HE Q ROM HE OMBONI ISSIONARIES COMBONI MISSION · 2013-04-26 · COMBONI MISSION T HE Q UARTERLY M AGAZINE F ROM T HE C OMBONI M ISSIONARIES Autumn 2011 Mission Sunday 23 October

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T H E Q U A R T E R L Y M A G A Z I N E F R O M T H E C O M B O N I M I S S I O N A R I E S

Autumn 2011

Mission Sunday23 October

“As the Father has sent me, so I send you”(Jn 20,21)

Comboni Magazine Master Autumn 2011:Comboni Magazine Master Aut 2011 21/8/11 10:38 Page 1

2 Comboni Mission • www.comboni.org.uk

death. They leave behind their owndead amongst the cattle and parchedlands.

The Comboni missionaries moved bythe current situation in Africalaunched an appeal, “in favour of theAfrican Continent plagued andweakened by famines, wars, violence,poverty, disease, oppression and otherinjustices.”

It is against this background that weface our daily tasks and trust that Godwill always give us “the joy and desireto go out to meet humanity takingChrist to all.” (P. Benedict XVI forWorld Mission Day).

COMBONI MISSION ISBN 0962-7154 is a quarterly publica-tion of the Comboni Missionaries (also known as the VeronaFathers), a Catholic Missionary Institute for the evangelisa-tion of peoples, issued free to their friends and supporters.

Current issue: Autumn 2011.

Comboni Missionaries are sponsored by freewill dona-tions. Please support the Comboni Missionaries, charity registration numbers 220240(UK), 8653(IRE), (SC 039530) Scotland.

Copyright © 2011 by the Comboni Missionaries

Designed and Printed by Artworks, Dalkey.Telephone: 00 353 1 275 1707.

Our thanks to contributors whose photographs and letters we have used.

COMBONIMISSION

COMBONIMISSION

T H E Q U A R T E R L Y M A G A Z I N E F R O M T H E C O M B O N I M I S S I O N A R I E S

Autumn 2011

Mission Sunday23 October

“As the Father has sent me, so I send you”(Jn 20,21)

COMBONI MISSIONARIES IN BRITAIN AND IRELAND

ENGLAND MISSION OFFICEComboni Missionaries

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LEEDS LS18 5HETel: 0113 258 2658

e-mail: [email protected]

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8 Clontarf Road, DUBLIN 3

Tel: 01 833 0051e-mail: [email protected]

CMS MISSION OFFICEComboni Missionary Sisters

151 Baillieston RoadGLASGOW G32 0TGTel: 0141 771 1773

EDITOR’S OFFICEVerona FathersLondon Road

SUNNINGDALE SL5 OJYBerks, England

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OTHER COMMUNITIES 16 Dawson PlaceLONDON W2 4TJ

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LONDON W4 2JETel: 0208 994 0449

www.comboni.org.uk

COMBONIMISSION

Autumn 2011

COMBONIMISSION

From the Editor

Hopes and Fears

Most people hoped that thistime the meteorologists hadgot it right and at least here in

these isles it would have been aspredicted – a ‘barbecue summer’.However our worst fears were realisedwhen it really wasn’t for most peoplethe perfect holiday weather. Life is likethat: highs and lows, dreams anddisappointments – All part of ourrollercoaster life!

In this current edition of our magazinewe witness the great hopes of SouthSudan. After decades of war andsuffering the Southern Sudanesepeople look forward with hope as theyset out on the path of their newly-gained Independence building peaceand prosperity:

“We rise raising the flag with the guiding starand sing songs of freedom with joy for justice, liberty andprosperity shall for evermorereign.” rings out the new Anthem.

In other parts of Africa there are onlyfears to be faced – war- poverty-disease, the scourge of famine.

East Africa and in particular Somaliaundergo once more the terriblescenes of starving children anddistraught parents fleeing for theirlives towards a possible salvation from


money raised, the more lives saved”. Up-to-date there has been a very generousresponse. Nevertheless, it is verydisturbing to look at images of skeletalold people and newly born infants in thedaily press and television, After all,human beings are not commodities andwe do have a responsibility to share.

Norway shockedinto griefNorway is a country just smaller thanScotland. Until recently it would havebeen considered to be one of the safestplaces to live in the world. However,three million Norwegian people willnever forget its 22/7 when seventy sevenpeople were cruelly blasted out ofexistence. Sixty nine of them were shotdead. Most were between the ages of 14to 18. They were idealistic teenagersintent on building a better world for all.As young political activists they wereattending the Youth political summercamp of Norway’s Labour Party outsideOslo on the idyllic island of Utoya. Afterthe two acts of insanity committed by avery sick perpetrator, the people of Osloand various authorities of the landexpressed their condemnation.

There was utter revulsion. Vastnumbers of flowers, candles andmessages left outside Oslo Cathedralsoon became the national shrine to thedead. How many people have seen aKing and Queen praying and crying inpublic for their people? Christians andMuslims were seen together burying thedead.

Pope Benedict, Cardinals O’Brien,Sean Brady, and Archbishop VincentNichols sent condolences to the familiesof the victims of the massacre, assuringthem and the people of Norway of ourprayers and solidarity.

Comboni Mission • Autumn 2011 3

EditorialHopes and Fears

PAGE 2

In BriefChurch News

PAGE 3

Egypt and Eritrea through the eyes of Solomon

and JemilPAGES 4 - 5

Comboni Missionariesappeal on behalf of Africa

PAGES 6 - 7

Forced labour clouds boom in Amazon

PAGES 8 - 9

Spirit in the cityPAGE 10

South Sudan -Bishop Mazzolari

PAGE 11

Mission Sunday Message –Pope Benedict XVI

PAGES 12 - 13

Hugo ChavezPAGE 14

In loving memoryPAGE 15

A new SudanPAGES 16 - 17

RoundupPAGES 18 - 19

Amazon is weepingPAGES 20 - 21

You WritePAGES 22 - 23

Holy Redeemer mass guildPAGE 24

CONTENTS

They never stopcomingBetween ten to twelve million people(50% are children) are fiercely battlingagainst the ravaging scourges of droughtand famine in the Horn of Africacountries of Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopic,Eritrea and South Sudan. The crisis ofthe Horn of Africa has been hailed as theworst for the past sixty years. The lack ofwater due to the failure of seasonal rainhas produced repeated serious harvestshortages. The on-going civil war inSomalia (which has been without agovernment for over the last twentyyears) daily worsens the alreadycalamitous situation of these desperatedrought victims in dire need to surviveand literally helpless to act. Very urgentis their need for clean water, food,temporary shelter and medical supplies.Among the many charity organizations:Trocaire, Sciaf, and Cafod who haveplenty of experience of supplying peoplein emergency are struggling to keep upwith demand. Aid agencies believe it willtake some £1 billion to deal with thegiven crisis until 2012. “The more

Fr. John Clark

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In Brief CHURCH NEWS By Fr John Clark mccj


ERITREAI am Abba Solomon Meharena a priestfrom the diocese of Asmara. I ampresently a lecturer of philosophy andsociology at the theological institute ofAsmara. Actually I am here because mybishop Mon. Menghestaab Tesfamariamsent me to help in the mission appealwork of the London Province.

