambe Novitiate, in the parish of Sant'Anna, in Isiro. The mass was attended by a large number of parishioners, men and women religious from various Institutes, parish priests, relatives, friends and benefactors. The Eucharistic celebration was presided over by Fr. Léonard Ndjadi Ndjate, provincial of the Congo, accompanied by the concelebrants and the deacon Crispin Mopembu.

In his homily, Fr. Léonard explained the meaning of the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience and recommended to the newly professed the importance of watching over their hearts so that they do not allow themselves to be conquered by worldliness. Towards the end of the Mass, the newly professed received the assignments to the Scholasticates and the IBC. The celebration then continued in the great hall of the parish.

With these 15 newly professed, the number of Congolese Comboni missionaries rises to 129. But these vocations are not for the Congo, they are for the Institute and for the Church.

We thank the Lord who continues to call young people and we thank St Daniel Comboni whose holiness still fascinates the young people of Africa today through the presence, witness and missionary activity of so many Comboni Missionaries. With heartfelt thanks to the formators, Fr. Enzo Bellucco and Fr. Alfredo Neres, who accompanied these young people with great patience, love and rigour, we wish the new missionaries fidelity to their religious commitments and a good continuation of their preparation for the mission where each has been sent. (Fr. Léonard Ndjadi Ndjate)

CURIA

A whole life at the service of the Institute and the Mission

From 25 to 29 April 2022, the Institute's internal auditors, Fr. Manuel Ferreira Horta and Fr. Philip Zema, met in Rome, at the house of the General Curia, to carry out their annual auditing of the accounts of the General Treasurer and the Procure service. Also taking part was Bro. Guillermo Casas, the newly appointed auditor, who begins his service for the next three years, replacing Fr. Manuel Horta, to whom the whole Institute is grateful for the valuable service performed with competence and dedication for 4 periods (12 years).

From 2 to 5 May, the work of the Economic Council (made up of eight members in addition to the auditors already mentioned) continued online. The main activity of the meeting was the revision of the 2021 economic reports of all the constituencies of the Institute.

On April 28, Fr. Horta was invited to preside over the celebration of the Eucharist for the community of the Curia. On that occasion, he recalled some significant moments of his missionary life during which he held various responsibilities and numerous positions in Mozambique, Portugal and the Curia. Fr Horta concluded by saying: “Now I am in Famalicão as bursar, in charge of the kitchen, the maintenance of the house, ministry in the parishes and ministry of Reconciliation in our house which is always in great demand. On the threshold of eighty years, I give way to the younger ones, hoping also to leave an example of a simple life, always and totally dedicated to the Institute and the Mission ".

25 years of religious life

On the evening of 18 May, the Comboni Missionaries of the General Curia in Rome celebrated the 25th anniversary of the first religious profession of their two brothers, Bro. Alberto Lamana, a Spaniard from Zaragoza, and Bro. Alberto Parise, an Italian from Padua. In the same Eucharistic celebration, presided over by Fr. Tesfaye Tadesse, Superior General, we thanked God for the 70 years of Bro. Daniele Giusti, current secretary general. “Three Comboni brothers in celebration - underlined Fr. Tesfaye - on the very day when the Holy Father granted the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life the faculty to authorize the conferral of the office of Major Superior on non-clerical members of clerical religious Institutes of pontifical right ".

Brother Alberto Lamana, 51, after studying at the CIF in Nairobi (1997-2001), was assigned to South Sudan, where he remained until 2011. He was then sent to Spain. During the 2015 General Chapter, he was elected assistant general. During the Mass, he shared the names of the confreres and the most significant moments of his life as a missionary: “my first missionary experience, immediately after the CIF, was in Mapuordit, in South Sudan. I had the grace of having a community that accepted me and gave me responsibility and trust. Here I took the first steps in a mission fully inserted and close to the excluded in the heart of the Dinka people. Through the difficulties of language, malaria and the heat, the clash of cultures and also of the Church, I understood that the mission must be rooted in an experience of faith, nourished day by day in prayer. I have learned over the years that it is more important to give priority to human relationships than to work efficiency ".

