Jerusalem: Celebration for Feast of St Daniel Comboni

Source: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem

On Sunday, October 13, 2024, Mgr William Shomali, General Vicar, presided over a Mass at the Monastery of the Comboni Sisters in Jerusalem, in celebration of the feast of St Daniel Comboni, founder of the order. Concelebrating was Mgr Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, Mgr Carlos Marfa, several priests, and religious sisters from various orders, in the presence of the faithful.

In his homily, Mgr Shomali reflected on the spiritual strength and character of St Daniel Comboni, emphasizing how he boldly proclaimed the Christian faith with unwavering courage. He remarked that St Daniel's example inspires us to consider the vital role of the Church in spreading the message of Christ and sharing the good news with all of creation. Mgr Shomali urged the faithful to embody this mission, reminding them that every believer is called to be a messenger of hope and love in today's world.

Daniel Comboni was born in Limone sul Garda, Italy, on March 15, 1831. At 12, he joined the Institute founded by Don Nicola Mazza in Verona, which aimed to "collect and educate poor young people." It was here that he discovered his vocation and committed his life to missionary work in Central Africa. He was ordained a priest at 23 and first arrived in Sudan at 26.

When the Church considered abandoning its missions in Central Africa due to the high number of missionaries who had perished, Comboni proposed the concept of "Saving Africa through Africa," developing it into the "Plan for the Regeneration of Africa." He dedicated his life to this mission, founding the Comboni Missionaries and, in 1872, the Comboni Missionary Sisters. That same year, he was appointed bishop of a vast vicariate in Central Africa.

The Comboni Missionary Sisters first arrived in Jordan in 1939, serving in the hospitals of Amman and Al Karak. Ten years later, they expanded their mission to Lebanon and Syria, and in 1950, they arrived in Aden and Bahrain. However, due to political events, these communities in Syria, Lebanon, and South Yemen were closed.

In 2008, the sisters concluded their service at Amman Hospital to strengthen their presence at Al Karak Hospital, which serves a poorer, underserved area with many Bedouins and refugees.

In 1947, the sisters began their service in Jerusalem at the Mount Sinai dispensary and later in Nazareth. In 1967, they established a nursery school and conducted various activities for women in Bethany. In 1977, they arrived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, serving in schools and teaching Christian formation. Following the construction of the Separation Wall in Bethany, a new community was established in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) in 2011.

Their mission is:

A focus on marginalized communities and situations that have not yet encountered the Gospel's message.
Engaging in vibrant dialogue with diverse cultures and religions.
Providing personal and collective testimony to evangelical values.
Offering services that promote human development and progress.
Collaborating with local churches, with particular emphasis on leadership and the empowerment of women.
Dedicated to fostering justice and peace.
Promoting education that encourages openness.