Missionários Combonianos

Could a missionary’s vision truly regenerate a continent? Here at the Missionários Combonianos in Maia, Portugal, that vision took root and flourished. The Missionários Combonianos, also known as the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus, arrived in Portugal on April 22, 1947. Father Giovanni Cotta established the first community in Viseu, marking the beginning of 70 years of missionary work in Portugal. The Missionários Combonianos’ presence extended to Maia in 1958 with the inauguration of Quinta dos Leões, which served as a seminary. This vibrant community quickly became known for its missionary outreach within the Diocese of Porto. The Maia house has played various roles throughout its history, serving as a minor seminary, a formation center, and now the headquarters of the Centro Vocacional Juvenil (CVJ). The CVJ coordinates youth vocational work for the Missionários Combonianos in Portugal, organizing events and fostering the growth of the JIM (Jovens em Missão) youth movement. The Missionários Combonianos in Maia focus on vocational ministry and missionary work, embodying the spirit of their founder, Daniele Comboni. They promote Comboni spirituality within the local diocese through animation and outreach. Their aim is to inspire and support vocations within the local church. The community also engages with adolescents and children, leading missionary activities, preparing for confirmations, and assisting in catechism and schools. The Missionários Combonianos in Maia are part of a larger history, one that stretches back to Comboni’s ambitious plan for the regeneration of Africa. In Portugal, that plan found fertile ground, blossoming into 70 years of dedicated service and a continuing commitment to spreading their message of faith and service. The community at Maia continues to embody this vision, nurturing vocations and engaging in missionary work, ensuring that the caravels of faith continue to sail.