Three days after Comboni’s death, which occurred in Khartoum on October 10, 1881, one of the missionaries wrote to the Cardinal in Rome responsible for all the missions: “Daniel Comboni was a father, pastor and friend of Africa”. Comboni was all of that but he was, above all, a tangible sign of the love of God for the poorest. Daniel Comboni was born in Limone sul Garda (Brescia, Italy) on March 15, 1831. He proposed a comprehensive plan for the evangelisation of Africa in which he saw the Africans as the agents of their own history (“Regenerating Africa with Africa” – 1864). Comboni belongs to that group of apostles who “went on African soil to take the cross of Christ” (Pope John Paul II, at the Synod of Bishops for Africa, 1994). He became the first bishop of Central Africa (1877-1881) and founded two missionary Institutes and three Colleges in Egypt for the “Regeneration of Africa.” Every year 10 October is marked as a memorable day for South Sudanese. Comboni shared with them the gift of Christian faith and helped the Church to grow on this soil. He loved these people and died for them. So, people happily celebrate the gift of Daniel Comboni to Africa and are proud of being church. Despite the violent crisis that has been badly affecting the country over the last 10 months, thousands of people will join Eucharistic celebrations, cultural dances, sport tournaments, marching and debates to mark Comboni Day across South Sudan. Many others will express their gratitude to Comboni through dramas, poems and songs. Also, the Comboni Missionaries in Juba will have a special programme where a talk on the 150 years of Comboni’s Plan for the Regeneration of Africa will be given. Christians are expected to gather in churches, under threes and even at the camps where thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs) are held under UNMISS protection. They will cry out in one voice: Saint Daniel Comboni, pray for Africa, pray for South Sudan. The Archbishop of Khartoum, Cardinal Gabriel Zubeir Wako, Comboni’s seventh direct successor in Sudan, said: “We are the sons and daughters of Daniel Comboni. Without him, today we wouldn’t have bishops, priests, deacons, brothers, sisters or Christians... We are his dream that has become a reality and we are committed to make it ever more a reality by working hard to serve the most neglected among our brothers and sisters...”. Saint Daniel Comboni was canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 5, 2003. His feast day is celebrated on 10 October. The church in Sudan and South Sudan holds it as a solemnity
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 19:19:46 +0000
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