Feast of the Visitation

Today is the Feast of the Visitation - that's when Mary goes to visit Elizabeth (if you still don't have a clue). I presided at the Mass but I decided to keep it simple as the students have an exam this morning and asked if we could don't sing the entire Mass. And anyway I've been having this terrible diarrhea for the past 3 days - probably wouldn't last an entire hour for Mass either. I think I might have caught a "cold stomach". That's because the heat is terrible here (32 degrees) and the nights are pretty sweltering during the early part of the night but gets quite cold by 3am. And I now have this toothache (probably a side effect of the Norvasc I'm taking for my BP).

Cleaned my room today, got to the library to search for some material, did some things on the computer and it's now 6.30pm .... time flies.

Just a note on the Visitation - it's not just about two women meeting each other but two babies encountering each other: the Messiah and his harbinger. It's all about encounters, and carrying on from yesterday's blog reflection, our challenge today is encountering God, encountering others amidst so much distraction and superficiality.

More on Gaza

Read the following: all you guys out there especially you graduates and students, thank God you have an education. There are those in Gaza who have no opportunity to study even when they want to.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7427983.stm

Reflections

Yesterday evening's talk by Fr Renzo was very good for reflection - remember we had a Day of Recollection yesterday. He read from the Story of the Wedding in Cana. Then he offered some points taken from the point of view of Mary, whom we can imitate. I've added some of my own thoughts in it.

1. She was attentive and responsive. She responded to people, she interacted, she got involved - she was at a wedding. She did not live in her own exclusive world but she lived in community, with others. Are we open to others? interacting with others? or are we closed up in our own self-interest and indifference? Do we share their joys and sorrows?

2. She spoke for the voiceless. No one made a request but Mary took it upon herself to speak on their behalf. Who are those around us who have no voice? voiceless out of fear? out of indifference? out of oppression? Are we ready to speak on their behalf?

3. She was acutely aware of what was missing. She sought to fulfill this shortcoming. Are we aware of what is direly missing in our relationships? in society? in our spiritual life? or are we just "feel good" Christians. It takes honesty and humility to see what is lacking in our lives, our imperfections.

4. She brought joy. She was concern with the smooth running of the wedding so people do not get embarrassed or flustered or eventually angered. Do we seek joy for others? or only for ourselves?

5. She brought people to Christ and Christ to the people. Note that when Christ said "My time has not yet come", Mary's words to the servants "Do whatever he tells you" does not necessarily mean that she ignored or overrode his words. Rather it should be understood this way - "Do whatever Jesus tells you in due time, in his time, when he is ready". The servants therefore had to be very attentive and wait on Jesus' words when he was ready for action. She brought the servants to be attentive to Jesus and Jesus to be aware of the servants readiness to act. Are we preparing ourselves daily for Jesus' instructions? or is He waiting for us? Are we connecting or disconnecting with God?

Spend some time reflecting on some of these points - maybe God is trying to say something to you today.

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Yesterday we had Vespers with a difference - it was recited inside a classroom! Well actually we had a mini-conference on the prophet Jeremiah by Fr. Vincenzo Lopasso, a visiting professor. He sits opposite me during meals and it was he who first alerted me to high blood pressure when he heard of my symptoms. So anyway our superior decided we'd recite vespers in the classroom and then start the conference immediately. It was a very interesting talk on the problems regarding the text of the prophet - it exists in several different versions with many major changes in each.

I enjoyed the talk and vespers very much because that is how I see our academic community - always eager and humble to learn more. I saw last evening as a very good and authentic expression of our way of life here in this academic institute. And believe me, I am very grateful to be here .... it's an excellent place. I really felt pleased.

Today is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We have a day of Retreat today, preached by a visiting priest Fr Renzo. This morning's sermon was simple and good - I could understand him! Anyway one overpowering thought today - that the Sacred Heart of Jesus have mercy on the Christians in Gaza. Please pray for this today, wouldn't you?

Tutu condemns world silence over Gaza

Archbishop Desmond Tutu was in Gaza yesterday and today and this is what he had to say.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7425082.stm

Bartimaeus

Yesterday I was busy doing nothing. Well I was in the library. Tried to check out some things for my paper but was called to do some other thing. Ended up doing so many things, yet feel like not having done anything. Strange isn't it?