Eritrea the country from which I comeis in the horn of Africa along the coastallines of the Red Sea. The Eritreanpopulation is estimated to be four and ahalf million. The people of Eritrea belongto three different religions, namelyChristian, Islam, and Animism.

ECONOMYEritrea is a poor country with a pro capitaincome approximately 365 pounds perannum. The majority of the Eritreanpeople are engaged in the pastoral andagricultural sectors of the economy. It isobvious that these sectors are dependenton the abundance of rainfall. But

unfortunately the country is frequentlyaffected by drought. This means thatthere is often no rain and therefore noadequate harvest or sufficient grass forthe cattle.

Secondly, the country has not enjoyeda continuous peace, which is a conditionfor prosperity. One might say that Eritreahas passed from war to war. Itexperienced a thirty year liberation warand after seven years of peace it wasengaged in war with Ethiopia. And from2000 up to now it is experiencing anuncertain climate between peace andwar.

This uncertainty creates a state of fear.This fear seems to justify the national

service, to which every Eritrean is calledupon to defend his country. The wholeworking force of the Eritrean populationis mobilized both to defend and build thenation. But there is also a culturalrevolution, namely abolishing tribalism,provincialism regionalism and religious

antagonism. These are noble aims, butthey have negative effects as well.

Since the national service is unpaid anddoes not seem to have a time limit,families are broken up and are living inabject poverty, since the father who is theonly breadwinner, is called for nationalservice. This is the situation in whichfamilies are. It is in this situation that thechurch is called to proclaim the gospel.

CHURCH AND STATE INERITREAIt must be pointed out that religion inEritrea is under state control. In fact,there is within the Home Office adepartment that is in charge of religiousaffairs. The Orthodox Church, Islam, theCatholic Church, and the Evangelical areofficially and legally recognized by theEritrean government. But it must also bepointed out that the Orthodox andMoslem leaders are paid by thegovernment and dependent and aresubservient to the government. Instead,the Catholic and the evangelical areindependent. The Catholic Church inparticular is trying to make sure of itsindependence. Thus, the CatholicChurch works with implicitunderstanding that it is independent andthe government seems to treat it as theother Churches. Thus there is


Eritrea and Egypt through theeyes of Solomon and Jemil

We were happy to welcome two Eritrean priests to ourhouse at Sunningdale during the summer. They bothcame as part of their summer break and to help withthe many Mission Appeals of the London Province.Whilst here they were happy to tell us a little abouttheir work in Africa.

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Fr. Solomon Meharena

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Asmara Cathedral, Eritrea



misunderstanding between the two,since there is no legal framework todefine the competence of each.

THE FUTURE OF THECATHOLIC CHURCHThe future of the Catholic Church seemsto be bright. People are coming back tothe church. These past years of hard lifehave taught them much. They are nomore trusting men. People are not onlyreturning to church but they seem to puttheir trust only in God. As indicators ofthese, we have more vocations andordinations to the priesthood areincreasing.

All in all, in my view, the future of thechurch in Eritrea seems to be bright.

FR JEMIL ARAYA WRITES:Refugees in CairoAs of April 2011, there were 40,933recognized refugees and asylum seekersregistered with the United Nations HighCommissioner for Refugees regionaloffice in Cairo, including Sudanese,Iraqis, Somalis, Eritrean, Ethiopians inaddition to some other 35 nationalities.Of the persons of concern to UNHCR thelargest group is Sudanese nationals(57%), followed by Iraqis (17%) andSomali nationals (17%). The remaining10% was composed of differentnationalities, mainly from Africa. Some9,956 persons are children between theage of 6 and 18 years old (26% of thepopulation) of primary and secondaryschool age. There are also thousands ofpeople who failed to be recognized asrefugees by UNHCR office in Cairo andbecame closed file cases who are notincluded in the above statistics.

More than 80 percent of Sudaneserefugees and asylum seekers in Egypt are

Southerners. However, the number ofSudanese refugees in Egypt mainly fromthe Nuba Mountains has been growingrapidly in recent months due to thefighting which erupted in Darfur, BlueNile, Abyei and Nuba Mountains veryrecently.

COMBONI MISSIONARIESWORKING WITHREFUGEESThe majority of refugees and asylumseekers in Egypt live in overcrowdedapartments dispersed throughout thepoor quarters of Cairo where they jointhe urban poor in competing for limitedresources. However, refugees are unableto access subsistence, work, stateeducation, and national health care onthe same basis as nationals because ofEgypt’s reservation to the 1951Convention related to the Status ofRefugees. Therefore for the last 20 yearsthe Comboni missionaries in Egypt haveworked tirelessly with the Sudaneserefugees in order to render basic needsthat human beings need to live decently.

EDUCATION AND MOREEDUCATIONApart from the pastoral work we doamong the refugees, the main thing wevalued was providing education which isa key factor for human development. Forthis reason we opened Schools in thepoor neighborhoods of Cairo where therefugee children could have access toeducation within the areas they live. Weopened three centres and the totalnumber of the students is above 1300every year and the level of education isfrom Kindergarten to secondary schoolin Sakakini, and in St Joseph and StBakhita from Kindergarten to grade 8,then they join secondary school inSakakini School. We do provide alsomedical service and breakfast for all thestudents in the centres as the familiescould not afford medical treatment andnutritious meals.

Our human resources in teaching arethe refugees themselves. In this way wehave created employment and at leastone hundred people are employed asteaching and non- teaching staff in ourcentres. Bringing Sudanese teachers alsohelped the refugee students to maintainthe values of their culture, history andidentity. Although we were using theEgyptian curriculum until 2007, in 2008we had switched to the SudaneseCurriculum for the following reasons.The refugee students were not allowedto sit for the Egyptian national certificate

exams because of age limit and residencepermit, for this reason many youngpeople dropped out of school and wereinvolved in gang activities fighting amongthemselves.

ADAPTING TO THE NEEDSOnce we introduced the Sudanesecurriculum many of the young peoplewho were involved in these gangactivities came back to school and sat forthe Sudanese national certificate exams.Our school will continue using Sudanesecurriculum in the coming academic year.However we shall introduce moreEnglish language in the lower classesbecause South Sudan has chosen Englishas its national language.

HOPING TO RETURN TOSOUTHERN SUDANYet, not many South Sudanese refugeesand immigrants returned to their newlycreated country of Republic of SouthSudan due to the ongoing war in Abyei,South Kordufan and Blue Nile. At thesame time lack of infrastructures, healthand education sectors will affect thevoluntary repatriation of the refugees butonce peace is assured there is no reasonfor them to remain in Egypt because ofthe challenges they are going throughespecially the crises in Egypt’s postrevolution. Although work was notallowed for refugees in Egypt somefortunate women worked as housekeepers for wealthy Egyptian families andsome foreigners. This enabled them paythe house rent and buy food for thefamily. After the revolution many of themlost their jobs and life has become harderthan before.

