Familia Comboniana 849 – March 2026

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

Perpetual profession

Ordinations

Holy Redeemer Guild

March              01 – 07 CO          08 – 15 E                16 – 31 DSP
April                01 – 15 CN           16 – 30 EC

Prayer intentions

March: That, as the Comboni Family, we may seek out those far from the faith and be instruments of encounter with the Lord Jesus and the Gospel of life, in every part of the world. Lord, hear us.

April: We pray for close collaboration within the Comboni Family, so that we may bear witness to a synodal Church that is close to the poorest and most abandoned, as Saint Daniel Comboni desired. Lord, hear us.

Meaningful anniversaries

MARCH

APRIL

ASIA

Perpetual profession of the scholastic Diego Mercado, in Manila

On 2^nd February, on the occasion of the World Day of Consecrated Life, the Comboni Missionaries, along with their confrères, friends, and benefactors, gathered in Manila to celebrate the perpetual profession of scholastic Mercado Sandoval Diego Martín, who served in our delegation for nearly a year.

We thank God that our young confrère has forever consecrated his life to the service of the missions.

During his homily, the delegate superior, Father Aguilar Sánchez Víctor Manuel, emphasised that total dedication to the mission is the essence of our calling. He added that our primary commitment is to proclaim the Gospel among the poorest and most abandoned human groups in the world’s different continents, drawing inspiration and strength from a profound and tender devotion to the pierced Heart of Jesus. Sustained by the love of this Heart, we are determined to share the "good news" of the Kingdom with these most abandoned brothers and sisters living on the peripheries of society, with a view to authentic human advancement.

Father Manuel reminded Diego, his confrères, and all those present at the celebration that our consecration is ‘for life’ (ad vitam), spent beyond the borders of our countries of origin (ad extra), dedicated to the service of the poor (ad pauperes), and directed to all peoples, especially non-Christians (ad gentes). He concluded: “These are the fundamental elements that define our missionary vocation and identity. Today, Diego Martín is a living testimony to our Comboni charism.” (Father Aguilar Sánchez Víctor Manuel, mccj).

CONGO

Priestly ordination of Lwanzo Kapanza in Butembo

On 15^th February, the Diocese of Butembo-Beni experienced a very meaningful event: the priestly ordination of Muhindo Kapanza Lwanzo, a Comboni missionary, celebrated by Bishop Sikuli Paluku Melchisédech of the Diocese of Butembo-Beni, in the parish of the Immaculate Heart in Kitatumba. Along with fourteen other new priests – thirteen diocesan and one religious – Father Lwanzo generously responded to the Lord’s call. The celebration was much more than a liturgical rite: it was a true sign of light in a context marked by trials. While the province of North Kivu continues to face the painful realities of war and insecurity, the local Church showed its most beautiful aspect: a fervent, united, and supportive community.

The joy was palpable. The songs, prayers, and fervent participation of the faithful testified to a living faith that is undaunted by difficulties. In the midst of adversity, God continues to call, and young people continue to answer ‘yes’. These ordinations sent a powerful message: hope is stronger than fear.

Father Lwanzo is part of the great tradition of the charism of St. Daniel Comboni, oriented toward evangelisation and service to the most vulnerable. His commitment reminds us that mission is not merely a geographical destination, but a total gift of self for the proclamation of the Gospel and the building of a more fraternal society.

The day after his ordination, Father Lwanzo celebrated his first Mass in his home parish, surrounded by his family and the local Comboni community, which works with dedication in the diocese. It was a moment of profound communion and thanksgiving. The Christian community welcomed this son of theirs with pride and gratitude as he became a priest for the universal Church.

This celebration of the ‘first fruits’ was also an important moment of missionary and vocational promotion. Through his testimony, Father Lwanzo encouraged young people not to be afraid to give their lives to Christ and his Church. His life’s journey has become a living sign that, even in the most fragile contexts, God continues to sow vocations and inspire artisans of peace.