I finally met the Visitator General - or rather he met me. Right now our school is having it's General Visitation. That means a friar from somewhere is chosen by our Minister General in Rome to represent him, to come and meet with the professors and students of our school, to hear everyone's opinions etc... and then it'll culminate in a big meeting where a new school administraiton is nominated. Anyway the Visitator General asked to see me because he was interested in the developement of Biblical studies in China. We had a 50 minute talk.

Yesterday Khalil our cook boiled a herbal brew to cure my asthma. It was made up of lemon leaves, bay leaves, rosemary and many other herbs. It tasted delicious. He gave me a big bottle to bring to my room. It relieved abit of the painful chest that comes with asthma but apparently I must take this brew for a month or so, in order to get an effect.

Today's Gospel reading is about the healing of blind Bartimaeus. I guess sometimes we all feel like him - helpless and left out while everyone is standing upfront and getting the best view. But there was one thing he could do - he could shout. And he shouted louder and louder till he was heard by Jesus himself. So we too sometimes are relegated to the back, become a wallpaper, left out by everyone, others blocking our way ..... but instead of feeling sorry for ourselves, we should start helping ourselves get out of this situation. Shout - connect with Jesus: pray. Then the crowds will move aside and we become upfront as well.

Faith Tours group

Thanks to the Faith Tours group that offered Mass intentions: Eric Tee, Elaine Soh, Christine Fan, Annie Wong, Theresa Wong, Jennifer Foo, Joan & fmly, Simon Lim & fmly, Alphonsus Pang & fmly, Anthony Chang & fmly, Joseph Pang & fmly.

Remember that the Franciscan Custody depends on your generosity to upkeep the sanctuaries where Christ lived, died and was resurrected. Pope Paul VI and Pope Benedict XVI have stressed the responsibility of every Christian to support the Holyland through prayers and financial means.

But please do be reasonable: one Mass offering for 6 pages of 30 intentions! or figure this one out - $10 for 144 intentions.

Forgotten Christians in Gaza

Yesterday I had the chance to meet a Missionary of Charity Father (Mother Teresa's male branch of the congregation). He was in Gaza to visit the sisters working in there and was trapped inside when the check-points were closed indefinitely. He managed to come out when the checkpoint was opened for one hour yesterday and came back to Jerusalem. And he had terrifying stories to tell, some of which I had already heard from the sisters who work there. There are only the Missionaries of Charity and the Rosary Sisters who remain in Gaza together with the parish priest Fr Manoel.

The Christians live in fear inside Gaza; constantly tormented and hassled by extremists. There are only some 50 Catholic families and a few more Orthodox families, all united in order to survive. Their family members go missing, many kidnapped, tortured and even killed. But we hear nothing about this in the news. The Church secretary was one day told by a group of masked men to convert to Islam, he refused, so they dragged him outside the Church and chopped off his head. Fr Manoel brought the widow and her young children to meet the extremists and said "We forgive you". Even the sisters live in fear and never venture far out of their convents. Anyone who contacts the sisters for food or medicine are questioned by masked men in the streets, often dragged into alleys, beaten or killed. There is constant fear and death lurks at every corner in the street, every knock at the door .... if you are a Christian in Gaza. But the Christian world has almost forgotten about them.

You Christians who live in peace and prosperity, consider for one moment the aweful tragedy of your brothers and sisters in Gaza. Say a rosary for them, pray for them, gather into prayer groups and unite your supplications to the Divine Mercy to protect these poor Christians. Offer your Mass intentions for them. This is the least you can do as you go out to work and return home for a nice meal, and share the company of your family. Today a Christian will go out to work in Gaza, and not return home to see his family.

Check out these websites on the suffering Christians in Gaza
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1181813061916&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=56231

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1183053071382&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=64786

http://www.christiantoday.com/article/christians.in.gaza.need.your.help.says.barnabus.fund/10940.htm

http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20080115/FOREIGN/506016306/1001

Follow up

Thanks to the Faith Tours group from Singapore that offered their generosity in supporting our project. In fact right now I just met with another Faith Tour group down at the Flagellation Chapel.

