T HE Q M FROM T HE C OMBONI ISSIONARIES OMBONI … · COMBONI MISSION THE QUARTERLY MAGAZINE FROM THE COMBONI MISSIONARIES Spring 2016 Jesus at the Door – the Unexpected …

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TH 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

Spring 2016

Jesus at the Door – the Unexpected GuestThe Heroic Virtues of Fr Ambrosoli

Easter! Praying Psalm 47

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COMBONI MISSION ISBN 0962-7154 is a quarterly publicationof the Comboni Missionaries (also known as the Verona Fa-thers), a Catholic Missionary Institute for the evangelisation ofpeoples, issued free to their friends and supporters.

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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

Spring 2016

Jesus at the Door – the Unexpected GuestThe Heroic Virtues of Fr AmbrosoliEaster! Praying Psalm 47

COMBONIMISSION

Spring 2016

COMBONIMISSION

From the Editor

The New Year 2016 is now creeping on.Some have set out with good resolutionsand promises. No one can forget the joy-ful celebrations throughout the world asa New Year is welcomed. Fireworks,music, and a sense of universal good willin the air. Now as we are creeping alongit might be good to reinforce our goodfeeling and promises because there is somuch in 2016 to challenge our frail spir-its!‘Comboni Mission’ sets out to take up

the challenges of our world. No, you’reright, it’s not for the weak-hearted. OurFront Cover brings to us a beautifulphoto of African people waiting in hopefor a warm welcome because they leadpoor, simple lives and thus have no‘voice’ in their destiny. Recently I visiteda south London parish where there werepeople from different countries – Nige-ria, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Brazil,Ecuador, Colombia, Philippines, SouthKorea, Spain, Italy, Czech Republic…justto mention some of them! It was per-haps the most meaningful Mass I’vetaken part in. The music of the Mass waswell directed but in no way was itAfrican, Latin American, Asian. It wastruly British. How inspiring would havebeen a mass with some music, readings,and prayers in the native language of somany of these people! In our welcomingwe need to give ‘voice’.In this edition of ‘Comboni Mission’

we bring stories of welcoming beginningwith the Pope’s world message of Prayerfor refugees and migrants telling us tomake them feel ‘at home’. Fr Kizito’s car-ing for Juma the brutalised and scaredyoung boy from the Congo. Because ofthat singular act Juma is now happilymarried with his family and ‘at home’ inthe Congo.The saintly Margaret of Scotland wel-

comed and cared for the orphans and

fed and clothed the poor at EdinburghCastle and now is declared patron ofSCIAF, the Scottish Catholic Aid agencyfor spiritual and material developmentthroughout the world. What a Royal wel-come!The Comboni Missionaries in their

travels about the UK and Ireland con-stantly feel thewarm welcome ofthe parishionersand clergy as theypreach their Mis-sion Appeals. Wethank them andextend our wel-come to them!

WELCOME!By Fr John Downey

Welcome to our workshop!

VIEW OUR WEBSITESwww.comboni.org.uk

www.combonimissionaries.co.uk

Comboni Mission • Spring 2016 3

From the EditorPAGE 2

Church NewsPAGE 3

Getting to knowThe Comboni MissionariesPAGES 4 - 5

Easter! Praying Psalm 47

PAGES 6 - 7

South Sudan – Living with Poor PeoplePAGES 8 - 9

Refugees in Northern France –

recent developmentsPAGES 10 - 11

St Margaret of Scotland

PAGES 12 - 13

Jesus at the DoorPAGES 14 - 16

Pope’s Message for World Day of Migrants

and RefugeesPAGES 17 - 19

Fr Luc’s FamilyPAGES 20 - 21

You WritePAGE 22

The Doors of Mercy Open widePAGE 23

ProjectsPAGE 24

CONTENTSIn Brief CHURCH NEWS

SYRIA: Christianskilled in newbomb attackAt least three people were killed and 10others wounded last night in a bomb at-tack in Syria's northeastern Kurdish city ofQamishli. The attack took place in themostly Christian neighbourhood and wascarried out with a motorcycle bomb. Theblast hit a restaurant in 'Miami Street'."All three of the victims are Christians: a

Chaldean and two Syrian Orthodox" Arch-bishop Jacques Behnan Hindo, head ofthe Syrian Catholic archdiocese in Has-sakè-Nisibis said in a statement. "At themoment there are rumors that say ISISclaimed responsibility for the attack. Butthere are those who link the attacks to therecent clashes between Kurdish militias,who aim to control the neighbourhood,and the self-defense groups 'Sootoro' whoare active, and are composed of youngChristians, Syrians and Assyrians, who areactive in that neighborhood. So manypeople think that behind the bombing

there could also be Kurdish mastermindsand executors."It is another disturbing factor of this

war: there is terrorism, but sometimes wedo not know who really terrifies us." The funeral of the three victims will be

held this afternoon. On 20 December at-tacks on two restaurants in Qamishlibelonging to Christians, claimed the livesof 13 Christians and six Muslims. Recently, Syrian Orthodox Patriarch Mar

Ignatius Aphrem II went to Qamishli, inthe northeastern Syrian governorate ofHassakè, in an effort to mediate betweenthe Kurdish militias and the self-defensegroups Sootoro.

Archbishop Jacques Behnan Hindo

IRAQ: Grief overdestruction ofhistoric monastery Iraqi Christians have expressed theirheartache over news that Iraq's oldestChristian monastery has been destroyedby terrorist militia Daesh (ISIS).Father Dankha Issa, an Iraqi monk be-

longing to the Antonian Order of StOrmizda of the Chaldeans, told Aid to theChurch in Need: "St Elijah's Monastery inMosul was a symbol of the Christian pres-ence in Iraq. The fact that it has beendestroyed is terrible."Up to the conquest of Mosul by Daesh

in June 2014 thousands of Christians hadbeen living in the predominantly Sunnicity in northern Iraq. Most fled immedi-ately after the city was seized by jihadis,while the remaining Christians left in July2014 following an ultimatum to leave orconvert by Daesh's self-appointed caliphAbu Bakr al-Baghdadi.Until he was forced to flee from Mosul

in 2014, Fr Dankha lived in St George'sMonastery in the north of the city. It wasreported in March 2015 that the monasticcomplex, dating back to the tenth cen-tury, had been partially destroyed.Responding to the latest news of destruc-tion, he said: "St Elijah's Monastery wasover 1,400 years old.

