New SMA Mission in Upper Egypt

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Our SMA mission in Egypt now has a new mission land, Upper Egypt. Indeed, on January 31, 2018, we celebrated the reception mass of the new mission in the Diocese of Sohag in Upper Egypt.

Mass was held at Christ the King Cathedral in Tahta. This mass was celebrated by His Excellency Monsignor Yossef Abu El-Kheir, the Bishop of the Diocese of Sohag. The Mass saw the participation of the Apostolic Nuncio, His Excellency Monsignor Bruno Musaro and his Secretary, and the Bishop of Assyut, His Excellency Monsignor Kyrilos William. In addition to the SMA Fathers from Cairo, Fathers Robbin and Amal, we had the honour of having with us Father Joy Andrews, the Superior of Indian District-in-Formation. It was a beautiful celebration with the participation of the priests of the Diocese, the Christians and the communities of the religious sisters of our respective parishes. We had the support of our OLA Sisters of Cairo, Assyut and Guirga. And also we had the Indian Sisters community of Maria Bambina who came from Cairo and Aswan.

It should be noted that the SMA mission arrived in the diocese of Sohag, precisely in Tahta, in the month of September. When we arrived, we were stayed in the old seminary of the diocese at Batrakhana in Tahta. We, Father Wilson and I, have spent almost four months before joining our mission home. This house is located at Christ the King Cathedral in Tahta. It is a two floors building, which has been renovated and made available to the SMA mission. We live there now, but we are still getting installed as it’s a new house.

With regard to pastoral care, we are fully involved. We collaborate and participate in the daily pastoral of the parish with our various priests. We also have specific responsibilities. Fr. Wilson, is in charge of the youth and the choir of the diocese in Christ the King Cathedral in Tahta. As for me, I am working in the parish of Our Lady of the Virgin in Khazendaria. There, the priest asked me to visit the families. In addition to that, I go to another small village, Aarab, on Friday afternoons for pastoral care with the children and I also go there on Sunday mornings for Mass with another priest.

With this mission in Upper Egypt, the SMA enters the family of the Catholic Coptic rite.