Happy Easter

The group left last night and exhausted is an understatement for what I'm feeling right now. It was a great trip though; we participated in the Holy Week services here in Jerusalem at the spot where we traditionally commemorate the last week of Christ's life on earth. We walked the road of Palm Sunday, prayed at the Last Supper Room, Spent Good Friday on Mt. Calvary and the Tomb and celebrated the first Mass of Easter morning at the Holy Sepulchre at 1am!

And we also spent 2 nights praying in the Holy Sepulchre and in the Garden of Gethsemani. The group joined in the liturgy with the local church here, with our Patriarch, bishops and Custos of the Holyland. The friars were very nice and always tried to give the group the best seats possible. In fact for the Mass of the last Supper, 3 of the guys were chosen to offer the gifts to the Patriarch - what an honour!

Me? I lost my voice, got bronchitis and my left ankle as usual swelled up. Twisted it 4 times during the trip. Now its all bandaged up.

But it was an unusual Holy Week for the group and me as the liturgy was at times very different from the rest of the world's. There was also another Singaporean grp there. Good mix of people from around the world. And Jerusalem is packed - even more than the year 2000! My superior was very nice and closed off the Flagellation Chapel on Good Friday morning so our group could celebrate the veneration of the Cross without disturbance; then from there we started the Way of the Cross. Fantastic!

So Christ is risen! Alleluia! How does this reminder of new life affect you?