"It had stood abandoned for a long time- but it meant a lot to us Christians. It wasan expression of our extremely long his-tory in Iraq."Father Dankha said that what particu-

larly affected him was that no-one wasable to stop the jihadis. "It is the sons ofthe devil who do such work. We can onlypray for them. God alone can help us."Daesh have deliberately destroyed a

large number of sites of religious and cul-tural significance in Iraq and Syria.There was worldwide concern at the

destruction of the 1,600-year-old MarElian monastery in the Syrian city of al-Qaryatayn in August last year, after thetown was taken over by Daesh.While some have been destroyed, there

have also been many reports of churchesand Christian institutions being requisi-tioned by Daesh for various uses,including storage and prisons.

Saint Elijahs Monastery, Mosul, Iraq.


Comboni Missionary Fr. Giuseppe Ambrosoli (1923-1987)dedicated his life to helping the people of Kalongo, Uganda.

Getting to know theComboni Missionaries

The heroic virtues of FatherGiuseppe Ambrosoli

On December 17, 2015 PopeFrancis recognized the heroicvirtues of Fr. Giuseppe, an

Italian surgeon, priest and mission-ary. This is the first of several steps onthe road to being named a saint. Fr.Ambrosoli was assigned to Kalongo,Uganda in 1956 where he served as aParish Priest and took charge of run-ning the local dispensary. Thedispensary was started in a grass hutby Comboni Missionary Sister ElettaMantiero in 1934. Soon after, shestarted delivering babies and attend-ing to medical and pediatric patients.In 1957 Fr. Giuseppe Ambrosoli

began transforming the dispensaryinto a fully-fledged hospital. At thattime the dispensary was treatingmany leprosy patients.

Fr. Giuseppe revolutionized thecare for leprosy patients by admittingthem to the same hospital as otherpatients instead of confining them tothe often neglected and poorly man-aged leprosarium. Today the KalongoHospital, recently renamed the Dr.Ambrosoli Memorial Hospital, is a350-bed facility that treats nearly60,000 patients every year. Another of Fr. Giuseppe’s achieve-

ments was establishing the St. Mary’sSchool of Midwifery in 1959.As Pope Francis continues chal-

lenging us to love and care for oneanother in this Year of Mercy, how fit-ting that Fr. Giuseppe, who dedicatedhis life to caring for the sick, starts hisjourney to Sainthood.

by Fr John Downey mccj


The Kalongo Hospitalthe dream of Fr AmbrosoliThe Kalongo Hospital – or Dr.

Ambrosoli Memorial Hospital– is a private not-for-profit or-

ganization belonging to the Dioceseof Gulu. It is located in Kalongo, inNorthern Uganda, in the territory ofthe Acholi tribe: this is a very poor

area, with few communicationroutes and no developed settle-ments. Founded in 1957, theHospital has always played a centralrole in the development of an areainhabited by over 500,000 people,and today it is one of the major

Ugandan health care centres interms of number of patients treated.Every year, the Hospital guarantees

professional health care to around50,000 people, of which around 50%are children under 5 years. Today,the Hospital has 302 beds and 6wards: Surgery, Maternity & Gyne-cology, Pediatrics & Malnutrition,General Medicine, Tuberculosis, andPrivate Patients. The Hospital also in-cludes an outpatient clinic, a clinicalanalysis and radiology lab, and twooperating theatres, in addition to apre- and post-natal outpatient clinic,a pediatric outpatient clinic with vac-cination center and child growthmonitoring unit, an outpatient clinicfor HIV/AIDS patients and dedicatedoutpatient clinics for specificpathologies: mental disorders,epilepsy, and tuberculosis. The Pedi-atrics ward includes a malnutritiontreatment center. 98% of the staffworking at Dr. Ambrosoli MemorialHospital is from Uganda.

Opening of the Dr Ambrosoli Centre

Hospital grounds


Nearing the celebration of the Passion andResurrection of Christ letus read and meditate thisRoyal psalm. Jesus diedand rose to save us!Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Clap your hands, all peoples,Acclaim God with shouts of joy.

For Yahweh, the Most High, is Glorious,The great king over all the earth.He brings peoples under our powerAnd nations under our feet.

He chooses for us our birth right,The pride of Jacob whom he loves.God goes up to shouts of acclaim,Yahweh to a fanfare on the ram’s horn.Let the music sound for our king, let itsound.For he is king of the whole world;Learn the music, let it sound for God!God reigns over the nations,Seated on his holy throne.The leaders of the nation’s rally,To the people of the God of Abraham,The shields of the earth belong to God,Who is raised on high.

To Knowand Pray Psalm 47


Understanding thePsalm - seeing the

face of God in Ps. 47

The psalms of the kingship of the Lord, thosewhich speak of the person of the king, arefilled with thoughts which favour

domination and imperialism. Full of good faith,Ps.47 sets out to make God reign by means ofarmies, arms and victories of Israel. This isambiguous and dangerous, as Israel wishes toshow that Yahweh is the One God: Dt 6, 4-5:‘Listen, Israel! : Yahweh our God is the one, theonly Yahweh’, but he does this by strength ofarms. The greater the number of victories, themore God displays himself as king of the entireuniverse. Yahweh is the awesome and great kingover the earth because the sword of Israel ispowerful, subjecting nations and peoples.

We must question ourselves asking if this is thetrue way to honour God!

Looking towards Jesus, Ps 47 takes on a newangle and paints different colours. Jesus changedcompletely the meaning of kingship giving a newdimension to the exercise of power. He is theuniversal king but his ascent was by means of thecross in order to hand over his life for all: Jo.10,10 ‘I have come so that they may have life andhave it to the full.’ It is by the cross that Jesusdraws all people to himself as universal king.

As the grain of mustard seed dies, so as toproduce fruit, so Jesus RISES and RETURNS tothe Father, becoming the WAY for all humanitywho seek LIFE.

The four gospels present Jesus as kingthroughout the passion narratives, however hiskingship is not that proposed by Ps 47!The people of God have the mission of leadingothers to accept Christ as the Saviour but not inthe manner put forward in Ps 47!

Praying Psalm 47Pray the psalm looking at the way Jesus exercisedhis kingship and power through the offering ofhis life.

Christ rises !!