Let us pray to the Lord that this ordination may be for the diocese of Butembo-Beni and for the Comboni family a renewal of faith and missionary commitment to proclaim the Good News and to denounce everything that harms the dignity of the human person and of all creation. (Father Mumbere Kahongya Mapenzi, mccj)

ITALY

European Group for Theological Reflection: “Understanding the challenges of today”.

The European Group for Theological Reflection (GERT) continues its journey into the new year. The Verona meeting (February 2-4) was supposed to address a series of topics related to social and religious changes in Europe. For various reasons, only a few members were able to attend in person and share the results of their research.

Father Moses Otii, parish priest and formator of the Graz formation community, presented his research on the origins of violence in our society. Father Paolo Latorre presented his interpretation of the shift in social paradigm, drawing on his previous reflections and Pope Francis’s invitation to grasp its importance in our time. Father Justino Martínez Pérez proposed a pastoral reading and use of the Bible, especially regarding a pastoral presence in Europe aimed at reaching those who are not yet part of the faith community.

Among the proposals considered by the participants, a study programme on the theme of interculturality stands out, in which young confrères in formation in Europe will also participate. Interculturality is a major challenge for our increasingly diverse societies, but it is also a challenge for the Comboni missionaries themselves. The Comboni Institute is increasingly international, with a growing presence of confrères from Africa and some Asian countries. Working together, bearing witness to the faith together, and committing ourselves to the transformation of our communities, in harmony and unity of purpose, is therefore an important task.

There will be further meetings in 2026, including the Limone Symposium, scheduled for next June. (Father Giuseppe Caramazza, mccj)

In the wake of Laudato Si’ – Embracing Limits – ‘Food and its Waste’

On Friday, February 6^th, the first evening of the new programme ‘In the Wake of Laudato Si’’ took place at our house in Padua, entitled ‘Welcoming Limits’. This is the third programme (we are in the third year of the ‘In the Wake of Laudato Si’’ programme), which began with a reflection on the change necessary to envision a new form of well-being and now suggests a possible path by embracing the limitations inherent to the human person and creation.

The meeting (three more will follow – see below) addressed the topic of ‘Food and its waste in the era of climate change’.

Three reflections were presented. Davide Pettenella (a professor at the University of Padua and member of the scientific committee of the Lanza Foundation) spoke on ‘Food production, logistics, and consumption: waste and best practices’. Massimiliano Monterosso, head of the project Re.T.E. Solid.A [Territory, Economy, Solidarity, Environment Relations]-Padua, spoke on ‘Creating and supporting circuits for the recovery and reuse of surplus food’. Finally, Francesca Marin (professor at the University of Padua and coordinator of the Ethics, Theology, and Philosophy project at the Lanza Foundation) concluded with the presentation ‘Limiting waste is an act of care and an ethical issue’.

A large audience attentively followed the qualified and well-received contributions of the three speakers. The inspiration for the journey is Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato Si’ (published on 24^th May 2015), both for the entire journey—Embracing limits—and for the specific theme of the evening— [Food, in particular § 20 (waste and the value of food), §§ 129-131 (land, work, and biodiversity), and § 156 (quality of life and proper nutrition)].

Another powerful phrase from Pope Francis, pronounced in his video message on the occasion of the meeting of 500 national and international representatives – ‘The Ideas of Expo 2015 – Towards the Milan Charter’ – on 7^th February 2015, also inspired the evening: “There is food for everyone, but not everyone can eat […]. It is therefore necessary, if we truly want to solve problems and not get lost in sophistries, to resolve the root of all evil, which is inequality […]. To do this, there are some priority choices to make: renouncing the absolute autonomy of markets and financial speculation and acting first and foremost on the structural causes of inequality” – a fitting neologism [inequity = ‘unjust inequality’] coined by Francis to describe the root of poverty in an economy that kills and has killed many people.

It is therefore necessary to ‘embrace the limits’ if we want to strive for just equality in the production, management, consumption, and waste of food.

