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The strength of Father Ezechiele Ramin’s missionary witness

The strength of Father Ezechiele Ramin’s missionary witness

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Monday, July 28, 2025
On 26th and 27th July 2025, about 2,500 people gathered in the cities of Cacoal (Rondônia) and Rondonlândia (Mato Grosso), coming from Rondônia State, other regions of Brazil, and even from abroad, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the martyrdom of Comboni missionary Father Ezechiele Ramin. Father Ezechiele dreamed of a more just and peaceful world. He dedicated his life to proclaiming the Gospel and defending justice and human rights.

In the Comboni mission of Cacoal, he stood close to the poor, showing them complete solidarity and courageously embracing the cause of peasant farmers and indigenous peoples. Forty years after his death, his memory remains alive and continues to inspire many. A large crowd took part in the tenth pilgrimage held in his honor, under the theme ‘Father Ezequiel Ramin: martyr of hope.”

Bishop Norberto Hans Christoph Förster, of the Diocese of Ji-Paraná, speaking to the assembly, emphasised the importance of celebrating this anniversary and the value of Father Ezechiele’s witness for the Church today.

Father Ezechiele was brutally assassinated by gunmen on 24th July 1985, as he was returning from a mission of peace. His example continues to shed light on the path of those who struggle for justice and dignity, especially among the poor. Father Ezequiel Ramin is alive! May his witness inspire us in our mission. Ezechiel, present!

Youth and Mission – “Young people, what are you looking for?”

From 25th to 27th July 2025, dozens of young people from Comboni parishes across Brazil gathered in Salvador, Bahia, for the Second Assembly of Comboni Youth, centered on the theme: ‘Youth and Mission – Young people, what are you looking for?’ (cf. Jn 1:38). The event was hosted by St. Daniel Comboni Parish, which welcomed 175 participants. The days were filled with moments of spirituality, shared joy, formation, missionary activities, and cultural initiatives. The young people were able to deepen their understanding of the legacy of St. Daniel Comboni and the Comboni missionary charism.

Four thematic workshops addressed key issues of today: Afro-descendants, digital communication, life projects, and integral ecology with the care for our common home. Participants also had the opportunity to learn more about the history of Salvador and to celebrate the richness of its cultural diversity.

The final day was dedicated to ‘missionary visits’, offering a real immersion into the reality of the Sussuarana neighbourhood, the district that hosted the event. The question that echoed in the hearts of the young people until the very end was: “And you, what is your dream?” Many testified that they set out to evangelize but returned evangelised themselves.
Fr. Raimundo Rocha, mccj