Introduction The tools of Mission Animations are two: directory and a planning chart. The first institutes the principles and areas of work for Mission Animation in Egypt. It is permanent and revised every number of years. The second identifies the specific targets in a comprehensive and progressive plan for a given year and it is revised and adjourned yearly. I. Mission Statement The Comboni Missionaries of the Egyptian delegation ani mate the local church to respond to the Lord’s invitation to “go abroad” for the announcement of the Gospel. (LG 17; AG 28, 35, 36, 37, 38; EN 59; CV 78). This is promoted through a coherent lifestyle and initiatives inspired by documents inherited from our missionary tradition (W. 4138; RoL 17, 18, 72-74). In cooperation with the POM, the local Christian community, in network with missionary congregations and people of good will, we strive and pray to be a bridge among nations, cultures and religions here and abroad so that the compassion of the Good Shepherd may be extended to all “the sheep that do not belong to our fold” (Jn 10:16). II. Past and Present Challenges Every missionary journey of St. Daniel Comboni passed through Egypt, beginning with the first in September 1857. This country represented a place where people prepared to enter further into the heart of Africa or get ready to transfer to Europe. Egypt represented one of those countries “situated at the least possible distance from the interior of the continent, in stable and fairly civilized areas, in which both Europeans and Africans could live and work” (W. 1864). Peculiar of his initial missionary endeavor was the awareness of the need to seek partnership and fellowship with other people close to his missionary ideals (W. 1247). In spite of the fact that Comboni established a permanent presence in Egypt, the reputation of being just a gateway to Africa by way of the Nile valley and not a missionary place in its own right continues throughout the history of the Comboni Missionaries. In fact, Egypt has been the greatest support to the development of the Sudanese mission with finances and logistics but not as much a mission in its own right. Similarly, MA and missionary vocations have found limited appreciation. In spite of its exposition and broad contact with nations around the world Egypt seems to remain local and hurdles its core identity with impermeability. For a variety of reasons, but mostly due to the rigid boundaries that enclose the local catholic community, the missionary spirit has found resistance and disinterest. Some of the missionary figures who represented inspira tion for MA in this land are: Mons. Roveggio, Fr. Minoli, Fr. Giacomelli, Fr. Andriollo, Fr. Adamini, Fr. Michelotto, Br. Sergi, Br. Cremona, P. Figini, Fr. Escolà-Grau, Fr. Calvia, Fr. Sina, Fr. Picotti. Worth mentioning is the impact of the Jesuit priests Fr. Ayrut and Fr. Boulad on the opening of the local church to mission awareness. Their enthusiasm and the capacity to communicate with the people at their own level has permitted a missionary renewal and demonstrated that we can grow through our own challenges. Some of the present challenges for the work of MA are: to actively contribute to the local diocesan missionary institutions particularly the POM, to overcome a ghetto mentality within and without our boundaries, promoting laity for the advancement of our mission, the enhancement of a lifestyle that makes religious life appealing and yet challenging to the present context, partnership with Comboni Sisters and Lay Comboni Missionaries wherever present on the territory, network with other provinces wherever possible, to ameliorate the structures specifically dedicated to MA, the capacity to move MA from an effort fragmented by emergency to an organized and sustained long ranged plan, to contribute to ecumenical and interreligious dialogue. III. Fields of Operation Mission Animation shares the very nature of evangelization; therefore it is outwardly projected from the internal spirit of MA. These two parts of an undivided identity are traditionally designated as missio ad intra and ad extra. The inward aim embraces the principle that while MA is an assignment given to an individual member, the real agent is the community as a whole. Each member of the Comboni Missionaries, regardless of his age and function, is a mission animator. This requires an on-going formation of self-awareness that goes beyond a compartmentalized outlook. Some of the ways in which the communities operate as means of MA are: prayer and liturgy aware of missionary intentions and liturgical symbols, including MA within the community charters, hospitality to the people surrounding and visiting our communities, use of the local language, assistance to confreres visiting the delegation (to study the language and in sabbatical), promotion of studies of the Comboni heritage in Egypt. The outward orientation of MA incorporates the following areas: cooperation and coordination with POM and diocesan organization of missionary relevance; fraternal contact with the local and diocesan priests and religious; contact with families of local missionaries; network with focus groups or movements in the fields of ecumenism, Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation; animation of schools; youth activities aimed at missionary formation and vocation discernment; to make some of our ministry sites as ministering location for those invited to “come and see”; comprehensive use of Media (internet, publications and courses); promotion of value-oriented tourism. IV. Means and Method The landscape in which MA is called to intervene is much larger than what is our capacity. Numerically and age-wise we must acknowledge our limitations in order to avoid unrealistic goals and overworked personnel. Lack of a careful and proportionate planning has caused a scattered and individualized approach to the ministry. Therefore, the challenge of working in network, of empowering local personnel and prioritizing our goals represent the line of engagement for the coming years. The following are the means and method of a process moving in that direction: the personal qualities of those assigned to MA (W. 1785); our confreres in the delegation should be regularly informed and invited to the initiatives of MA; to acknowledge the spiritual communion and wisdom of elderly confreres; local leaders are to be formed and empowered both as volunteers as well as sustained with a feasible and fair compensation; Cordi Jesus should be a stable and equipped facility for MA; formation should integrate essential elements of local culture and religiosity; initiatives should take place sensible to their diocesan context; the department of MA should be able to raise funds to specific projects and manage accurately its expenses; regular meetings should take place to plan activities and evaluate them. V. Subdivision of Work The Comboni Personnel assigned to MA is composed of a full time individual and at least two part-time associates. To the first is assigned the chairmanship of the Department, to the other two the roles of secretary and bursar. If more personnel is appointed, further subdivision will be devised. The Chairman: prepares and makes arrangements for the Annual Meeting of the Department (August or September) maintains regular contact with diocesan (POM, Bishops and local priests) and lay “missionary” organizations supervises the annual event of the Sacred Heart celebration, feasts of St. Daniel Comboni and World Mission Sunday visits the communities to integrate the aims of MA animates the mission activities in our schools keeps the contact with the MA activities of the Comboni Sisters and Laity as well as the Delegation council and the other departments of the delegation Secretary: keeps the documentation and notes of MA activities and meetings in a library and specific archives supervises and secures the regular production of Mass Media sends to the General Archives three copies of any published work or mass-media produced envoys MA documents to partners in network Bursar: prepares the budget and upkeeps the income and expenses of the different activities promotes and supervises fund raising activities Conclusion The challenges of MA are to be interpreted with the aim of the 2009 Chapter of the Comboni Missionaries, namely the re-foundation, requalification and the reprogramming of the Institute. Our willingness to re-think ourselves from outside what we are familiar, to re-interpret the foundations of our charism and tradition from the needs of our local reality and to implement them with courage and faith will be the synopsis of our achievements or failures. Humbled by such conviction, we entrust our efforts to the intercession of St. Daniel Comboni so that the Spirit may come “like a violent, rushing wind” that fills the whole house of our Delegation (RM 26). Abbreviations AG Ad Gentes CV Caritas in Veritate EN Evangeli Nuntiandi LG Lumen Gentium MA Mission Animation POM Pontificie Opere Missionarie RM Redemptoris Missio RoL Rule of Life Writings of St. Daniel Comboni