Fr John Downey mccj


SOUTH SUDAN

In Juba, the capital of South Sudan,we live behind a small fence withsteel gates. One morning some-

body called us to the gate. I went toopen it and I met a tall, slender, SouthSudanese woman of gracious deport-ment carrying a child in her armswith another by her side. What struckme was the anguish on her face andthe tears she could not hold back.With my very limited Arabic, I

grasped that she wanted to speak toan Aboona (father). So, I led herthrough to where some priests live.She stood there waiting but still

obviously distressed. I wonderedhow the children felt to see theirmother so upset. I went and fetchedsome food and I gave it to her. Behindher tears, her face relaxed and shesmiled as she said, Shukran, (‘Thankyou’). How can we imagine the sor-

row of a mother who cannot feed herchildren? The next day, as I went outof the house, a very small, thin boyapproached me asking for money.Normally, I resist such pleas as theyare so numerous, but again I feltmoved to give this boy some money. Ithought that there was a sad longingin his eyes that said he was very hun-gry and felt unwanted, rejected –such sorrow in one so young. I gavehim a small sum of money, enough forsome food. These are just two cases,but which tell so much about peo-ple’s life in today’s South Sudan.The most serious effect of the cur-

rent conflict has been soaringinflation. It used to be three orangesfor five pounds (0,7 Euro). Now it isone orange for seven pounds (1

The country has been in the throes of a civil war. Priceshave been soaring and more people go hungry.Missionaries do not work miracles but they extend ahelping hand to the poor people. A reflection of amissionary in the field.

Living with poor people


Euro). The price of all kinds of foodhas risen and many people are hun-gry. An orange is a luxury item tomost people whose diet is more like-ly to be sorghum and beans, once ortwice a day. I know the Social Worktheory: ‘hand-outs’ are the least help-ful form of social assistance. Onetheory postulates three models forthe delivery of help to other people.The first is sometimes called, ‘The

Pity Model’ or ‘Helping the DeservingPoor’. The pity model stated quitesimply, is that we see someone inneed and we are moved with pity orcompassion to try to assist them.Critics of this model argue that itbreeds a ‘hand-out’ mentality thatdoes not result in lasting good. Thebasic problem with this ‘Pity Model’ isthat it focuses on the distress or mis-fortune rather than on a perseveringdetermination to improve the struc-tures that cause the distress. It can bepaternalistic/materialistic and conde-scending.The second model is the ‘Market

Model’ or ‘Empowering theConsumer’. This model aims to trans-fer power from the service providerto the service user and thus ‘empow-er’ that person. People can, in theory,shop around for the service that suitsthem best. In this model, tenders areusually set up and organisation com-petes against organisation for funds,agencies struggle for market share,norms of efficiency become preva-lent, accountability and publicscrutiny are demanded, but at the endof the day there is often little flexibil-

ity left for responding to the most inneed. The number of clients cateredfor becomes more important than thequality of the outcome. Agencies arefunded according to their ‘outputs’ or‘through-puts’. Many NGOs operateon this basis.The third model of welfare delivery

is ‘The Citizenship Model’ or‘Promoting Social Participation’. Inthis model, needy people are seennot as victims, nor as consumers, butas fellow citizens who have rightsand responsibilities. The needy per-son before you is your brother orsister in the eyes of God, just asimportant as you are, equally pre-cious. He or she may just happen tobe younger, poorer, have been abusedor marginalised in some other way –or be South Sudanese. Deep, mutual,human respect, not pity, should bethe underlying motive and emotion

for the help – the hand-up we pro-vide.We have a group called ‘Solidarity

with South Sudan’ which trains teach-ers, mid-wives, nurses, pastoralworkers, farmers. We are focused on‘The Citizenship model’, helpingSouth Sudanese people to help them-selves. At times, we are forced bydonor-accountability requirements tooperate within a ‘Market Model’where measurement and evaluationof service is paramount – not unrea-sonable expectations. But in real life,we are living with people, not con-ceptual models. If Jesus could bemoved by compassion, I think it isfair enough that sometimes we arealso. We can’t work miracles but, likethe Good Samaritan, we can some-times hold out a helping hand to aless fortunate fellow traveller on thejourney to God.

by Bill Firman. www.Southworld.net


Weather in the Nord-Pas-de-Calaisregion has been wet and windyfor several weeks, turning the

ground in refugee camps into a swampand damaging tents and shelters thathave only a precarious anchor to thisground. Even if there were sufficientplaces to wash and shower, it is almostimpossible to remain clean, warm anddry. In January, daytime temperatures

have been below zero for successive daysand lower still at night.Numbers on the ground at Calais have

dropped, with officials claiming that over1,900 have promised to abandon plansto reach the UK and been given shelterfor periods in various parts of France.Also, some have moved elsewhere, in-cluding many Kurds who have helped toswell the number now encamped atGrande-Synthe near Dunkirk from about800 in October to around 2,500 in De-cember. (Kurds from various nationsarrive after persecution by the majoritypopulations and prefer to keep togetherrather than live cheek by jowl with thosewho they have cause to fear.)The mayor of Grande-Synthe has long

deplored the deteriorating conditions,especially the significant presence ofpeople smugglers. In December he pro-posed that residents should move to adifferent site and receive services thatmeet international standards. On 23 De-cember he met the Interior Minister whopromised to support him in getting vul-nerable people into safe shelter. Mediacomment interpreted this as a “new per-manent Sangatte” and Kent MPs spoke of“creating a new waiting room for thosewanting to reach the UK illegally”.The regional Prefect was soon an-

nouncing opposition to the proposed

new site on the grounds of safety and se-curity, while Médecins sans Frontièreswas ready to supervise the move. Afterseveral weeks of negotiation the Prefectwithdrew his opposition to revised plansfor the originally selected site - thoughwithout announcing “approval”. (Cueheadlines: “French government ap-proves major new camp”.) MSF willsupply and erect five-person heatedtents taking 2500 residents on a tempo-rary basis, along with numbers of toilets,taps, showers, a medical centre andkitchens to meet international standards.Anti-dazzle screens will mask nearbyroad and rail lines. This should be upand running within four weeks of themid-January announcement and costsome €1 million to €2 million.Developments were more ponderous

and controversial in Calais. On August31 the Prime Minister announced that anew camp to take 1500 would beformed from 125 modified cargo con-tainers. By October, the contract tooperate this had been won by “La Vie Ac-tive” which runs the Jules Ferry Centre.(Providing day facilities, along withovernight accommodation for a numberof women and children that has recentlyrisen to 400.) The containers were sup-posed to be in place by Christmas, butafter delays, only the first few were ready

Refugees inNorthern Francerecent developments


to occupy on 6 January. The cost was€20 million (up from the forecast €18million), including a €5 million EUgrant. Priority places were to be offeredto the 500 people moved for installationof the containers and next to vulnerablepeople and families.

