Comboni is “catholic” and Cross-Cultural

We Comboni Missionaries have no doubts regarding our cross-cultural option, since we were born international. St. Daniel Comboni selected a very wide field, traveling freely all over Europe finding missionaries to join him. Internationality for St. Comboni was one of the concrete needs of the mission ~ the urgency he felt to mobilise the whole Catholic world in favour of Africa, who he saw as the poorest and most neglected of peoples. This was born of a double contemplation, in his words, "of the love kindled by the divine flame... that came from the side of the Crucified to embrace the whole human family" and, " of the infinite myriad of peoples belonging to the same family, having a common Father in heaven, bowed down under the yoke of sin and injustice".

St. Comboni read the signs of the times in a way that differed significantly from the political outlook then in vogue, marked by growing nationalism in Europe. It differed also from the attitude of the Church at the time, which was turned mainly towards internal problems. St. Comboni made the utmost effort to bring the Church to realise that its crown was missing the "black pearl of Africa" as he called it, with its culture and people.

The perspective of Faith also marked his relationship with his collaborators, priests and laity, men and women who were called to share the responsibility of the mission with him. Differentiated by age, social status, level of education and nationality, they seemed at first sight to be a random grouping ~ a motley crew rather than a missionary family!

The Comboni Missionaries may have maintained the first impression of a motley crew, but we have definitely retained the unity formed on the basis of passion for the mission of the Church. Opting for international communities means accepting the challenge of cross-culture. It has become an essential characteristic on the path of concretely living our missionary vocation.