Familia Comboniana 838 - March 2025

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

New Superior General of the Comboni Missionaries

On 22st February, Father Luigi Fernando Codianni, former general councillor, was elected superior general of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus (MCCJ). Father Luigi has considerable religious and missionary experience in the areas of administration and government service. He served in the Comboni circumscriptions of Brazil and Italy.

Father Luigi was born on June 13, 1964, in Celenza Valfortore (FG), Italy. He entered the Institute with his first religious profession in 1988 in Venegono Superiore (Italy). From 1988 to 1993, he studied theology in São Paulo (Brazil). On 15^th May 1993, he was ordained a priest in Celenza Valfortore, in the diocese of Lucera-Troia. After carrying out his first pastoral commitment in Italy, from 1993 to 2001, he was assigned to the province of Northeast Brazil, becoming provincial superior from 2005 to 2010. In 2011, he returned to Italy, where, among other commitments, he was provincial treasurer. In the General Chapter of 2022, he was appointed general councillor, later taking on the role of following the circumscriptions of Europe, the economic sector, and legal aspects and legal representation.

Perpetual professions

Ordinations

Holy Redeemer Guild

March:            01 – 07 CO          08 – 15 E                16 – 31 DSP

April:               01 – 15 CN           16 – 30 EC

Prayer intentions

March – That Saint Joseph, guardian of the Holy Family, may help all the members of our Institutes to share all that they are and have, even if apparently insignificant, and may ensure that, following his example, we may give the best of ourselves and our very lives in the service of the plan of salvation of God the Father for the regeneration of all peoples. Lord hear us.

April – For all the countries of the world, especially those where we are present as a Comboni family, so that we may always seek the common good and motivate Christians to social and political commitment. Lord hear us.

Meaningful anniversaries

MARCH

APRIL

Publications

Daniel Cerezo Ruiz, Un hijo de papel – La itinerancia misionera de san Daniel Comboni (‘A Paper Son – The Missionary Itinerancy of Saint Daniel Comboni’), Editorial Mundo Negro, Madrid, 2025, pp. 168.

In the mid-19^th century, a mother of eight children sees seven of them die at a young age. The remaining son discovers that God has given him a missionary vocation to carry out in Africa. A few weeks after his arrival on the continent, full of enthusiasm, he sent a photo of himself to his mother, from whose mouth flows the eloquent phrase: “I have only one paper son left.” That son was Daniel Comboni.

Missionary itinerancy, not without obstacles, opens spaces and scenarios to face paths unimaginable in today’s Church. Comboni’s commitment to the peripheries of the world has left behind a fascinating trail for every disciple and missionary of Jesus Christ.

Comboni spirituality was one of the priorities of the last General Chapter of the Institute. Against the backdrop of itinerancy and sending, typically missionary and Comboni characteristics, the book aims to promote and emphasise the Comboni spirituality in which the missionary is reflected and, at the same time, to satisfy the thirst for missionary spirituality.

With an interactive style, the volume involves the reader and helps his reflection, through the memory of Comboni, reading his own missionary life in a key of itinerancy. It is suitable for spiritual exercises, retreats, meditations, formation meetings and ongoing formation. Un Hijo de Papel offers the Comboni world and its supporters a reading which interacts with Daniel Comboni, the mission and his own life. The author, a Comboni missionary, completed this essay while on the journey of his missionary experience in Africa and China.

APDESAM

Annual meeting at Chizongwe – Zambia

The annual meeting of the Assembly of Provincials and Delegates of Anglophone Africa and Mozambique (APDESAM) was held in Chizongwe, Zambia, from 17^th to 21^st February 2025. All members were present: Brother Alberto Lamana (representative of the General Council), Father Diego Dalle Carbonare (EGSD), Brother Gédéon Mboma Ngunza (representative of the Brothers), Father Michael Mumba (MZ), Father Gregor Schmidt (SS), Father José Joaquim Pedro (MO), Father Andrew Wanjohi (KE), Father Anthony Kibira (U), Father Yohannes Asfaha (ET), Father Gaim Haileselassie (ER) and Father John Baptist Keraryo Opargiw (RSA).

