Familia Comboniana 845 - November 2025

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

GENERAL NOTES FROM THE 39^TH GENERAL CONSULTA – October 2025

Appointment of new circumscription superiors

With the elective phase of the new superiors and delegates of the circumscription for the three-year period 2026-2028 having been completed in all circumscription, the general council, on 31.10.2025, made the following appointments of the new superiors of the circumscriptions for the three-year period 2026-2028:

Circumscription		Name	Post
BR		Fr. Raimundo Nonato Rocha dos Santos	Provincial
CN		Fr. Kakule Muvawa Emery-Justin locum	Provincial
DSP		Fr. Turyamureeba Roberto	Provincial
E		Fr. Llamazares González Miguel Angel	Provincial
EC		Fr. Rodríguez González Juan Martín	Provincial
EGSD		Fr. Dalle Carbonare Diego	Provincial
ET		Fr. Weldeghiorghis Asfaha Yohannes	Provincial
I		Fr. Ciuciulla Pietro	Provincial
KE		Fr. Wanjohi Thumbi Andrew	Provincial
LP		Fr. Padilla Rocha Rubén	Provincial
M		Fr. Pacheco Zamora Mario Alberto	Provincial
MZ		Fr. Bwalya Andrew	Provincial
MO		Fr. José Joaquim Luis Pedro	Provincial
NAP		Fr. Ochoa Gracián Jorge Elías	Provincial
P		Fr. José António Mendes Rebelo	Provincial
PCA		Fr. Sanchez Gonzalez Enrique	Provincial
PE		Fr. Mitchell Sandoval Nelson Edgar	Provincial
RSA		Fr. Opargiw John Baptist Keraryo	Provincial
SS		Fr. Schmidt Gregor Bog-Dong	Provincial
TGB		Fr. Katsan Fodagni Kokouvi (Fidèle)	Provincial
U		Fr. Kibira Anthony Kimbowa	Provincial
Circumscription		Name	Post
A	Fr. Aguilar Sánchez Víctor Manuel			Delegate
CO	Fr. Benavides Orjuela Jorge Alberto			Delegate
ER	Fr. Jemil Araya Jemil			Delegate
RCA	Fr. Billo Junior Bertrand Chrisostome			Delegate
TCH	Fr. Vailati Marco			Delegate

The Council wishes all the newly elected members to undertake this delicate service with enthusiasm, inspired by the knowledge that our Founder, St. Daniel Comboni, watches over them.

Formation appointments

On 17.10.2025, the General Council made the following appointments:

• Fr. Lipenga Patrick Elias, formator and superior of Kinshasa scholasticate as from 1.1.2026;
• Fr. Zolli Fernando, formator at Kinshasa scholasticate as from 1.11.2025;
• Fr. Francisco José de Souza Machado, father master and superior of Nampula novitiate as from 1.1.2026;
• Fr. Sylvester Hategek’Imana, bursar of the Ongoing Formation Centre as from 1.11.2025.
• Fr. López Antonio, formator of Chicago formative community as from 15^th September 2025.

Official Publications

Code of Conduct

On 7^th October 2025, the General Council approved and issued a decree publishing the new version of the Code of Conduct, entitled Holy and Capable Missionaries – Guidelines for the Ministry and Fraternal Care of Persons in Certain Specific Situations, which will take effect on 1^st January 2026. The requirement for every Comboni Missionary to sign a declaration of acceptance of the Code of Ethics is already in force, but starting next year, this requirement will be extended to every novice during their first year of novitiate.

The revision of the current Code of Conduct was entrusted on December 19, 2023, to a commission composed of Father Rafael Gonzalez Ponce, Father Markus Körber, Father Fidèle Katsan Fodagni Kokouvi, and Father Jeremias dos Santos Martins, and coordinated by the Vicar General, Father David Costa Domingues. The fruit of their work was presented to the intercapitular assembly, which appreciated the new contents of the document.

Safeguarding policy

On the same date, the General Council approved the text of the document Guidelines for the Protection of Minors and Vulnerable Adults (also known as the Safeguarding Policy). The document provides guidance to all confrères and staff employed in our structures, communities, and works managed by the Comboni Missionaries on preventing the abuse of minors and vulnerable adults who come into contact with us and our structures. Its purpose is “to establish and maintain an environment that is respectful, aware, and protective of the rights and needs of minors and vulnerable adults.”

The publication of this document, which must be available and accessible in all our environments—in addition to being published on the official websites of the entire Institute—will be complemented by a process of ongoing training and development to foster an increasingly deeper and more thoughtful culture of care and trust among us.

Research on specific pastoral areas

With its letter on mission (“Going Beyond,” 1^st May 2025), the General Council mandated the General Secretariat for the Mission (SGM) to conduct a study to document the reality of specific pastoral care in the territory. We need to understand, both quantitatively and qualitatively, the state of our Institute’s commitments within these specific pastoral care programs, so that we can then move beyond them through shared research and reflection.