Schedule of following meetings

• Friday, 20^th March 2026 – 18.00
  The effects of climate change on water resources: how to protect both them and ourselves
• Friday, 17^th April 2026 – 18.00
  Energy consumption and climate. The impact of the digital age
• Friday, 22^nd May 2026 – 18.00
  Caring for the person and environmental protection from a One Health perspective

(Father Gaetano Montresor, mccj, and Colibrì – Io faccio la mia parte)

KENYA

Four important ‘Firsts’

Since the beginning of 2026, the Province of Kenya has experienced four celebrations that, each in its own way, felt like a ‘first’: a perpetual profession in frontier country; a diaconal ordination in the far north; priestly silver jubilees celebrated in ecclesial communion; and finally, a priestly ordination on the periphery. These events, though distinct, converge in a single experience of grace and missionary renewal.

On 15^th January 2026, our confrère Mark Wanyama Musungu made his perpetual profession during a solemn celebration in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Consolation in Marsabit. For the many faithful present, it was the first perpetual profession ever experienced in their community: a moment of intense emotion and profound spiritual edification.

Just two days after permanently consecrating his life to the Comboni charism of serving the “poorest and most abandoned”, Mark was ordained a deacon on 17^th January 2026, by the laying on of hands by the Bishop of the Diocese of Marsabit, Mons. Peter Kihara.

The presence of Comboni missionaries in this region dates back to the end of 1973. This celebration, therefore, was an eloquent sign of the fidelity and continuity of our witness in this northern frontier. It renewed in everyone the awareness of the common call to be missionary servants in the peripheries and frontiers of history.

On 7^th February, our confrères, Father Andrew Wanjohi and Father Percy Carbonero, who recently celebrated their silver jubilee of priesthood, were officially awarded a certificate by Bishop Kihara. Philip Anyolo, Metropolitan Archbishop of Nairobi, during the celebration of the World Day of Consecrated Life, held at the Minor Basilica of the Holy Family in Nairobi. They were among many others from other religious congregations. Elevating this event to a large, shared celebration was a first, and as well as being a powerful testimony, it strengthened the appreciation the Comboni missionaries enjoy among consecrated persons in the country.

On 14^th February, in the heart of the Catholic Diocese of Ngong, a new page in history was turned: the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Erankau hosted its first priestly ordination. Only a few years have passed since the Comboni missionaries expanded their presence to Erankau, a territory traditionally inhabited by the Maasai people. In a celebration imbued with profound faith and vibrant cultural richness, Comboni Deacon Nicholas Mbithi Mwilu was ordained a priest, becoming a sign of hope for the local community of the faithful and the entire Comboni family. The Church of St. John the Evangelist in Erankau is part of the Holy Spirit Parish in Kandisi.

Officiated by Bishop John Oballa Owaa of Ngong Diocese, the ordination marked a symbolic transformation: Erankau, from a simple local outpost, has become a true missionary launching pad. The Bishop expressed words of appreciation for the Comboni missionaries, recalling how the seed of faith they planted many years ago in the parish of Santa Maria in Ongata Rongai has borne fruit, generating numerous other parishes in the diocese. After professing his perpetual vows before this very altar, Father Nicholas is now preparing to carry the spirit of Ngong beyond national borders with his first assignment in the Comboni Province of Mexico.

We have raised our prayers that this historic event may mark the beginning of a new chapter for the faithful of the Erankau area and become a credible and prophetic sign that every periphery can be transformed into a fruitful centre of vocational growth and a concrete expression of the universal dimension of our missionary vocation. (Father Andrew Wanjohi Thumbi, MCCJ)

MOZAMBIQUE

Mons. Constantino takes possession of the new diocese of Caia

On 25^th February, the new diocese was erected in Caia, Mozambique, with the inauguration of its first bishop, Msgr. António Manuel Bogaio Constantino, in the parish church of St. Matthew the Apostle, now the cathedral. Mons. Cláudio Dalla Zuanna, Archbishop of Beira, introduced the celebration by recalling the history of evangelisation in the Zambezi Valley. Apostolic Nuncio, Msgr. Luís Miguel Muñoz Cárdaba read the papal bull of erection issued by Pope Leo XIV and the decree appointing the bishop.