Father Michael, after warmly welcoming the participants, led a short reflection, which served as a moment of ongoing formation, with the clear invitation to ‘feed the hungry’ while we exercise our leadership service.

Brother Alberto and Father John Baptist, in their opening speeches, mentioned that this year’s annual meeting is the last of our three-year leadership service, which also takes place in the context of a transition in the leadership of our Institute.

The three-day meeting got into the heart of the work with numerous reports from the circumscriptions, the sectors (Formation, Mission and Finance), the life and ministries of the Brothers, and the common projects of APDESAM.

A very important moment was the final reading and approval of the revised version of the APDESAM Charter 2025, which will offer guidelines for our life and mission in the near future. A significant reference was made to the next Intercapitular Assembly scheduled for September 2025 in Rome.

The annual meeting in Chizongwe was truly a moment of communion, fraternity and clarification and deepening of our continental identity. We are very grateful to the circumscription of Malawi/Zambia that hosted us and to all the members for their presence and active participation.

The news of the election of the new Superior General, Father Luigi Codianni, reached us as we were already leaving on the day of departure. However, we all promised to remain faithful to the new ‘supreme moderator’ and ready to collaborate with him. (Father John Baptist Keraryo Opargiw, mccj, continental coordinator of APDESAM)

BRASIL

Two young men consecrate to God for the mission

The testimony of the life of Saint Daniel Comboni, thanks to the strength of his missionary charism, continues to inspire young people from all over the world who, with joy and generosity, consecrate their lives to God and to the mission of the Kingdom through the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience.

Alex Geraldo Nunes, a Brazilian, born in Capela Nova, Minas Gerais, is one of these restless and courageous young people who have decided to consecrate their lives to the mission. He entered the Institute of the Comboni Missionaries, did his missionary formation in Brazil, Mexico and Peru, and pronounced his definitive ‘yes’ to God with perpetual vows on 17^th January 2025. On 18^th January, he was ordained a deacon by Msgr. Odelir José Magri, in São Paulo.

Minte Simeneh Lemessa, called ‘Minte’, has also chosen the consecrated and missionary life as his life project. Born in Jijiga, Ethiopia, he entered the Institute of Comboni Missionaries and did his missionary formation in Ethiopia, Zambia and Brazil. On 5^th February 2025, he consecrated himself to God and to the mission by professing perpetual vows. On 8^th February, he received diaconal ordination with the imposition of hands by Msgr. Zenildo Lima da Silva, auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Manaus.

We congratulate Alex Nunes and Mintesnot Simeneh for having responded with love and joy to the call that the Lord made to them, consecrating their lives for God and for the mission of the Kingdom in the charism of Saint Daniel Comboni. Alex and Minte are waiting to know their destination to carry out their first missionary experience. Let us accompany them with our prayers. (Father Raimundo Rocha, mccj)

EGYPT-SUDAN

Egypt – Centenary of the church of Sakakini and the 25^th anniversary of ‘St. Bakhita Centre’

The solemnity of Saint Bakhita was celebrated on Friday, 7^th February, at the ‘Arbaa wNus’ Centre in Nasr City (Cairo). Monsignor Claudio Lurati presided over the celebration, which – like every year – brought together many Sudanese and South Sudanese from the Sacred Heart parish in Sakakini and other nearby parishes.

This year will be a year of special events for the parish of Sakakini: in fact, it is celebrating the 100^th anniversary of its foundation (until the 1980s it was managed by the Society of African Missions) and the 25th anniversary of the foundation of the Arbaa wNus Centre, dedicated to Saint Bakhita.

Beirut – Pastoral of migrants to reach out to society

The Apostolic Vicar of Beirut, Msgr. César Essayan, presided over the Eucharist with a group of migrants who usually gather in Badaro, Beirut. On this happy occasion, the bishop emphasised that, since many migrants work in the homes of Lebanese, their presence is an opportunity for the Latin Church to reach all those homes where the Gospel could not otherwise reach. In this way, migrants are not ‘objects’ but ‘subjects’ of the Church’s work of evangelisation, which is carried out not only by bishops and priests, but by all the people of God. The day of conviviality which started with a moment of formation led by Father Faustin Mboka, concluded, after the Eucharist, with a fraternal agape. The Badaro migrant group was born as an initiative of Father Claude Ondongar, when, still a student at the Jesuit University of Saint Joseph, he had the idea of creating an opportunity for Catholic migrants present in the northern area of Beirut to meet.

