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MISSION IMMERSION EXPERIENCE

 “Crossing the Boundaries”, Cairo 2009.

Catherine White, mfic   

When I came to Egypt I was invited to explore the possibility of holding a “Communion in Mission” event.  

Egypt has a long history in our Institute and, of course, an even longer history in Franciscanism. We still marvel at the fact that during the Crusades Francis came to Damietta to extend a hand of friendship and peace to Sultan Malik-al-Kamil.  We know too that monasticism was born in the deserts of Egypt in the third century. 

  Egypt today remains a deeply spiritual place.  Monasteries still flourish in the deserts. Christians who are a small minority practice their faith in a committed way. The deep faith and commitment of Muslims is evident in the number of mosques seen in the cities and even in very isolated desert places.  The calls to prayer ring out throughout the day and into the night hours.  There is both harmony and tension between the two groups.

I planned to hold a short gathering with the theme “Crossing the Boundaries” to last 3-4 weeks.  Accommodation was available at St Clare’s convent at Heliopolis. The gathering was open to Sisters and to lay women connected to us in some way and who are interested in experiencing something of our charism.  Culturally, it was difficult to include men!

Participants would be invited to reflect on the barriers we create within ourselves and within our respective cultures and faith traditions.  They would be able to experience something of the Muslim world in a country that is 90% Muslim.  It would be also an opportunity to understand what it is like to be part of the minority Christian community and experience a taste too of the richness and difference of some of the other Christian traditions.

The experience was being planned to include background input on Islam and Christian traditions, an experience of life in Heliopolis for Muslim and Christian people, the opportunity to get to know men and women of different cultural and religious backgrounds, some experience of mission outreaches in that region and if possible a visit to a desert monastery.

Time would be given to personal and group reflection and some sharing was seen as an essential part of the experience.

While a mix of ages is enriching, participants needed the health and stamina for an intensive experience and the ability to walk and climb stairs without difficulty so as to participate in all the activities.  Participants would also need to able to manage the heat and the dusty conditions of Cairo and understand that only limited access to email and telephone would be available. 

It was my hope that participants would be engaged in an active ministry which would be enriched by participation in the experience.

            The final selection of participants from those who applied was finally made by those organizing the experience to ensure a mixture of ages, cultural backgrounds, and life experience.

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