Clearance - plansOn Friday 8 January, with the first newcontainers ready to be occupied after theweekend, the Calais sub-Prefect sud-denly announced that he intended toclear a strip of land along two sides ofthe camp and would provide more de-tails on the Monday. It emerged that theidea was to remove all tents, shelters,trees and scrub to create a security zonewhere people could not hide whilst wait-ing to board a lorry on its way to theport. And there was more: rather than a“strip of land” a corner of the camp ac-counting for around 30% of its area is tobe cleared, with work starting in twodays! This would involve displacing over1000 individuals, including around 300women and 60 children, with no obvi-ous new places for shelter.Commentators wrongly assumed thatthey could go into the containers, butfew of them were yet ready for occupa-tion and many places are reserved forothers. In fact, no shelter places were of-fered to newly displaced refugees.

Clearance - reality The official information and frightenedrumours both changed several times aday - not helped by officials ignoring alist of questions put by the group of eld-ers. Some residents promised to stay andresist bulldozers. Eventually it seemed

lice patrols who happily create teargasclouds wherever they expect trouble,without consideration of nearby families,Residents have become even more mis-trustful of government officials andpoliticians. “Who knows”, they say,“when they will announce changed con-ditions, record our IDs and demand thatwe either leave France at once or applyfor asylum there?” Admittedly the con-tainers have some windows and areinsulated, with heating from large-areatowel rails, individual lockers, six bunkbeds and power point for phone charg-ing. But each dormitory caters for 12people in just some 14 sq. m of floorarea. Outside there is a block of portabletoilets, and - soon - an exercise zone, achildren’s play area and three larger con-tainers for socialising. But there is nodrinking water, no washbasins, no show-ers, nor provision for cooking! Thesefacilities are situated over 150 m away inthe Jules Ferry Day Centre where break-fast and one other daily meal will beavailable. Apart from promising a cleanand dry bed for the night, the prospect isnot really all that enticing.“Officials put the number of places in

Jules Ferry Centre and the container dor-mitories at Calais as 1900 in total andstate that their aim is to reduce the pop-ulation to below 2000. The same sourcesput the current population at 4500,while others suggest over 5500. Whereare the extra people going to settle, andwhen? And will they have to be coercedto leave?”

If you would like to volunteer ormake a donation to one of thegroups/charities helping therefugees in northern France, see:www.calaidipedia.co.uk

that an extra 3 or 4 days grace might ar-rive if there were signs of action. A newarea within the “Jungle” was clearedready to receive tents and sheltersmoved from the threatened zone, plusnew replacements. Dwellings were - lit-erally - manhandled on to trailers andhauled to their new positions byrefugees and scores of largely foreignvolunteers.

AchievementsThe team estimates that relocation in-volved moving around 25 caravans, 300tents and 247 shelters - not counting thevery many more moved by the occupantsthemselves. The total of people safely re-homed ended up at approximately 1300,including 280 women and 40 children.The remaining unoccupied shelters arerescued for future use and some 80 newshelters added. All this in icy conditions,along with the first winter snowfall andthe continued arrival of more peopleneeding shelter, warmth, food and cloth-ing.

GratitudeMedia commentators say that ungratefulmigrants have refused places in the newcontainers. Untrue: none were offered!However, the fenced compound withrigid lines of blank white containers isnot attractive, strongly resembling a de-tention facility. Access is to be controlledvia digitised hand-print scans, causingfears of fingerprints being recorded, de-spite assurances to the contrary.Vulnerable people have been renderedmore fragile by the badly-handled se-quence of events leading up to this moveand by the threatening frequent riot po-

Phil Kerton, Independent Catholic News

12 Comboni Mission • www.comboni.org.uk12 Comboni Mission • www.comboni.org.uk

St Margaret,Patron of Scotland

The Scottish Bishops, to mark theGolden Jubilee of SCIAF haveplaced the organisation under

the Patronage of St. Margaret. SCIAF isrenowned for its work among the poor-est in our land, so who better to callupon than Margaret who gave dignityto the impoverished. We are blest in having a unique

Saintly Queen. As one historian wrote...‘there was never such a more beautifulwoman in all history’. The feast of St Margaret was cele-

brated with first Vespers of the Saintin St Peter’s Church, Partick, Glasgow,Scotland. Rev Peter Mc Bride wel-comed all from different faiths tocelebrate together this most power-ful, influential and outstandingwoman whom we admire today as agreat role model. The St Mungosingers led the singing and the pupilsfrom Notre Dame High Schoolenhanced the service by readingbeautiful prayers.Sister MaureenCoyle deliv-

Saint Margaret, Princess of Hungary,Princess of Wessex, Queen andPatron of Scotland

Above: St Margaret Church in EdinburghCastle.

Below: Edinburgh Castle.

ered a reflection on Margaret ourSaintly Queen. It was to Scotland’s shores in about

the year 1067, that the young fugitivePrincess found a safe refuge when theship in which she was travelling tookharbour off the Firth of Forth. Margaret, called the Pearl ofScotland was well educated by the

Benedictine Monks on theContinent of Europe. She

was a very holywoman, and her


prayer often showed itself in her actsof Mercy and Kindness, especially toorphans whom she fed and clothed. Margaret became Queen of

Scotland in 1070 when she marriedKing Malcolm, some twenty years hersenior. Their marriage was happy andMalcolm knew he had found a perfectwife for himself and indeed a perfectMother to their eight children ... .sixboys and two girls. Malcolm loved Margaret and recog-

nised in her a strength and wisdom,thus allowing himself to be influ-enced by her powerful insights whichshe brought from Europe. Margaretthe educated one treasured educa-tion and saw that all at Court andher Children received an educa-tion of a high standard. Margaret was schooled in prayer

and meditation and spent hours inprayer in her little cave inDunfermline. She is admired todayas a model of sanctity and isremembered as a shining light ofGod’s Goodness.

During her reign of 23 years,many social reforms took place giv-ing people better living conditions.

Trade routes were opened up andbecause of her powerful influence theCourt in Scotland was brought intoline with Europe. Also a new style ofChurch emerged, one more in linewith the culture of Europe and Rome.The monastic style of The Culdeeswas waning.

St Margaret died at EdinburghCastle on November 16th 1093. Herpeaceful and saintly death came threedays after hearing of the deaths of herbeloved husband Malcolm and herson killed in battle. Her body wasburied at Dunfermline Abbey. Her

only prized possession The BlackRood, her cross was sent for safekeeping to Durham Cathedral until itwas despoiled by King Henry V111.The Black Rood disappeared fromHistory. Margaret was canonised a Saint in

the year 1250. Many churches of all denomina-

tions, educational establishments,hospitals, landmarks, and embroideryguilds use her name as theirPatroness. The little church dedicated to

Margaret which stands on the originalsite of her oratory built by Malcolm atEdinburgh Castle is a very prayerfulplace. Women who bear the name ofthe Saint, buy and place fresh flowersevery week on the altar here. In thissmall chapel one can view a replica ofMargaret’s Book of the Gospels. Theoriginal is preserved at the BodleianLibrary, Oxford. Our nearby St Margaret’s Hospice

celebrating 65 years of care and com-passion for the sick, aged and dying isunder her protection. For 60 years St Margaret’s Adoption

Society now called St Margaret’sChildren and Family Care Society,unique to Scotland, enjoys being partof the Family of a great Queen wholoved orphans and those in need ofbelonging to a family.

