The Comboni Missionaries in Uganda are adopting a social approach to their missionary work. They perceive actions for justice and the conservation of the natural world as an inherent aspect of spreading the gospel and participating in Jesus Christ’s mission to “redeem and liberate the human race from all sorts of oppressive situations.” One such situation is the current socio-economic and ecological crisis that is affecting life globally, leading to poverty, the destruction of the natural world, reduced biodiversity, and climate change.
In order to combat poverty on both local and global scales, restore dignity to those who have been excluded, and respond to the cries of a suffering Mother Earth by conserving and restoring nature, an integrated approach is required. This concept is referred to as “integral ecology” in Pope Francis’ encyclical letter LAUDATO SI (LS, 139, 2015). In response to Pope Francis’ call to care for our common home, the Comboni Missionaries in Uganda have established the Laudato Si Center. The center was launched at Our Lady of Africa – Mbuya Parish on May 1st, 2023, in collaboration with the Catholic Workers Movement of Mbuya Parish.
What is Laudato Si Centre – Comboni Uganda Limited?
The Laudato Si Centre, established by the Comboni Missionaries in Uganda in January 2023, was inspired by Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical letter Laudato Si, which calls for ecological conversion. The center was created to coordinate the activities of Comboni Action for Environment and Human promotion, providing a forum that intertwines evangelization with social apostolate. The goal is to provide innovative solutions to ecological challenges in Uganda.
The center was also established in response to the invitation of the nineteenth (XIX) general chapter of the Comboni Missionaries to “Develop and facilitate accompanying paths to encourage conversion to integral ecology in our spirituality and formation…” (CA: 30.2). Inspired by the Pope’s encyclicals and the Comboni family’s charism, we aim to address environmental, human, and social degradation as a way of caring for the most vulnerable in our society and our common home.
Why was the center launched in Our Lady of Africa – Mbuya Parish?
The launch of the Laudato Si Center at Mbuya Parish was necessitated by four key factors. First, Mbuya is the administrative center of the Comboni Missionaries in Uganda. Second, Our Lady of Africa parish offered a collaborative platform and a conducive environment by providing free office space and personnel. Third, the Catholic Workers Movement of Mbuya Parish provided another forum for collaboration and nurturing of the nascent Laudato Si Center. Lastly, other collaborators such as the Christian Youth Missionary Group of Kinawataka have embraced Pope Francis’ message on integral ecology and integrated environmental protection into their action plans.
