Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Comboni
Cairo (Agenzia Fides) - This year the parish of Sakakini in Cairo has reason to celebrate: it is celebrating the centenary of its foundation (until the 1980s the parish was entrusted to the Society of African Missions) and the 25th anniversary of the foundation of the Arbaa wNus Center, dedicated to Saint Bakhita.
On the occasion of the feast of the South Sudanese Saint on February 7, the Apostolic Vicar of Alexandria, Bishop Claudio Lurati, presided over a Mass at the Arbaa wNus Center in the Nasr City district (Cairo), attended by many Sudanese and South Sudanese from the Sacred Heart Parish in Sakakini and from other parishes.
In Sudan, devotion to Saint Bakhita and the closeness of the Comboni missionaries to the Sudanese people are deeply rooted, who in recent weeks have witnessed the advance of the forces of the regular army in Khartoum, with news and videos showing several members of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) leaving the capital (see Fides, 6/2/2025). "With the arrival of the army in Bahri (North Khartoum)," the Comboni missionaries report, "we have news of the provincial house for the first time in more than 18 months, which fortunately seems to be in good condition. On the other hand, the clashes in the center (Souq Arabi, where the Comboni College is located) and in the south (Azhari and Soba) of Khartoum continue to be very fierce".
The missionaries add that in Kosti, south of Khartoum, the destruction of the nearby electricity plant has caused a power outage for two weeks, making life difficult in the town where the lack of running water has led to a rise in cholera cases. At the moment, both parties to the conflict seem unwilling to consider negotiations to end hostilities. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 24/2/2025)