The SGM, together with the Mission Council, is about to launch this study on every continent. The General Council, therefore, requests the full cooperation of the circumscription superiors and provincial secretaries of the mission, as well as the availability of the communities involved in specific pastoral care. This is a crucial exercise to initiate the process of requalifying our missionary service based on ministeriality, as requested by the 19th General Chapter (CA 2022, 31).

Meeting of circumscription superiors in their first term

The meeting of superiors in their first term will take place in February and March 2026. It will begin on Sunday, 22^nd February, and end on the morning 7^th March. The detailed program will be released after the December consulta.

The study of languages during formation

The General Council, considering the changing geography of the Institute, requests that all formation houses include in the curriculum of candidates and scholastics the study of English for non-English speakers and of Italian for English speakers.

Missionary Service

Having completed the evaluation of missionary service (MS) required by the General Chapter (CA 2022, 26.7) presented during the intercapitular assembly, the General Council decided as follows:

1. Missionary service is to be maintained.
2. Concerning the modalities of how it is carried out:
   1. Place:  The General Council has reviewed and modified number 438 of the Ratio Fundamentalis Institutionis et Studiorum (RFIS), as follows: «This period of missionary service should preferably be carried out ad extra, in view of the assignment to the mission». This decision will take effect on 1 November 2025.
   2. Exemptions from missionary service – The General Council decides that exemptions from missionary service will be established by the Council itself on a case-by-case basis, based on the specific needs of certain missions to which the candidate is assigned. The candidate’s age will no longer be a reason for exemption.
   3. Without prejudice to the above, the provisions already established by the RFIS remain in force..
3. Pastoral Year – The Pastoral Year is not a substitute for missionary service.

Comboni Year of Ongoing Formation (ACFP)

The General Council announces that the next Comboni Year will be held from March to December 2027. The Italian language course for confrères enrolled in the course who need it will take place from January to March 2027.

The house in Paris

The General Council has decided to sell the house in Paris. The Vicar General has initiated discussions with the local diocesan curia, given that the property is in the name of the diocese. In selecting a buyer, priority will be given to the religious sector. If no proposal is received from this sector, the services of real estate agencies will be used. Father David Domingues will handle relations with the Diocese of Nanterre. The General Council does not currently believe it is possible to continue a pastoral presence in Paris after the suppression of the community.

Upcoming journeys of the general council

Fr. Luigi Codianni:

• from 3^rd to 21^st November 2025: Sudan – Visit

Fr. David Domingues

• from 9^th to 13^th November 2025: Poland – Visit
• from 17^th to 25^th November 2025: NAP – Meeting
• from 27^th November to 2^nd December: Quito – Handover Meeting for the Americas-Asia Continent

Fr. Elias Sindjalim

• from 3^rd to 7^th November 2025: Verona – Continental Assembly for Formation in Europe
• from 7^th to 12^th November 2025: Graz – Visit to the formative community
• from 19^th to 26^th November 2025: Maia (Portugal) – Visit to the formative community
• From 16^th to 19^th December 2025: Nd’jamena – Handover Meeting for the ASCAF continent

Fr. Austine Radol Odhiambo

• from 7^th to 12^th November 2025: Graz – Visit to the formative community
• from 15^th to 18^th December 2025: Madrid – Handover Meeting for the continent of Europe
• from 23^rd December 2025 to 21^st January 2026: Kenya – Holidays

The next General Consulta

The next consulta will be held from 8^th to 13^th December 2025.

u u u u u u

Perpetual professions

Gama Felix Blessings	Cairo/EGSD	04.10.2025
Muhindo Muhiwa Fiston	Cairo/EGSD	04.10.2025
Kakule Wasingya Bienfaif	Butembo/CN	10.10.2025

Ordinations

Hernández Cruz José Manuel	Coatzacoalcos/M	11.10.2025
Samuel Miguel	Nampula/MO	25.10.2025

Holy Redeemer Guild

November        01 – 15 SS           16 – 30 T
December        01 – 15 PE           16 – 31

Prayer Intentions

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.

December – Lord Jesus, fount of peace, help us to be generous missionaries, to bring your message of brotherly love to those who live in anguish, to be brothers of the needy and to free the oppressed, in the manner of Saint Daniel Comboni. Lord, hear us.

Comboni liturgical calendar

NOVEMBER

Commemoration of deceased confrères, relatives and benefactors

Date to be established year-by-year

DECEMBER

3

Saint Francis Xavier, priest, Patron of the missions

Feast

Meaningful anniversaries

NOVEMBER

21

Madonna del Quinche

Ecuador

DECEMBER

1	Blessed Clementina Alfonsina Anuarite Nengapeta, virgin and martyr	Congo
3	Saint Francis Xavier, priest, Patron of the missions	Feast, Mozambique, Spain
12	The Blessed Virgin Mary of Guadalupe, Patron of the Americas	Mexico

CURIA

5° Comboni Course for Elderly Confrères

“Life is now…” – The motto of the Comboni Course for Elderly Confrères (CCA) aptly expresses the meaning of the initiative, which aims to help participants not look back with regret, but rather to value the present as a kairos, an opportunity for grace and human and spiritual growth.