A particularly important work carried out by Br. Lamana in South Sudan was the technical installation of the Catholic Radio Network (CRN). The CRN was founded by the Comboni Family to mark the canonization of Daniel Comboni on 5 October 2003. Radio Bakhita was the first station to broadcast on 8 February 2007 in Juba. The CRN has nine radio stations, eight in South Sudan and one in the Nuba Mountains in Sudanese territory. The stations belong to their respective dioceses and the network itself belongs to the episcopal conference.

“The mission is always different from the one we have idealized. My commitment to the CRN - said Bro. Lamana - gave me the opportunity to get to know the different dioceses of the country and to work in the formation of many young people to enable them to continue to carry out the network project ".

Brother Alberto Parise, born in February 1967, worked for about 16 years in Kenya and, since 2019, has been a member of the General Secretariat of the Mission and coordinator of the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation sector in Rome. He says: "To think that I have already lived 25 years of Comboni missionary life seems strange to me, I seem to be at the beginning of the journey, I always feel like a beginner. But when I look at the experience of these years, I can only feel profound wonder at what the Risen One has done in my life: the encounters with humanity, being welcomed by the people of Kenya, being supported by the confreres and the coming into close contact with that regeneration of Africa with Africa that Comboni had prophetically foreseen”.

Brother Daniele Giovanni Giusti, a medical doctor, was born in Somma Lombardo, in northern Italy. He worked in Uganda from 1986 to 2009. In the 2009 General Chapter, he was elected assistant general for six years. From 2016 to 2020, he was in charge of the AAC (Centre for sick /elderly confreres) in Milan. In 2021, he was appointed General Secretary and legal representative of the Comboni Institute. Bro. Daniele made his first vows in 1986 and his perpetual profession in 1989.

During the Mass, he expressed his gratitude for the years that were given to him and for the grace of fidelity which, despite his fragility, the Lord allowed him to maintain: "Nothing can be taken for granted and when one becomes aware of this fact, as on the day of one's anniversary, everything that has happened and is happening can be accepted as a sign of the presence of the Lord in the concreteness of life which, in this way, in spite of everything, becomes joyful”.

EGSD

Perpetual vows and Holy Orders

The "dream" becomes reality: every time we think or speak of our founder St. Daniel Comboni, we are led to the awareness of what for him was the great mission of "saving Africa with Africans". Once again, in the historic Cordi Jesu shrine in Cairo, Egypt, a sanctuary built in the place where our founder himself placed his altar to celebrate the Lord's Supper, this dream took another step towards its fulfilment. On April 25, 2022, it witnessed the perpetual profession of one of our Egyptian brothers, Mina Anwar. An occasion honoured by the presence of Christians of many nationalities, but above all of those who accompanied a son of this land towards his life commitment to serve the Lord in the Institute. The occasion was also enlivened by the presence of our Comboni confrere, now Bishop of the Latin Vicariate of Alexandria, Mons. Claudio Lurati who was the main celebrant.

An event like this, which makes the Comboni mission a reality, becomes for every Comboni Missionary a sign of God's fidelity to the desire of our founder. Many Institutes and religious orders can testify to the shift of vocations to the African and Latin American continents.

“All roads lead to a place called Imbaba”, near the Church of the Virgin Mary, where on Saturday 29 April 2022, after almost 32 years, the Comboni family in Egypt attended the diaconal and priestly ordination of two children of this land. The invocation of the Holy Spirit and the laying on of hands by Bishop Tomas Adly of Giza, Fayum and Beni Suef have given us the gift of a priest, Fr. Mina Albeer, and a deacon, Mina Anwar.

Without doubt, this is the fruit of the brothers and sisters who have witnessed to the Gospel by their way of life, thus allowing the efficacy of the Word to become flesh in their lives and to attract others on this path.

We thank God for the gift of a vocation and also for the wisdom with which he allowed the creation of this Centre in Cordi Jesu, whose goal is the animation, especially of young people. The sanctuary is also home to a university chaplaincy which is particularly concerned with nourishing the spirituality of foreign university students in Cairo, who were at the centre of the animation of the celebration of perpetual vows, especially with their singing. The Centre also takes care of young South Sudanese and Sudanese who study in Egyptian universities, with the prospect of involving young Egyptians in the future. We are truly witnessing the salvation of Africa by Africans!