Therefore, I would like to thankour benefactors and people ofgood will for the support andgenerosity and may the Lordreward you abundantly.

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Fr. Jemil with refugee children

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Class for the many refugee children



Comboni Missionaries

Appeal for Africa

APPEAL FOR AFRICAFifth Meeting of theComboni Missionaries’Bishops - Jerusalem,31.07.2011

With Africa in the heartOn the occasion of our meeting in

Jerusalem we the Comboni Missionaries’Bishops coming from Latin America (3)and Africa (9), the Father and the MotherGeneral of the two Comboni Institutes,feel a strong need to launch an appeal infavour of Africa.

Africa, despite its potentials and thevastness of its natural resources, is stillthe Continent where war, violence,oppression, poverty and disease are

daily occurrences and create situationsof growing injustice and increasinglydramatic poverty, if compared with therest of the world.

Many problems of underdevelopmentseem to have become largely part ofAfrica’s destiny: bad government, lack ofthe rule of law, conflict and violence inall its forms, low school attendance, highinfant mortality, endemic diseases suchas malaria and HIV / AIDS, resourcesquandering, poverty in which most ofthe population live and the plight ofrefugees and displaced persons.

However, Africa today has once againbecome a Continent coveted by majorworld powers and the multinationals.There is only one goal: to plundersystematically Africa’s forests and naturalresources such as oil, diamonds,uranium, gold, coltan, etc. with theendorsement of local authorities willingto sell out their Countries in return forpersonal, ethnic or party gains.

By Comboni Missionaries

Rome, Wednesday, Autust 3, 2011 – The bishops of the ComboniMissionaries, the Father and the Mother General of the twoInstitutes of the Comboni Missionaries, gathered in Jerusalemfrom the 21st to 30th July. At the conclusion of their meeting andmoved by the dramatic situation in which most of the Africanpeoples live, decided to write a statement in favour of the AfricanContinent which is plagued and weakened by famines, wars,violence, poverty, disease, oppression and other injustices.Below is the appeal of the missionaries.

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Comboni Bishops and Superior General in Jerusalem



We have noticed recently, with agrowing sense of dismay, a purposelyambiguous plan: the implementation ofthe so-called “model projects”, touted asa means to use the newly discoveredresources to kick off a newdevelopment; these projects, in fact,while not contributing to the people’sbenefit, increase their material, moraland social poverty.

One cannot be blind to what ishappening now. Lies are widely used:the lack of information about what ishappening in the mining and watersupply industry is systematic. Thecontempt for the deteriorating situationof people who are living in these areas isdisturbing. The expropriation of lands iscarried out with violence and a sense ofimpunity especially at the expense ofpoor peasants. Numerous are the landconflicts and social strife, with frequentloss of lives. The disappearance of thevalues of solidarity for unrestrained,lawless and personal gain is relentless.Corruption at all levels is shockinglyincreasing, damaging and distortingpeople’s mentality. In short, the declineis not only social but ethical and moral:prostitution is worryingly on the rise,especially among young people; familylife is weakened because of frequentcases of marriage infidelity due to easilyaccessible money; husbands leave theirfamily commitments and their wiveswho are left struggling by themselves;there are conflicts among parents whoresign their parental duties andresponsibility of educating their childrenand so on.

Rather than fighting poverty, the newlyacquired wealth has been openly

squandered, causing degradation andinequality. It is being used to buyweapons and fueling endless conflicts.Instead of being a blessing, wealth hasunfortunately become a curse for mostof the people.

Africa has, therefore, to be helped tostart, at last, to use all these riches thatbelong to her for herself, her sons anddaughters, after so many years ofinjustice and exploitation. Withprophetic vigour we need to find again

and propose to powerful people of thisworld the way that respects the humanbeing and an economy that defendshis/her dignity and freedom of self-determination.

In such a situation, we the bishops ofthe Comboni missionaries, heirs ofComboni’s tender love “for the poorestand most abandoned,” feel that theChurch cannot keep silent, but mustopenly speak in the name of Jesus ofNazareth, who in this land of Palestinepreached love for the underprivileged.The Church has also the right to askherself and people: “Who owns Africa’snatural resources?” For us bishops thereis no doubt that Africa’s natural resourcesbelong to the peoples of Africa. TheChurch’s involvement is, therefore, amust. “Africa is already moving; and theChurch is moving with her, offering herthe light of the Gospel. The waters maybe turbulent. But with our gaze on Christthe Lord we shall make it safely to theport of reconciliation, justice and peace.”(Final Message of the Second AfricanSynod, n. 42).

While we wait with confidence themessage of our shepherd, Pope BenedictXVI to Africa and the world, we makeours the appeal of Bishops at the Synodfor Africa in October 2009,

“To the great powers of this world,we plead: treat Africa with respectand dignity” (Id. n. 32)

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War is a daily occurrence

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The suffering people of Darfur



Business is booming inMaraba, a small town in theBrazilian Amazon. The region’s cattle farming, charcoaland logging industries are attractingjobseekers from all over Brazil.

But the good times have notmanaged to dispel a social ill that haslong plagued this region: slave labour.

In the state of Para, where Maraba islocated, government officials say thatover the past two years they haverescued more than 1,000 workers whowere being held on farms or in charcoalcamps against their will.

People being forced to work havebeen found in raids across Brazil butPara is where the government isfocusing many of its efforts to stampout slavery.

Officials from the Labour Ministryusually act after getting a tip-off, or ifone of the enslaved workers manages

to escape and alert the authorities. In most of the cases, the rescued

workers are found in extremely poorsanitary conditions, and some haveeven suffered physical assault.

Horror stories In Maraba, the Catholic Church’sPastoral Land Commission (CPT) runs acentre to help workers who haverecently been released in governmentraids.

Here, they are treated for any injuriesand offered temporary accommodationbefore they try to make their way backto their homes.

During their stay, they are also able totell their stories to the authorities whoare trying to investigate what happenedto them

“We were watched all day by securityguards, who would not let us leave thefarm,” says Jose Nobre Ribeiro Mafra.

“They had us working all the time.We had no water or services. Theynever let us wash our clothes, whichmeant I could spend several weeks withthe same dirty clothes,” he adds.

“The only place I had to clean myselfup was a pond where the cattle in theranch would urinate and defecate,” saysJose Pereira de Souza, another workerwho is now being helped by thePastoral Land Commission.

“Once I tried to complain, and thefarm manager attacked me with a knife.I managed to avoid the blow, but thenhe hit me hard in the head. Not eventhe dogs on the farm were treated likethis,” he says.

The background of many of therescued people is strikingly similar:rural worker, poor, desperate to make aliving in one of the most deprived andunequal areas of Brazil.