In his homily, Mons. Bogaio emphasised the importance of unity: “Tinaphata basa pabodzi” (‘we will work together’), recalling that God first demands conversion, holiness, and unity. He expressed his desire to get to know the people of the diocese, support priests and catechists, encourage young people, and walk with families, drawing inspiration from Saint Daniel Comboni: “Ndabwera kakhala pakati pano” (‘I have come to be among you’).

He also proposed a new decentralised administrative structure to bring justice and services closer to the people, and recalled the legacy of the ancient missionaries. The celebration was attended by ecclesiastical and political authorities, faithful, and clergy from Caia and Beira. Bishop Constantino was Auxiliary Bishop of Beira; the Diocese of Caia includes the districts of Caia, Chemba, Cheringoma, Chinde, Doa, Luabo, Maringue, Marromeu, Mopeia, Morrumbala, Mutarara, and Tambara. (Father Sérgio M. Vilanculo, mccj)

PERU

Marcelino, the first Nomatsiguenga permanent diocesan deacon: “We are Amazonising the Church”.

Comboni’s dream continues to be realised: that indigenous people be protagonists in the evangelising mission of their own brothers and sisters. This approach to the regeneration of peoples, begun in Africa, has arrived in America, in a Nomatsiguenga community called Mazaronquiari, in the Peruvian Amazon rainforest, in the department of Junín, in the district of Pangoa. Here, on 21^st November 2025, Marcelino Shuente Chumpate was ordained a permanent deacon of the Vicariate of San Ramón by Bishop Gerardo Zerdín, bishop of the vicariate.

Marcelino Shuente Chumpate was born on 1^st November 1987, in the indigenous community of Alto Anapati (an indigenous community in the central jungle of Peru). He received his primary education in Anapati. To complete five years of secondary school, he moved to Mazaronquiari. He says: “Despite the difficulties inherent in our communities, I managed to complete my secondary education with commitment and perseverance, always trusting in God’s help.”

After finishing school, he did not return to Anapati but remained in Mazaronquiari. He fell in love with a classmate, Amanda Vergas Piori, and they married, accompanied by Father Oscar Gámez, a Mexican Comboni missionary. Today they have five children.

Marcelino is a farmer: he grows coffee to support his family, and cassava and bananas for family consumption. He is grateful to God for his family: “God has blessed me. I live happily with my family and my brothers. I am grateful to God for this great gift.”

Marcelino belongs to an Evangelical family. His parents had welcomed the Evangelical pastors who lived in Anapati. I know his father: a generous man who always welcomed me with a traditional drink (masato). His mother often gave me cassava to bring to the community. I thank God for having introduced me to this family.

I worked with Marcelino and can testify that he is a person of deep faith: he truly experienced an encounter with Christ. I remember an interview we had on Spanish television. The journalist asked Macheko (the nickname the native communities gave him): “How did you become a Christian?” He replied: “Jesus touched my heart. I live happily with God, recognising that He is the only one who has transformed my life.”

Marcelino met the Comboni missionaries thanks to Father Oscar Gámez, who visited the native Nomatsiguenga communities, using him as an interpreter. “With the arrival of the Comboni missionaries, my faith was strengthened. One of them gave me the opportunity to translate the Gospels into the Nomatsiguenga language.” Soon, God called him from being a translator to becoming an evangeliser.

When I first arrived in Pangoa, I asked him to accompany me to the communities. Thanks to him, I was able to enter many of them. At first, during Mass, after the sermon, I would ask him to add something of his own. Soon, I began to let him do the entire sermon. I immediately understood that he had a calling to evangelise. I prepared a programme of liturgical celebrations in the communities. On Sundays, each person would take care of two communities. During the week, each person would have four celebrations.

Marcelino says: “They entrusted me with the task of celebrating the Liturgy of the Word every week or every fortnight. My mission is to evangelise and serve the people of God, especially in the indigenous communities.”