Sudan – News from Khartoum and Kosti

In recent weeks, there has been a significant advance by regular army forces in Khartoum, with reports and videos showing several members of the Rapid Support Forces leaving the capital. With the arrival of the army in Bahri (North Khartoum), for the first time in more than 18 months, we have had news of our provincial house, which fortunately seems to be in good condition. However, the clashes in the central area (Souq Arabi, where Comboni College is located) and the southern area (Azhari and Soba) of Khartoum continue to be very heavy. In Kosti, the destruction of the nearby power plant has caused a power cut lasting for two weeks now, complicating life in the city, where the lack of running water is increasing the number of cholera cases. Unfortunately, neither one of the sides of the conflict seems to want to consider negotiating an end to hostilities.

ETHIOPIA

Father Tesfaye Tadesse ordained Auxiliary Bishop of Addis Abeba

Father Tesfaye Tadesse, former Superior General of the Comboni Missionaries, was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of the Archeparchy of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 2^nd February 2025. Cardinal Berhaneyesus Souraphiel, the current Archeparch, was the principal ordinand, assisted by Comboni Bishop Menghesteab Tesfamariam, Archeparch of Asmara, Eritrea, and Bishop Abraham Desta of the Apostolic Vicariate of Meki, Ethiopia.

The ordination took place in the Catholic Cathedral of the Nativity during a colourful Ethiopian Rite liturgy that lasted more than five hours. The cathedral and its complex were packed with people. The entire ceremony was live-streamed in the cathedral and on the Internet.

Present were almost all the bishops of Ethiopia, the vicar general of the Comboni missionaries, Father David Domingues, the Comboni bishops Wokorach Raphael P’Mony, archbishop of Gulu, Uganda, and Ndjadi Ndjate Léonard, auxiliary bishop of Kisangani, DR Congo, some Comboni provincial superiors of the English-speaking African provinces, many Comboni brothers and sisters from Ethiopia and abroad, a large number of local priests and religious, sisters, faithful as well as representatives of other Christian Churches, the government and the diplomatic corps.

The liturgy was in Ge’ez with the English translation shown on the screens. Some hymns were in Amharic, including a song written by Father Dawit Wubishet, an Ethiopian Comboni missionary who is spending a sabbatical year in the United States.

During the homily, Card. Berhaneyesus spoke about the episcopal ministry. He began by saying: “We are happy to receive today from the Holy Father and the Comboni missionaries the new auxiliary bishop.” He then continued by exhorting Bishop Tesfaye to be a good shepherd especially for those in need, “a father of the poor, the displaced and the refugees.” The offertory procession was animated by dancers from the Kunama refugee community of Eritrea. The ceremony was followed by several short speeches. The first was that of Msgr. Massimo Catterin, chargé d’affaires at the Nunciature of Addis Ababa. “The episcopate is the name of a service,” he emphasised. Father David Domingues thanked God for the gift, life and ministry of Msgr. Tesfaye in the Institute and in the Church. Addressing the new bishop, he exclaimed: “We are truly proud of you.” Archbishop Menghesteab recalled that it was he who invited the young Tesfaye to join the Comboni missionaries: “Many years ago, I thought I had caught a small fish. Little by little, he has become a big fish. I see Bishop Tesfaye as my dear son.” Other speakers were the provincial superior of the Comboni Missionaries in Ethiopia, Father Asfaha Yohannes, and the leader of all the Evangelical Churches in the country.

Bishop Tesfaye concluded the speeches with a word of thanks in Amharic, English, Italian, Spanish and French. “I continue to count on your prayers and support,” he said.

After the liturgical celebration, the guests were served a delicious lunch of traditional Ethiopian dishes and some entertainment.

