Ciney A week after a sixth training session was being set up near Alexandria (Egypt). The scenery was much more important because the participants were Egyptian, Sudanese, Syrian, Lebanese, Rwanda, Burundi, Zimbabwe, South Africa and came from seven provinces.
Participants arrived in Cairo or Alexandria directly. Since there is a little over three hours by bus to reach the place where the training was going on, those who have transited through Cairo have been housed in a large center (orphanage and home for the mentally handicapped) held by the Coptic Catholic Church. I was greeted at the airport by Ashraf, treasurer of the Northern Province Egypt, which took me to the center where I spent the night. The alarm was very early because it was the festival of Eid and the large nearby mosque had attracted many followers. But anyway, we had to leave early with delegates from Syria, Sudan and Burundi to reach Alexandria. I have had a glimpse of what this megalopolis Cairo: urbanization very important, a system of garbage collection very rudimentary that made me recall the action of Sister Emmanuelle, crossing the Nile, and .... in the distance, hidden in the haze and pollution, the three great pyramids! The road passes the boundary between the delta of the Nile and the desert is very flat, very green with lots of palm trees, and the population density is very important.
The training session took place in a beautiful old Jesuit and housing conditions (rooms, food, work rooms, chapel, chapel green ...) were excellent.
We could go one afternoon Alexandria, see the beautiful library, the port and the place where once stood the famous lighthouse.
The participants were very attentive and showed great joy and enthusiasm! The evenings were very busy with dance, songs and games.
The presence of Roy Moussalli was very popular and excellent response. He addressed the theme of ecumenism, which is very prominent in this part of the world, with its difficulties but also its wealth. We had during the session, thanks to the presence of six chaplains, Mass Syriac Orthodox and Catholic masses including a Coptic rite. 
If I had to pick one image from this session is that of mass mailing in which the gospel was read in Arabic, on the left of the altar and English on the right of the altar. I saw both times the words from the altar to join the meeting! Whatever the crop, the writings is the altar that Jesus sent everyone richer all that had lived in the formation, carrying the message of joy to his community, like the pilgrims of Emmaus parties in a hurry to reach their community after the breaking of bread.
Thank you all, it was a very good week, I discovered many new friends soon!
0 comments:
Post a Comment