North-East African Circumscriptions: Requalification process goes on

Dear confreres in the Circumscriptions of Eritrea, Ethiopia, Egypt-Sudan,
A greeting of peace from Addis Ababa from us, the members of the Commission for Reconfiguration. Our coming together gathers the joys and struggles of your missionary witness in war-torn countries, challenging situations, always at the service of the poorest.

Our first message to you is one of gratitude for the insights that the different secretariats and local communities have brought to the reflection. While the journey towards the laying down of a directory is still a long one and more work will be required, we are also grateful to the Spirit to see that there is a considerable consensus on certain ideas.

In a particular way, we notice there is a convergence of opinions on the priorities that our new circumscription will adopt, namely first evangelization, inter-religious dialogue, education, formation of Church personnel and youth, refugee ministry.

We see also a considerable consensus in the name proposed for our circumscription: “North-East Africa Region” (NEAR).

There are still some areas where our reflection needs to mature. Among them, we can mention the following:

The choice of a Circumscription See. The option seems to fall between Khartoum (for charismatic and historical value) and Addis Ababa (for logistic reasons). We feel that this reflection may still need more time.

The novitiate. While it is true that having a novitiate in our circumscription would bring more vitality to it, we also see that it would be more formative for our few candidates to share this formation stage with fellow novices from other circumscriptions of English speaking Africa, to foster a gradual integration in a wider Comboni community.

The role of the Regional Councillor. A careful reflection brings us to warn from thinking that he will be a “delegate” or a “small provincial”. According to the Rule of Life, the Regional Superior will be the Major Superior, carrying the responsibility and the authority proper to his office. Perhaps, the fact of having a Major Superior who is less accessible will finally encourage us to give to the Local Superior the prerogatives and the role of animator that are proper to him, according to the Rule of Life.

The election process. It is still early to say how the process will unfold, but we have taken note of the general consensus on the fact that the elections in the new Region will have to involve all, rather than considering the zones as compartmentalized different entities.

In the coming months and weeks, we will continue working on the material at our hands and deepening the reflection on mission, formation and economy, and ask of all communities to participate once again on further reflection on other topics, such as community life, the role of the regional council and the regional and zonal assemblies.

We thank the General Council for being with us in the person of Br. Alberto Lamana, and APDESAM in the person of Fr. John Baptist Opargiw. Their insights have enriched our gathering.

We entrust once again this process to your prayers, and to the intercession of St. Peter Claver, whose solemnity we celebrate today. May we always grow in our love for Christ and for the brothers and sisters we serve.

In faith,
The Commission for Reconfiguration

Addis Ababa, September 9, 2026