The Spanish government recognised the educational work of Fr. Jorge Naranjo

The Spanish Minister of Foreign affairs and International Cooperation has conferred on Fr. Jorge Naranjo the "The Cross Isabel the Catholic". The diploma accompanying the Cross is signed by the Grand Master of the Order, the King of Spain, His Majesty Philip VI, and by the Grand Chancellor of the Order, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. The conferral ceremony took place on Wednesday 25 May at the Spanish Embassy in Sudan.

The ambassador, H.E. Isidro González Afonso, conferred the Cross on Fr. Naranjo for his role in "fostering relations of friendship and cooperation between Spain and Sudan through his service in the field of education". Jorge quoted two phrases that inspire his way of understanding these relations of cooperation and friendship. According to Antoine de Saint Exupéry, "friendship does not consist in looking at one another, but in looking together in the same direction". And for St. Daniel Comboni, "the Catholic looked at Africa not through the pitiable lens of human interest, but in the pure light of faith; there he saw an infinite multitude of brothers who belonged to the same family as himself, with one common Father in heaven "(W 2742).

Through both expressions, God calls us to build a world in which all enjoy equal rights, duties and dignity and live together as brothers and sisters seeking the common good.

Fr Jorge Naranjo explained that this is the vision he seeks to instil in the students and staff of the Comboni College of Science and Technology (CCST), where he has been working since December 2012.

Darfurian, Nuban, Nordic, Beni Amar, Ethiopian, Nuer, Dinka, Oromo, and Tigrayan students, some from conflict-besieged regions, others who are Sudanese IDPs and refugees, all of these work together in the College where they are invited to feel at home and prepared to build a society that integrates everyone.

The event was attended by the Deputy Head of Mission of the Spanish Embassy, ​​Alfonso Herrero Corral, the Secretary of the Nunciature, Msgr. Domenico Vitolo, the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Khartoum, Fr. Sami Bakhit, some confreres, the Comboni Sisters, the staff of the CCST and some members of the Spanish community in Khartoum.

ITALIA

The “Little Synod” of the European Comboni Brothers in Verona

Tradition has it that in the days around the first of May the "Brothers Conference" is always held in the Italian province and so, after two years of pandemic and virtual meetings, this year the tradition of the meeting has resumed. Meeting place: The Mother House in Verona; participants: the Brothers from the Italian province and also from the provinces of Spain and Germany, in total, a group of 26 Brothers.

We began on Friday, April 29, recalling that the conference is part of a journey: the wider journey of the reality that surrounds us (a difficult and tragic reality but which must once again lead us to be on the side of the victims); the journey of the Church which is preparing to celebrate the Synod on Synodality in 2023 and, finally, the journey of the Comboni Institute which in less than a month will lead us to the celebration of the XIX General Chapter. Synodality is therefore the keyword of the Brothers 2022 conference.

We tried to put synodality into practice and on the first day, we listened to our stories and our experiences leading us to seek together the characteristic elements of the figure of the Brother.

Then, we listened to the progress made at the level of the Italian and also European provinces with regard to youth vocation ministry, with the good news of the three possible postulants for next October (two Brother candidates and one priest candidate).

Br. Alberto Lamana, Assistant General, took stock of the reality of the Brothers in the Institute and Fr. Luigi Codianni introduced us to the digital world of the new Nigrizia platform.

A period was also dedicated to listening to the realities in which the confreres work in Germany and Spain, to an in-depth study on the Comboni work for human promotion (OCPU) in Camarate (Portugal) and, of course, to a presentation of the issues on the threshold of the next Chapter.

Synod means walking with and so on the first day of May, we wanted to set out to meet our confreres in Castel d'Azzano. With them, the celebration of Mass and lunch.

Thanks to the communities of Verona Casa Madre and Castel d'Azzano who welcomed us; thanks to all the confreres who participated; we shall meet ... in a year’s time (God willing). (Bro. Antonio Soffientini, mccj)

Fr. Sartori Venerable: the mission under the flag of sanctity

On Sunday 1 May 2022, a beautiful and meaningful ceremony to celebrate the recognition by the Church of the Venerability of Fr. Bernardo Sartori was held in Falzè di Trevignano, his birthplace. The vast and convinced participation of the people was made even more significant by the presence of the local Bishop of Treviso, Msgr. Michele Tommasi, by a substantial group of parish priests of the diocese and in particular by the parish priest of Falzè di Trevignano, Rev. Silvio Caterino, and by the two previous parish priests, Rev. Bruno Cavallin and Rev. Rolando Nigris. The Institute and the Italian Province were also well represented, especially the community of Padua, together with Msgr. Guerrino Perin, and that of Verona, with the particularly significant presence of Bro. Giovanni Bonafini, the Combonian who found the body of Fr. Sartori on Easter Sunday.