Margaret, Patroness of ourNation look kindly upon ourland and guide us in ways ofJustice and Peace. Saint Margaret, Queen of Scotland Pray for us, Bless us and protect us.

Left: St. Margaret’s Gospel Book.The original is preserved in theBodleian Library, Oxford.

Above: Notre Dame Girls withHead teacher Mrs Martin, RevPeter Mc Bride and Sr MaureenCoyle SND.

by Sr. Maureen Coyle SND


JESUS AT THE DOOR

“Look, I stand at the door andknock. If you hear my calland open the door, I will

come in to you and have supper withyou, and you with me” (Rev 3: 20).Jesus comes to our door, asks to sharesupper with us.Through the Gospel, Jesus identifies

with the stranger, the foreigner. Anycare or service offered—and anyoffence caused to a stranger is a serv-ice or an offence done to Him. Helived in His flesh the experience of

being a stranger, of coming home andnot being recognised, of being refuseda shelter at birth—to the point ofbeing denied the fundamental dignityof every human being, and being putto death on a cross. Even after the res-urrection, when He met the disciplesof Emmaus, He remained the strangerto His own disciples (cf. Luke 24: 13–35): “Are you the only stranger whodoes not know what happened inthese days?” He is the stranger whowalks with people, that remains hid-

den until invited inside, to sit at thetable and share the meal. He is recog-nised in a simple act of sharing, an actof communion. This is the essence ofHis message: to love is to give oneselfto others, and to see in others the pres-ence of God. In the legends and literature of all

Christian traditions there are countlessstories illustrating the image used bythe author of the Letter to theHebrews: “Do not neglect to offer hos-pitality; you know that some people

Fr Renato Kizito Sesana, Comboni Missionary

The unexpected guest

“Receiving and taking care of a deeply wounded young

Congolese refugee, Juma, wasa challenge that taught me alot about myself. This kind ofhospitality is never easy, buthelps us to learn what it reallymeans to recognise Jesus in

the other.”


have entertained angels withoutknowing it” (Heb 13: 2). At the centreof such tales, the kind-hearted personis surprised to discover that the poorstranger or beggar he or she receivedwas Jesus Himself. Most of us haveread the Papa Panov story by theRussian author Leo Tolstoy.

Can you offer a roof?At the beginning of 2004, Manuelacalled me on the phone from Brussels.I met her when she did an internshipat the United Nations in Nairobi, andnow she works in the European officeof a well-known organisation for therights and protection of children. Shetold me of a Congolese boy, calledJuma, on the run from a dangerous andcomplicated situation. “Can you offer aroof to Juma for a couple of months? Ido not know where else I can advisehim to go.” As we spoke on the phone,he was at a bus station in Kampala, theUgandan capital, 500 km from Nairobi,waiting for her instructions on whereto go to get away from those whowanted him dead. Manuela assured methat within a few weeks they wouldorganise to take him to Europe. I

accepted this challenge. The nextmorning, I picked him up at the mainbus station. Fortunately, it was Sundaymorning and traffic was scarce. Irecognised Juma from the writing onthe T-shirt he wore, as agreed. Helooked much older; how could that bethe face of an 18-year-old boy? At Kivuli, he did not speak for sever-

al days, looked around suspiciouslyand kept everyone at a distance. Hegot involved only with the soccerteam, and played every game with allhis energy, as if his life depended onthe outcome. I started beginning tothink I should transfer him to a placewhere he could feel more comfortable.Then one night he confided in me andtold me about his cruel and tragicstory. He was kidnapped from his fam-ily in a village in the DemocraticRepublic of the Congo by a warlordwhose name causes fear even amongthe Congolese who are already safelyin Nairobi. He was 13 years old whenhe was taught to use weapons and tokill. He was put in charge of a platoonof younger children who were sentahead when attacking villages. Thenthey used him as a spy, to gather infor-mation on the presence of soldiers and

rival groups. He became the attendantand confidant of the commander. Afterthree years, having seen many of hispeers and “comrades in arms” die, hecould not take it anymore and tried toflee. He was retaken and was bru-talised for weeks, but not killed,probably because he was too impor-tant for the skills and knowledge hehad acquired. He lived two more yearsof that hell by pretending to be alwaysfully convinced of the justification ofthe beastly acts he was ordered tocommit. Then he was able to secretlycontact some UN soldiers who agreedto protect him if he could escape.Sadly, he ended up in the hands of twosoldiers who sexually abused him forsix months. That was the third escapeattempt, and yet Juma still didn’tbelieve that he was safe.After the outburst, Juma mingled a

little better with the other boys, butremained whole days in a state ofdepression, sometimes at night he didnot sleep and walked around theperimeter of the wall of the Kivulicompound like a caged lion. The otherchildren respected and feared him.Sometimes, they saw him sitting nextto me for hours on a bench, telling me

Juma on arrival was a traumatised youth


all over again and again the worstepisodes of his life. They did not hearor understand because sometimesJuma spoke in French, but they saw histears, the fists clenched in fits of rage.The others also learned to endure hissudden changes of mood—sometimesvery sweet with the younger ones, andimmediately after becoming furiousfor the slightest and unintentionalrudeness. They also saw that he had asharp brain and great manual dexterity,allowing him to become a master car-penter in a few weeks.