Economic influence The sole mention of slave labour orhuman rights is a delicate matter in thispart of Brazil.

Several land activists have been killedin recent years, as well as governmentofficials who investigate allegations ofabuse by ranchers.

One of the most high-profile caseswas the murder in 2005 of DorothyStang, an American nun who spentdecades in the Brazilian Amazonhelping rural workers.

Jose Batista from the Pastoral LandCommission says that ranchers oftenexert their economic influence withpowerful people to avoid investigationswhen allegations of slave labour aremade.

The ranchers themselves say thatslave labour “does not exist” in Para.

Jimmy de Senna Simpson, a Brazilian

Forced labour clouds loom in

Brazil’s AmazonFr John Downey presents us, through a Brazilian

correspondent, with a portrait of social conditionsfrom where he himself worked from 2001 – 2006

in Northern Brazil

By Vladimir Hernandez - Para, Brazil

Jose recounts how they were watched allday by the guards.



farm owner with Scottish ancestors, is adirector in the Rural ProducersSyndicate, the landowners associationin Para.

He receives us with a certain hostilityas he blames the media “for misleadingeveryone about what happens here”.

However, after agreeing to talk to theBBC, he expands his views.

"Most of the allegations (about slavelabour) are false. There are many who

make false claims in an attempt to getsome money out of it. And theauthorities often come, judge andsentence without checking the facts.”

For this rancher the allegations ofslave labour are more related tomisinterpretations and culturaldifferences.

“We are very humble people witharchaic customs. If you go to a farm andfind someone sleeping rough, on the

floor, or in a dirty shed, that can besomething normal here.

“It is not right to call this slavery.Nobody is being mutilated or chained.Actually, conditions have improved inrecent years,” he says.

In 2008, government figures showthat 811 workers were rescued fromslave-like conditions in Para. Thisdropped to 303 last year.

But so far this year, the BrazilianLabour Ministry has conducted raids onfarms in at least nine states, freeingmore than 200 workers. Half of themwere found in Para which suggests thisis an ongoing battle for the authorities.

Across Brazil, more than 3,000workers were rescued last year ingovernment raids, down from morethan 5,000 in 2008.

Although this year the number ofrescued workers is so far in thehundreds not thousands, it is too earlyto say if the situation is improving.

When President Luiz Inacio Lula daSilva came into power eight years ago,he launched a national plan toeradicate slavery.

After two terms in office, PresidentLula’s policy has brought about therescue of thousands of workers heldagainst their will.

But slavery seems to be a socialchallenge that future presidents willstill have to deal with.

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For the workers here life is tough



Spirit in the city isan annual festivalof faith held in the

heart of London. For thissixth year, this event washosted by the fourCatholic churches in theWest End - Our Lady ofthe Assumption & St.Gregory, Corpus Christi,Notre Dame de Franceand St. Patrick’s, Soho.Once again, through aseries of events in thechurches and on thestreets, we aimed atreaching out and takingour place in the heart ofLondon in a unique way.The intention was tocreate opportunities toraise the deeperquestions of life, tosearch for new ways toconnect with God and others aroundus.

The festival began on Wednesday22nd June with a unique opportunityto watch “The Jeweler” a play writtenby Pope John Paul II. On Thursday23rd and Friday 24th, celebrationstook place which includedprocessions, prayer events, catechesisand evangelization in the streets. Aspecifically Catholic festival tookplace on Saturday 25th at SohoSquare Garden with an entireafternoon of performances for thegeneral public. These includedChristian music, workshops, prayersand reconciliation services - out onthe streets.

This year, we, Sisters Valeria andMarianna, were directly involved inthis event as members of theorganizing team, this gave us a greatjoy. It was encouraging to see severalmembers of our community joiningthe festival as well as the PIME sistersand other members of our parish.

As our XIX Chapter Acts put it sojoyfully: “We have seen the Lord” andwe found in these words the

conviction which builds our missiontoday, so that we wanted to be part ofthis since we know that the drivetowards mission and evangelizationgives us as Comboni MissionarySisters our essential identity. It was anamazing experience for us, tocelebrate and share our faith by ourpresence as part of the Catholiccommunity and to be able to bringour faith directly into the busiestentertainment streets of the city. TheBlessed Sacrament procession was apowerful moment of being witnessesof our faith as well as a moment ofbelief in the Body of Christ. Wewalked from Corpus Christi Parishtowards Notre Dame de France,passing through Covent GardenMarket, which is now a busy shoppingmall with many boutiques and eating-places. It was impressive to watch thecrowd looking at Jesus exposed in themonstrance as the priest carried itpast. Many joined the procession,asking for prayers and healing,praising the Lord with a reverence Ihave never seen before. Finally,

Sr. Valeria (left) with friends

by Sr. Valeria Ruiz. Comboni missionary

during “evangelization inthe streets”, theencounter with nativeand foreign people, webecame aware of how theprocess of evangelizationis happening with us,around us and throughus by the power of theHoly Spirit.

“Spirit in the City”,looked at from ourComboni Spirituality, is anew missionary initiativewhich challenges ustoday as baptized peopleto be aware of what theLord is asking of us, whathe is doing in ourpersonal lives, in ourchurches and in thewider world.

Jesus said: “Go out tothe whole world and

proclaim the Good News to allcreation”. I believe that we are beinginvited in these days, by these words,to pledge our allegiance to the Lordin the context of a church which islosing its missionary strength.Initiatives like “evangelization in thestreets”; talks, reflections andprocessions especially among youngpeople help us to recover and to livedeeply our missionary identity.

May we have the vision andcourage to hoist the sails to capturethe wind of our charisma andspirituality and to say with SaintDaniel Comboni our Founder: “I findan immense joy at being catholic andI can touch with my hands howinfinitely good God is and how henever abandons those who put theirtrust in him”. Let us entrust to theLord this local church and itsinitiatives and pray that “Spirit in theCity” will continue by his grace. Maywe feel ready to give a charismaticand prophetic response with witness,proclamation and dialogue throughpersonal and communityinvolvement.

2 0 1 1Spirit in the City



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Bishop Mazzolari (centre) with a groupof friends

Bishop Mazzolari

Remembering Bishop Mazzolari“through thick and thin”

South Sudan:

Tributes have been paid to abishop in what is now SouthSudan who has died after leading

his people through one of Africa's worstconflicts. Italian-born Bishop CesareMazzolari, who died on Saturday, 16July, aged 74, was appointed to Rumbekdiocese in the middle of Sudan’s 21-year civil war, a conflict which left morethan 2.5 million people dead andforced millions of others to flee theirhomes.

As Rumbek and the surrounding areacame under ongoing aerialbombardment, Bishop Mazzolari, aComboni missionary, risked his ownlife, at one point being kidnapped byrebel fighters for 24 hours.