In addition to the intervention of the bishop, there was a message from the Superior General, Fr. Tesfaye Tadesse, read by the Provincial of Italy, Fr. Fabio Baldan, emphasising the greatness of Fr. Sartori in these words: “Fr. Bernardo Sartori was a missionary of great spiritual calibre who, in the mission field, left an indelible mark at the beginning of the evangelization of that part of Northern Uganda called West Nile, in the missions he founded or restored to their primitive fervour. In fact, Lodonga, Koboko, Otumbari and Arivo are now parishes all characterized by the Marian mystery, even in their own material structures. Thanks to the enlightened and tireless pastoral action of the new Venerable, it was possible to establish dialogue and obtain a significant number of conversions in an almost totally Islamized environment. In the shadow of Mary, Mediatrix of all graces and Sultana of Africa, fervent Christian communities are currently flourishing ".

“May the new Venerable, - concluded Fr. Tesfaye - constitute for his native Treviso Church an attractive example of apostolic priestly life, of missionary openness and generous availability in order to spread the Gospel and, for us Comboni Missionaries, to be a stimulus and call to live our charism as missionaries ad gentes ever more radically”.

On the occasion, Fr. Arnaldo Baritussio, Postulator General of the Institute, spoke entitling his address "A pedestal that does not disturb. Father Bernardo Sartori, a venerable Comboni missionary”.

“When the saint is right - said Fr. Arnaldo - everyone is happy and above we all understand that the only way to revive tired spirits closed in on themselves and to make pastoral care more incisive, is necessarily to aim high, without fear, that is, to envisage holiness as a horizon and the missionary spirit as a revitalizing element ".

Summer Camps of the Comboni Family in Italy

Not even the difficulties of the pandemic have managed to eliminate the summer camps, for young people aged 18 to 35, proposed by the Comboni Family, and so here we are again, at the beginning of the summer of 2022, to re-propose missionary training and information camps. Proposals for everyone and everyone, for those who want to experience service, sharing and meeting even in the summer. We are waiting for you.

Palermo (24-31 July) at the confines of immigration and the search for the Other.
Ventimiglia (12-21 August) to know and come face to face with the experience of those who are forced to migrate and daily see their dreams shattered on the wall of rejection.
Riace (1-9 August) to live together with Mimmo Lucano the dream of welcoming.
Granada/Spain (12-21 August) to experiment concretely our daily solidarity.
From Verona to Limone (1-10 August) walking each day in the footsteps of St Daniel Comboni.
Naples (19-27 August), in the Sanità quarter, to learn to read the Bible with the eyes of the poor and those of creation.

Further information available at: www.giovaniemissione.it

KENYA

Mundo Negro Fraternity Award 2021

On 7 May, the parish of Kariobangi, in Nairobi (Kenya), received the “Mundo Negro Fraternity Award 2021”. The presentation took place during the celebration of the XXIV Africa Encounter, which was held on the same day on the theme “An urban continent”. The award recognizes the work of human promotion and evangelization carried out above all in Korogocho, one of the slums of the Kenyan capital, around which the Dandora landfill extends. The parish priest of Kariobangi, the Combonian Fr. Andrew Wanjohi, who a few days earlier had participated in a training meeting - in the exhibition hall of Mundo Negro - during which The Africa Special 2022, which the magazine publishes every three years, in May, was also presented. This issue collects the factsheets of all African countries and statistical tables on society, education, health, women, economics and religion.

The parish of Kariobangi was erected in 1974, the year in which the Comboni missionaries arrived in the area. Three other religious institutes currently work with them: the Missionaries of Charity, the Franciscan Sisters for Africa and the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Word. The 20,000 Catholics of the parish - 18% of the population - are divided between the three parish churches: the central one, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, the chapel of Saint Daniel Comboni, in Huruma, and that of Saint John, in Korogocho.

Comboni Lay Missionaries: a new opening in Kenya

On Sunday 15 May, Msgr. Maurice Anthony Crowley, Bishop of the diocese of Kitale, officially inaugurated and blessed the new house of the Comboni Lay Missionaries (CLM) in Kitelakapel (parish of Kacheliba), among the Pokot people in Kenya. We accompany this new CLM community with our prayers.

