Familia Comboniana 850 - April 2026

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

General notes from the 42^nd Consulta – March 2026

Appointment of Circumscription Vice-Superiors

During the January and March Consultas, the General Council examined the choices of vice-superiors indicated by the circumscription councils and appointed the following vice-provincial confrères for their respective districts:

Appointments in the formation sector

The General Council has made the following appointments:

• Father Arroyo Román Elías – novice master at the Mexico novitiate as of 11^th May 2026.
• Father Elias Samuel Elias – socius of the novice master of Nampula novitiate as of 1^st July 2026.
• Father Girau Pellicer José Antonio – formator at the International Brothers’ Centre (CIF) of Bogotà, as of 1^st July 2026.

Appointment of the Finance Council

In view of a merger, the General Council decided to retain the current members of the Finance Council, with th–e exception of the APDESAM treasurer. Based on recommendations from the provincial superiors of this macro-region, the General Council has appointed Father Gbegnon Sénou Isaac as a new member of the council.

Unified Course (Comboni Year – Renewal Course)

Following consultation with the provincials during the Intercapitular Assembly, the General Council decided to consolidate the Comboni Year and Renewal Courses into a single program. The first edition of this program will take place from the beginning of April to the end of December 2027. The preparatory language course, intended for participants who do not know Italian, will take place from the beginning of January to March 2027.

Interested confrères, after consulting with their circumscription superior, are asked to send their registration to Father Alberto Silva, course coordinator, at the following email address: albatrosilva55@gmail.com.

Specialisation courses in Rome suspended

As part of the Institute’s reconfiguration process and with a view to a clearer definition of its charismatic, formative, and mission priorities, the General Council has deemed it appropriate to suspend, for one year, the reception of confrères at the Rome headquarters for specialisation courses, with the exception of those completing their studies.

This pause will be dedicated to the preparation of a comprehensive plan for specialisations, taking into account, in particular, the criterion of ministeriality as an orientation and reference for discerning the specialisation toward which to direct the confrères. The objective is to identify several areas of study that meet the needs of the Institute’s mission and can provide qualified support for the various services required at the ecclesial level and within the Institute itself.

To this end, the Formation Council, in dialogue with the Secretariat for the Mission and the Secretariat for the Economy, will be responsible for defining the priority areas of specialisation and developing a comprehensive proposal to present to the General Council. An important contribution will also be made by the formators of the scholasticates, who, as companions of the scholastics on their formative journey, will be able to assist in discernment.

As part of this process, it will be the Institute’s prerogative, in dialogue with the provincials and delegates, to identify the confrères to be assigned to studies, taking into account the needs of the mission, the required skills, and community discernment.

The General Council is aware that this decision may cause some inconvenience to some confrères and the circumscriptions involved. However, it represents an appropriate choice to characterise the Institute’s reconfiguration process with greater clarity and coherence.

Itineraries of the members of the General Council

April

Bro. Lamana: 11–17 Uganda; 17–25 Ethiopia
Fr. Codianni and Fr. Sindjalim: 15–28 Congo
Fr. Domingues: 7–20 NAP

May

Fr. Radol: 1–15 Uganda

Date of the next Consulta: The next Consulta will be held from 8^th to 25^th June 2026.

Meeting between the General Administration and the new Circumscription Superiors

From 23^rd February to 6^th March 2026, at the Curia in Rome, the General Administration met with the first-term circumscription superiors (2026-2028). The meeting, led by Superior General Father Luigi Codianni, aimed to foster mutual understanding, reflection on the service of authority, and strengthen the bonds of communion between the circumscriptions and the General Administration.

First week: formation and orientation – The first week was dedicated to formation and reports on the state of the Institute and current challenges: interculturality, charismatic identity, care for confrères, ministry, internationality, and the consolidation of circumscriptions.

The meetings included reflections, led by experts, on the personal well-being of superiors, relationship management, stress and emotions, and authority as service. Ongoing formation activities were presented, with an emphasis on a transformative and ongoing journey in the lives of missionaries.

The issue of the consolidation of provinces was addressed as a necessary and irreversible process, aimed at ensuring fidelity to the charism, the valorisation of talents, and flexibility in structures.

