Familia Comboniana 844 - Oktober 2025

CURIA

Intercapitular Assembly (7-26 September 2025)

Renewing our missionary drive

The Intercapitular Assembly, which began on 7^th September, concluded on 26^th September with the publication of a letter addressed to all confrères. The meeting, which brought together in Rome delegates from the Institute’s various circumscriptions, provided an opportunity to discuss and assess the implementation of the commitments made at the 2022 General Chapter, to discern certain important issues, and to revitalise the missionary journey in light of the charism of Saint Daniel Comboni.

At the heart of the work was the desire to rekindle the fire of the mission, reaffirming some orientations considered fundamental:

• The choice of living the mission ad vitam, as a commitment for our entire existence;
• The dimension of the ‘outgoing Church’, which urges us to go beyond our usual boundaries;
• special attention ad pauperes, or the most vulnerable;
• and the urgency of announcing the Gospel ad gentes, with particular attention to peoples not yet reached or insufficiently evangelised.

The message that the assembly participants sent to all their confrères emphasised the need to renew their missionary spirit, recalling the founding figure of Saint Daniel Comboni. Among other things, it read: “Our missionary vocation requires us to maintain the courage to reach out to everyone, without fear or reservation, because the Gospel is a gift for every people and every culture.”

The Assembly thus reaffirmed the Comboni Missionaries’ vocation to a universal and community commitment, called to combine service to the poor with evangelisation, in harmony with the challenges of the Church and the world today.

Appointment

On 13^th September 2025, the General Council appointed Father Antonio Lopez as first formator at the formation community of La Grange Park, as from 15^th September 2025.

Perpetual profession

Priestly ordinations

Holy Redeemer Guild

October:           01 – 07 RCA      08 – 15 TCH         16 – 31 RSA
November:     01 – 15 SS           16 – 30 T

Prayer Intentions

October – For the Comboni Missionary Sisters who are celebrating their Inter-Capitular Assembly: so that, inspired by the breath of the Spirit, they may live this event as a kairós in the process of reconfiguration that they are now living. Lord, hear us.

November – For the children of our world who see selfish adults destroying our climate protection with their decisions. That they may be brave enough to stand up and defend their future. Lord, hear us.

Comboni liturgical calendar

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

Significant anniversaries

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

BRASIL

The power of the testimony of Father Ezechiel Ramin

On 26^th and 27^th July, approximately 2,500 people from the state of Rondônia and other parts of Brazil and the world gathered in the cities of Cacoal (Rondônia) and Rondolândia (Mato Grosso) to commemorate the 40^th anniversary of the martyrdom of Comboni missionary Father Ezechiel Ramin.

Father Ezechiel dreamed of a more just and peaceful world. He dedicated his life to proclaiming the Gospel and fighting for justice and human rights.

In the Comboni mission of Cacoal, Father Ramin stood up for the poor, courageously embracing the cause of exploited farmers and indigenous people. Today, 40 years after his death, the people hold him in high esteem and consider him a source of inspiration. A large crowd attended the 10^th pilgrimage in his honour, which had the theme ‘Father Ezechiel Ramin: Martyr of Hope’.

Bishop Norberto Hans Christoph Förster, Bishop of the Diocese of Ji-Paraná, speaking to those gathered, emphasised the importance of commemorating this anniversary and the significance of Father Ezechiele’s testimony for the Church today.

Father Ezechiel was brutally murdered by gunmen on 24^th July 1985, while returning from a peacekeeping mission. His example and testimony inspire many who fight for justice and dignity, especially for the poorest.

Father Ezechiel is alive! May his testimony inspire us and accompany us in our mission. “Ezechiel?” Present!

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

From 25^th to 27^th July 2025, dozens of young people from Comboni parishes in Brazil gathered in Salvador, Bahia, for the second Comboni Youth Assembly, focusing on the theme ‘Youth and Mission – Young People, What Are You Seeking?’ (cf. Jn 1:38). The event took place at the parish of San Daniele Comboni, which welcomed 175 participants. The days were marked by moments of spirituality, shared joy, formation, missionary activities, and cultural initiatives. The young people were able to deepen their understanding of the legacy of Saint Daniele Comboni and the charism of the Comboni mission.

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

The final day was dedicated to ‘missionary visits’, which allowed for a true immersion in the reality of the outskirts of Sussuarana, the neighbourhood that hosted the event. The question that accompanied the young people until the end was: “And you, what is your dream?” Many testified that they left to evangelise, but returned evangelised.

The joy of serving God as a missionary priest

On 9^th August 2025, Comboni missionary Alex Geraldo Nunes was ordained a priest by the laying on of hands by Bishop Airton José dos Santos of Mariana, Minas Gerais.