With the religious community of Pangoa, we sent Marcelino to the School of Evangelisation (ESCA), an institution for the training of Christian animators and catechists of the Vicariate of San Ramón. This training lasted three years. Marcelino demonstrated a strong spirit of sacrifice, having to care for his family while, at the same time, dedicating himself to his studies. After completing his preparation, the vicariate accepted his candidacy for permanent diaconate.

Marcelino is enthusiastic about the charism of Daniel Comboni: “I thank all the Comboni Missionaries for their support and for the wonderful moments we shared. My vocation was strengthened by their arrival: they allowed me to continue the journey of evangelisation in the native communities, such as San Pablo de Mazaronquiari, Alto Anapati, Cubantía, Menkoriari, Chuquibambilla, Jerusalén de Miñaro, and Santa Teresita.”

I truly believe that Marcelino’s permanent diaconate not only actualises the charism of Comboni, who dreamed that every recipient of the mission would become a missionary for his brothers, but also makes concrete the dream of the universal Church that Pope Francis expressed in the document Querida Amazonía: to have a Church with an Amazonian face. From today, we can begin to say that we are ‘Amazonising’ the Church. (Father David Nyinga Dunga, mccj)

Provincial Assembly 2026

From 26^th to 30^th January, we gathered at our house in Monterrico for our annual assembly, which had the theme: ‘Rekindling the Fire of Mission’. Nearly all the confrères participated, and the atmosphere was one of deep reflection, true fraternity, and fraternal communion.

Using the approach of synodality, listening to the Spirit who guides us on this journey to discern where we are and where we want to go, we followed the letter of the General Council on the Comboni mission today, Going Beyond. At the same time, we experienced this process in communion with the local Church, which is celebrating the 300^th anniversary of the canonisation of Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo, a great missionary from Peru.

The assembly began with an initial reflection entrusted to a young diocesan priest, Father Yadir Candela, of the Archdiocese of Lima, on the theme ‘Passion for Mission in Light of the 300^th Anniversary of the Canonisation of Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo’. He offered a highly engaging presentation on the Spanish Saint Turibius (1538–1606), Archbishop of Lima, Peru. A tireless evangeliser, Turibius travelled thousands of leagues on foot across a vast archbishopric, preaching in indigenous languages ​​and promoting the inclusion of indigenous people, people of African descent, and people of mixed race. For the people of Peru, he was a beloved missionary pastor, a father of the Latin American Church, and a model of patience and charity.

This was followed by a second reflection on ‘Passion for Mission in the Light of Saint Daniel Comboni’, seen against the backdrop of 19^th Century Central Africa, marked by exploration, colonialism, the slave trade, disease, poverty, and high mortality.

In both Saint Turibius and Saint Daniel Comboni, mission was a proposal of integral dignity. From both presentations, the question addressed to everyone became clear: what excites us and challenges us in our mission today?

In answering this question, it was emphasised that a total surrender to God and to the mission is necessary. We are called to be missionaries with complete chastity, steadfast faith, humility, self-denial, generous dedication, charity, and a lively sense of God (Writings, 2484, 2887). Without these foundations, emptiness and desolation are the result. A missionary must possess an apostolic charity, inflamed by divine love, in which privations become sweet through love. Love for Jesus Christ and love for the poorest and most abandoned are inseparable and superior to earthly affections. Total availability and trust are also essential, being ready for anything, in joy and sadness, in life and death, trusting in the Cross, in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and in Mary.

The first day concluded with a Mass presided over by Father Nelson Mitchell, marking the beginning of the second three-year term (2026–2028) of his service as provincial superior. During the celebration, Father Nelson renewed his profession of faith and oath of fidelity. Two great missionaries in Peru who recently passed away were also remembered: Fathers Albino Grunser and José Schmitdpeter.

On the second day, Father Edison López presented the topic ‘Our Dioceses and Synodality’, in which he illustrated the implementation of the synodal process as the practice of discernment, suggesting some pathways for local Churches. As the main pillars of this approach, he listed the conversion of pastoral approaches, inclusive listening, structural renewal, ecclesial assessment, theological and spiritual integration, and priority attention given to relationships with women, youth, and the poor.