Father Tesfaye made his profession of faith during evening prayer in the Cathedral, on the eve of his ordination. (Father Joe Vieira, mccj)

Fr. Merhakristos Gobezayehu Getachew Yilma, Bishop of Hawassa

Father Gobezayehu Yilma, appointed Apostolic Vicar of Hawassa on 15^th November 2024, was ordained bishop on 9^th February 2025 in the Kidane Mehret (‘Covenant of Mercy) Cathedral, ending the see’s long vacant period. Bishop Gobezayehu Yilma – who took the episcopal name of Merhakristos (‘guided by Christ’ in Ge’ez) – was ordained by Cardinal Berhanyesus Souraphiel, Archeparch of Addis Ababa, assisted by Bishop Abraham Desta, Apostolic Vicar of Meki, and Comboni Bishop Tesfaye Tadesse, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archeparchy of Addis Ababa.

Seven other bishops were present – six from Ethiopia and one from Nigeria – along with over 100 priests, a large number of nuns and catechists, and a huge crowd (about 5,000 faithful) that filled the Cathedral and three large tents outside. There were also numerous guests from Europe and the United States, local politicians and representatives of the Protestant Churches.

Father Juan Núñez, apostolic administrator of Hawassa for over four years, greeted the ordination of the new bishop with great joy: “The interim period was so long that it seemed to have become permanent. During the long wait, everyone continued to pray for Hawassa to have its own bishop. Finally, the propitious day has arrived.”

Mons. Massimo Catterin, chargé d’affaires at the Vatican Nunciature in Addis Ababa, thanked Bishop Merhakristos for having accepted God’s call to be apostolic vicar of Hawassa. Addressing the newly elected bishop, he said: “Remember that you were consecrated bishop in the Jubilee Year.” He then thanked Father Núñez for his generous service as apostolic administrator.

Bishop Merhakristos was born in Dodola, in the Bale area, 46 years ago. Before entering the major seminary of Meki, he studied agriculture at the University of Jima. He then did his theological studies at the Capuchin Franciscan Institute in Addis Ababa and was ordained a priest in 2005. Before being appointed apostolic vicar of Hawassa, Bishop Merhakristos was the vicar delegate of the apostolic vicariate of Meki and executive director of Caritas-Meki.

The apostolic vicariate of Hawassa covers an area of over 100,000 square kilometres, with nine million inhabitants. It has almost 290 thousand faithfuls, distributed in 20 parishes and 558 chapels. It boasts 531 part-time catechists and 109 full-time, 74 religious sisters from 11 missionary one local congregation, 47 religious men and six brothers from four missionary institutes, 21 diocesan priests, nine major seminarians and two deacons. (Father José Vieira and Father Pablo, mccj).

ITALY

Mission Assembly in Verona

From 27^th to 30^th January, the Mission Assembly of the Italian province took place at the Mother House in Verona. It was a significant moment of reflection, sharing and planning for the future of the Comboni mission in Italy.

During the first day, those present shared one or two signs of hope present in the missionary journey of their respective communities. Among the many signs listed, the one considered most present and significant was the concrete commitment of many communities in welcoming, in solidarity and collaborating with local realities in the pastoral care of migrants and in providing for their hospitality needs and in dealing with emergencies.

Then Don Giuliano Zanchi, professor of theology of the diocese of Bergamo, took the floor, sharing a reflection on the theme ‘Jubilee and Mission – Generating Hope’. In his speech, Father Zanchi underlined the importance of the Jubilee as an instrument of justice and liberation, evoking the need to rediscover its authentic meaning in response to the logic of individualism and the defence of one’s own interests that dominate today, in order to build a social model based on solidarity and hope.

The provincial superior of Italy, Father Fabio Baldan, presented an analysis of the current reality of our communities present in the province, underlining the need to reorganise their activities and revisit the modality of our presence through the merging of the European provinces into a single one. It has been talked about for a long time, but now the time has come to concretise and make a reality what until now has only been an idea. This will require everyone’s collaboration, because it will imply the reorganisation of resources and a renewed pastoral commitment.

Despite the difficulties, it is possible to see signs of hope, especially if we are animated by the inner strength that makes us capable of transforming our reality. Father Baldan said: “Hope is not an illusion, but a concrete attitude that manifests itself in perseverance and commitment, looking at the current situation of the provinces with realism and sincerity, maintaining above all a gaze of faith and hope, in order to build a better future, without assuming an attitude of resignation.”