Soon after becoming ApostolicAdministrator for Rumbek in 1990, here-opened mission centres devastatedby war and helped organisehumanitarian assistance for thousandsof refugees as well as negotiatingfreedom for slaves and child soldiers.

Named Bishop of Rumbek in 1999,he continued to grapple with the effectsof widespread violence and deprivation,which continued after the 2003-4ceasefire period when thousands ofrefugees flooded in from Darfur.

Living long enough to seeindependence for South Sudan fromthe north earlier this month, he diedapparently of a heart attack whileconcelebrating at a Mass in his diocese.

Paying tribute to Bishop Mazzolari,Bishop Eduardo Hiiboro Kassala ofneighbouring Tambura-Yambio dioceserecalled being one of his students in the1980s in Yambio. In a message sent toAid to the Church in Need, BishopHiiboro wrote: “Bishop Mazzolaricarried us through thick and thin. Hewas a dear man – gracious, gentle andhumble. His contribution towards anindependent Republic of South Sudancannot be questioned.”

Aid to the Church in Need also

received a communiqué from Rumbekdiocese, in which priests, religious andfaithful described being “shocked anddeeply saddened” by the bishop’sdeath. It reads: “His fatherly care andcompassion, generosity and selflessnesswere sources of hope and comfort to allthose he encountered. Over the years,we have been inspired by his dreams forthe people of South Sudan.

“His pastoral initiatives, hisextraordinary administrative ability, hiscompetence in leadership, his energyfor fundraising and development, hissimple life-style and humility, histenacity and patience and hisunwavering dedication to God.”

Regina Lynch, Aid to the Church inNeed’s director of projects, underlinedthe charity’s long commitment tohelping Bishop Mazzolari with theoverwhelming pastoral needs of thediocese amid continuing crises. Shesaid: “It took somebody with hiscourage and his energy to respond to asituation which was really very difficult,especially before the [2005] peaceagreement [which officially ended thecivil war. A lesser person would neverhave been able to manage it.”

Aid to the Church in Need’s supportfor projects backed by Bishop Mazzolariincluded repairing churches bombedduring the war, rebuilding a seminaryschool in Mapuordit which had beenabandoned, funding a vehicle for theHealing the Healers counselling

programme for war trauma victims aswell as Mass stipends for priests inRumbek diocese.

The charity also funded aeroplaneflights so the bishop could travel todistant parts of his enormous diocesewhere roads were very poor as well asconstructing homes for religious Sistersstarting afresh in parishes decimated byviolence.

Born in Brescia on 9th February1937, Cesare Mazzolari was ordained apriest in San Diego, USA, on 17th March1962. He spent 19 years workingamong African-American and Mexicanmine workers. In 1981, the ComboniCongregation sent him to Tombura-Yambio diocese where he worked inNzara parish as a curate and became asought-after Spiritual Director at StJoseph’s Minor Seminary at Rimenze,Yambio. From there, he went to Juba toserve as Comboni Provincial ofSouthern Sudan for six years.

Pope John Paul II appointed himapostolic administrator of Rumbek in1990, and he was consecrated bishop inJanuary 1999.

Pope Benedict XVI sent a message ofcondolence, thanking God for BishopMazzolari’s “lifelong dedication as aComboni missionary and for his selflessservice to the people of Africa”.

from Independent Catholic News



Renewing enthusiasmBlessed John Paul II forcefullyconfirmed the necessity of renewingthe commitment to bring the Gospelproclamation to all with “theenthusiasm of the very first Christians”.It is the most precious service that theChurch can render to humanity living.Therefore that same invitation re-echoes every year in the celebration ofWorld Mission Day: “Missionary activityrenews the Church, revitalizes faithand Christian identity, and offers freshenthusiasm and new incentive. Faith isstrengthened when it is given toothers! It is in commitment to theChurch’s universal mission that thenew evangelization of Christianpeoples will find inspiration andsupport”.

Go and proclaimThis objective is constantly renewed bythe celebration of the liturgy,particularly by the celebration of theEucharist, which always ends byproclaiming the risen Jesus’ commandto the Apostles: “Go…” (Mt 28:19). Allthose who have met the risen Lordhave felt the need to proclaim him toothers, as did the two disciples on theroad to Emmaus. After recognising theLord in the breaking of bread, they “setout that instant and returned toJerusalem. There they found theEleven assembled” and told them whathad happened to them on the road (Lk24:33-34).

To allThe beneficiaries of the Gospelproclamation are all peoples. The

Church “is missionary by her verynature, since it is from the mission ofthe Son and the mission of the HolySpirit that she draws her origin, inaccordance with the decree of God theFather”. This is “the grace and vocationproper to the Church, her deepestidentity. She exists in order toevangelize”. Consequently, she cannever withdraw into herself. She isrooted in particular places in order togo beyond them.

This task has not lost any of itsurgency. We cannot be content whenwe consider that, after two thousandyears, there are still peoples who donot know Christ and have not yetheard his Message of salvation.

Not only this: but there is an evergreater number of people who,although having received the

proclamation of the Gospel, haveforgotten it or abandoned it and nolonger associate with the Church.

Cultures are changing - a change thatleads to a mentality and a life-style thatdisregard the gospel Message, as if Goddid not exist, and that exalt the searchfor well-being, easy money, a careerand success as the aim of life, even tothe detriment of moral values.

The joint responsibility of allThe universal mission involveseveryone, everything and always. TheGospel is not an exclusive possessionof those who have received it, but it isa gift to be shared, good news to bepassed on to others. And this gift-commitment is entrusted not only tosome, but to all the baptised, who are

The Pope on a missionary journey to Africa.

Abridged version by Fr. John Downey mccj

“As the Father has sentme, so I send you”

(Jn 20:21)

Holy Father’s Message for WorldMission Day, October 23 2011

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“a chosen race … a holy nation, God’sown people” (1 Pt 2:9), in order thatthey may proclaim his marvellousworks.

All activities are also involved in this.Mission Day is not an isolated momentin the year, but a precious occasion forpausing to reflect on whether and howwe respond to the missionary vocation:an essential response for the life of theChurch.

World – Wide missionMission is a complex process andincludes various elements. Amongthese, in missionary animationparticular attention has always beengiven to solidarity. It involvessupporting institutions necessary forestablishing and consolidating theChurch through catechists, seminaries,priests; and also giving one’s owncontribution to improve the livingconditions of people in nations wherepoverty, malnutrition, above allinfantile malnutrition, diseases, lack ofhealth care services and education aremost serious. This, too, is part of theChurch’s mission.

“It is unacceptable’’, the Servant ofGod Paul VI declared, “that inevangelization the themes of humanpromotion, justice, liberation fromevery form of oppression, obviouslywith respect for the autonomy of thepolitical sphere, should be neglected.”

To ignore the temporal problems ofhumanity would be “to forget thelesson which comes to us from theGospel concerning love of ourneighbour who is suffering and inneed”; it would be inconsistent withthe behaviour of Jesus, who “wentabout all the cities and villages,teaching in their synagogues, andproclaiming the good news of theKingdom, and curing every disease andevery sickness” (Mt 9:35).