Now in its fifth year, and designed for confrères aged 70 or over, the course features 12 missionaries from various countries, including Spain, Portugal, South Africa, Germany, Peru, and Italy.

Some of us have already met, while for others, the course is an opportunity to get to know each other better and strengthen our ties of brotherhood. It started on 7 October and will end on 7^th December.

The motivations that drove each participant are diverse, but—as was evident from the first day of sharing—they can be summed up in the desire to experience a time of physical rest, to take a break from the daily grind, and to dedicate more time to prayer, reflection, and study.

The goal of the course, as explained in the booklet prepared by the two coordinators, Father Alberto Silva and Father Sylvester Hategk’Imana, is to help each person experience old age with serenity and fruitfulness; to grow in their relationship with the Lord; to develop an inner freedom that makes us less tied to role, power, and activism; and to deepen our personal relationship with Saint Daniel Comboni, our Founder.

Among the means proposed to achieve these goals are personal prayer, to which more time is dedicated; community liturgy, to be experienced with greater calm and participation; the presentation of specific themes related to the physical, psychological, spiritual, and missionary dimensions of old age; the six-day spiritual exercises; and a pilgrimage to Limone sul Garda and Verona.

In his introductory speech, Father Giulio Albanese helped us situate this experience within the broader context of ongoing formation, providing a clear understanding of the complex global reality from a political, economic, and financial perspective. He also recalled the ecclesial situation in Rome, with its many challenges, noting that only 6-7% of Catholics in the diocese are practising Catholics.

The first three days of the second week were led by Father David Glenday, who invited us to rediscover the gift of our Founder, Saint Daniel Comboni. With simplicity and depth, he posed some fundamental questions to help us have a more personal encounter with him. Each day, Father Glenday’s insights were followed by moments of sharing in which each person shared how Comboni’s example and message have influenced and continue to inspire their own missionary journey.

In the coming weeks, and especially during the spiritual retreat, we will have the opportunity to revisit this theme and deepen our relationship with St. Daniel Comboni. (Father Efrem Tresoldi, mccj)

PARTECIPANTS Date of birth Ordination Perpetual vows Nazionality Mission Fr. Francis Manana 15.07.53 29.11.87 RSA RSA Fr. Carmelo Del Río 08.02.54 02.08.81 E U Bro. Mario Camporese 27.04.54 18.04.93 I C Fr. Antonio Jerez 18.04.45 16,07.88 E EC Fr. Ernesto Ascione 10.09.41 26.06.66 I BR Bro. Hernán Romero 15.01.52 30.07.88 PE PE Fr. Germano Serra 26.01.56 04.06.89 P U Fr. Juan José Tenias 06.05.43 06.04.69 E T Fr. Longinos López 26.06.48 22.12.78 E E Fr. Efrem Tresoldi 23.0352 15.09.79 I RSA Fr. Giovanni Maneschg 23.12,41 29.06.68 I DSP Fr. Herbert Gimpl 12.09.46 25.05.74 D DSP Coordinating team         Fr. Alberto Silva 01.08.55 26.07.81 P C Fr. Sylvester Hategk’Imana 29.07.61 26.06.94 U C

CONGO

The young confrères from the province of Congo, who have been on mission for three to seven years, gathered at the Casa San Giuseppe in Kisangani from October 20th to 29th for an ongoing formation session.

The confrères expressed their gratitude to the provincial council for their attention and, in particular, to Fathers Fernando Zolli and Fidèle Katsan for their coordination. The meeting began with a presentation by Father Justin Kakule on the importance of ongoing formation as an opportunity for spiritual renewal, personal growth, and conversion. It was an opportunity to exchange missionary experiences, share joys, and emphasise the importance of prayer, psycho-spiritual guidance, and interculturality as a strength. Challenges were also highlighted, including the absence of a provincial assembly, the scarcity of necessary resources to carry out the mission, the lack of appreciation for the qualities and abilities of the confrères, and a tendency toward tribalism and regionalism.

The topics addressed included socio-political and ecclesial realities, spiritual life, religious vows, the Comboni charism and mission, as well as community and interior life. To address these challenges, proposals were put forward: a provincial assembly, a biennial meeting of the confrères during the first ten years of the mission, a call to foster fraternity and communion in opposition to tribalism and divisions, and to be mutual witnesses of a moral life.

ECUADOR

The diocesan phase of the cause for the beatification of Father Alberto Ferri has been opened.