Second week: secretariats and organisation – The second week featured presentations from the general secretariats and the offices of the General Administration. Among the main topics were:

• functioning and relationships with the General Secretariat;
• institutional and digital communication, with internal and external publications;
• activities of the Mission Secretariat and ongoing projects;
• formation of young missionaries, formation challenges, and support programmes;
• economics and resource management; the principles of transparency and accountability.

Each day of this second week also included individual meetings between superiors and the General Council, fostering dialogue, clarification, and personal support.

The final evaluation confirmed the satisfaction of the participants, who appreciated the clarity of the presentations and the fraternal atmosphere. The desire was expressed to maintain two-week meetings, reserved for first-term superiors.

Father General’s concluding homily

The meeting ended with a Eucharistic celebration. In his homily, Fr Luigi Codianni offered a reflection on the Gospel of the vineyard workers (Mt 21,33-46):

• The vineyard is not our property – We are stewards, not owners; caring for our circumscriptions means serving with responsibility and gratitude.
• Harvest time – The Lord requires a harvest of communion, fidelity, spiritual life and missionary courage; authentic fecundity matures with time.
• Rejecting prophets – We must guard against resisting the Spirit and avoid hardening our hearts.
• God sent his Son – Christ, sent by the Father, is at the centre of true renewal; structures and organisation alone are not enough.
• The rejected stone – Even what appears fragile or marginal can become fundamental; protecting, guiding, and seeking lasting fruit means leaving room for the Son, because only in him does the vine flourish.

Conclusion

The meeting offered formation, reflection, and discussion in a fraternal atmosphere, strengthening relationships as well as tools for responsible and charismatic service. Participants were able to share experiences, concerns, and hopes, strengthening their sense of belonging to the Institute and the Comboni mission.

Ordinations

Holy Redeemer Guild

April                 01 – 15 CN           16 – 30 EC
May                 01 – 15 ET           16 – 31 I

Prayer intentions

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.

May: In the month in which we celebrate the 60th World Communications Day, let us pray that all communications workers in the Comboni Family may share the beauty that inhabits the world with good accounts that edify and give hope. Lord, hear us.

Meaningful anniversaries

APRIL

MAY

Comboni liturgical calendar

Meaningful anniversaries

Specialisations

Father Elias Sindjalim successfully defends his doctoral thesis

On 18^th March, Father Elias Sindjalim Essognimam, a Togolese Comboni missionary, successfully completed the public examination for a doctorate in Developmental and Educational Psychology at the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS) in Rome, defending his thesis, Stress and Psychological Well-Being Applied to the Pastoral Care of Priests, Men and Women Religious in Togo – The Mediating and/or Moderating Role of Francis Leslie’s Psychological Types and of Intrinsic, Extrinsic, and Research Religious Orientations.

The 416-page thesis (including notes, references, and bibliography), as indicated by its title, presents an exploratory and empirical study on the mental health—more specifically, the psychological well-being—of priests, men and women religious engaged in pastoral care in Togo. This is the first research conducted in Togo using the New Indices of Religious Orientation (NIRO) and the Francis Psychological Type and Emotional Temperament Scale (FPTETS).

The study aims, on the one hand, to analyse the influence of pastoral stress on psychological well-being, and on the other, to explore not only the correlations between sociodemographic factors (age, gender, years of priesthood or religious life, nationality, etc.) and the constructs used – Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Psychological Well-Being (PWB), NIRO, and FPTETS – but also the mediating and/or moderating role of certain dimensions of the NIRO and FPTETS in the relationship between perceived stress and psychological well-being.

The research also aims to outline pedagogical proposals and perspectives, with particular attention to prevention as well as psychological care.

The research is a quantitative study conducted on a sample of 316 subjects from seven dioceses in Togo.

Father Elias, 55, was ordained a priest on 20^th July 2000, after completing his theological studies in Chicago, USA. He carried out his ministry in Togo (2000-2008) and in the DR Congo (2012-2017). From 2008 to 2012, he was in Rome, where he graduated in Psychology from the Pontifical Gregorian University (PUG). In 2017, he was assigned to the Centre for Permanent Formation at the General Curia in Rome. In 2020, he was appointed Secretary General for Formation. At the beginning of 2022, he enrolled in a doctoral program at the Pontifical Salesian University (UPS). Since June 29, 2022, he has been one of four general assistants, with the specific responsibility of following and animating the circumscriptions of French-speaking Africa, the formation sector, and the service of accompanying student confrères.

