Brazil: Consecrated to Mission Beyond Borders

The first two meetings took place in the rural area of the parish, involving young people and adults. Over the course of the two days, presentations were given on the life of Saint Daniel Comboni, on our missionary and religious life, and on the meaning of the three religious vows, followed by the personal testimonies of Riquito and Jonatan. The third day was dedicated to adolescents and young people from the urban area, featuring Father Dofonnou’s testimony about his missionary life.

The Mass for the renewal of vows was celebrated in the parish church and presided over by Father Cosmas Musonda, provincial councillor, who was delegated to receive the renewal of the religious profession.

Boa Viagem – Perpetual Vows of Brother Alfredo Monteiro de Sousa

On 2^nd May 2026, Brother Alfredo Monteiro de Sousa made his perpetual vows during a solemn celebration held in the Saint Joseph community, in the district of Águas Belas, municipality of Boa Viagem, in the state of Ceará. The presence of family members, friends and confrères from other communities made even more meaningful what was the first perpetual profession ever celebrated in Águas Belas. The event was prepared through a vocational triduum and visits of missionary animation to local families.

Alfredo, who returned to Brazil for this important occasion, will soon go back to the mission of Marsabit, in northern Kenya.

Born into a family of farmers and raised alongside five siblings, he learned from an early age the value of working the land and living a simple life. He used to walk more than four kilometres to attend Mass with the Saint Joseph community. He soon became a young catechist and minister of the Word. After taking part in a vocational retreat, he decided to become a Comboni missionary. He began his formation in 2008 at the Propedeutic House in São Luís do Maranhão. He later moved to the Postulancy in Fortaleza, where he studied Social Service and Sociology. After two years of novitiate in Xochimilco, Mexico, he made his first profession on 12^th May 2018. He was then assigned to the International Brothers’ Centre in Nairobi, Kenya.

When a group of young people asked him how he would summarise his vocational journey, Alfredo replied succinctly: “It has been – and continues to be – a path marked by faithfulness, loyalty and radical commitment in following Jesus Christ and the charism of Saint Daniel Comboni.”

São Paulo – Eleven Scholastics Renew Their Vows

On 2^nd May 2026, eleven young Comboni scholastics from the “Our Lady of Guadalupe” Scholasticate in São Paulo renewed their vows during the Eucharistic celebration held at the parish of the “Divine Holy Spirit”, in the eastern area of the city. The liturgy was presided over by Father Francisco de Assis Coqueiro, provincial councillor.

During his homily, Father Francisco described the vows as a “profound response to God’s call,” going on to explain the significance of each of the three vows.

The scholastics prepared for the renewal of their vows by taking part in a triduum, with moments of personal and community reflection, followed by a spiritual retreat on the theme “called, consecrated and sent”. During the mass, they were encouraged to remain faithful to the vows they were about to renew, to be obedient to their superiors, and to live their consecration with joy and enthusiasm in the mission for the Kingdom of God.

The Eucharist was concelebrated by seven priests: one diocesan priest, one Servite and five Comboni missionaries. After the mass, a meal was shared, prepared by members of three parishes: Divine Holy Spirit, Saint Mary Magdalene and Saint Sebastian.

It was a beautiful moment of sharing faith and missionary spirit, marked by love and trust, in which the fulfilment of Comboni’s dream could be felt: “I die, but my work will not die.”