On 22^nd October, a ceremony of great significance for the local Church, our province, and the entire Comboni family in the country was held at the Archbishop’s Curia of Portoviejo, Ecuador: the opening of the diocesan phase of the cause of beatification of the Servant of God Father Alberto Ferri, a Comboni missionary (see FC, September 2025).

The celebration was presided over by the Archbishop of Portoviejo, Msgr. Eduardo Castillo, who introduced the postulator of the cause and the members of the diocesan tribunal charged with gathering testimonies about Father Ferri and examining the heroism of his virtues. In his address, Msgr. Castillo recalled the missionary’s reputation for sanctity and emphasised the spiritual and pastoral value of this step for the Church and the Comboni family.

The opening of the cause represents the culmination of a long preparatory process, the fruit of years of research, collection of testimonies, and documentation of significant events in the life of the Servant of God, along with an examination of the “graces received” attributed to his intercession.

EGYPT/SUDAN

Enrolments at the CCST in Sudan

Comboni College of Science and Technology (CCST) is developing a web platform for teaching Sudanese Arabic sign language, aiming to facilitate communication with people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The site is designed to teach the language through multimedia resources and is aimed at Arabic-speaking Sudanese users who wish to learn it for personal, professional, or educational reasons.

The primary goal is to promote concepts such as inclusion, integration, communication, equal opportunities, and awareness in Sudan, particularly among teachers, families, and organisations that support deaf or hard-of-hearing communities.

The website will also facilitate access to accredited translators from the Sudan National Union of Deaf Persons, making it easier for institutions to include people with hearing impairments in their activities. Recording of video lessons began on 30^th September with an accredited translator provided by the Sudan National Union of Deaf Persons.

The digital platform is being developed by a professor from the College’s Computer Science Department, in collaboration with three recent graduates of the Computer Science and Information Technology programs. The project is part of a broader initiative led by the Italian Association for Solidarity Among Peoples (AISPO) and funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation-Addis Ababa Office, which aims to promote the integration of people with various types of disabilities.

In the same context, the English Department is collaborating with AISPO to translate 1,200 business plans submitted by people with disabilities in the Red Sea State from Arabic to English. (Father Jorge Naranjo, mccj)

Feast of Saint Daniel Comboni

On the evening of Thursday, October 9th, the feast of Saint Daniel Comboni was celebrated in the Church of Cordi Jesu. As is the case every year, in this church – the first dedicated to the Heart of Jesus in Africa and founded by Saint Daniel Comboni himself on his final journey to Sudan – Comboni missionaries gathered, along with numerous faithful from various parishes in Cairo.

This year’s special grace was the ordination of the scholastics Fiston Muhiwa (from Congo) and Felix Gama (from Malawi), as deacons, during a Mass presided by Msgr. Claudio Lurati, Apostolic Vicar of Alexandria, Egypt. The two scholastics had made their religious profession the previous Saturday, 4^th October.

The celebration was enlivened by songs and the participation of various groups – Eritreans, Egyptians, Sudanese, and others – who, with enthusiasm and a spirit of communion, contributed to making this moment a true sign of fraternity. At the end of the liturgy, those present shared a moment of fraternal agape.

Other celebrations in honour of Saint Daniel Comboni took place in the province’s missions, with the opportunity – for the first time in years – to reach some parishes in Sudan, such as Sinja and Sennar, where Father Luigi Cignolini presided over the ceremonies.

For the first time, students from our ‘Comboni BA’ schools marched through the streets of Port Sudan.

In Beirut, the celebration of Saint Daniel was also enriched by the presence of the Latin bishop, Msgr. César Essayan, who sees in our founder’s charism a message for the Church in the Middle East and invites it to open itself to Catholicism and to welcome refugees and foreigners.

Another note of hope comes from Masalma (Omdurman): for the first time since the beginning of the war, our school, reopened a few weeks ago thanks to the initiative of the parish’s lay people, celebrated the feast of Comboni with students and their families. This sign gives us hope for a future return to Khartoum.

El Fasher falls

After months of exhausting attacks and bombings, on 27^th October, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) captured El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur. The city had been under siege for months, and the local population was suffering from hunger.

The fall of El Fasher clearly shows that the war is still far from over, especially in the western regions of the country. This comes just as, according to the UN, at least one million people have already returned to Khartoum. We Comboni missionaries are also preparing to return to the capital, with the intention of reopening the Masalma mission and welcoming the Superior General during his visit, scheduled for November.

Returning to Omdurman and the visit of Father General

Today, 29^th October, Fathers Yousif William and Lorenzo Baccin travelled to Omdurman, where we hope to reopen our presence. Let us accompany them with our prayers, so that God may protect and guide them in this delicate mission.

