English speaking African countries prepare for the Chapter

During the first three days (4-6) of the meeting, the delegates dedicated time to share the reports of the different circumscriptions concerning the political, social, economic and ecclesial reality of the countries as well as the reality of the Comboni Missionaries working in those countries.

It was a very enriching time that put us in contact with the people’s current situation, their sufferings and sorrows but also their joys and hopes. The knowledge of this reality and our capacity to look at it with the eyes of faith is an essential tool for being aware of the current challenges and to look at the future with hope. All these challenging situations are a call to reflection and action. The following 3 days (7-9) were dedicated to reflect on the core of the report, taking into account the four dimensions of our life as proposed by the GC: person, spirituality, mission and reorganization. The group elaborated the report having as its basis and source of inspiration the answers of the confreres to the questionnaire sent beforehand to all.

The last day of the meeting, the provincials of APDESAM dedicated time to reflect on issues related with the New People Media Centre in Nairobi, Kenya, whose main activity is the publication of the magazine “New People” and other missionary publications. On Sunday, the majority of the participants celebrated the Eucharist in one of the two parishes run by the Comboni Missionaries in Lusaka, namely, St. Andrew Kaggwa and St. Kizito. At the end of the meeting the subcontinental report was ready to be presented to the General Chapter. Our hope is that this and other documents may encourage us to a Mission that is rooted in our rich Comboni spirituality and focused on the service of the people of God.

In the picture above, from left: Fr. Tesfaye Tadesse, Assistant General for the subcontinent,
and Fr. José Luis Rodríguez López, Provincial Superior of Mozambique.