Having brilliantly defended his thesis, he earned the title of doctor. Congratulations, Father Elias!

Publications

A mosaic of voices and experiences to recount the richness of the Comboni charism. This is the proposal of the volume A Mosaic of Perspectives on the Comboni Charism, edited by Father Elias Sindjalim Essognimam.

The book, concise yet dense (136 pages), brings together contributions from confrères from diverse life and mission contexts, as well as from different cultures and continents, thus offering a significant glimpse into the vitality and relevance of the gift received from Comboni and passed on to his heirs.

Designed primarily as a tool for initial formation, particularly during the novitiate, the volume also lends itself as a valuable support for ongoing formation in the Comboni charism.

Currently available only in English, the text will be published in French in mid-April.

ASIA

Priestly and diaconal ordinations in Manila

On 14^th March 2026, at the Parish of Christ the King, Project 7, Quezon City, Metro Manila (Philippines), through the laying on of hands by Most Rev. Elias Lumayog Ayuban Jr. (Claretian), Bishop of Cubao, we witnessed the priestly ordination of Father Nguyen Van Tien (Peter), a Vietnamese, and the diaconal ordination of Mercado Sandoval Diego Martín, a Mexican.

The celebration was attended by the parish priest, Father Jose Glenn V. Orocio, Father Mejia Domingues Victor Alejandro, representing the Province of the Comboni Missionaries of Mexico, numerous confrères serving in Asia, and a large number of diocesan priests, men and women religious, as well as a group of friends of the mission and benefactors. Father Nguyen’s ordination represents a historic moment, not only for the Asian Delegation, but also for the entire Institute, as he is the first Comboni missionary from Vietnam.

We are deeply grateful, not only to the Lord, but also to Saint Daniel Comboni, whose life and charism inspired these two confrères to embrace their missionary vocation with great generosity and commitment.

The celebration was carefully prepared to create a profound atmosphere of prayer that enabled all present to grasp the importance of this historic moment. We express our sincere thanks to Bishop Elias for presiding over the celebration with wisdom and genuine joy, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended.

We are especially grateful to Father Peter Tien’s mother and sister-in-law, who came from Vietnam to attend the ordination, and for the generous gift of a son to our Institute. Our thanks also go to the mother and aunt of Deacon Diego Mercado, who came from Mexico to share this important event, entrusting their beloved son and nephew to the Comboni mission in Asia.

We wish to express our deepest gratitude to all those who, with their support and presence, made this extraordinary celebration possible. May the Lord grant them abundant blessings.

On 15^th March, the birthday of St. Daniel Comboni, Father Tien celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving at the Parish of St. Anthony of Padua, in Sucat, Parañaque City, Metro Manila. He was assisted at the altar by Deacon Diego Martin Mercado Sandoval, in the presence of confrères, friends, and benefactors.

We hope that these two events will inspire many young people throughout Asia to consecrate themselves to God in missionary service. (Father Victor Aguilar, MCCJ, Delegate Superior of Asia)

DR CONGO

Scholastics’ solidarity commitment to integral ecology in Kinshasa

Last Saturday, 21^st March, some students from the Kinshasa Scholasticate, members of the Commission for Integral Ecology, on their Lenten conversion journey, spent a few hours together with those who live off what they manage to salvage and recycle from landfills. It was a commitment to solidarity, but also a gesture of condemnation of the living conditions of too many people who must struggle to survive. It was a plea for greater Kinshasa to return to being the ‘belle’ and not the ‘poubelle’ (rubbish dump).

Integral ecology, in fact, is increasingly becoming a transverse theme of the mission and formation of Comboni missionaries, so that they may always be ready to listen to the cry of the earth – violated and plundered, especially in the DRC – and attentive to the cry of the poor. This is one of the so-called ‘specific pastoral cares’, irreplaceable today in a world torn apart by war and violence, where billions of people are denied the right to a full life.

