Listening to the Spirit

Listening to what the Spirit says in the communion of the Church is a sure criterion for fitting into the role designed for us as Comboni Missionaries. As part of the post-Conciliar renewal, the General Chapters of our Institutes had re-written the Rule of Life, returning to the charism of St. Comboni... In the discernment and programming of the Chapters, held every 6 years, priorities are chosen, commitments are reviewed, targets are set... All this flows down to the individual community in their mission setting.

A few preferential areas that reflect the Comboni history and we feel must never be forgotten:

* St. Comboni did everything he could to awaken Europe of his time to  its missionary duty. We feel it is our duty to  build bridges between the South and the North of our world.

* St. Comboni did not always succeed with many results. We might find ourselves in situations where witness is the only way we can be present. We can draw strength from the words of St. John Paul ll, "The Gospel is not a promise of easy successes. It does not promise a comfortable life. It makes demands. It is at the same time a Great Promise... of victory through faith for the person subject to many trials and setbacks" (Crossing the Threshold of Hope p.103).

* St. Comboni faced Islam. Inter-religious dialogue is necessary, certainly not easy but it never has been and it remains a priority for us wherever we are present.