Members of the international CLM community, Linda Micheletti, from Italy, and Josephine Loree, from Kenya, participated in this historic event. Also present at the ceremony were several representatives of the Comboni family, including Beatrice, Margaret and Alexina of the CLM of Kenya, Fr. Mose Chrisantus Keengwe and Fr. Ndagij'Imana Charles, some confreres from Nairobi, Fr. Korir John Kipkemoi - representing the provincial of Kenya, Fr. Radol Austine Odhiambo - and many Christians and students from surrounding schools.

MOZAMBIQUE

Record year for ordinations

Six Mozambican Comboni Missionaries from the central and northern regions of the country were to be ordained to the priesthood in 2022. Elias Samuel, Inácio Manuel and Felizardo João Ntsicuzacuenda have already been ordained. In the coming months, José Jeremias Salvador, in August, and Moisés Zacarias Daniel and Manuel Novais Quembo, will be ordained in October. The province currently has 20 pre-postulants, 6 novices and 20 scholastics.

The most recent priestly ordinations were those of Felizardo João Ntsicuzacuenda, in the diocese of Tete, last May 7, and that of Inácio Manuel, in Nampula, on May 8, Good Shepherd Sunday.

Felizardo João, 32, was ordained by Msgr. Diamantino Guapo Antunes, bishop of Tete, in the sports facilities of Nhamayabué, in Mutarara. In his homily, the bishop thanked the Comboni Missionaries for all the work done in the diocese of Tete.

Fr António Manuel Bogaio Constantino, provincial, thanked the bishop for having accepted to ordain Felizardo in his native land and all the confreres who worked from 1982 to 1996 in this region, especially in the difficult times of the civil war; in particular, he recalled Fr. Leonello Bettini, Fr. Giacomo Palagi, Fr. Francisco de Assis Colombi, Fr. Emilio Franzolin (died in 2011), and Fr. Claudio Crimi (died in 2020). Finally, he communicated to Felizardo his appointment as a formator for the pre-postulancy in Nampula.

Inácio Manuel, 36, was ordained by Msgr. Inácio Saure, Archbishop of Nampula, in the parish of Santa Cruz, in Nampula. Fr. Inácio was born in the district of Moma, about 200 km south of Nampula.

Archbishop Saure underlined the responsibilities of the priestly ministry by stressing that the priest is not an official, but a good shepherd capable of giving his life for others, as Jesus did.

Fr. José Joaquim Luís Pedro, Vice-Provincial of Mozambique, thanked the Archbishop, relatives and all those present for the preparation and implementation of the beautiful and lively ceremony. Finally, he wished the new priest abundant blessings from God in his new apostolic and missionary work in Uganda, where he was assigned by his superiors.

PORTUGAL

Viseu: meeting of the Former Students Association

After two years of "interregnum" due to the pandemic, we have joyfully resumed the tradition of the annual meeting of former students of Comboni seminaries in Portugal. Some, especially the older ones, were unable to participate for health reasons, but in the end, a hundred or more attended.

Resuming the custom of the first Saturday of May, a good group of "young people more or less old" arrived in the seminary of Viseu. It was also a question of celebrating the 75th anniversary of the arrival in Viseu of Fr Giovanni Cota - back in 1947 - to establish the first Comboni foundation in Portugal. It was nice to be able to celebrate the anniversary in exactly the same place - which, at the time, was called the Santa Eugenia farm - where our missionary presence began.

The older ones made every effort to remember and tell of the adventures of our pioneers, who arrived here to train Portuguese-speaking missionaries who would go to work in Mozambique.

The Mass was presided over by the Bishop of Viseu, Msgr. António Luciano, who as a young infirmarian, took part in our meetings for the 'vocationed'. The prelate thanked the Comboni Missionaries first of all for the many missionaries who began their formation process in this house and who were then sent not only to Mozambique but to many other mission territories. He then underlined how our presence of missionary animation in all the parishes of the diocese, over the years, has renewed the life of many local Christian communities. The presence of the Comboni Missionaries in the parishes has not only aroused new missionary vocations but has also inspired many other young people to consecrate their lives to the service of God in other vocations of the Church.

