Introduction
Daniel Comboni and his missionary effort in Africa cannot be understood without knowledge of the historical and Church contexts in which his evangelizing plan was born and matured. Daniele Comboni is a son of his time but at the same time a precursor of a new vision of missionary work in Africa where the “recipients” themselves become the promoters of the faith and their regeneration.
- To broaden the knowledge of the historical context of the missionary work of the Catholic Church in Africa during the 19th century
- Introduction to the birth of the Vicariate of Central Africa (1846)
- To better understand how Comboni entered into the missionary work of the Catholic Church in the second half of the nineteenth century.
Reading
Comboni and the historical and missionary reality in which he worked.
Daniele Comboni lived in a century in which the attention of the Catholic Church and its evangelizing mission turned to central Africa with great expectations, convinced that only Catholicism could bring civilization to these remote populations. Read: pp.72-96
Reflection
The birth of the mission in Central Africa (1846).
Reflections of a layman in the year of Comboni’s canonization. Read more
Reading
Gianpaolo Romanato, Africa and Mission in Comboni’s Time, Urbaniana Univ. RM, Nov 17, 2017
Symposium: “Regenerating Africa with Africa!
Why did Comboni choose Africa? What moved him to turn his attention to this vast continent and especially to the still unexplored area of Central Africa? What conception did Comboni have of Islam? Let us try to answer these questions. Read
Contemplation Time
Gianpaolo Romanato made an in-depth study on the figure of D. Comboni and from outside the Comboni missionary environment he painted an image of Comboni possibly very close to reality. After reading the articles mentioned above about Gianpaolo Romanato’s interview, what strikes you the most? What do you agree with? With what not? Continua
Write in your Journal
- Who is Daniele Comboni for me? How much of his understanding/vision of mission and missionary approach influences “my” way of understanding “mission”?
- Looking at Comboni and his missionary methodology especially as indicated in his Plan, what guiding elements / principles can be concretely applied in the missionary reality in which you find yourself operating at the present moment?