The only surviving child of a family of poor farmers in Italy, Daniel Comboni was born in 1831. While attending a school founded by a priest, Daniel felt a draw to the priesthood, and further inspired by stories from missionary priests returning from Africa he was convinced of his vocation. Three years after being ordained he left with five other missionaries for Africa, with the blessing of his parents. After two years in Sudan he returned for a while due to health problems, but his zeal for the mission fields only burned brighter. He traveled across Europe raising funds, worked to suppress the slave trade, opened missionary institutes for religious and laity, and died of exhaustion in Sudan at the age of 50.
CHALLENGE
St. Daniel Comboni’s great love for the people of Africa caused him to never stop working to share the Gospel with them. The “Comboni family” is made up of over 3,000 priests and laity who share his love and sense of purpose. Today, contact the Comboni Missionaries; ask for the contact information of a random missionary, then send them a care package and letter of encouragement.
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