On 3^rd November, Father Luigi Codianni, Superior General, will arrive in Port Sudan. He will stay for 15 days, during which he will also visit Kosti and Khartoum. This visit also calls for all possible prayers, as it will be of great importance for our ongoing discernment at both the provincial and institute levels. (Father Diego Dalle Carbonare, mccj)

ITALY

Father Stefano Fazion’s 25 years of faith and missionary courage

Last 21^st September, the parish of Oliosi (Verona) was transformed into a collective embrace of faces, emotions, and gratitude. Family, friends, brothers, and the entire parish community gathered to thank the Lord for the 25th anniversary of Father Stefano Fazion’s priestly ordination, a Comboni missionary originally from the area.

But this is not just the story of an anniversary, but also of a journey, made of courageous choices, unconditional availability, and a service that has never ceased to put others at the centre.

Mission as a way of life – Father Stefano spent much of his missionary life in the Central African Republic, where he faced significant challenges, but always with his gaze fixed on Jesus, as Saint Daniel Comboni recommended.

During his homily, Father Stefano said: “Providence has never been lacking, and the closeness of the Lord has strengthened me every day.” These words don’t sound like slogans, but rather like lived truths.

His story is one of unexpected twists and turns. After studying theology in the Democratic Republic of Congo, he planned to undertake missionary work there immediately; however, he was instead asked to return to Italy, where he was assigned to the community of Venegono Superiore (Varese) with the task of accompanying groups of young people. For six years, however, his heart always yearned to leave for the mission, but with the willingness of one who knows that service is not where we want to be, but where we are called to be. When he was finally asked to go, the destination was not the DR Congo, but the Central African Republic. And he, once again, said yes.

The Mountain as a Metaphor of Life – During the Eucharistic celebration at which he presided and concelebrated by two other Comboni Missionaries (Fathers Eliseo Tacchella and Raoul Sohouénou) and two diocesan priests (Father Valerio and Father Bogdan), Father Stefano shared a reflection inspired by the spiritual exercises he had attended in Limone sul Garda a few weeks earlier, at the birthplace of Saint Daniel Comboni.

The metaphor he used was powerful: “Life is like a mountain path. The summit can be glimpsed, but the path is uncertain. There are climbs, obstacles, pauses, views to contemplate, and moments when you need the courage to turn back to seek and find a new direction.”

This image speaks to everyone, but especially to young people. In a world that often demands immediate certainties, Father Stefano reminded us that “you don’t need to know every detail of the journey: what you need, instead, is the courage to begin, the patience to walk, and the faith that we are never alone.”

Father Stefano’s testimony is an invitation to live life as an authentic adventure, to say “yes” even when the path changes, to serve with dedication even when it is not easy, and to believe that the summit isn’t just a point to reach, but a new way of looking at the journey. Because true courage is choosing to move forward, keeping your gaze fixed on the goal you want to reach, even if, at times, you don’t know the path ahead. True service isn’t doing great things, but doing everything with love.

Father Stefano walked part of this journey of service and courage with Brother Alberto Visintin, who, for the occasion, wanted to be present in Oliosi.

Towards Rome, with high hopes – Father Stefano is now leaving for Rome, where he will take a refresher course. But it’s not a point of arrival: it’s a new beginning. His backpack is full of experiences, of faces encountered, of steps taken with effort and joy.

And his message remains clear: every journey, even the most arduous, is a gift. (Father Raoul Sohouénou, mccj)

GERT resumes its reflection on the Comboni mission in Europe.

Comboni missionaries in Europe live in nine different countries. Their languages and cultures are also diverse. However, there are also similarities, cultural movements, and social events that stem from a common foundation.

To address the challenges this reality poses to missionary commitment, the Comboni missionaries have developed several tools for reflection and study.

First, there is the European Group for Theological Reflection (GERT). This group comprises members of the Comboni family from all European circumscriptions who address research topics based on their specific areas of expertise. Almost all GERT members have an academic background and experience in university teaching. The results of their research are published and circulated among members of the Comboni family.

A second tool for reflection is the Limone Symposium. This is a biannual event held in Limone sul Garda, the birthplace of Saint Daniel Comboni. In the past, the symposium has addressed topics such as the new evangelisation in Europe, the migrant question, synodality and mission, and others.

On 29^th September, GERT members and a representative of the Italian Mission Secretariat met in Rome to plan the journey of these two groups. After sharing the work done and the goals envisioned for the future, it was decided that the European Mission Secretariat and GERT will collaborate in organising upcoming symposia.

The goal is to continue the reflection on the mission undertaken by GERT and, at the same time, continue to engage with expert voices from outside the Comboni Institute, as is the case during the Limone symposium. We intend to grow in our understanding of our times, of the social and ecclesial issues affecting Europe, and therefore act promptly to proclaim the Gospel and promote peace, justice, and the protection of creation.

Brescia – Annual meeting of the relatives of Comboni Missionaries

On Sunday, 5^th October, the Brescia community gathered, as is traditional, for a day of celebration with the missionaries’ families, friends, collaborators, and lay people who share the same journey of faith and commitment.

