By mudir 
Meschack Kambale Kasoro, Comboni Missionary
I am Meschack Kambale Kasoro, a Comboni scholastic from Congo (DRC). I joined the Institute of Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus in October 2015. Considering my formative path, I recognize a gradual evolution in four steps, and I am in the last step.
I started with the pre-postulancy in the eastern Congo, which consisted not only of preparation for philosophy but also of catechesis about self-knowledge, liturgy and about the Bible. There was also the introduction to the life of Saint Daniel Comboni and to the works of Comboni missionaries around the world. I experienced this step through prayer, apostolate, intellectual and human formation, spiritual encounters and community life. Weekdays were dedicated to activities related to the community wellbeing, while weekends were occasions for pastoral with children and apostolate at the physical disable center. Though I did this stage in my home diocese, it was for me the first step towards detachment from my family.
The second stage of my journey was the Postulancy and the philosophical studies and I did it in Kisangani, a city which is far from my Beni, my hometown but still in the DRC. It was an opportunity to experience interculturality in its richness and challenges. I learned to relativize my culture and to open myself up to those of my fellow postulants. On Sundays of the first two years, I was visiting prisoners praying with them and listening to them. Advised by my formators, I kept myself from promising them anything: but I was sharing with them accordingly in cooperation with my confreres. Through this apostolate, I was able to learn the local language, which I deepened when I was assigned to an outstation of our parish. On my way to the apostolate field, I used to ride my bicycle bearing in mind that our founder rode camels for long journeys and in harsh situations. I found my strength in the liturgical Celebrations and personal prayer, and in collaboration with my confreres.
After three years of the postulancy, I was admitted to the Novitiate for my personal experience with God. Therefore, I went to Benin, where I lived my formation in an international context, gradually opening up to the novices from other countries. It was a chance for me to deepen my Christian identity and to prepare myself for the Comboni identity. It was also a time of intense prayer as well as personal integration and reconciliation with my past. The change of the Novice Master was a challenge for me; I lost my balance but the acceptance of the reality made me regain control and move from fear to inner freedom. Far from clinging to my vocational desire, I surrendered to God’s will, for the initiative comes from Him. At the end of the first year, I was assigned, with two confreres, to Doguè, an outstation of Saint Peter and Paul – Manigri for pastoral experiences. We shared the life of our brethren in the village, and their care for us was a sign of the divine providence. We were given the responsibility to accompany them spiritually.
After two years of discernment and spiritual guidance, I requested my admission to the religious vows in the Institute of Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus. My application having been accepted, I took my first religious vows on May 8, 2021, and I was assigned to Lebanon for theological studies. I am grateful to God who guided my steps in this personal experience, for he transformed my challenges into opportunity for growth.
The fourth step is the Scholasticate, which I am pursuing as a consecrated person. In our Institute, this stage is meant for theological studies. However, before coming to Lebanon, it was important to learn English, for it is the official language of the Egypt-Sudan Province. For pastoral and social reasons, I also needed Arabic, which is the main language of the region where I am.
Therefore, after my novitiate, I went to Kenya to learn English, for half a year. I experienced this in an intercultural atmosphere both in the community and at The Language Center. Having been transferred from one center to another, I saw how the Lord was teaching me to be flexible in front of changes and to move out of my comfort zone. After the English program, I went to Egypt for Arabic with Islamic studies and interreligious dialogue. And in the pastoral dimension, I was going to a parish run by Comboni Missionaries dedicated to serving Sudanese refugees in Cairo, namely in Sakakini. I was committed to the English choir; I also tried to practice Arabic in interacting with those who do not speak English.
After the first year of Arabic, I came to Lebanon to study theology. I consider this moment as a pilgrimage in the deepening and understanding of the Catholic faith. Here, I am discovering the richness of the Catholic Church, which nonetheless remains one despite the diversity of rites. It is an opportunity to get rooted in the Latin tradition then to open myself to the oriental Churches, especially the Syriac and the byzantine traditions. I am also doing my pastoral work with the Bible study group at Saint Joseph church Monot Achrafiyeh: it is local community in Beirut for migrants, and it is run by the Jesuits.
Reflecting on the journey I have made so far, I see how gracious God has been to me, as I feel called to become a loving person according to heart of Jesus. Considering also the care our Congregation has put in my formation, I have come to believe that I carry a treasure for the Church’s mission. As a fragile pot, I rely on God’s grace take care of what has been sown in me.