Daniel Comboni
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Celebrating Fifty Years of Comboni Presence in Chitima, Mozambique
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
On Sunday, June 19, the Comboni Missionaries in Mozambique celebrated the 50th anniversary of their presence in Chitima, formerly known as Estima, in the Province of Tete, and of the foundation of the St. John 23rd parish. Bishop Inácio Isaure of Tete, Fr. José Luis Rodríguez López, superior of the Comboni Missionaries in Mozambique, several Comboni Missionaries from different communities, diocesan priests and religious of other Institutes attended the event. On that occasion, Fr. José Luis said: “With hope and joy we celebrate the golden jubilee of the foundation of the parish of Chitima (1966-2016) and honor the memory of our Comboni presence in this part of Mozambique.”
Bishop Inácio Isaure of Tete,
and Fr. José Luis Rodríguez L.,
superior of the Comboni Missionaries
in Mozambique.
The diocesan bishop thanked the Comboni Missionaries for their presence and for the work done during those long years. He also encouraged them to continue in their cooperation with the local Church, through a prophetic missionary pastoral approach. On his part, Fr. José Luis thanked God for the work done by his confreres who served in this mission. Some of them have already moved on to their reward, while others continue serving, committed to give their lives for the sake of mission. He also used the occasion to thank the local Church for its welcome and trust and for the support received from the people of Chitima. He asked for forgiveness for mistakes and lack of witness by anyone who worked there. Finally, he encouraged the missionaries by reminding them that “the clock of evangelization must continue to work in order to unite humankind in peace and justice.”
Fr. Josér Luis Vale Insua provided a touching moment during the celebration when he read the name of all the Comboni Missionaries who served at Chitima during the past 50 years. Former teachers, catechists and committed lay people provided further testimony.
Currently the community of Chitima is made up of Comboni Missionaries Fr. António Manuel Constantino Bogaio, Fr. Italo Scoccia and Bro. Pablo Ostos Muñoz. They are also busy collecting information in order to write the history of the Comboni presence in that region of Mozambique.