The celebration took place in the parish of Nossa Senhora das Dores, in Capela Nova. The motto chosen for this celebration was: “I have given you an example; you also should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15).

In his homily, Bishop Airton recalled that the priesthood is not a privilege, but a call to serve with humility, especially the poorest and most forgotten.

Father Alex Nunes’ ordination was preceded by a week of missionary and vocational promotion organised by the Comboni Family (fathers, sisters, and laity).

Alex Nunes consecrated his priestly life to the Lord and asked for the grace to live his mission with joy and generosity, being a priest after the heart of Christ, in the spirit of St. Daniel Comboni, who urges us to ‘Save Africa with Africa’.

On 14^th September, the Feast of the Holy Cross, Father Alex Geraldo Nunes was officially ‘sent’ from his parish to the Comboni mission in Egypt/Sudan. (Father Raimundo Rocha, mccj)

ECUADOR

70 years of Comboni presence in Esmeraldas

The celebration of 70 years of Comboni presence in Esmeraldas was a deeply meaningful and well-attended event, organised by the Apostolic Vicariate of Esmeraldas (VAE) and the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador – Esmeraldas (Pucese) campus. The theme was: Comboni Missionaries, Witnesses of Love and Prophets of Hope.

There were two key moments. The first, on 6^th June, was the awarding of an honorary doctorate to Father Raffaello Savoia, a Comboni missionary and pioneer of African ministry in Ecuador, Colombia, and Latin America. The day, which marked the 44^th anniversary of the Catholic University founded by the Comboni Missionaries, opened with an African-style Mass presided over by Bishop Antonio Crameri, Apostolic Vicar. The subsequent academic ceremony was attended by civil and religious authorities, with the festive presence of numerous Afro-American associations. The award to Father Savoia, presented by Pro-Rector Dr. Diego Jiménez, was greeted with prolonged applause and a large audience.

The second moment was the festive triduum (19^th-21^st June). A committee coordinated by Bishop Antonio involved parishes, schools, and local communities in a rich program.

● 19^th June – A ‘festive march’ (pregón) with hundreds of young people enlivened the cathedral square. After greetings from the Vicar General, Father Julio Canga, Father Ottorino Poletto, provincial superior, encouraged the young people to courageously respond to the missionary call, following the example of Saint Daniel Comboni.

● 20^th June – A symposium at the University retraced the history of the Comboni mission and the work of the three bishops who guided the growth of the Church of Esmeraldas: Bishop Angelo Barbisotti, Bishop Enrico Bertolucci, and Bishop Eugenio Arellano. Evangelisation and social advancement – education, healthcare, community organisation – were the mission’s hallmarks. In the afternoon, at the Colegio Sagrado Corazón, a cultural program led by the African Pastoral Committee concluded the day.

● 21^st June – The celebration ended in the cathedral with a ‘solemn session’ and an Afro-style Mass, attended by the Apostolic Nuncio, bishops, civil and academic authorities, priests, and faithful.

During the celebration, Father Ottorino recalled the commitment of the Comboni Missionaries in Esmeraldas and in other jurisdictions of the country, reaffirming his desire to continue this missionary service. In his homily, the nuncio thanked the Comboni Missionaries for the journey they have made, inviting the people of Esmeraldas to take on the responsibility of evangelisation.

The celebration renewed its gratitude for the Comboni presence, today carried forward by the communities of La Merced, Borbón, and San Lorenzo. Particularly significant was the contribution of Msgr. Eugenio Arellano, Bishop Emeritus of the VAE, who now lives in the community of La Merced: his discreet yet intense presence was a sign of continuity and hope. (Father Ottorino Poletto, mccj)

Opening of the cause of beatification of Fr. Alberto Ferri Garavelli

The cause for beatification of Comboni missionary Father Alberto Ferri Garavelli (1935–2009) will open in Portoviejo on 22^nd October. The decision was announced by the Curia of the Archdiocese of Portoviejo, after a careful collection of data and testimonies, with a decree issued by Archbishop Edoardo Castillo on 15^th September.

A native of Cologno al Serio, in the province of Bergamo, Father Ferri ministered in Ecuador, in the parishes of Limones and Viche (Vicariate of Esmeraldas) and, subsequently, in various communities in the Archdiocese of Portoviejo, Manabí province. Upon his death in Cologno al Serio on 16^th October 2009, at the request of the faithful who knew and loved him, his body was brought back to Ecuador and buried in the church of Honorato Vásquez (Manabí), where he had dedicated thirteen years of his life visiting and forming numerous Christian communities.

People continue to remember him with great affection and to testify to his holiness. For this reason, on 22^nd October, Bishop Castillo will open the diocesan phase of the cause, in the presence of numerous faithful and priests, and a delegation from the Comboni Province of Ecuador.