“May World Mission Dayreawaken in each person thejoy and desire to “go” out tomeet humanity taking Christto all. In his name Iwholeheartedly impart myApostolic Blessing, especiallyon those who toil and suffermost for the Gospel.”

(Pope Benedict XVI)

Many still await the Good News of salvation.

A chosen race…a holy people.

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Hugo Chavez,Venezuelan President,keeps the faith

It was a less ebullient Hugo Chávezthan usual who addressed hiscompatriots from Havana, where

he was recovering from a second majoroperation to remove a cancerousgrowth. He looked as though he'd hada brush with mortality and his messagegave valuable clues to his attitudes tolife and death.

After a reference to the works of thenational hero Simón Bolivar, Chávezstarted his televised message sayingthat he had been inspired by wordsfrom the Book of Ecclesiastes about the

rhythms of time. The book’s tonethroughout is that one should fear Godand beware of “vanities”. Chávez dwelton the lessons the book, many ofwhose verses are in common westernusage, offered about the past and thefuture. Among these are: “Foreverything there is a season, and a timefor every matter under heaven; a timeto be born and a time to die …”

Later he went on to say how hecalled for help to “my lord Jesus, to theGod of my fathers, as Bolivar wouldsay, to the cloak of the Virgin, as mymother Elena would have said, to thespirits of the savannah” to deliver amessage of hope. Having achieved thatobjective the Venezuelan presidentexpressed his gratitude in the firstinstance to the Almighty. “Thank you,my God; thank you, my people; thankyou, my life. To victory!”

The first deduction from such aspeech couched in very oratoricalterms must be that it does not indicatethat Chávez is a particularly piousperson. His invocations – which mightbe considered “churchy” or “preachy”in an Anglo-Saxon context – arenothing no more than commoncurrency, in politics and in life, of aregion of the world where, fromMexico to Patagonia and from SantoDomingo to São Paulo, the Catholicchurch has been strong for centuriesand where the deity and the VirginMary (and her cloak) are familiarconcepts.

Yet the Venezuelan leader's use ofthem is remarkable in one sense. Whenthe US attempted to overthrow Chávezin a 2002 coup d’état, Wiki Leaks hasrevealed, it was supported by CardinalVelasco, the then archbishop of

Caracas, in defiance of a request fromPope John Paul II that the Venezuelanbishops should not soil their handswith any link to the conspiracy. But thisrevelation has not moved Chávez tochange the religious images in hisdiscourse. When first elected to office12 years ago he, as a social reformer,had had strained relations with theCatholic hierarchy, a body of generallyconservative men who distrusted andopposed his activities and supportedthe status quo in an oil-rich countrywhere half the population was belowthe breadline. And things were nothelped by the frank, not to say coarse,language this former parachute colonelused about them.

At the same time he has constantlyargued that his political strategies areof a piece with Christianity. “OurBolivarian revolution is very Christianand I have a friend who isn't Christian,but lately has said he is a Christian inthe social aspect: his name is FidelCastro,” Chávez said in Rome in May2006 when he had a meeting withBenedict XVI. “I talk to [Castro] a lotabout Christ each time we see eachother, and he told me recently,‘Chávez, I’m Christian in the socialsense.’”

The president’s reference to “thespirits of the savannah” is also novel.Chávez’s use of this phrase willconvince some that the currentrumours circulating in Caracas that hehas cast his lot with the santeros, whoworship the forces of nature and whoare strong in Cuba, are accurate. Theghosts of earlier religions, conceivedlocally or imported from Africa withthe slaves, are never far below thesurface in Latin America.

By kind permission of Hugh O’Shaughnessy – the Guardian

A version of thisarticle appearedon the Guardian

comment freesection.

Hugo Chávez walks out of the planeafter returning from Cuba where he hadundergone surgery.


In lovingmemory

The names sent to us ofall those who have died are

entered in our

LIST OF THE DEAD

They are placed on the Altar inour community Chapels and

remain there during the monthof November.

At each mass they areremembered that they may

have eternal rest with the Lord,and that their families andfriends, may be consoled in

their loss.

Maccabees 12: 43 – 46II: “Andmaking a gathering, he (Judas)

sent twelve thousand drachms ofsilver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to

be offered for the sins of thedead, thinking well and

religiously concerning theresurrection, (For if he had nothoped that they that were slainshould rise again, it would haveseemed useless and vain to pray

for the dead) and because heconsidered that they who had

fallen asleep with godliness, hadgreat grace laid upon them.

It is therefore a holy andwholesome thought to pray for

the dead, that they may be loosedfrom their sins.”


St. Teresa of Avila interceding for

the souls in Purgatory



A NewSUDAN

These are the words of the national anthem of SouthSudan, which became independent on July 9th. After along struggle, South Sudanese see the possibility torebuild their lives in their own terms, no more afraid tobe citizens in their own country. A celebration spoiledby the government of Khartoum’s decision to inflamethe hearts and prepare for war. Two of the mainobjections that can be raised today: the uncertaintyabout Abyei region and the continue genocideperpetrated in the north.

The greed for oilWhen North Sudanese forces seized and ransacked thedisputed border town of Abyei in early June, it lookedlike the country would return to war. Though PresidentOmar al-Bashir supported the referendum that led toSouth Sudan secession, he made it clear that hisgovernment would not recognise the new nation ifAbyei was part of it. Abyei contains rich pastureland,water and and oil fields. The region has emotional,symbolic and strategic significance. A number of leadingfigures from the south's dominant party, the SudanPeople's Liberation Movement, come from the area.North Sudan depends for nearly 90% of its revenues onoil from the fields in the south. For both nations, losingAbyei could, potentially, lead to economic collapse.

Proposed Peace PlanIn 2005, Bashir was cornered by international pressureinto signing a Comprehensive Peace Pact. One mustnote that comprehensive hardly referred to the South. Itcertainly did not refer to the many other issues ofviolence and genocide engulfing Sudan. The war inDarfur continues – we should not forget that scores ofSudanese officials, among them Bashir, are sought by

by Fr. J. Caramazza

Oh God, we praise and glorify you for your grace onSouth Sudan land of great abundance upholds us

united in peace and harmony.

Oh motherland, we rise raising the flag with theguiding star and sing songs of freedom with joy for justice, liberty and prosperity shall for ever

more reign.

Oh great patriots, let us stand up in silence and respectsaluting our martyrs whose blood cemented our

national foundation. We vow to protect our nation.

Oh God, bless South Sudan. Com

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the International Criminal Court accused of mastermindinga genocide – as well as the ethnic cleansing of the Nubamountains. And there are other marginalized areas wherethe government shows all its interest by the use of themachine gun on its own people.