Learning to accept Many weeks went by. Finally came thenews that two human rights investiga-tors of the International CriminalCourt in The Hague had been instruct-ed to interview Juma because hisformer commander had been capturedand brought before the court, chargedof crimes against humanity, and Jumahad been identified as an importantwitness. His testimony had to be puton the record. Juma was devastated. He

didn’t want to testify, fearing that “theboss” would be able to take revenge onhim. I convinced him that this could bean opportunity for him to rebuild hislife in another country. He agreed, oncondition that I accompany him everyday for the interrogation to the luxuryhotel where the investigators stayed.Three weeks of queries ensued. The

investigators promised to “do every-thing possible, but it will be difficult”.Nothing happened. After a while, thecommander was on trial and sen-tenced. Still nothing happened. Jumaremained with us for four years with-out documents, unable to work, withno possibility to build a new life. Trustthe international criminal court! Thenhe decided to return to Congo. “I amchanged, physically as well in mybehaviour”, he told me. “Nobody willrecognise me”. Now, he is in theCongo. Occasionally, I receive a phonecall from him, He told me he’s marriedand has two children; he is happy.Sometimes miracles happen.During the time Juma spent in my

home, I did not exactly feel that he wasJesus present with us, yet I understoodthat to host a refugee changed my per-spective of life. To welcome an unknown person in

your own home is challenging andputs you in a position of vulnerability.You can feed the hungry and clothethe naked in a neutral place, in theirown homes. The Good Samaritan, theundisputed icon of Christian charity,rescued the wounded man he foundon the road, but then took him to aninn, payed in advance for the bill, butdidn’t take him to his home. Openingthe door of your home to an unknownperson may expose you to dangers,and it forces you to get fully involved,to trust the other. It means that youhave to renew every day the confi-dence and the trust in the other. It is areminder of the fact that the other,wounded, shaken, desperate, unstableand prone to evil, is only a mirror ofmyself, and that if I am not ready toaccept the other, I am not ready eitherto accept myself.

Juma was forced to take up arms


Dear Brothers and Sisters,In the Proclamation of theExtraordinary Jubilee of Mercy I notedthat “at times we are called to gazeeven more attentively on mercy sothat we may become a more effectivesign of the Father’s action in our lives”(Misericordiae Vultus, 3). God’s love ismeant to reach out to each and everyperson. Those who welcome theFather’s embrace, for their part,become so many other open arms andembraces, enabling every person tofeel loved like a child and “at home” aspart of the one human family. God’sfatherly care extends to everyone, likethe care of a shepherd for his flock,but it is particularly concerned for theneeds of the sheep who are wounded,weary or ill. Jesus told us that theFather stoops to help those overcomeby physical or moral poverty; the moreserious their condition, the morepowerfully is his divine mercyrevealed.In our time, migration is growing

worldwide. Refugees and people flee-ing from their homes challengeindividuals and communities, andtheir traditional ways of life; at timesthey upset the cultural and social hori-zons which they encounter.Increasingly, the victims of violence

and poverty, leaving their homelands,are exploited by human traffickersduring their journey towards thedream of a better future. If they sur-vive the abuses and hardships of thejourney, they then have to face latentsuspicions and fear. In the end, theyfrequently encounter a lack of clearand practical policies regulating theacceptance of migrants and providingfor short or long term programmes ofintegration respectful of the rights andduties of all. Today, more than in thepast, the Gospel of mercy troubles our

consciences, prevents us from takingthe suffering of others for granted,and points out ways of respondingwhich, grounded in the theologicalvirtues of faith, hope and charity, findpractical expression in works of spiri-tual and corporal mercy.In the light of these facts, I have cho-

sen as the theme of the 2016 WorldDay of Migrants and Refugees:Migrants and Refugees Challenge Us.The Response of the Gospel of Mercy.Migration movements are now a struc-tural reality, and our primary issue

In the Year of Mercy - Pope Francis blessing a sick child

Pope’s Message for World Day of Migrants

and Refugees January 17, 2016

“Migrants and Refugees Challenge Us. The Response of the Gospel of Mercy”


must be to deal with the present emer-gency phase by providingprogrammes which address the causesof migration and the changes itentails, including its effect on themakeup of societies and peoples. Thetragic stories of millions of men andwomen daily confront the internation-al community as a result of theoutbreak of unacceptable humanitari-an crises in different parts of theworld. Indifference and silence lead tocomplicity whenever we stand by aspeople are dying of suffocation, star-vation, violence and shipwreck.Whether large or small in scale, theseare always tragedies, even when a sin-gle human life is lost.

World InequalitiesMigrants are our brothers and sistersin search of a better life, far away frompoverty, hunger, exploitation and theunjust distribution of the planet’sresources which are meant to be equi-tably shared by all. Don’t we all want abetter, more decent and prosperouslife to share with our loved ones?The presence of migrants and

refugees seriously challenges the vari-ous societies which accept them.Those societies are faced with new sit-uations which could create serioushardship unless they are suitably moti-vated, managed and regulated. Howcan we ensure that integration willbecome mutual enrichment, open uppositive perspectives to communities,and prevent the danger of discrimina-tion, racism, extreme nationalism orxenophobia?‘Behold I stand at the door and

knock’ (Rev. 3.20)Biblical revelation urges us to wel-

come the stranger; it tells us that in sodoing, we open our doors to God, and

that in the faces of others we see theface of Christ himself. Many institu-tions, associations, movements andgroups, diocesan, national and inter-national organizations areexperiencing the wonder and joy ofthe feast of encounter, sharing andsolidarity. They have heard the voiceof Jesus Christ: “Behold, I stand at thedoor and knock” (Rev 3:20). Yet therecontinue to be debates about the con-ditions and limits to be set for thereception of migrants, not only on thelevel of national policies, but also insome parish communities whose tra-ditional tranquillity seems to bethreatened.

The answer of the Gospel is mercyFaced with these issues, how can theChurch fail to be inspired by theexample and words of Jesus Christ? In the first place, mercy is a gift of

God the Father who is revealed in the

Son. God’s mercy gives rise to joyfulgratitude for the hope which opens upbefore us in the mystery of ourredemption by Christ’s blood. Mercynourishes and strengthens solidaritytowards others as a necessaryresponse to God’s gracious love,“which has been poured into ourhearts through the Holy Spirit” (Rom5:5). Each of us is responsible for hisor her neighbour: we are our broth-ers’ and sisters’ keepers, whereverthey live. Concern for fostering goodrelationships with others and the abil-ity to overcome prejudice and fear areessential ingredients for promotingthe culture of encounter, in which weare not only prepared to give, but alsoto receive from others. Hospitality, infact, grows from both giving andreceiving.From this perspective, it is impor-

tant to view migrants not only on thebasis of their status as regular or irreg-ular, but above all as people whosedignity is to be protected and who are

Fleeing refugees

In search of dignity


capable of contributing to progressand the general welfare. This is espe-cially the case when they responsiblyassume their obligations towardsthose who receive them, gratefullyrespecting the material and spiritualheritage of the host country, obeyingits laws and helping with its needs.Migrations cannot be reduced merelyto their political and legislativeaspects, their economic implicationsand the concrete coexistence of vari-ous cultures in one territory. All thesecomplement the defence and promo-tion of the human person, the cultureof encounter, and the unity of peo-ples, where the Gospel of mercyinspires and encourages ways ofrenewing and transforming the wholeof humanity.The Church stands at the side of all

who work to defend each person’sright to live with dignity, first and fore-most by exercising the right not toemigrate and to contribute to thedevelopment of one’s countryof origin. This process shouldinclude, from the outset, theneed to assist the countries whichmigrants and refugees leave. This will demonstrate that soli-

darity, cooperation, internationalinterdependence and the equitabledistribution of the earth’s goods areessential for more decisive efforts,especially in areas where migrationmovements begin, to elimi-nate those imbalanceswhich lead people, individ-ually or collectively, to

abandon their own natural and cultur-al environment. In any case, it isnecessary to avert, if possible at theearliest stages, the flight of refugeesand departures as a result of poverty,violence and persecution.Public opinion also needs to be cor-

rectly formed, not least to preventunwarranted fears and speculationsdetrimental to migrants.