The big news in Israel right now is the Bible burning incident. See the link below.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7413134.stm

Anyway just to follow up on my trip back from the hospital in Nazareth - I stayed back at the Annunciation Basilica (Nazareth of course) for the candle-light vigil (takes place every Saturday night from 8.30-9.30pm). It was impressive. Over a hundred locals and pilgrims joined in. The vigil is a procession beginning at the piazza between the Basilica and St Joseph's Church. The rosary is recited and the procession goes around to the road and into the lower Basilica courtyard, around the porticoes and into the lower basilica where the Gospel and homily is preached in front of the Grotto of the Annunciation. I was told the crowds usually are alot bigger, into a couple of hundred people. It was very impressive. If you're stopping by Nazareth, make sure you join in!

Meantime I'm the hebdom this week. Have to preside at mass and all the prayer hours. The other students have their exams now. And today is Jean Paul's and Marco's birthdays. Me? Still trying to get used to the new medicine - have been nauseus the whole day and lost my appetite.
Will restart my work as much as I can.

Thought for the day - regarding the Bible burning incident - we should learn to be more tolerant of others; if we react like what was reported, it only shows that we're afraid and not convinced of our own religion's truth to withstand outside opinions. It shows more weakness and cracks rather than strength of position. It is a loser's way of getting even. And you get very bad press.

Back home

Got back from Nazareth yesterday night (or rather this morning - after midnight). The Holy Family Hospital is pretty quick in its laboratory process. Several tests were taken of my blood and within 1 hour the results were out. I couldn't understand anything and the sister in charge just said "hhhmmmmm" and then the doc came later (very much later - there didn't seem to be a doctor anywhere. There's a big shortage here for doctors so if you want to pratice here as part of evangelisaiton and mission - this is it) and checked my documents and said "hhmmm". So we didn't get anywhere. Well one thing is sure, here they prescribe only beta blockers because this doc told me to get back on this medication. I said no way - but he insisted that it doesn't affect my asthma, it'll only make me cough. Hhhmmmm somehow docs here cannot see the relationship between excessive coughing/spasms of the trachea and the trigger of an asthma. No wonder we have a saying here "If you're sick, you'll die faster if you see a doctor".

Anyway all my checkup ended by lunch time yesterday. I spend the afternoon visiting a few churches in Nazareth such as the magnificent basilica of the adolescent Jesus in the Salesian school right at the very top of the Nazareth mountain. It was stupendous. Being Saturday the students had no classes but only extra-curricular activites. Beside the Basilica was a classroom where 4 boys were practicing the traditional arabic mandolin and drum. It was fantastic - not just a chance to hear really traditional arabic music but to see such young kids are keeping their traditions alive.

I also visited the Mensa Christi Church in the Old City of Nazareth. It's a small church with a huge stone right in the middle near the altar. A late tradition says when Jesus came back to Nazareth (to read the Scroll of Isaiah cf Luke 4), he also had a meal here on this stone with his disciples. Lower down the hill I visited the Synagogue Church runned by the Melchite Church. I also went up the Mt. of Precipice to have a great view of the Jezreel Valley, Mt. Tabor (Transfiguration mountain) and the whole of Nazareth.

Pilgrims!

Thanks to the pilgrims of the Millenium group (Hong Kong) that came to Lourdes and the Holyland. They were very generous to help raise funds for the special project that I asked them to consider. They came with Fr Philip Chan from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, some 34 people. I only had time to see them this morning when they came to the Flagellation Monastery for Mass. Then I led them in the Way of the Cross till we reached the Holy Sepulchre. Since it was the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, the solemn Mass was underway. The Millenium group had the rare chance of participating in the procession around the Tomb of Christ with the Blessed Sacrament carried by Bishop Fouard.

So here are the names of the Millenium group pilgrims who donated for a very worthy cause to enable two students to study here in the Holyland:
Mrs Teresa Chan & fmly, Lee Chung Siu King & fmly, Rosalina Lee, Lucy/Maria/Mary/Margaret/David Lee & fmly, Francis/Elizabeth Wan, Cecilia Ho, Wang Lee Ai Ming, Pamela Yeung, Helena Lo, Chan Man Kam, Yeung Kit Lan, Lee Chi Cheun/Chi Yung/Kit Lam, Chan Yuk Hin, Edith Yung, Alice Yeung, Lourdes Chan, Legion of Mary (HK), Charles/Catherine Ma, Wong On Mui, Mo Lam Kuen, Patrick Au, Rebecca Cheng, Lo Yuet Ho, Maria Goretti Lee.

