MC Workshop 1

Witness and Proclamation
Fr. Ruffino Ezama, MCCJ

“The First means of evangelization is the witness of an authentically Christian life.” Pope Paul VI. Fr. Schroeder uses this quote in his book to begin the section explaining Witness and Proclamation. While we have many example of witness and proclamation to uphold (Mother Teresa, Oscar Romero…) most of us witness in ordinary life… in our homes and workplaces. Fr. Ruffino will share a bit of his own story in mission and discuss with participants how we, as ordinary Catholics, can witness to the Good News of Christ and thus, be participants in mission everyday.

Fr Ruffino Ezama is a Ugandan Comboni missionary who was ordained a priest in 1994. In 1996 he served in the parish of Saint Francis of Assisi in the Archdiocese of Cotonou (in the Republic of Benin-a country which is about 24% Christian and over 60% belonging to the traditional religion Vodou). He worked in the pastoral activities of this large parish. In 2001 and 2002 Fr Ruffino worked in Lodonga Basilica Parish (a Parish of about 90% Muslims) in Arua Diocese (Uganda) as assistant pastor. He was the Provincial Vocation Promoter of the Comboni Missionaries in Uganda Province from 2004-2008. He is now a member of the North American Province and Director of Vocation Promotion from our Provincial house in Cincinnati (OH).