The meeting was led by Father Elias Sindjalim, General Councillor, who offered an overview of the Comboni Institute’s current situation, from statistical data to the dream of Saint Daniel Comboni: ‘Save Africa with Africa’ – a vision that is now being realised with a renewed face of the Institute and new commitments undertaken across the continents.

Father Elias invited those present to thank the Lord for the gift of the Founder and to ask for his intercession to courageously continue the work of evangelisation, especially in the most challenging situations (see the dramatic situation in Sudan, where war has been raging for two years). Being missionaries today means keeping attention focused on forgotten realities, particularly in Africa, and speaking out for the experiences of local Christian communities.

The mission, however, is not only distant. In Brescia, the Comboni community is also involved in the ‘Abraham’s Tent’ initiative and the Afrobrix project, a cultural and creative journey that unites citizens and people of African descent in building a more just and supportive society.

During the meeting, the Brescian missionaries who dedicated their lives to the mission were remembered with gratitude. Among them were Bishop Lorenzo Ceresoli, Father Elia Ciapetti, Brother Francesco Ragnoli, Father Luigi Polini, Father Assunto Tebaldini, Bishop Giovanni Migliorati, Bishop Cesare Mazzolari, Bishop Gianfranco Masserdotti, and many others. Their testimonies continue to inspire family and friends, nourishing the same missionary spirit of the past.

The day concluded with the Eucharistic celebration, presided over by Father Elias, in the Church of the Good Shepherd. A fraternal lunch followed, completing the atmosphere of joy and sharing. (Father Girolamo Miante, mccj)

Feast of the Peoples 2025 and interreligious prayer in Padua

The Feast of the Peoples, held in Padua on 28^th September, is an initiative of Unica Terra, an association founded in the Comboni house in 1991, with the participation of volunteers, postulant brothers, young people from the Missionary Commitment Group (GIM), and Comboni confrères.

Since its inception, the festival has always had two distinct yet complementary elements: the actual celebration, a joyful and colourful event featuring dances, songs, music, vibrant colours, and delicious food; and interreligious prayer, a space for spiritual encounter between people of different faiths.

Over the years, the festival has grown: from the Comboni courtyard, it moved to Prato della Valle, the large, symbolic square of Padua, where it became part of the City and Provincial Volunteer Day. Among the myriad gazebos, the 29 stands of the Feast of the Peoples Association stood out. The Feast of the Peoples in Padua is one of the finest fruits of the commitment of the Comboni Lay Missionaries (CLM).

Interreligious prayer – “I am peace” – An integral part of the Feast is interreligious prayer, celebrated this year a week later, on October 5th, in the courtyard of the Comboni House. The chosen theme was “I am peace.”

Prayers recited and sung in different languages, symbolic gestures, songs, dances, and traditional costumes – signs of other cultures and religions – brought to life an intense moment, experienced with participation and passion, completing the Feast of Peoples.

An image accompanied the prayer: ‘the freshness of peace’. A proverb says: “If you look at the reeds with peace, they will give you coolness; if you look at the reeds with anger, they will beat you.” These words connect peace with a feeling of refreshment and benefit: peace, whether internal or external, brings calm, serenity, and well-being, like a cool breeze that brings relief and regeneration.

During the celebration, the figure of Brother Roger Schutz of Taizé, assassinated in 2005 during evening prayer in the community church, was remembered. A monk known for his dedication to reconciliation, peace, and ecumenical dialogue, Brother Roger was a concrete sign of communion among Christians of different denominations and among all believers in God.

He wrote to young people: “There are so many people today who aspire to a future of peace, to a humanity freed from the threats of violence. While some are gripped by anxiety about the future and feel immobilised, there are also, throughout the world, young people capable of inventiveness and creativity. Some are bearers of peace in situations of crisis and conflict. They persevere even when trial or failure weighs on their shoulders.”

Pope Francis’s prayer for peace also resounded: “Now, Lord, help us! Give us peace. Teach us peace. Lead us toward peace. Open our eyes and our hearts and give us the courage to say: “No more war! With war, everything is destroyed!” […] May these words be banished from the heart of every man: division, hatred, war! Lord, disarm the tongue and the hands, renew the hearts and minds, so that the word that brings us together is always brother, and the way of our life becomes shalom, peace, salaam!”

Two symbolic gestures accompanied the invocations for peace:

• the lighting of a candle placed alongside others to create a corner of light and warmth, a sign of shared peace;
• the pouring of water, a personal contribution which, mixed with flour and herbs, served as a conclusion of the prayers.

This latter gesture, guided by Comboni Brother Simon Tsoklo, was a libation for the ancestors, a part of traditional African religion, to offer them n’tifafa, “the freshness of peace,” accompanied by an invocation in the Ewe language spoken in southern Togo.

