Ethiopia: Comboni Missionaries observe annual assembly

The Provincial Assembly is also attended by two special guests: Bro Alberto Lamana, the General Councillor who accompanies the English-speaking provinces and Mozambique, and Fr Franck Mandozi, from the Kosti community in the Sudan, representing the Egypt-Sudan Comboni Province.

Bishop Merhakristos Gabezayehu, of the Hawassa Vicariate, and Sr Weynshet Tadesse, the councilor who represents the Comboni Missionary Sisters in Ethiopia, will also address the assembly. The local ordinary will preside over the Thursday’s Eucharist concluding the day’s works.

The event kickstarted with a morning dedicated to ongoing formation. Bro Lamana presented a comprehensive reflection about the missionary community in the digital age and the challenge of techno-capitalism. “Internet is everywhere and it is part of our daily life. It has a negative impact on community life and on the quality of mission we do”, he explained. His talk was followed by group work about how missionaries use the internet, if digital mission is possible, what ate the opportunities and risks it poses and good practices of a digital mission. After the plenary, Bro Lamana presented another talk about how the internet works and to use it safely.

In the afternoon, Fr Asfaha Yohannes, provincial superior, presented his state of the province report, drawing an optimistic vison of the circumscription. It is growing in terms of local vocations and with new missionaries sent by the General Council. The province in terms of personnel is quite young and international. He said the provincial assembly “was a great opportunity to listen to the Holy Spirit and to one another”. The day’s works concluded with the Eucharist, presided by Fr Mynor Chávez, one of the new comers.

For the next two days, the participants will evaluate the implementation of the Six-year Plan 2023-2028 mid-way its term. Each community studied the leading document of the life of the province and then the reflections were shared and summarized by three zones.

On Friday, the last morning of the Provincial Assembly, the participants will discuss the proposal to merge the Comboni Province of Ethiopia with the circumscription of Egypt-Sudan and Eritrea.

The Provincial Superior will preside over the concluding mass during which two brothers, Meheretu Tundo and Marius Atakpa, and two scholastics, Biruk Girma and Asmare Gawo, will renew their temporary vows.

Father José Vieira, MCCJ