Before lunch – a solemn one, of course! - the bishop blessed the memorial in the garden in front of the house: a metal plaque where we find "artistically" written the names of all the missionaries who passed through this 'Seminário das Missões'.

For our elderly missionaries residing here, it was also a very welcome opportunity to meet old seminary companions again, with many beautiful memories to share. It is up to us, now, to dream of the future. (Fr. Fernando Domingues, mccj)

Meeting of the “Under-fifties”

Eight Comboni Missionaries under the age of 50 (five Africans, two Europeans and one American) working in the provinces of Spain and Portugal met in Viseu from 9 to 13 May 2022.

The meeting was organized by the coordinators of ongoing formation of the two provinces: Fr. Miguel Ángel Llamazares and Fr. Manuel Machado. The goal was to reflect and share experiences lived on a personal, community and pastoral level for mutual enrichment.

Three important moments characterized the meeting: training and reflection on interculturality, sharing in groups and visiting some places of touristic and religious interest in Portugal.

The formative moment was animated by Fr. Manuel Augusto Lopes Ferreira, who proposed a reflection on interculturality and shared some points on fraternal life in community, in relation to our charism and our mission. He also recalled the collaborative experience that Portugal and Spain had in the 1960s.

In the afternoon of the second day, we visited the Museo Nacional del Pan and the Sierra de la Estrella, where the highest point in Portugal is located: a natural landscape of great beauty.

The highlight of the meeting was the pilgrimage to the Shrine of Fatima, on 12 and 13 May, to participate in the vigil of the feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. A beautiful meeting with Mary and Jesus in a beautiful celebration presided over by Msgr. Peña Parra, a member of the Vatican Secretariat of State, which was attended by more than 250,000 pilgrims. It was an unforgettable experience.

These days allowed us to strengthen hope and trust between us and to work with a common vision, each in his own position. (Fr. Gbama Nsusu Boniface Junior, mccj)

RCA

Fr. Giorgetti visits the Delegation

The General Bursar, Fr. Angelo Giorgetti, visited Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, from 23 to 30 April last, for finance training work at the Institute level. All the Comboni Missionaries who work in the country participated in the event.

Among the topics presented were the Report on the economy to the next XIX General Chapter, some elements of the legal framework, the Comboni economy and the Total Common Fund, accounting principles, the use of Excel sheets and guidelines on the preparation of projects. The confreres showed great interest and contributed with commitment to carrying out the work. This gives hope that the tools offered can help the Comboni delegation to embark on a journey of self-sufficiency lived in fraternal communion and open to mutual solidarity.

SOUTH AFRICA

The many reasons to be grateful for blessings received
Visit of the Superior General and the Vicar-General

During the month of April, our Province was blessed in many ways. First of all, with the long-awaited visit of the Superior General, Fr. Tesfaye Tadesse G., and of the Vicar General, Fr. Jeremias dos Santos Martins. A visit that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, had been postponed until a later date: we are the last constituency to officially host them before the next General Chapter.

Fr. Tesfaye and Fr. Jeremias arrived in Johannesburg, as planned, on April 3 and, although coinciding with the hectic Lenten and Easter hours, all the confreres of the Province welcomed this visit as a moment of grace and communion with the whole Institute.

The fifth and sixth of April were devoted to the meeting at Maria Trost with the confreres of the three communities of the Lowveld (Waterval, Acornhoek and Maria Trost). It was then the turn of the community of the Scholasticate of Pietermaritzburg, where Fr. Tesfaye and Fr. Jeremias, accompanied by the provincial, Fr. Jude Eugene Burgers, stayed from 7 to 10 April for personal meetings and meetings with the whole community.

This was followed by a visit to the communities in the Johannesburg / Pretoria area, namely the provincial house, Orange Farm, Silverton and Mahube Valley.

In the last few days, Fr. Tesfaye and Fr. Jeremias also made a fraternal visit to the community of the Comboni Sisters in Mahube Valley to congratulate them on the 150th anniversary of the founding of their Institute.

Finally, on April 19, a meeting of the Provincial Council was held which was also attended by the "Visitors from Rome", sharing an overview of the visit and giving some suggestions for the further growth of the Province.

Workshop

Another blessing we received was the participation of the multi-cultural community of the Pietermaritzburg Scholasticate, which boasts nine nationalities, in the workshop organized by the Theological Institute of St. Joseph, Cedara. It was a great opportunity because the task of building a truly intercultural community is an ongoing work for all of us.