The participants – Various religious representatives took part in the prayer: the Buddhist monk Dambadeniye Dammarama Maha Thero; the Brahmin Pal Ramesh; Brother Simon Tsoklo, a Comboni Missionary; Father Gaetano Montresor, a Comboni Missionary; Renata De Matteis and Davide Bergamasco, followers of the Bahá’í faith; Sandro Vitulo, Secular Franciscan Order; Ait Alla Lousshaine of the Islamic community; Flora Grassivaro, Gukson Capone, Davide Chirulli, The Federation of Families for Peace; Giacomo Colombatti, The Community of Sant’Egidio; Cecilia Silva, The Filipino community; Emanuele Breda, Suyo Mahikari of The Spiritual Association. (Father Gaetano Montresor, mccj)

MOZAMBIQUE

Priestly ordination of Samuel Miguel in Nampula

On Saturday, 25^th October, the parish of Our Lady of Grace in Murrupula, in the province of Nampula, witnessed the priestly ordination of Deacon Samuel Miguel. Archbishop Inácio Saúre of Nampula, who presided over the ceremony, urged the new priest in simple and straightforward words: “Do not become a ‘fake’ priest, leading a double life, but always be an authentic priest and missionary in the manner of Comboni, ready to serve with a missionary heart and to make your service to the poorest and most forgotten the centre of your mission.”

The celebration was attended by numerous diocesan priests and confrères from the Comboni communities and parishes of the Archdiocese of Nampula and the Diocese of Nacala, particularly from the community of Carapira, where Samuel carried out his diaconal ministry and missionary service. Also present were local authorities, some Comboni Sisters, Lay Comboni Missionaries, seminarians from Nampula, friends, and benefactors.

In his closing message, Father José Joaquim Luis Pedro, provincial superior, addressed Samuel and said: “You were not ordained for yourself, but for the people, for the mission, and for the Kingdom. Be like Moses: climb the mountain, listen to God, and come down with an enlightened face. Be like Isaiah: let the burning coal touch your lips and purify them. Be like Jesus: if you are not good news for the poor, you will not be good news for anyone. Be like Saint Paul: let your life be one of urgency, not accommodation. Be like Comboni, our Founder. Therefore, be an instrument, not a protagonist. Celebrate every Mass as if it were the first, the last, and the only one. Never trivialise the mystery.”

Pointing to the people present, he added, “Listen to the People of God: let them be your first catechism. Never stop studying. An ignorant priest is a pastoral danger.

Finally, Father José Joaquim informed everyone that, although Samuel studied theology in São Paulo, Brazil, he has already been assigned to the Comboni Province of Kenya, where he will continue the work of evangelisation among the neediest and abandoned, in line with Comboni’s great dream of evangelising Africa with Africa.

The news was greeted with a massive ovation from everyone. This surprised the provincial superior, who quickly commented, “I am happily surprised by your reaction. Usually, when I announce that a priest is about to leave for a distant mission, people show signs of disappointment and discouragement. Instead, you were able to rejoice and encourage Samuel. Congratulations on your missionary spirit.”

Father Samuel, visibly moved, first thanked God for the gift of his vocation, then all the faithful present and those who had prayed for him, accompanied him, and advised him up to that moment. He extended a special thanks to the Comboni missionaries for their support during his formation. Finally, he invoked the protection of Our Lady of Grace, patroness of his parish, to help him remain faithful to his mission.

Father Samuel chose the motto for his ordination: “Do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:19). These words remind us of Jesus’ desire to always be with us and the need to perpetuate the mystery of his presence in the Eucharist.

On Sunday, the 26^th, Father Samuel celebrated his first Mass in the small community of San Pietro di Cavina, where he spent his childhood and where most of his family lives.

(Fathers Sérgio Vilanculo and Alberto Vieira, Comboni missionaries working in Mozambique).

PROVINCE OF CENTRAL AMERICA

Feast of the relatives of Guatemalan Comboni Missionaries

The Comboni missionaries first arrived in Guatemala in 1989. Today, the chapines—as Guatemalans are affectionately known—number eight: four priests, one brother, and three scholastics (one of whom is already a deacon, one in the Kinshasa scholasticate, and the third in São Paulo). There are also three postulants and several aspirants.

Taking advantage of the fact that October is the month chosen by the Catholic Church to focus reflection and action on the universal mission, this year it was decided to invite all the family members of the confrères originally from the country to spend Sunday, 26^th October, together at the “Casa Comboni” in Guatemala City.

It was a truly fitting choice. Father Juan Diego Calderón Vargas, superior of the Province of Central America (PCA), which encompasses three countries: Costa Rica, Guatemala, and El Salvador, also shared this opinion: “It was the first time an event of this kind had been held, and it was truly a day of fraternity and missionary spirituality, experienced as one large family. We experienced the mutual joy of getting to know one another and sharing our charism with those who inspired and supported our missionary vocation, amid joy, prayers, and a few tears from the eyes of our parents and family members.”

Two “guests of honour” were invited to share their vocational journey and their experiences of faith and mission. The first was Father Luis Filiberto López Pastor, who, after four years in the scholasticate of Kinshasa (DR Congo), was ordained in 2006. He then spent eight years in the Democratic Republic of Congo and eleven years in his home province, the PCA.