Genocide in the Nuba MountainsAndudu Adam Elnail, Episcopal bishop of Kadugli, NubaMountains, wrote “Once again we are facing the nightmareof genocide of our people in a final attempt to erase ourculture and society from the face of the earth. It is not a warbetween armies that is being fought in our land, but theutter destruction of our way of life and our history, asdemonstrated by the genocide of our neighbours and

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Christianity has been a force in bringing peace to South Sudan.

The late Comboni Bishop Mazzolari with local people.

relatives in Darfur. This is a war of domination anderadication, at its core it is a war of terror by the governmentof Sudan against their people”.

President Bashir and his brothers in arms are fighting fortheir survival. They need unrestrained control over naturalresources to hold on to power. Without bargaining chipsthey would not be able to garner enough internationalsupport to counter internal divisions. Yet, Northerners aretired of the dictatorial ways of Bashir. Cracks are emergingin Bashir’s inner circle.

South Sudan has a history of violence and oppression. Itis also true that South Sudan has always found people whosupported its struggle for self determination and identity.The Comboni Missionaries – editors of Southworld.net – areamong them. They worked in the South since the verybeginning, opening schools and health centres, offeringspiritual and human development as well. Even during thedarkest moment of its history, they remained at the side ofthe Southerners. This is why they were repeatedly expelledby the government of Khartoum.

It is no different today. There are still many who believe inthe South, who believe in the Southerners. We all wishSouth Sudan and its people to see their newly foundindependence as an experience of peace and growth.

Long live South Sudan.


districts of social failure, destitutionand crime. They are permanent tar-gets for prejudice, discrimination,marginalization and bitter persecu-tion. It is hard to put into words whatit exactly means for them to beshunned, insulted, humiliated, ig-nored, intimidated, attacked andkilled. One thing is sure: to dispos-sess these Indians of their land is tan-tamount to killing them. Withoutland, they become a people of desti-tute beggars, rogues and enslavedvictims of alcoholism. Being totallydisempowered, they experience se-vere cultural disintegration and live

own agency becomes utterly un-quenchable. Against this back-ground, a group of 20 indigos, youngand old, consistently met and weretrained in matters of health, culture,human rights, Brazilian and Interna-tional Laws concerning Indigos, ed-ucation, political organization andmobilization, information technol-ogy, self-esteem and indigenous the-ologies and spiritualities.

The Macuxi and Wapichana aredeeply spiritual peoples, strongly be-lieving in the creational powers ofMother Earth and are intimately at-tached to their ancestral dead. Theytoo can boast of their many martyrswho sacrificed their lives defendingtheir lands. The Diocese of Roraimathrough PIC has tried hard to be-come the Church of the Indigos, uni-vocally defending their rights to theirlands and encouraging the revitaliza-tion of their languages and cultures.It vehemently advocates Indigos self-determination.

In all, the talk clearly showed howvulnerable displaced Indios can skil-fully articulate and with dignity har-bour ambitions, expectations andideals even under circumstances ofextreme marginalization.

A lively Eucharist celebration fol-lowed with a splendid buffet after-wards. Fr. Anthony Wolstenholmeconcluded the day's meeting with af-ternoon benediction. A good timehad been had by all in true Combonistyle.

John Clark, MCCJ.

Meeting of European MassMedia Directors in GermanyFrom 27 – 29 May the Comboni Mis-sionaries responsible for the editingof our missionary magazines andhosting radio and website channelsthroughout Europe (LondonProvince, Spain, Portugal, Germanyand Poland) met in Ellwangen, Ger-many. Throughout the three daysnew techniques and current experi-ences were explored. We live in ahighly technological and fast movingworld of communications and one inwhich we should try to keep abreastof changes. It was decided to con-tinue this interchange of support andupdating as an annual event.

GRAND OPEN DAYIN CARMYLEOver eighty happy faces descendedon St.Joaquim's Parish, Carmyle,from different parts of Western, Cen-tral and Northern Scotland on 25thJune, 2011. Once again it was our an-nual gathering when relatives,friends and benefactors of the VeronaFathers, come together.

Fr. John Clark gave a power-pointpresentation entitled: CITY OUT-CASTS. The talk was based on his fiveyears of work with 30-40,000 dis-placed Macuxi and Wapichana Indi-ans and PIC (Pastoral for Indians inthe City) who live in Boa Vista, Capi-tal of Roraima State. Brazil. Consid-ered as rejects, garbage, sheer waste,they live in bairros branded as wild

in acute poverty. Their identity be-comes fragmented like a "brokenmirror" whose pieces will never offera complete image again. Their expe-riences of being unwanted and un-welcomed deeply injure theirself-esteem, self-respect and self-con-fidence.

On an extremely positive note, thespeaker stressed how God helpsthose who help themselves. It is agiven fact that everyone wants to takedirect control of their lives and tobetter their lot. No-one wants to feelcut off and disabled. People havetheir own creativity and have to actfor themselves. Especially where so-cial exclusion is a hard fact of life, theardent desire to participate, to giveone's own opinions, to help decide,to make things happen through their


Fr. Clark speaks about his work in Brazil.

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LEEDS Open Day celebrates SudanIndependence Saturday, July 9, 2011 will be re-membered when God’s words cametrue to the people of the newestcountry in the world: the HistoricCelebration of the Independence ofthe Republic of South Sudan.

After years of conflict and blood-shed and for many, martyrdom, free-dom was proclaimed for SouthSudan. Many of the friends of theComboni Missionaries gathered inHorsforth, Leeds, coming from

rebuilding the infrastructure mainlyin areas of education, health care andpastoral administration. Centres,since 2009, have been built to ac-commodate new teachers and healthworkers along with local catechists towork for the new Sudan.

Fr. Panato in his homily said, “thatJuly 9 was like a dream come true; tosee this day dawning was for all theComboni missionaries the fulfilmentof many long years of struggle. It wasto witness the fulfilment of thelabours and perseverance of all mis-sionaries always present amidst thepeople.”

places afar as Preston, York, Hudder-sfield and Leeds.

To enliven the liturgy of the daywas an African group of musiciansfrom Uganda and South Sudan jour-neying from London. They cele-brated in true colourful African stylethis marvellous day in the history ofthe Church in Africa.

The key note address given by Sr.Maureen McBride Leader of the Sis-ters of Our Lady of the Missions, whotogether with many religious menand women responded to the initia-tive of the Sudanese Bishop’s Con-ference in Juba to work towards

The choir in full swing at the mass Sr. Maureen McBride speaks to the gathering.

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Participants at Ellwangen, Germany

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The Amazon is weeping…

Fighting for a seatat the table…

Violence in the city andcountryBetween city and country life there islittle to choose from.