The temptation ofindifference in face ofsufferingNo one can claim to be indifferent inthe face of new forms of slaveryimposed by criminal organizationswhich buy and sell men, women and

children as forced labourers in con-struction, agriculture, fishing or inother markets. How many minors arestill forced to fight in militias as childsoldiers! How many people are vic-tims of organ trafficking, forcedbegging and sexual exploitation!Today’s refugees are fleeing fromthese aberrant crimes, and they appealto the Church and the human com-munity to ensure that, in theoutstretched hand of those whoreceive them, they can see the face ofthe Lord, “the Father of mercies andGod of all consolation” (2 Cor 1:3).Dear brothers and sisters, migrants

and refugees! At the heart of theGospel of mercy the encounter andacceptance by others are intertwinedwith the encounter and acceptance ofGod himself. Welcoming others meanswelcoming God in person! Do not letyourselves be robbed of the hope andjoy of life born of your experience ofGod’s mercy, as manifested in the peo-ple you meet on your journey! Ientrust you to the Virgin Mary, Motherof migrants and refugees, and to SaintJoseph, who experienced the bitter-ness of emigration to Egypt. To theirintercession I also commend thosewho invest so much energy, time andresources to the pastoral and socialcare of migrants.

To all I cordially impart myApostolic Blessing.

Unaccompanied Yazidi children

Mary, Joseph andJesus forced to

emigrate to Egypt

Philippines, Kuya Centre

Father Luc’s family


Jay is a little 12 year-old artist whoproudly shows his drawing: PopeFrancis and a dove with a green

twig in its beak and a writing thatsays, ‘Thanks for your visit to thePhilippines’. Jay, like many other chil-dren, has lived for several months on

the streets of Manila. His father was adrug addict, his death left Jay, whowas just five, and his eight brothersorphaned.

After five years, when his motheralso died, Jay ended up on the streetsof Tondo, the largest slum in Manilaborn around one of the largest open-air dumps in the world, the ‘SmokeyMountain’, where the cardboard andlaminate shacks are stacked againsteach other among towering piles oftrash. People here search for food orany object that can be reutilized fromthe garbage. Although drug use iswidespread in the slum, Jay hasalways managed to stay away from it.One day he met by chance one of hiselder brothers, and the two of themcontacted Father Luc, the executive-

director of the Kuya Centre for StreetChildren, a foundation that welcomes,accommodates, and rehabilitatesstreet kids.

Changing life styleFather Luc, a Canadian-born mission-ary, has been managing the KCSC inQuezon City, a suburb of Manila, since2011. The contrast between QuezonCity and Tondo could hardly be moreevident. Instead of the shacks suffo-cated by garbage, there are beautifulresidences and gardens in QuezonCity.The Kuya-Centre is outside the city

centre and here the former streetchildren can forget their past badexperiences and live a decent life.“Changing life style and learning to

A centre for street children. Building the future


By Marie Czernin - www.SouthWorld.net

respect rules is a great challenge forthese kids”, says Father Luc, “some ofthem, sometimes, leave the center toget back on the street. We do nothold anyone against his will. The chil-dren are free to choose whether tostay or to leave. But if they decide tostay, then, they are supposed torespect our rules. Getting back tonormal life is not easy”.

A real familyThe Kuya centre operators often goto the slums to look for children whoneed help. They explain to the chil-dren that they have some rightswhich are currently denied them,such as the right of attending school.Those children who show interest inrehabilitation are offered a programof reintegration into society whichimplies waking up in the morning at6 o’clock, shower, breakfast and thenlessons.The children attending the program

receive psychological and spiritualsupport. Good results are obtained byinviting the children to draw picturesand to participate in competitions ofpainting. Some of their drawings areeven sold. Jay is a very creative artist.Once he escaped from the center tomeet his sister, but his elder brotherbrought him back. “One has to bepatient, when dealing with street chil-dren. We have to be veryunderstanding and to do our best tomake their reintegration into societypossible”, says Liza, a social worker.Toto and Alma are husband and wifewho have decided to live in the Kuya

center for some time now. Their threedaughters are grown-up by now, andthe children of the center havebecome ‘their adopted children’. “Wefeel like a family here”, says Father Lucwho, in turn, considers himself as anelder brother to the children at thecentre. ‘Kuya’, after all, in Tagalo, thenational language of the Philippines,means ‘elder brother’.

A traveling schoolAfter he spent some time in Kuya-Centre, Jay was sent to an orphanageof the Erda association, founded byFather Pierre Tritz, who recently cele-brated his hundredth birthday andwho during his life has helped morethan 800,000 children. Father Tritzhas invented a sort of traveling school

for children in the slums. It consistsof a small bus that stops along theroads. Some teachers unload smalldesks and chairs from the bus, andinvite the children who become curi-ous and get close to the bus, to sit.The teachers have to speak into amicrophone because of the trafficnoise, but children really enjoy theirlessons. Jay, besides studying, candevelop his artistic inclinations at theErda association. Some months agohe won a prize for a poster. Jay hasnot forgotten Father Luc and hisfriends at the Kuya Centre. He goes tosee them from time to time, andshows them his drawings. He willnever forget Father Luc and the peo-ple of the KCSC, who saved him fromthe street.


Mailbag

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] • leeds@[email protected]

[email protected] - Editor • [email protected]

You Write

Dear Fr Downey & Comboni Missionaries,Thanks so much for your most generous donation for theEarthquake Relief work in Nepal.You have helped so many people. As of this mailing and

with your support we have built over 500 homes andsupported many schools, and there is still a lot more todo…your prayers and support have placed hope andlaughter and joy in the hearts of the people of Nepal.

Fr Joe Thaler M.M. Nepal.