With gratitude to the Lord for his life and missionary witness, we invoke upon the entire Institute the grace to renew and keep alive, in light of his example, the missionary passion that inspired him.

EGYPT/SUDAN

The St. Bakhita Center celebrates its Silver Jubilee

With hearts filled with gratitude and to the sound of scout drums, the Saint Bakhita Center in Arbawnus, Egypt, joyfully celebrated its Silver Jubilee on 14^th September 2025, commemorating the 25^th anniversary of the purchase of the land on which the Centre stands. The Centre has been serving Sudanese and South Sudanese refugees since its inception through its educational and pastoral activities.

The celebration opened with a solemn Holy Mass, presided over by Msgr. Claudio Lurati, Apostolic Vicar of Alexandria, Egypt, in the presence of numerous Comboni missionaries and Comboni missionary nuns, and a vibrant community of Sudanese and South Sudanese faithful, along with many longtime friends and supporters of the Centre.

During the celebration, the organising committee recalled the most significant moments in the Centre’s history, emphasising how God’s hand has guided its growth in faith and true communion over the past twenty-five years. The biblical passage chosen to capture the true meaning of the Centre’s two and a half decades was most appropriate: “The churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number daily” (Acts 16:5).

It was particularly moving to see the presence of several people who have been part of the Center since its beginnings – a living testimony to the community’s faithfulness and perseverance.

The day was marked by profound joy and confident hope among all participants, who saw how God has truly walked with them along the way.

Today, the Centre faces new challenges, especially due to the displacement of many community members caused by the outbreak of the ongoing war in Sudan. Despite this, the Jubilee celebration represented a strong reminder of God’s constant presence and a clear testimony to the community’s unwavering faith, confident that this presence will continue in the future. (Father Mina Anwar Habib Atia, mccj)

ITALY

Reopening of the cause of beatification of Mons. Antonio Roveggio

On 5^th September 2025, in the bishop’s palace of Verona, Bishop Domenico Pompili opened the diocesan inquiry into the enduring reputation for holiness of the Servant of God Msgr. Antonio Maria Roveggio. His example, recounted in numerous biographies, has inspired the lives of many Comboni missionaries. His cause for beatification was introduced in 1952, then resumed several times, but never completed.

As a young priest, Antonio Roveggio entered the Institute founded by Saint Daniel Comboni in 1884 and left for Egypt in 1887. In 1895, at just 37 years of age, he was appointed Apostolic Vicar of Central Africa. With charity and humility, inspired by a profound devotion to the Heart of Jesus, he devoted himself with all his strength to proclaiming the Gospel in Egypt and among various ethnic groups in Sudan. Exhausted by his labours, he died on a train in Berber, while en route to Egypt. He was 43 years old.

The Superior General, Father Luigi Fernando Codianni, and his council have entrusted Father Cosimo De Iaco, the Institute’s general postulator, with the task of pursuing the cause, continuing the valuable work of Father Arnaldo Baritussio, now postulator emeritus.

The session of the diocesan inquiry was presided over by Bishop Pompili. During the opening prayer, the prelate emphasised that reviving the cause for beatification of someone who died over a century ago is not intended to celebrate the past, but rather to keep alive the memory of a witness to the Gospel who can inspire the Church today and in the future.

In his greeting, Father Cosimo highlighted three aspects that make the figure of Bishop Antonio Maria Roveggio modern and his cause relevant: his total dedication to the proclamation of the Gospel, his convinced adherence to the demands of religious life, and his profound devotion to the Heart of Jesus, whose humility and meekness toward all he imitated.

The event was attended by officials from the diocesan tribunal, confrères from the Mother House in Verona, several Comboni Sisters, and a good number of friends. We hope that the cause will proceed expeditiously, so that the figure of Bishop Roveggio may be known, imitated, and prayed to, along with Saint Daniel Comboni, Blessed Giuseppe Ambrosoli, and Venerable Bernardo Sartori.

LET US PRAY FOR OUR BELOVED DEAD

THE MOTHER: Barbara, of Father Rafał Leszczyński (PO)

THE BROTHER: Ramón, of Father Marcos Daniel Villaverde (KE)

THE SISTERS: Renza, of Father Pasquino Panato (I); Lupita, of Father Guillermo de Jesús Medina Martínez (†); Otilia, of Bro. Joel Cruz Reyes (MEX); Lizet, of Bro. Alfredo Aguilar Cedeño (PCA), Medhin Haile, of Father Tesfaghiorghis Haile (ER)

THE COMBONI SISTERS: Sr. Taiocchi Angelaluisa; Sr. Sironi Anna Gerarda