The morning of the second day was dedicated to the revision of the Mission Charter of the Italian Province. The discussion highlighted the need for clearer and less complicated or abstract language. It was also suggested that we pay more attention to the mission in the field of politics and finance and to the need to draft a more current and reality-related document. The final revision was entrusted to the secretariat.

In the afternoon, the reports of the various areas that operate in the field of the mission carried out in the province were presented. In this regard, the general secretary of the mission, Father Fernando Galarza, presented the website of the general secretariat of the mission (combonimission.net) and the missionary activities that take place at the Institute level. He indicated the importance of collaboration within the entire Comboni Family, through a commission dedicated to this and by supporting missionary initiatives in the different continents.

For his part, Father Daniele Moschetti, representative of the Migrantes Commission, presented the activities carried out, including the collaboration with the Archbishop of Ferrara-Comacchio, Giancarlo Perego, the new president of the Commission for Migration of the Italian Episcopal Conference and the Migrantes Foundation. The organisation of the Jubilee in the Land of Fire and the proposal of an ecclesial network of the CEI on migration were also discussed, which were positively received, but have not yet been developed concretely.

Father Pietro Ciuciulla, representative of the Nigrizia Foundation, spoke of the need felt – and partly present to a degree in the implementation phase – for an integration between the paper and digital sectors of our magazines, with a greater presence on social media and podcasts. Several missionary projects have been funded, and significant events have been held, such as the ‘Arena di Pace’. While on the one hand, paper subscriptions to magazines are decreasing, on the other, digital subscriptions are increasing. A reorganisation of the African Library, the African Museum and the photo library is planned to enhance their patrimonial content.

The representatives of the Comboni Lay Missionaries, after introducing their presence in the province, informed those attending about what happened in the recent General Assembly of the LMC in Maia (Portugal), where the discussion on the theme of autonomy and the organisational and economic responsibilities of the LMC continued.

Finally, the ‘criteria of missionary presence’ of the Comboni parishes in Italy were presented, which will need to be constantly updated through workshops of reflection on prospects. (Brother Tomasz Basiński, mccj)

PERU

Closure of the Palca Community

In a moving ceremony, filled with feelings of gratitude and emotional memories, the Comboni missionaries ‘said goodbye’ to the diocese of Tarma, after more than 60 years of dedication and service. Their presence was a beacon of hope and faith, because they worked tirelessly in almost all the parishes, first of the prelature and then of the diocese. For six decades they evangelised, taught religion, supervised constructions, but above all strengthened the faith of many people. Their stay, which began at the request of the Vatican to found a new prelature, left an indelible mark on the lives of those who were touched by their work of evangelisation. The story begins when the Comboni missionaries arrived in the area to face the challenge of starting a new future diocese. The first to take charge of the parish of Palca, as the first parish priest, was Father Hubert Unterberger, in 1974, although his first visits date back to two years earlier, when he was still a member of the community of Tarma.

He was succeeded as parish priest by Father Hilmar Gulba (1933-2023), who expanded the parish church with a side nave and replaced the wooden bridge leading to the parish house with one made of iron and cement, and, in 1994, Father Eduard Falk (1935-2024) who was parish priest for 30 years, until illness forced him to retire first to Lima and then to Germany, where he died on 1^st January 2024. Father Luis Weiss took over from Father Falk, followed by Father Alfonso Pérez, who has the honour of closing the glorious list of Comboni parish priests of Palca.

On 1^st February, the parish of San Domingo de Guzmán in Palca was handed over to the diocesan clergy by the bishop of Tarma, Msgr. Timoteo Solórzano (MSC). The solemn ceremony was attended by many Comboni and diocesan priests, as well as a large number of friends and parishioners.

On 2^nd February, a solemn mass was celebrated in the cathedral, at the end of which Msgr. Solórzano unveiled a commemorative plaque in honour of the Comboni missionaries. The plaque, located next to the tomb of Msgr. Lorenzo Unfried Gimpel (MCCJ), second bishop of Tarma-Cerro de Pasco (from 1980 to 1988), is an everlasting reminder of his dedication and service.

