Vocation Story. Companions on a journey
A few months ago, he celebrated 15 years of priestly life, ten of which he spent in the Central African Republic. Father Fernado Cortes Barbosa, a Mexican, shares his missionary experience with us. One afternoon, when I was just 21, I stood on the side of the road waiting for the bus that would take […]
A beacon of hope in southern Jordan.
The Christian hospital in Karak, through dialogue, service, and remembrance, is a daily testimony of interreligious dialogue and solidarity with those who suffer. In the heart of southern Jordan, in the town of Karak, stands a small hospital that, for over 80 years, has represented much more than a simple healthcare facility: it is a […]
Vocation Story. Deacon Mbithi: “I feel deep empathy and compassion for people”.
“My vocation began as a gentle stirring in my heart and blossomed into a living testament to grace, perseverance and divine providence. “Comboni deacon Nicholas Mbithi talks about his vocation journey. I am the youngest of eight children, with five brothers and three sisters. I was raised in a devout Catholic household firmly rooted in […]
On the Road. A golden eagle’s feather
By the shores of a blue lake lies a peaceful Indian village. At midday and in the evening, aromas drift from the tents, giving all, children and adults alike, a great appetite. But one summer evening, the atmosphere in the village suddenly changed. The council of wise men and elders met in the tent of […]
Herbs & Plants. Combretum collinum. A valuable medicinal plant.
It is commonly known as bush willow and belongs to the plant family Combretaceae. It is a small to medium-sized, semi-deciduous tree, growing to 18 m in height, with a rounded crown. Bark is light grey, creamy-brown, reddish-brown or brown-black, transversely cracked. Leaves opposite to alternate, simple, narrowly elliptic to broadly ovate, dark green above, […]
Vocation Story. Br. James: “To listen deeply”
“I feel called not only to ‘do’ missionary work, but also to ‘be’ a missionary presence: a brother to all, especially to those in need of hope and healing”. James Ukongo, a Comboni Brother, shares his journey of discernment to serve as a Comboni Missionary Brother. I was born in Yei, South Sudan, into a […]
Mission Diary. Fleeing the war
My name is Elena Balatti, and I am a Comboni Missionary. I serve as the director of Caritas in the Diocese of Malakal. Malakal is a city situated on the banks of the Nile, very close to the border. The regional governor has established a large refugee camp here. For the past two years, intense […]
Mission Diary. At one’s own pace
Brother Jesus Perez Tortojada shares with us his experience as a formator. “Helping young people take on values and strengthen their willpower.” I came to Costa Rica for the first time on July 22, 1982. I remember it well because that day marked the beginning of the Comboni presence in this country. We settled in […]
On the Road. Making Choices
Our life is full of choices. Some regular and daily, others extraordinary and that last a lifetime. Life is full of hard choices and the bigger they are and the more options they have, the harder they can be to make. Most of the time, our choices and our decisions are not made in a […]
Mali. The secret of the earth in the Bogolan fabric
Rediscovering the history of this fabric involves delving into a world of symbols. However, it also entails exploring much of Mali’s past and present, including the craftsmanship of Bambara women and men, contemporary art, and its impact on fashion. “Bogolan fabric is literally composed of the earth, forests, rivers, and sun of Mali.” This quote […]