We are all called to build a development model able to combine social justice and planetary protection. At stake is not only the future of the planet, but also the possibility of guaranteeing a dignified life for all the peoples of the earth. (Father Fernando Zolli, mccj)

EGYPT/SUDAN

Lebanon – Escalation of the conflict and a humanitarian crisis

The month of March was marked by a new escalation in the conflict in Lebanon, with Israeli bombings hitting the south of the country and the southern suburbs of the capital, Beirut, where the Shiite population is largest.

Compared to the military campaign at the end of 2024, the offensive appears to be more intense and widespread. According to estimates reported at the end of March, approximately 1,300,000 people have been forced to leave their homes, seeking refuge primarily in the northern areas of the country.

Our educational community, located in northern Beirut, is currently in an area not directly affected by the ongoing bombing, but is following the evolving situation with great concern in a country once again suffering human, social, and economic hardship.

Sudan – An Easter of hope in Khartoum

In Khartoum, we are preparing for Easter celebrations in a context still marked by the war that began on 15^th April 2023.

For many parishes, this will be the first Holy Week celebration with the presence of some priests and the archbishop since the beginning of the conflict. This is a small but significant sign of ecclesial continuity and hope amid suffering.

The path to peace remains long and requires the material and social reconstruction of the country, supported also by the solidarity of numerous benefactors and the generous commitment of our confrères alongside the Christian communities, step by step. (Father Diego Dalle Carbonare, mccj)

MOZAMBIQUE

Nampula novitiate reopened

After a year of closure, last Saturday, 21^st March, the doors of the ‘Saint Francis Xavier’ novitiate in Nampula reopened, welcoming 14 new young Mozambican novices. Over the next two years, they will receive intense formation and special assistance in making a profound interior discernment of their true vocational intentions for Comboni religious and missionary life. It so happened that the reopening – an event of significant importance for both the province and the Institute – occurred within the celebrations of 80 years of Comboni presence in Mozambique. We see in it a true sign of spiritual springtime and proof that Comboni’s charism is still alive and fruitful.

The ceremony was presided over by Father José Joaquim Luís Pedro, provincial superior. Also present were the new novice master, Father Francisco José de Sousa Machado, Brother Agostinho Jamal, and several confrères working in the Nampula area.

After welcoming everyone, Father Joaquim addressed the new candidates, reminding them of the expectations of this formative period and the commitments each of them must make in following Christ, ‘missionary of the Father’. After asking each of the 14 candidates to express their desire to begin this new journey, he concluded with the prayer of admission to the novitiate.

Starting from the biblical passage chosen for the occasion, Father Joaquim explained that the novitiate is a time of interior transformation and encounter with Christ, indicating six fundamental attitudes for living this journey fruitfully:

• active listening, to learn to discern God’s voice in silence and prayer;
• radical willingness to be guided by the Spirit;
• prophetic fraternity that makes this time a laboratory of community life and authentic witness, in a world marked by divisions;
• courageous discernment, to always seek God’s will with sincerity and freedom;
• resilient perseverance, so that the mystery of the Cross and the faithfulness of Christ may be revealed;
• missionary joy that makes visible the signs of God’s presence, whose power attracts and convinces.

He then emphasised the happy coincidence of the reopening of the novitiate with the celebrations of 80 years of Comboni presence in Mozambique, during which many confrères gave heroic testimony of fidelity, sacrifice, and generous service to the poorest and most abandoned in the country. He finally added: “You new novices are not starting from scratch, but you are becoming part of a history that has seen times of peace and joy, but also moments of war and suffering. Know that you are heirs to a Comboni missionary tradition that requires continuity and renewal.”

The celebration concluded with the rite of giving each novice the Rule of Life and the Writings of Saint Daniel Comboni: two documents that, together with the Word of God, constitute the sources and foundation of formation. These two documents will be read, explained, and explored throughout the novitiate, so that the young people can understand Comboni’s spirit and charism in the light of the Gospel and internalise the Institute’s way of life and mission in service to the Church, particularly the poorest and most abandoned.

Many thanks were expressed, especially to the General Council and the superiors of the circumscriptions of English-speaking Africa (APDESAM), for their trust in us and the support they offered, making it possible to reopen the novitiate in Nampula.

