Daniel Comboni
Comboni Missionaries
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Comboni Missionaries in Egypt and Sudan – School in Time of War
Friday, January 26, 2024
It’s already nine months since war started in Sudan, and one of the sectors which has affected been most is education. All schools at all levels have been shut down. Prior to the war, the Comboni Secondary school for Boys was serving nearly 1000 students. All teachers and school workers have been asked to stay on a leave without pay, causing them to lose their only source of income. However, in agreement with some of them we disposed the school structures to carry out some courses for our students, so that some teachers may get some income.
The evening school is another good alternative. In the evening hours the school is open for informal courses; English language at all levels, Arabic for adult literacy, and recently computer courses. This is a great opportunity for teachers to get income, for parents to keep up the formation of their children, and for us missionaries to answer to the needs of people in this particular situation. We ask for prayers so that peace may come to Sudan, and people may resume their lives. (M.R., from Port Sudan)
Scouting of Renk Area and South Nuba Mountains
Over the time of Christmas, the Provincial Superior of Egypt-Sudan has been accompanied by the Provincial Superior of South Sudan to two visits to the dioceses of Malakal and El Obeid, upon the request of their respective bishops. These visits are within the frame of a large reflection on whether the province of Egypt-Sudan (possibly with the participation of South Sudan) may serve the Church in the Sudan in the coming years, in case the three communities of Khartoum may not be opened again soon. The bishop of Malakal asked the Combonis to visit the area of Renk, where the presence of a community could minister among the thousands of returnees from the North. The bishop of El Obeid, instead, has asked the Combonis to explore the southern area of Nuba Mountains, previously served by the many projects of late Mons. Makram Gassis.
The two provincial superiors carried out their visits and have now stated a wide reflection with their circumscriptions.
Christmas celebrations of the Eritrean community in Zamalek
The Eritrean refugee community in Cairo celebrated Christmas on the 6th of January with the vigil mass in the parish of St. Joseph Zamalek. The celebration started with the vigil prayer (wazema) and then followed by the Ge’ez midnight high mass. The political crisis of war in Sudan has affected the lives of thousands of Eritreans young people. As a result, the number of Eritrean refugees has increased in Cairo and Egypt. Many young people cross the desert from Sudan to Egypt. So, this year we had a big number of new comers from Sudan and we had a beautiful celebration. The church was overcrowded, with people inside and all around the surrounding compound. Approximately 2000 people participated in the mass. Two weeks later, on Saturday 20th of January, we celebrated the feast of Baptism of the Lord. The celebration started with the morning prayer (mahlet) and then followed by Ge’ez high mass. Again, the church was full and some attended the mass from the church compound. The celebration was concluded with the blessing of water for sprinkling all the participants as a renewal of baptism.