In three months in Sao Paulo – theindustrial capital of Brazil with apopulation of 17 million - 3,000 peoplehave been murdered (compared forinstance with 3,000 deaths in NorthernIreland in 20 years...) There arebetween 60 – 70 murders eachweekend. In the country since 1996,when 19 landless rural workers werekilled in what has become known asthe ‘Eldorado dos Carajas Massacre’

there have been 212 conflict-relatedkillings in the state of Para alone; that’smore than one murder a month in thelast 15 years, not counting thosecommitted in other Brazilian states. Itis estimated that in the past 20 years1,150 rural activists have been slain inland conflicts across Brazil. Murdersmostly carried out by gunmen hired byloggers, and farmers to silence thosewho protest against illegal logging inthe forest.

Assassinated defending theforestMore recently (May 24, 2011) a furtheract of violence against the defenders ofthe Amazon forest occurred in the stateof Para, North Brazil. Jose Claudio andMaria do Espirito Santo, his wife, weredriving by motorbike to the towncentre. Suddenly gunmen opened firewith a shotgun and a 38 calibrerevolver while crossing a bridge.

The gunmen had concealedthemselves in some undergrowth at thehead of the bridge while waiting inambush for the couple to pass. Bothwere killed instantaneously. Thegunmen cut off one of Jose’s ears andtook it back to the instigators of thecrime as evidence of deed done.

Both Jose and Maria were pioneersand engaged in the care of the forestagainst illegal violators and profiteers.Due to the high value of timber thereserve was constantly being invadedby farmers who sought to expand cattleranching activities in the region. Thesale of forest trees is a lucrative

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Funeral of Sr. Dorothy Stang assassinated defending the land

Sr. Dorothy Stang

By Fr. John Downey mccj



business: a chestnut tree is currentlyworth US$1,400 in the internationalmarket.

MourningHundreds of co religinaries, friends andtownspeople gathered at the home ofthe slain couple to pay their respects.Many spoke of the continuous threat to

their own lives and of great charactersthat had shed their blood for the sakeof the poor peasants living in theAmazon countryside amongst whomwere – Chico Mendes, Sr. DorothyStang, Fr. Ezequiel Ramin and manyothers. The struggle for the right towork and live on the land continues onBrazil.

Chamber of DeputiesWhen the news of the death of Jose andMaria was announced in the Brazilianparliament it was met by cheers andrejoicing by those parliamentarianswho support crime and are the largelandowners of the region. Thisillustrates the corruption and impunityof those in high places of Brazilianpolitics.

The Church’s entity – the PastoralCommission for the Land – reiteratesthe state’s responsibility for this crime.It states that “People’s lives and ournatural environment become worthless if they are seen as obstacles to themuch vaunted ‘economic growth’. It isan idea that has been championed bysuccessive federal governments,legislators of the National Congresswho pass laws that promoteenvironmental destruction, and by thejudiciary who have proven to beextremely efficient in meeting thedemands of the rural elite but farslower in trying the crimes committedagainst the rural workers and theirallies. The violence feeds off thisguarantee of impunity.

Paraphrasing the Gospel, we cannotbe silent in the face of such barbarism,because if we stay silent, the forest willcry.” (Lc.19, 40).

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Illegal logging in Para - The forest victim of plunder

The rivers provide a necessary lifeline for the poor


Mailbag

You Write Comboni Mission8 Clontarf RoadDUBLIN 3IRELAND


Dear Fathers,

God bless and thank you so muchfor the uplifting magazine; it’slovely to hear all your news everyquarter.

Mrs. C. Barnes,Burton-on –Trent

Dear Fr. John

I was very pleased to read Sr.Breda Noonan’s ‘Encounters’ inthe recent magazine. We were inthe same class at school – St.Anne’s Convent of the Ladies ofMary, in Surrey.

Please give her my best wishesand admiration of all the goodwork she has done.

Marina Snell, Surrey

Dear Frs. It is through your work in theworld that the Church is as strongas it is today.

Dear Father,

Just to let you know how much Ienjoy your magazine. One of mydaughters brought it in and Iremember how I used to receive itregularly. My two sons Simon andChristopher frequented theformer Junior Seminary at Mirfieldand we are always most gratefulfor the good all round educationthey received. My husband and Ihad nine children but now I amalone as he has since passed away.

I remember you in my prayers andask for your prayers for our family.

May God bless you all.

Mrs J. TingleBirstall,

Leeds

St. Peter Claver College, Mirfield, Yorks.

Letters from readers are most welcome but we regret we cannot publish them all.

Some may be shortened due to lack of space.

You can also email us at: [email protected] OR leeds@[email protected]

Sr Breda Noonan


Comboni MissionBrownberrie LaneHorsforthLEEDSLS18 5HEENGLAND

Comboni Mission138 Carmyle AvenueGLASGOWG32 8DLSCOTLAND


who warned him of the impendingdanger was later murdered. Africahas always held a special place inmy heart.

Mary Eugene, Howley,

Warrington.

Dear Comboni Fathers,

My husband and I thank you forcontinuing to send us ‘ComboniMission’ magazine which wethoroughly enjoy. So many sadstories of all kinds of calamitiesyet through them all God’s lightstill shines!

I am enclosing a donation foryour Sudan projects. We would ask you to keep us inyour prayers.

Assuring you of our prayers andour love.

Anne & Joe Appleton,Failsworth, Manchester

Dear Father,Many thanks for the informationand moving magazine. Thequality of the articles and layoutis always first class. Many thanksto the Comboni Fathers as ablessing amongst us.

With love and prayers.Angelo & Alice,

Leeds

How delighted I was to receive1st Prize in your missionaryraffle. I am not usually thatlucky!

Enclosed a little share of it tohelp you in your missionarywork.

Thank you and may God blessyou in all that you do.Sincerely

Mrs. K.Nottingham

I have a close experience withAfrica having worked in Zimbabweas a midwife. My fiancé was also inZimbabwe for 30 years and had toflee the country with his life aftersuffering torture. The Archbishop

Zimbabwe

Sudan


ENGLAND & WALES IRELAND SCOTLAND

Comboni Missionaries Comboni Missionaries Comboni Missionaries

Brownberrie Lane 8 Clontarf Road 138 Carmyle Avenue

Horsforth, LEEDS LS18 5HE DUBLIN 3 GLASGOW G32 8DL

0113 258 2658 01 833 0051 0141 641 4399

Contact your mission office in Leeds (for England and Wales), Dublin (for Ireland),or Glasgow (for Scotland) and ask for details and application forms.

Don’t Forget your Deceased Loved Onesin this Year’s November Masses.

Why not have them remembered the whole year round, too!

The Holy RedeemerPerpetual Mass Guild

Holy Mass is celebrated every day for all members, living and dead.Quality Membership Certificates in full colour, mounted in beautiful folders,make an excellent gift, or a gesture of condolence, or simply a reminder of

spiritual union with our missionaries. Certificates will,on request, be sent directly to those you wish to receive them.


Documents

HE Q ROM HE OMBONI ISSIONARIES COMBONI MISSION · 2013-04-26 · COMBONI MISSION T HE Q UARTERLY M AGAZINE F ROM T HE C OMBONI M ISSIONARIES Autumn 2011 Mission Sunday 23 October