Both ceremonies were characterised by profound emotions and a deep sense of gratitude, and were embellished with songs that solemnised every single moment.

The Prelature of Tarma was created in 1958, with Bishop Antonio Kühner (MFSC) as its first prelate. After serving as parish priest of Huánuco, Kühner was appointed bishop of Huánuco in 1980. Bishop Lorenzo Unfried Gimpel, then auxiliary bishop of Arequipa, was appointed his successor and took possession of the prelature of Tarma on January 4, 1981. All the parishes remained in the hands of the Comboni missionaries until 1985, when the prelature was elevated to a diocese. Faithful to our Comboni charism, we contributed to the construction of this diocese until it was sufficiently developed. After serious discernment, Palca was handed over to the diocesan clergy, marking the end of our presence in these Andean lands and in the ‘pearl of the Andes’, Tarma. This passage represents a bittersweet moment, as it symbolises both the culmination of a mission and the beginning of a new phase for the local community.

The legacy left by our missionary brothers – initially mostly German, then Spanish, Italian and other nationalities – is today a source of inspiration. Their history bears witness not only to the challenges they faced, but also to the triumphs they achieved, thanks to their resilience and their faith. Their spirit continues to motivate Peruvian missionaries, especially the small group who left these lands for the mission ad gentes.

We can only say “Thank You!”. Thanks be to God and to so many brothers and sisters who have forged this beautiful missionary history full of hope. (Father Nelson Mitchel, mccj.)

SPAIN

GERT Meeting: requalifying the mission in Europe

Since 2002, a group of Comboni missionaries, at the request of the Secretariat of Missionary Animation and the Provincial Superiors of Europe, has met regularly to share the results of their research, in order to contextualise the Comboni missionary presence on the Continent and define a reference paradigm to respond to the challenges posed to us by reality in continuous change. This group is known as the European Group for Theological and Pastoral Reflection (GERT) and, over time, has opened up to all branches of the Comboni Family.

From 4^th to 7^th February 2025, the GERT met at the provincial headquarters in Madrid, Spain, for the annual moment of sharing and was warmly welcomed.

On the first day, the members of the group shared the socio-religious situation of their countries of origin, with a particular focus on the Comboni reality. The result was a gloomy, but not negative, picture. In reality, we must take into account the progressive aging of the personnel, which opens the doors to a greater internationalisation of the Comboni communities. In fact, the new recruits come mostly from African countries and bring with them new ways of perceiving reality and responding to the challenges of our time.

Many communities in Europe are involved in welcoming and accompanying migrants. This is a service carried out in a society that is gradually closing itself off to foreigners and making ‘right-wing’ political choices. There is also a growing commitment to a conversion towards integral ecology, listening to the cry of the earth and the poor.

The themes of migrants, interculturality and the current challenges facing the European Church were the common thread of the interventions and discussions on the second day. The group first shared the theme ‘The stranger in the Old Testament’, noting how faith in the one God slowly formed in Israel, also thanks to the contributions offered by neighbouring cultures. The image of a monolithic Israel separated from its neighbouring peoples is, in truth, a literary artifice: a higher understanding of God and his presence in the world would never have been achieved without the contribution of other cultures. Israel has always lived in a multicultural situation.

The second intervention focused on the ways that would allow us to move from mere welcoming to a true integration of foreigners in Europe. The speaker, starting from the biblical icon of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman, developed the idea of a Comboni mission towards migrants that is a defence of their rights, but also of clear evangelisation. We must work to make migrants co-protagonists of our mission among themselves, in line with Comboni’s idea of ‘Saving Africa with Africa’.

The relationship between Christianity and culture was addressed by interesting research on secularisation, which should not be seen in an anti-religious and negative sense, but as the fruit of a religious journey intended as ‘common ground’ for interreligious dialogue. In this perspective, interculturality should be understood as a ‘movement of reinterpretation’ of cultures and, therefore, also of faith. This would create space to build a society where everyone, starting from their own renewed tradition, can contribute in a positive way. Respect for human rights should be the first step towards true social dialogue. It is not just about integrating into the host culture, but about making a ‘qualitative leap’ to allow the various cultures to walk on equal terms.