SPAIN

Presentation of the book Isumisos

On Thursday, 12^th March, the Comboni Missionaries’ headquarters in Madrid hosted the presentation of the latest book published by Mundo Negro, Insumisos – A Mixed-Ethnic Couple in Apartheid-Legacy South Africa. [Insumisos, in Italian, it may mean “rebels”, “insubordinate people” or “conscientious objectors”.] The book recounts the lives of Hazel and her husband, Phillip, whose racial differences in South Africa did not prevent them from forming a mixed-race family to break down walls and build bridges of understanding. Drawing on the lives of the protagonists, the book retraces some of the most decisive moments in South Africa’s recent history.

Hazel and Phillip also participated via online link from South Africa, along with Father Jaime Pi Calvera, director of Mundo Negro, and José Carlos Rodríguez Soto, the book’s author. Father Calvera opened the event with a few words of welcome and a brief presentation of the new publication, part of the publishing house’s ‘Testimonios’ series, which also includes other successful publications, such as the testimonial book by South Sudanese doctor Emmanuel Taban and that of Congolese cultural mediator Nicole Ndongala. Subsequently, José Carlos Rodríguez shared with those present some of his experiences during the weeks he visited Hazel and Phillip in South Africa to gather the necessary material for the text.

A key moment of the meeting was Hazel and Phillip’s presentation, during which they also took questions from the audience. A simultaneous translation application for all presentations, used for the first time at this type of cultural event organised by Mundo Negro, contributed to the success of the meeting.

Meeting of the Comboni Family

Under the theme ‘Integral Ecology – Comboni’s Prophecy Today’, the annual meeting of the Comboni Family (FC) in Spain was held on 14^th and 15^th March, at the headquarters of the Comboni Missionaries in Madrid. Approximately forty Comboni religious, lay men and women gathered for a weekend of reflection and fellowship.

The meeting began with prayer, during which a minute of silence was observed in memory of three FC members who attended the previous meeting and who passed away in recent months: Mrs. Mercedes Navarro, Sister Mari Luz Sánchez, and Father Antonio Pavía.

Father Dario Bossi was the keynote speaker. In his presentation, he illustrated some of the steps taken by the four branches of the FC in promoting integral ecology and developed three points of Pope Francis’ teaching that clearly demonstrate similarities with the charism of Saint Daniel Comboni: dialogue, integral evangelisation, and the active involvement of communities in their territories.

Gonzalo Violero, a Comboni lay missionary, presented some of the aspects addressed during the FC Integral Ecology Forum, held in Belém, Brazil, in conjunction with COP30 (November 10-21, 2025). Saturday morning concluded with three testimonies from the different FC branches regarding human trafficking, the specific pastoral care of migrants, and ecological commitments. The remainder of the meeting was dedicated to drafting, in groups and as a group, the final document of the FC Integral Ecology Forum, seeking proposals and actions to continue walking together.

After an exchange of information on the current situation of the various FC branches in Spain, the meeting concluded with a Eucharistic celebration presided over by Father Miguel Ángel Llamazares, Provincial Superior of Spain, during which Saint Daniel Comboni was remembered on his 195^th birthday.

UGANDA

Alenga parish handed over to the diocesan clergy

On 8^th March, the day the world celebrates International Women’s Day, the Catholic parish of Alenga, dedicated to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, in the Diocese of Lira, experienced a historic event: the transfer of the mission from the Comboni missionaries, who founded it 56 years ago, to the diocesan clergy.

The occasion was honoured by the presence of the local bishop, Most Rev. Sanctus Lino Wanok, who presided over the Eucharistic celebration, and the provincial superior of the Comboni missionaries, Father Anthony Kimbowa Kibira. Other Comboni missionaries working in the diocese and numerous diocesan priests were also present. Local political authorities were also present, including the Honourable Peter Obong Acuda, newly elected Member of Parliament for Maruzi County.

In the presence of the bishop, Father Kibira and the outgoing parish priest, Father Michael Oguzu Aribo, handed over the tabernacle key, crucifix, Bible, and rosary to the Episcopal Vicar for the Clergy, Father Polycarp Opio, who then handed them over to the new parish priest, Father Aaron Ojok.