Reverend Fathers,I am enclosing a cheque that was collected at the funeral ofmy late father Amoroso Salvatore. He died on October 31st,2015 and had requested that the collection after the funeralmass be sent to you.My father had contributed originally to the Verona

Fathers at Easingwold, Yorks going back to the 1940s and inhis later years to the Comboni Missionaries here in the UK.I would be very grateful if you could remember him in

your prayers and Masses.God bless you all.

Peter Salvatore, Yorkshire

Dear Fr.Many thanks for your lovely Christmas card and goodwishes.I enjoyed reading the winter magazine. There is so much

going on; the General Chapter was very interesting and Ienjoyed reading the article on Edel Quinn being myself aLegionary since 1968! And also having visited her grave inNairobi. Fr Denis Wilkinson too led an interesting lifethough he has now gone to his reward in heaven RIP. With every good wish,

Anne Marie, Cheltenham

Comboni Mission8 Clontarf RoadDUBLIN 3IRELAND

Comboni MissionBrownberrie LaneHorsforthLEEDSLS18 5HEENGLAND

Comboni Mission138 Carmyle AvenueGLASGOWG32 8DLSCOTLAND

General Council members: (l to r) Frs Martins (Portuguese),Bro Lamana (Spanish), Tesfaye (General - Ethiopian) Bustos(Mexican) Ciuciulla (Italian).

Fr Joe with teachers and children.

Dear Fr.I am writing to say thank you for the Holy Redeemer Folderyou sent to me for my husband.I assure you that I pray every day for the Comboni

missionaries and hope that you will have many vocations.I remain yours on Our Lord and his dearest mother.

Mrs. Giles. Surrey

Dear Fr.At this time of the year I am reminded that so many in theworld are living in fear and poverty. It makes me feel veryhumble. I thank God for all his blessings given to me and tomy family. I have enclosed a small donation to help towardsthe wonderful work carried out by your missionaries.God bless

Mrs. Strohacker


The Pope confesses

The Doors of Mercy Open Wide

Parishes all over Ireland and theUnited Kingdom, indeed,throughout the world, have

been flooded with pastoral literaturematerials concerning The Extraordi-nary Jubilee Year: A YEAR OF MERCY.All in preparation for the Season ofLent and thereafter.Mercy is a theme very close to the

heart of Pope Francis who knowswhat goes on in the world of peoplewho suffer. Mercy is about having aheart, a very big heart, for all espe-cially the weak, the broken,vulnerable and fragile. In truth, thePope with the smell of the sheep, hasbrought us back to the very truth-likeOur Lord, we have to love sinnersand hate sin.To open the door is to welcome.

With a smile on the face, a warmembrace, andan affectionatekiss, the visitorknows s/he ishome at last. Tobehold some-one who notonly has a listen-ing ear butknows how to lis-ten with theheart! Mercy isthe very force thatcan change ourlives and heal our

broken world. The opening of thedoor symbolizes Our Lord openingHis arms on the Cross with mercy foreveryone.The Door of Mercy has been

opened in every diocese worldwide,at a church of special significanceand at a shrine frequented by largegroups of people. Special “Days ofMercy” have been planned wherebyindividuals, families, parishes anddioceses go about in their differentways of how to celebrate the mercyof God in their lives. On some ofthese “Days of Mercy”, priests, Mis-sionaries of God’s Mercy, as PopeFrancis calls them, will celebrate theSacrament of Reconciliation, alldone in order to help us be “Merci-ful like the Father”.

By Fr John Clark mccj

A WOMAN OFMERCY FROM

BATHGATE

Louise Zanre Da Silva is aScottish lass from Bathgate,West Lothian. She is knownto lawyers and theGovernment ImmigrantOffice as a long standingdefender of Refugee andAsylum Seekers’ Rights. Withlegal professionalism,dedication, indomitabletenacity, endurable patienceand a spirit of solid,Christian faith typical of theScottish Catholic fromCentral Scotland, she hasdirected the Jesuit RefugeeService for the past fifteenyears. As such she hasacquired an invaluableknowledge and experienceof the refugee and asylumseekers’ situations and thecomplexities of the changinglegal stipulations. She hasalso been instrumental inthe advising and training ofreligious and lay volunteerswho join the ranks of theJesuit Refugee Service in theUK. Welcoming the Strangeris certainly an integral partof her witness to both theCorporal and SpiritualWorks of Mercy. Her humanmercy has been the down-to-earth mercy of God in theworld of so many crucifiedrefugees and asylum seekerscoming to these isles.

Through the kind support of our friends we have been able to forward financialassistance for the many people we work with in mission field. These very same

people convey their thanks and prayers of gratitude.

Brother/Doctor Hernan Romero Arias writes from Mapuordit Mission Hospital in South Sudan:

“Greetings from South Sudan where I work in the local hospital. The hospital is now in its 14th year beingfounded in 2002. At the moment there are 3 Comboni Brothers on the staff. The hospital now has 115 beds andduring the last year attended to 4,000 in-patients and 28,000 out-patients. A full range of treatment is offeredwith all the basic facilities, including a 24 hour emergency service. We are happy to say that slowly but

surely the hospital is being maintained by local trained staff. I thank you on behalf of all our staff and patientsfor your truly generous aid. God Bless you all!”

Contribution towards plan for Priests’ On-going Formation for the Apostolic Vicariate of Soddo (Wolaita, Ethiopia). £7,000

Contribution towards ‘Kuchinate Women’s Empowerment Project’ in Tel Aviv with the assistance of Sr. Azezet Kidane CMS, Project Consultant: “Aid to the most vulnerable asylum-seeking women”. £5,000

Contribution towards the construction of protective drainage and paving system against flooding around the building of the Comboni Pastoral Centre (Mixco, Guatemala). £5,000

Contribution towards project proposal for the training of 65 Diocesan Youth Leaders (representatives from each Parish) with specific training in Peace and Education (the Eparchy of Segheneity, Eritrea). £5,000

Contribution towards the restoration and repairs to the Community House of Helwan (Egypt). £7,000

Contribution towards the installation of a solar system in the Comboni Mission Animation Centre (Kampala, Uganda) £7,000

Contribution towards the purchase of medical equipment and books for Brother/Doctor Hernan Romero Arias mccj working in Mapuordit Mission Hospital in South Sudan. £5,000

HOW YOU HELPEDTHE MISSIONS – 2015

Operating in Mapuordit Hospital

Visit our websites:www.comboni.org.uk

www.combonimissionaries.co.ukwww.southworld.net

COMBONI MISSIONARIES

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T HE Q M FROM T HE C OMBONI ISSIONARIES OMBONI … · COMBONI MISSION THE QUARTERLY MAGAZINE FROM THE COMBONI MISSIONARIES Spring 2016 Jesus at the Door – the Unexpected …