The second was Brother Jonatan Josué Chajón Gordillo, who made his first religious profession in May 2021 and recently completed his scholasticate at the International Formation Centre for Brothers (CIF) in Bogotá, Colombia.

A particularly touching moment was listening to the audio messages sent by three Comboni Missionaries from Chapines currently on mission in Ethiopia, Brazil, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

As a symbolic gesture of fraternal communion, during the Eucharist, the family members lit a candle in the name of each of the Guatemalan missionaries scattered around the world.

A festive lunch followed, featuring typical Guatemalan dishes: chuchitos, tostadas, tacos, and rellenitos.

SOUTH AFRICA

Comboni Jubilee Pilgrimage to Magaliesburg

On Friday, 10^th October 2025, all members of the Comboni Family in South Africa (fathers, brothers, sisters, scholastics, and postulants—about forty, in all) participated in a pilgrimage to celebrate the Jubilee of Hope and the Solemnity of Saint Daniel Comboni, our beloved Founder and Father. The destination of this first Comboni pilgrimage was the Shrine of Mary, Mother of Mercy in Magaliesburg, in the Archdiocese of Johannesburg, approximately 80 km from the Metropolitan See of Johannesburg.

In his introductory remarks, Father John Baptist, Provincial Superior, welcomed Msgr. Buti Tlhagale, Archbishop Emeritus of Johannesburg, who was kind enough to accompany this pilgrimage. He then thanked all the members of the Comboni Family for their participation in this first Comboni pilgrimage. He also emphasised the presence of the scholastics and postulants—the present and youthful future of our Comboni Institute—and that of the elderly confrères, the living memory of the Institute, recalling the words of Pope Francis: “If young people are called to open new doors, the elderly hold the keys.”

He recalled that Comboni envisioned us as “holy and capable missionaries,” always ready to devote our lives and energies to the poorest and most abandoned. “The poor await our response through concrete initiatives on their behalf.” Father John Baptist concluded with the words of our founder: “Courage for the present, but above all for the future!”

Bishop Buti Tlhagale shared some reflections on the great mission of the Church and Comboni’s pioneering role in the evangelisation of Africa. After reciting the rosary while walking around the Marian shrine, the Eucharistic celebration took place, followed by a fraternal agape. St. Daniel Comboni, pray for us! (Father John Baptist Keraryo Opargiw, mccj)

20^th Anniversary of the death of Father Giorgio Stefani

On 19^th October 2025, on the eve of the 20^th anniversary of the passing of Father Giorgio Stefani, we members of the Comboni Family gathered at St. Augustine’s Catholic Parish in Silverton, Pretoria, joining the parishioners to celebrate the life and mission of our late confrère, Father Giorgio.

Father Fabio Baldan, Provincial Superior of Italy, led a delegation composed of some of Father Giorgio’s close family members. The Holy Mass was presided over by Father John Baptist Opargiw, Provincial Superior in South Africa, while Father Fabio delivered the homily.

Father John Baptist, on behalf of the Institute, thanked the parishioners for organising the ceremony in memory of Father Giorgio, a missionary with a deeply compassionate heart, especially towards the poor and suffering. He also expressed his gratitude for the presence of Father Giorgio’s family, emphasising that it was a moment of true communion and solidarity, celebrated in the context of World Mission Sunday.

During his homily, Father Fabio reiterated that our Christian and missionary life breathes with the two lungs of prayer (which connect us with God, others, and Mother Earth) and love. He confirmed that Father Giorgio’s life and mission fully embodied this truth, and invited everyone to pray that he may continue to be a source of inspiration for young people, especially those of St. Augustine’s Parish, where he served for many years.

Father Gordon Rees, Father Antony Mkhari, and Angelo Stefani then shared moving testimonies about the late Father Giorgio. Finally, Father Antony presented a locally made portrait of Father Giorgio Stefani to the youngest member of the Stefani family, Giorgio Stefani Jr., who bears his name.

After the Mass, everyone was invited to a community lunch, during which they enjoyed a variety of dishes prepared by Silverton parishioners from various cultures.

May the memory of Father Giorgio Stefani live on among us, in our missionary service to the poorest and most abandoned.

LET US PRAY FOR OUR BELOVED DEAD

THE MOTHER: Jovita, of Father Estrada Santoyo Gabriel (M).
THE BROTHERS: Fernando António, of Father Jerónimo Alberto Vieira da Costa (MO); Dante, of Father Valentino Benigna (I); José, of Father Rojo Buxonat Laureano (E).
THE SISTER: Juanita, of Father Daniel Magaña Chávez (M).
THE COMBONI SISTERS: Sister Mecchi M. Eugenia; Sister Basso M. Marcella; Sister Buttiron Regina Maria; Sister Cavalleri Pier Imelda.