Egypt-Sudan provincial assembly

As we were coming together, we had in mind the many challenges we have to face. The most urgent of our challenges is to re-define our identity after our merging as a new Province, a common vision and a roadmap. Challenges from outside included the delicate situation of Egypt with its rapid changes, after the fall of Mubarak, the rise and fall of the Muslim Brothers and the election of former Army-Chief Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi as Egypt’s new president. In Sudan, there is a growing fear about obtaining the VISA to enter the country, as the North tries to strengthen its Islamic Identity.

The first day was dedicated to the analysis of the social and political situation of Egypt today. To stimulate and orient us in this exercise, Fr. Mariano presented the method of the ‘Pastoral Cycle’. Four groups were formed to reflect on the Egyptian situation and to report to the Assembly what was discussed. It was generally noted that the outcry for democracy, predominantly motivated by the young people, had brought a new sense of awareness and openness in society and in the Church. Many promises and objectives of the revolution, however, still remained unheeded and prolonged the divisions in society.

The second day was a ‘day of prayer’. The reflection groups were called upon to re-read the situation with the eyes of faith. Focusing on the witness and mission of the Church, each group tried to come up with a Scripture passage with which we Comboni Missionaries may be identified. The predominant Scripture message, shared by all the groups, was that of Jesus being always at the service of the people. But this service was not a mere instrument of solving other people’s problems; it was a result of the compassion that Jesus had towards the needy: “they were like sheep without a Shepherd”. In the afternoon, Fr. Mariano presented the topic of the mission as understood in the Institute’s General Chapters from 1969 to 2009. Fr. Godfrey Onesmas Otieno also shared about the contents of the workshop on the 150 years of Comboni’s Plan in Rome.
The third and final day was reserved for the practical steps we, the members of the Province, were taking in order to guarantee continuity of our service in Egypt-Sudan. Confreres encouraged each other on the need of a continued effort in the fields of Pastoral activities, Education and Interreligious Dialogue. Though this point came up towards the end of the meeting, the need to open a new community in the Middle East seemed crucial and important as manifested by the heated debate about its actualization.

The active participation of confreres, the serene and joyful mood during the Assembly, were all signs of enthusiasm that each confrere tried to re-affirm, despite the many troubles we have to face in this tormented part of the World.

May St. Daniel Comboni, whose heart beat so much for the people of this land, continue to inspire us all, especially all of us who are actually into physical touch with the ‘Lands of Comboni’.
Fr. Zimba Brighton Multiply