During his homily, the bishop urged the Christians of Alenga to carry on the flame of faith received from the missionaries. Referring to the first reading (Exodus 17:3-79), he observed: “On their journey through the desert toward the promised land, the Israelites reached a point where there seemed to be no way out due to the lack of water. Today, some of you may be worried about the departure of the missionaries. But it is precisely in such critical moments that God reveals himself as Lord and Father of the journey, causing water to flow from the rock.”

Drawing inspiration from the Gospel passage (John 4 – Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well), he said: “The Comboni missionaries have ‘dug a well,’ just as Jacob had done, and this well continues to quench the thirst of the people of Alenga. This well is the Gospel of Christ that the missionaries brought, along with schools and healthcare facilities: the Christians of Alenga will continue to draw life from this message and these human development structures. For this, there are reasons to celebrate and be grateful.” He then invited everyone to accept this “handover as a clear expression of Christian discipleship”: “It is now up to us to continue the journey begun by the missionaries: we will take our steps in the direction they have indicated.” Finally, he encouraged Christians “to support spiritually, morally, and even materially the priests who today assume pastoral responsibility for the parish.”

Father Kibira thanked God for the opportunity given to the Comboni missionaries to evangelise the diocese, following the charism of Saint Daniel Comboni, “aiming at the liberation and advancement of the people of God.” He added: “The mission does not belong to the Comboni missionaries... but to God. The time is ripe, and today God entrusts his mission to the local clergy to continue. This local Church has reached maturity and possesses the capacity to continue the work of evangelisation.”

Addressing his confrères present, Father Kibira said: “Saint Daniel Comboni encouraged his missionaries to be ‘the hidden stones of the foundation,’ content to do what was asked of them and ready to leave to others the task of continuing to build the Kingdom of God.”

He also recalled the contribution of the various missionaries who worked in Alenga, some of whom shed their blood in this mission, particularly Father Egidio Ferracin and Father Giuliano Pisoni: “This reminds us that what moves the missionary is none other than love for Christ and the zeal to make him known and loved.” He finally thanked Father Michael Oguzu Aribo and Father Alberto Anichini for carrying out the mission until its handover to the diocese.

The diocesan lay leader, Jovino Akaki Ayumo, after thanking the Comboni missionaries for their 56 years of work in Alenga, urged the faithful to embrace the challenge of change, urging everyone to support the diocesan priests who now assume responsibility for the parish.

The parish of Alenga was established in 1970 by Msgr. Caesar Asili, the first bishop of Lira. The first parish priest was Father Cesare Mengalli (who left the mission to become a Benedictine monk and died in October 2024). Other Comboni missionaries working in Alenga were: Father John Fraser (†), Father Egidio Ferracin (†), Father Giuliano Pisoni (†), Father Mario Balzarini, Father Antonio Campanini, Father Juan José Valero, Father Stanislas Atipoupou, and others. (Father Constanz Opiyo, mccj)

LET US PRAY FOR OUR BELOVED DEAD

THE FATHERS: Mathurin, of the scholastic Beninga Yassika Belfort Cedrique (RCA); Abram, of Father Mayik Nyok Jervas Mawut (EGSD)

THE MOTHERS: Madgalen, of Father Opargiw John Baptist Kerayo (RSA); Florencia, of Father Fraile Gómez Juan Antonio (E); Lourdes, of Father Rodríguez Pérez Pablo Simón (KE); Stefania, of Deacon Mwaba Mathews (MZ); Lina, of Father Serra Teresino (I) and Sister Gina Serra.

THE BROTHERS: Angelo, of Brother Pedercini Aldo (I); Carlo, of Father Zanini Luigi (†) and brother-in-law of Father Tacchella Eliseo (CN); Jaime Almeida, of Brother António Almeida Borges (P); Agostinho, of Father Jerónimo Alberto Vieira da Costa (MO); Albino Martins, of Brother Matias Martins dos Santos (P)

THE SISTER: Martia Tesesa, of Brother João Paulo da Rocha Martins (P)

THE SISTER-IN-LAW: of Father Avelino Gonçalves da Silva Maravilha (P)

THE SISTER-IN-LAW: Alígia Maria, of Father Manuel Ferreira Horta (P)

THE COMBONI SISTERS: Sr. Rossignoli M. Daniela (I); Sr Rosa Fosca (I); Sr. Dell’Orto M. Daniela (I)