A final contribution was on the ‘search for identity’. An important theme in this historical moment of transition, where the ‘loss of identity’ is a real danger, sometimes perceived as a threat by those who are insecure about their social and religious identity. The journey of searching for one’s own identity cannot ignore the community (giving space to otherness) and must remain attentive to the temptation of intimism (the self that determines all reality).

The interventions and the results of the discussions will be sent to all the communities of the Comboni Family in Europe, and can be used for ongoing formation initiatives.

In order to give continuity to the service of the Gert, some themes were proposed to be explored and brought to everyone’s attention regarding the missionary presence in Europe in the light of the socio-cultural processes underway. The development of this theme is expected from various points of view: that of intercultural communities (Father Fernando Domingues), political commitment (Father Giuseppe Caramazza), social violence (Father Moses Otii Alir), the difficulty of finding new interpretative paradigms (Father Paolo Latorre), the contribution of the elders (a brother yet to be identified) and the development of the mission in the last General Chapter (Father Fernando González Galarza). The participants thanked Father Fernando Zolli for the many years of service rendered to the Gert as coordinator. Father Fernando is leaving for the Congo. The leadership of the group will therefore have to be reorganised, which, with the active participation of all the members of the Gert, will be able to give continuity to this service. The Gert will meet online on the afternoon of May 5th. (Father Giuseppe Caramazza and Father Fernando Zolli)

SOUTH AFRICA

Perpetual vows and diaconal ordination of Hermann Djimini

On 8^th February 2025, the feast of consecrated life in the diocese of Witbank, the scholastic Hermann Mahunan Djimini professed his perpetual vows, in the presence of Father John Baptist Opaargiw Keraryo, provincial superior, during a solemn Eucharistic celebration held in the parish church of St. Peter in Nelspruit. The mass was presided over by Mgr. Thaddeus Xolile Kumalo, bishop of Witbank, and concelebrated by numerous confreres, some diocesan priests and Fr. Francis Stephane Adimou, parish priest of Hermann’s home parish in Benin.

Particularly significant was the presence of a good number of religious women who work in the diocese, including the Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, who arrived in South Africa in 1939 to support our confreres in the foundation of the local Church, and the Benedictine Sisters. The people, though not as numerous as we expected, participated enthusiastically in the celebration, solemnised by the hymns of a very competent parish choir.

In his homily, Father Bheki Tshabalala, parish priest of St. Peter and missionary of Mariannhill, called for a renewal of religious life, inspired by the message of Pope Francis for the World Day of Consecrated Life (2 February 2025).

The following day, Sunday 9 February, Hermann was ordained a deacon. The celebration took place in the Church of the Holy Family in Waterval, the Comboni parish where Hermann spent his year of pastoral experience. The people of the parish came in large numbers, filling more than 400 seats under the tent set up in the church grounds. The mass was presided over by Mgr. Thaddeus Xolile Kumalo, bishop of Witbank, and concelebrated by some Comboni priests who work in the area. The Eucharistic ceremony, which lasted almost four hours, was animated by numerous songs performed by the entire congregation to the rhythm of the drums.

At the end of the mass, everyone enjoyed a hearty and delicious meal that a group of women volunteers from the parish prepared for the occasion. (Father Efrem Tresoldi, mccj)

LET US PRAY FOR OUR BELOVED DEAD

THE FATHER: Jino Wikole, of the scholastic Adrabo Jerry (UG).
THE MOTHERS: Maria Amélia, of Father Joaquim José Moreira da Silva (P); Caroline, of Father Simtokena Sa’akaha Baènayem (Kevin) (DSP).
THE SISTERS: Adelheid, of Father Sebastian Hopfgartner (DSP); Ruth, of Father Vicent Turinawe (EC); Sr Luz María, of Father Aurelio Cervantes Fajardo (M); Highisti Haile, of Father Tesfaghiorghis Hailè Berhane (ER).
THE COMBONI MISIONARY SISTERS: Sr. Pia Rosaria Antonelli; Sr. Pia Clementina Baldessari; Sr. M. Hakima Emmanuel Mikhael; Sr. Adhanom Luciana.