The Curia Communities Celebrate the Feast of Saint Daniel Comboni

Father Austine opened the solemn celebration with a warm welcome to everyone:

Welcome to this solemn celebration in honour of our holy founder, Saint Daniel Comboni.
Three days ago, we began a triduum of preparation for this feast through prayer and reflection, entering a time of grace to contemplate his life, his mission, and his deep love for God and humanity, especially the poorest and most abandoned.
This evening, we conclude this celebratory triduum with the Eucharist, giving thanks to God for the magnificent work accomplished through our Founder and for the gift of being called to share in the Comboni charism.
Through the intercession of Saint Daniel, let us also pray that the fire of love for the mission may be rekindled in our hearts and continue to burn, enabling us to respond faithfully to the challenges of God’s mission in our time.

The homily was delivered by Father Sylvester Hategek’Imana, a Ugandan Comboni missionary, who recently joined the Curia communities as part of the team responsible for permanent formation. Here is the text of his homily:

Today we celebrate a moment of grace as a Christian family, filled with joy for the gift of Saint Daniel Comboni given to us and to the Church, especially to the missionary Church of today.

I want to share with you feelings of joy and gratitude to God and Jesus for the gift of the missionary vocation, following in the footsteps of our founder and father, Saint Daniel Comboni.

Last Sunday, we heard these words from the Second Letter of Saint Paul to Timothy: “I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline” (2 Tm 1:6-7). This is also our moment, dear brothers and sisters, to rekindle the gift of God within us.

Reflecting on the celebration of Saint Daniel Comboni, these words struck me deeply. I asked myself how Saint Daniel lived these words in his life. Certainly, he was aware that his calling was a gift from God, who had given him a spirit of ‘power, love, and prudence.’ He was never ashamed, mindful of Paul’s advice to Timothy: “Do not be ashamed to bear witness to the Lord” (v. 8). With God’s strength, like a good shepherd, Comboni was always ready to suffer for the Gospel and for his sheep.

On 4^th May 1873, he said to his missionaries: “Come, let us go to destroy the empire of Satan among these peoples and plant there the triumphant banner of the cross; through its radiance, these peoples will see the light. Let us water with our sweat and the waters of eternal life these arid and fiery regions, so that they may grow into a new people of faithful worshippers of the Creator” (Writings, 3128).

These words echo today’s first reading from the prophet Isaiah: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me” (Is 61:1).

We share the conviction that the Lord has anointed and consecrated us to be missionaries and messengers of the Good News of salvation and hope, following in the footsteps of the prophets, apostles, and Saint Daniel Comboni.

We must answer some key questions:

• When? Today, now.
• Where? Here, wherever we are.
• How? By following Christ, the Anointed of God, the Good Shepherd.
• To whom? As the Word of God tells us, we are sent “to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release for the prisoners” (Is 61:1b).

Many are waiting to hear this good news: the victims of socioeconomic systems, political ideologies, oppressive structures, wars, forced migrations, and more. They long for a word of hope, for a time without wars, full of God’s mercy.

Dear brothers and sisters, our mission in the world is still truly relevant. Let us not grow tired too quickly! We are still called to bring consolation to the afflicted, joy to the sorrowful, and hope to all. This is our mission today.

The responsorial Psalm reminds us: “Declare the wonders of the Lord among all peoples. Proclaim his salvation day by day; among the nations recount his glory, and tell of his marvellous works” (Psalm 95).

These are the ‘wonders of Christ’, the Good Shepherd, who “lays down his life for the sheep” (Jn 10:11) and says, “I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10).

Jesus is the true Good Shepherd. But Saint Daniel Comboni also had a heart open to suffering humanity, a heart that felt, listened, and worked for the good of his flock.

Jesus treasures the sheep and is ready to give his life for them. He was never a mercenary exploiting the flock, nor indifferent to their needs; rather, he drew them close, holding them near his loving, compassionate heart.

Comboni imitated Jesus in this, and we too are called to lead the sheep to Christ, so that they may experience his tender embrace. Today, Jesus invites us to do the same, to share his heart, and to be authentic shepherds of the flock entrusted to us. We are not its owners; we are its faithful stewards.

The Lord’s mission is not yet finished. Today he tells us: “I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold; I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd” (Jn 10:16).

And this will happen through us, through our missionary work and dedication.

We are called not just to hear his words, but to live them. Let us allow them to renew our commitment to continue his work.

Saint Daniel Comboni wrote: “The storms that oppress me are many, and it is a miracle if I can bear the weight of so many crosses. Yet I feel so full of strength, courage, and confidence in God and in the Blessed Virgin Mary, that I am sure I can overcome all, and prepare for even greater crosses in the future. I already see and understand that the cross is so close and dear to me that I have long since chosen it as my indivisible and eternal Spouse. And with the cross as my beloved spouse and wisest teacher, with Mary, my dearest mother, and with Jesus, my all, I fear nothing… Surely, with slow and steady steps, walking on thorns, I will begin to firmly plant the work for the Regeneration of Central Africa, which so many have abandoned, the most difficult and thorny work of Catholic apostolate” (Writings 1709-1710).

Saint Daniel Comboni, intercede for us.

After the Eucharist, a fraternal agape followed, marked by joy and communion.