The remainder of the second day and the third were dedicated to various reports. It began with the report on the state of the Province presented by the Provincial Superior. Then, the secretariats and communities evaluated the Six-Year Plan, asking themselves, “Where are we?”, “Where do we want to go?”, “What remains to be accomplished”, and “What path should we take”, all in light of the orientations suggested by the General Council regarding the Institute’s reorganisation process, using the method of ‘conversation in the Spirit’. We also listened to the Comboni Missionaries, the Comboni Lay Missionaries, and the Laudato Si’ Centre.

The fourth day was dedicated to recreation and fellowship, with a lovely community outing, while the fifth concluded with voting on the motions and the final Mass.

We experienced with great joy the perpetual profession of scholastic Mathews Mwaba, who said his definitive ‘yes’ to a lifelong mission. A delicious and festive lunch followed immediately afterwards.

On 7^th February, we again gathered around Mathews, who received the diaconate in the parish of San Martín de Pangoa, by the laying on of hands by Bishop Luis Alberto Barrera Pacheco, MCCJ, Bishop of Callao. It was a beautiful, joyful, and profoundly missionary celebration, organised by the parish community and the Colegio San Daniele Comboni, to whom we extend our deepest gratitude for their generosity and all the work they did. (Father Nelson Mitchell, mccj)

UGANDA

Transfer of the community of Palorinya from the Province of South Sudan to that of Uganda

On 1^st January 2026, the community of Palorinya was officially transferred from the Province of South Sudan to that of Uganda. The transfer took place on Sunday, 25^th January, during a solemn Eucharist celebrated by Father Onzima Moses, a diocesan priest appointed by the bishop as parish priest of the sub-parish of Palorinya, representing the diocese. Concelebrating were Father Gregor Schmidt (Provincial Superior of South Sudan), Father Kibira Anthony Kimbowa (Provincial Superior of Uganda), Father Abraham Hailu, representing the Comboni community of Palorinya, and Father Ngbo Fufunga Justin (of the Lomin community). Also present were two other members of the Comboni community of Palorinya: Brother Erich Fischnaller and Brother Lawrence Okello. The celebration was attended primarily by the local community of the sub-parish of Palorinya.

The presence of the Comboni missionaries in Palorinya is linked to the arrival of refugees from South Sudan. Since 1987, the confrères, especially from the Lomin mission (in the Diocese of Yei), decided to move with the people until they finally settled in Palorinya. Here, the Comboni Missionaries have assumed the pastoral care of the refugees and opened several workshops to provide vocational training to the population. Both the pastoral work and the training centre have had a significant impact on the lives of the refugees and the local community. Pastoral care will continue in the 17 chapels located in the large refugee camp.

The two provincial superiors, Father Gregor and Father Anthony, visited Msgr. Sabino Ocan Odoki, bishop of the diocese of Arua. It was a very enriching meeting, during which great appreciation was expressed for the Comboni missionaries’ continued presence with the refugees in Palorinya. Several aspects of pastoral collaboration with the diocese were then clarified.

We are grateful to the Lord and to the entire Institute for this opportunity to be close to our brothers and sisters living in the refugee camp, who are truly one of the most tangible reflections of the poorest and most abandoned of our time.

May our presence and willingness to walk with these least fortunate of society open new doors of hope for them. (Father Kibira Anthony Kimbowa, mccj)

LET US PRAY FOR OUR BELOVED DEAD

THE MOTHER: Lucinda, of Brother João Paulo da Rocha Martins (PT)

THE SISTERS: Ines, of Father Pino Mariani (I); Flora, of Father Musaka Zoé (E); Giuliana, of Father Norberto Stonfer (EGSD)

THE COMBONI MISSIONARY SISTERS Sr. Canali M. Antonietta (1); Sr. Sánchez Aragón María de la Luz (E); Sr. Bicego Agnese (I); Sr. Storato Maria Bertilla (EG/I); Sr. Papi Irma Maria (I); Sr. Gardini Angela (I); Sr. Rasia M. Agnese (I)