Even though I have been living ecumenically since a long time as I have been working as an office secretary in the Egyptian Council Office and as a member of its women’s committee, but my study in the Ecumenical Institute and living three consecutive weeks with youth from different countries as well as diverse religious backgrounds and churches have made me live the real ecumenical life practically and not theoretically.
This is what pushed me to organize a mothers’ gathering in the churches that I serve, following my return to Lebanon. In this gathering, we discussed a number of issues and their possible solutions with respect to proper ecumenical education domestically. I see that a mother’s role as one of the most effective in the proper ecumenical formation. One of the most important points that have been discussed is the opening to one another without melting in each other. Thus, we are flowers with different colors and scents, but we all have one body which is Jesus Christ. Our differences are unique and do not represent antagonism.
Another experience I would like to talk about is the two following meetings: the Summer University and the Women Programs. We, as students of the Ecumenical Institute in Egypt, were working as one team and we organized and presented the results of our working groups. This was our first experience in working together in one ecumenical team.
The inauguration of the ecumenical formation group was held in Egypt, and I was honored to be a member of it. This group is specialized in teaching ecumenical formation and how to truly live ecumenically with youth.