Neueste Artikel

Comboni Missionaries

Veröffentlicht von Andreas

The last three days in Cairo we stayed with the Comboni Missionaries who have a large Center at Corde Jesu Church. We got a warm welcome and by sharing the meals with them we often had the chance for interesting talks and meetings. As Fr. Pauls mother had passed away just in October a crowd of people came to celebrate with him the 40th day after her death. Almost a whole day of celebrating a mass, talking and eating together.

There the Sudan Catholic Community has also its meetings. So its a mixture of nations, languages and cultures! Sudanese people have their very charismatic service and meetings. There where also some volunteers from Italy who worked with the Sudanese people. Egyptian people come for different workshops and their services. The House is right on Ramses Street very close to Nasser Metro Station, Ramses Train Station and Tahrir Square. Just around the corner there is the Supreme Court House where there was a large demonstration while we were there. Opposite of the church is the headquarters of the Journalists syndicate.

One evening Fr. Paul took me to the Latin Cathedral (roman-catholic) for the mass starting the „Year of Faith“. So I had a short meeting with Bishop Adel Zaki who is very much concerned about the future of Egypt with its mixed society. By his experience the moment the scope for the Christians is getting more and more limited. In his homily he supported the people to engage in all groups off the civil society for building up the new Egyptian political system. It was a pleasure to hear the young people singing enthusiastic in French and Arabic. The first time in my life I heard the „Hallelujah“ by Händel sung in French by an Arab choir!

Thank you Paul, Giovanni, Diego and the whole community!

Café en Caire

Veröffentlicht von Andreas

In Cairo you can find some nice old Café where you love to sit and talk and enjoy good coffee and pastry. Two of them we found open. The famous Café Riche and Groppi. As Sr. Wafaa had her birthday we invited her and had a good time together in the Groppi with its“ Art Nouveau“ interior.

Tahrir Square

Veröffentlicht von Andreas

Before Friday afternoon we several times crossed Tahrir Square remembering the time when Karim El-Gawhary reported about the „Arab Spring“ on Austrian TV. We again saw people gathering for next demonstrations as these were just the days when Mursi made himself the next „Pharao“. Concerned about the large gap brought into the Egyptian Society by the Muslim brothers we stayed in the guest rooms of the Comboni Fathers in Cordi Jesu. There we could watch the places we visited a few hours ago in TV by webcams.

Islamic Cairo

Veröffentlicht von Andreas

Two days before flying back to Austria, on a Thursday, we took the chance to visit the Islamic Cairo with the Al Azahr mosque and Khan Al Khaili. We went there by taxi and walked back. Both took us a long time through the total traffic jam mixed with all the portable sales booths along the whole way.

St. Simon and the Zabbaleen

Veröffentlicht von Andreas

Like at our first visit with Juliana in Cairo she again took us to the Mokattam area so also Maria and Gerhard could get this very special impression. El Mokattam is a mountain at the edge of Cairo with a special religious story. It is linked to St. Simon the Tanner whom a monastery behind the Manschiyyet Nasser neighbourhood, where the Zabbaleen (Garbage people) live, is dedicated.

The Manschiyyet Nasser village is mostly inhabited by coptic christians (Zabbaleen) who collect and sort the garbage of Cairo. Both the Sister of Mercy (Mother Theresa) and Sr. Emmanuelle (a Sister of Notre Dame de Sion) did here great work for the education and healthcare of the people. For example, she founded Gabal El Mokattam School, which is now run by the Daughters of Mary, and a clinic. This school and the clinic are important sources of education, health and values for these families.

After driving through the narrow roads of Manschiyyet Nasser you get to the Monstery of St. Simon the Tanner with huge churches cut into the rock. You also find special reliefs and figures by an polish artist along the rock.

Cairo Citadelle

Veröffentlicht von Andreas

After another day in Berba we again had to drive back to Cairo. Entering this large town we visited the Citadelle. Maria, Gerhard and Barbara walked through these most precious mosques of Cairo. I stayed with Juliana enjoying time in sharing our ideas and thougths about Egypts future. Then we continued to Moqatam, the housing area of the Zabbalin, the „garbage people“ and a large monastery.

Petrol lack

Veröffentlicht von Andreas

Since the revolution there is an remarkable lack of gas in Egypt. In Cairo it is easier to find gas but in Upper Egypt it really is a difficult and a long term project to get the gas you need. Between Cairo and Minia on a distance of 30km we maybe found 3 gas stations with gasoline but no with fuel of 90 or 92 octane.

There are at least three different explanations for this situation. Egypt does not have oil or a refinery. So till now always the products like gasoline or fuel had to be imported. Some say the since the revolution in Lybia Egypt doesn’t get gas anymore from Lybia. Lack of money? Lack of gas in Lybia? Who knows. Some say Egypt is to much supporting Gaza meaning Hamas. This support is not very appreciated by the liberal Egyptian people. And the last maybe best explanation means that there is no petrol lack at all, but a problem of distribution in Egypt. Its a question of money and black market! So as the rich are in Cairo and not in Upper Egypt, gas also stays there.

Several times we saw taxi drivers queuing up at a gas station. While waiting the empty their gas tank into barrels which they can sell at a much higher price. They get more money buy selling gas then by driving taxi. It is forbidden to fill gas into barrels at the station. But who cares? So all cars are allways carring at least one full barrel with them, just in case you don’t find gas.