Celebrations

On 25 April we celebrated the 40th anniversary of Fr. Francis Thuli Manana and Fr. John Baptist Keraryo Opargiw.

Then there was April 30th, with a double blessing. First, April Karabo Ts'ooana, a finalist novice from Lesotho, made his first religious profession in Namugongo, Uganda. We warmly welcome this gift from a new confrere who has joined the Institute through our Province.

Secondly, on the same day, eleven scholastics from three different continents, Asia (1), America (2) and Africa (8), renewed their religious vows in the parish church of St. Joan of Arc in Pietermaritzburg.

The Mass was presided over by Fr. John Baptist Keraryo Opargiw, superior of the community, assisted by deacon Peter Otieno, missionary of Marianhill, and by the concelebrants Fr. Aldo Sierra Moreno and Fr. Benno Singer. The celebration was attended by faithful from the parish of St. Anthony, the Missionaries of Africa, the Marianhill Missionaries and the formation communities of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The main celebrant underlined the spiritual and prophetic value and the importance of the religious vows of chastity, poverty and obedience in our world today.

The scholastics renewed their religious profession, each remembering their own vocational journey. Then, full of trust in God, they publicly declared their "yes" to the Lord who calls whoever he wants. Fr. John Baptist received the vows of the scholastics in the name of their respective Major Superiors.

Ubi Missa ibi mensa! So, from the table of the Mass, we moved to the table of fraternity, sharing an excellent meal with the guests. Then, in a moment of entertainment, a poem about Comboni by the scholastic Simon Y. Tap and a song by the scholastics Romeo Boncales and Fernando Uribe Mendoza were presented and two beautiful letters by the scholastic Adolf Kisibo were read. Scholastic Hermann Djimini and Fr. John Baptist then shared the meaning of religious vows. The latter also took the opportunity to share the joys and challenges he experienced during his 40 years of religious consecration. Music and dances accompanied our celebration. It was a truly memorable day that we concluded by renewing our commitment to prayer that we may continue walking in the light of the risen Christ, always supported by his inexhaustible grace. (Fr. John Baptist Keraryo Opargiw, mccj)

TCHAD

Formation towards social conflict resolution

From 20 to 24 April, in the parish of San Michele Arcangelo in Bodo, diocese of Doba, a formation meeting was held on the themes of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) aimed at JPIC animators of our parishes in Chad. It is the annual formation event that the Delegation offers to the pastoral agents with whom we share the evangelizing mission in the different areas of the country where we are present.

The goal is to foster awareness of JPIC starting from a reflection on the theme "Techniques for resolving social conflicts" and sharing experiences that allow us to understand and offer solutions to social conflicts starting from the Social Doctrine of the Church and from the vision of JPIC.

Kasereka Amini Wasingya prepared a PowerPoint presentation on the subject of formation. One of the most common causes of conflicts between farmers and shepherds is access to pastures: the herds (cows, goats and even camels) during this period leave the north and north-east areas, usually grazing land, to migrate to the south. Often these migrations cause serious environmental, social and economic damage because there is a lack of compliance with the laws that in theory should regulate such migrations. There is no land code in Chad, which creates enormous political and economic problems. The shepherds and herdsmen with their beasts do as they please, destroying the fields and causing strong tensions that result in gratuitous and often unpunished acts of violence.

The celebration of the Eucharist on Sunday, together with the faithful of the parish, marked the conclusion of this moment of formation. The interaction during group work, lunch breaks, chatting together, all contributed to creating a fraternal atmosphere among us, encouraging each other to have a real commitment to JPIC, in order to help defuse the conflicts that cause so much violence, hatred and misunderstanding. (Bro. Enrico Gonzales, mccj)

LET US PRAY FOR OUR BELOVED DEAD

THE MOTHER: Donata, of Fr. Paolo Latorre (I).

THE BROTHER: Ismael, of Bro. Armando Ramos González (M).

THE COMBONI MISSIONARY SISTERS: Sr. Agnese Avogaro, Sr. Rosa Lamonaca, Sr. Nazzarena Mambrin, Sr. M. Giacoma Alocco, Sr. Marina Tortorella and Sr. M. Cesarina Lazzarotto.