About Us
One of St. Comboni’s phrases on the hearts and minds of Comboni Missionaries and in a certain sense characterizes us is, “The missionary will have to understand that he is a stone hid under the earth, which will perhaps never come to light, but which will become part of the foundations of something much greater.” This, to show a clear awareness that rebirth in the mission is God’s work! The servant must believe and hope ~ talking to the people with the language of the heart, trusting them and believing firmly that the future of nations will be happy only if the poorest and most abandoned on earth become the main agents of their own liberation. This was St. Comboni’s vision.
There is much adventure in the missions, and the situation can often be dramatic ~ it is also a place of many blessings! The characteristics of this missionary service are summed up in the four following points:
- “ad gentes” because we go out to peoples, areas and situations where
evangelization has not yet been completed. - “ ad pauperes” because preference is given to the poorest and most
abandoned from the point of view of faith and the social dimension. - “ad extra” because we are men and women of God who go outside
(exodus) our personal, familiar, geographical, cultural, social and
religious frontiers. - “ad vitam” because we make a life-long consecration to God for the
missions.
One of the constants in the Comboni Family is that when we arrive in a country for the first time, it is not long before we begin to publish a magazine or newsletter… turning to other means of communication when the opportunity arises. Not just to make ourselves known but above all, to inform and share the concerns with the local Churches and communities regarding the religious and social situations of other people and continents, especially where we are present.
Today the Comboni Missionaries are working in four continents. We worked first in Europe and Africa, moving to North and South America in the 1930s and expanding into Asia in the 1980s. In all the places we serve, we foster the growth of Basic Christian Communities, an effective means of evangelization. Particular attention is paid to young people, to their education and professional formation, through the support and organization of numerous schools, both in the city suburbs and in little villages lost in the forests.
In line with the original inspiration of the Founder, Comboni Missionaries have set up in Africa and Latin America, and now in Asia, centers for Bible formation, catechesis, theology, professional and social training, to prepare local people who are active in the work of evangelization and human development. In this way, the missionaries collaborate in making the local Churches increasingly autonomous, taking more and more responsibility ~ forming the parish until it can be given to the diocese with local clergy.
Here in the United States, as we visit different dioceses and share about the Church’s mission, there are always those who have not heard of us but become intrigued and interested in our work. The missionary has many stories to share, experiences of other cultures that are engaging, inspiring, sometimes sad and sometimes funny… always there are stories of Hope! We share another side of accounts in the news from around the world. Stories of the church of the poor, which despite many challenges and difficulties, remain a sign and source of hope for many.
“The harvest is plenty, laborers are few; pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers…”(Matt. 9:37-38). We are workers for peace and justice and especially workers who witness and share God’s compassion and love. Yes, in developing countries, but also right here in the USA, the land of plenty, the Comboni Missionaries stand with those who are marginalized, the poor, the voiceless as did St. Daniel Comboni. Working to empower people, to build relationships… working together with the local church to build up the Kingdom of God!