God bless you all and please continue to spread the word around so that we can sponsor the young priest and nun to study the Bible and earn a Diploma here in Jerusalem. Thanks very much!

ps you'll not hear from me for the next 3 days as I'm going back to Nazareth and have a checkup at our Italian Hospital run by the St John of God fathers.

More Thanks

Thanks very much to Cecilia and Daniel Cavero, and Kyla Kwong for their help to the Kassis family. We will pray very hard for you all.

Thanks

Sincere thanks to Paulette, Paula, Yvonne and Irene for their offerings to help the Kassis family. Will remember you all in our prayers here in the Holyland.

Back again

Grateful thanks to Pascale Schrader-Litmaath, Tina Kwan, Marina Kwan and the St. Joseph's Ladies Guild for their generous help in raising funds for another very very important matter (not the Kassis family). We will remember you in our prayers here in the Holyland.

Long break from writing the blog. Was awefully sick with asthma provoked by the beta blocking BP medicine. Whole week was gasping for air, almost confined to bed all the time. Decided to stop the medicine and now got Norvasc which is not a beta blocker. After 3 days of this new medicine, the asthma has reduced considerably today but another side-effect has come up - vomitting and headache. Yesterday's headache was so severe I nearly fell several times because I couldn't balance. The cook brought up food for me in my room as I hadn't gone down for meals for 3 days. I first thought Norvasc wasn't working and the BP has gone up again (sure felt that way) but after measuring the BP for 3 days it's pretty ok I guess (higher than when taking the beta blockers) 140 / 88. So maybe its the weather. I hear there's a newspaper report that the weather (Hamsin winds) is making people sick generally throughout Israel.

And I was up to the throat with work the whole week. Imagine trying to write when you have a splitting headache - and I was chasing a dateline which was yesterday.

Well I did go out on Monday evening - was still feeling sick though. But William is going to leave Israel to study in Rome because he cannot get a visa to stay in Israel (he's Lebanese remember?). So I brought him to the chinese restaurent for dinner and we chatted for an hour. Then went home, but not before I stopped by a new supermarket in the Christian Quarter of the Old City. Now this is political - the supermarket is modern, like Welcome or Park N Shop with fresh bread/pastries and canned food etc... (they hardly exist here in my part of the world...I know you guys are so used to this you cannot imagine them not existing elsewhere.) it is so "modern" around my parts here that it's causing quite an excitement. Problem is - its runned by muslims .... right in the middle of the Christian Quarter. So while lots of Christians want to go in and see and buy the stuff (alot cheaper than the other little shops), everyone is scared what others will say. I fact I couldn't go in last week because I was in my habit and there were lots of Christians hanging near the supermarket to see who goes in and out. If I did go in, it would appear to be like an official sanction...and God knows what the consequences will be. So anyway on Monday night 9pm I went in to buy some apple-buns (which are alot cheaper than the 8th Station). The shop was really impressive - two storeys and exactly like a supermarket we have back home. Still I have to come back there only late in the night so as not to cause a scandal among the Christians.

One more news - Sr Irmina left us suddenly last week. I know that Sr Geronima has to leave in June for her final profession and new posting but Sr Irmina's leaving was very surprising. No one to replace her yet.

OK I need to rest for while now. Am still not 100% ok.

shrek!

In the past few days, a few of us were busy with digging up the archives of the Flagellation monastery in find out more about Fr Allegra. Remember he was the founder of the Studium Biblicum in Hong Kong and translated the Bible into chinese. He also taught here in Jerusalem (my school) several times. As part of the 100th anniversary of his birth celebrations, several of us here were asked to write articles about him (including me) and hence the big dig up. And we learned so many things about him through the letters, postcards, chronicles that were left behind here by Frs. Bagatti and Saller, former superiors who have since died.

So I'm busy writing an article about Fr Allegra. Got to finish it soon as the dateline is almost up - I think I'm the last one!

Yesterday I bought "shrek" (no not that cartoon monster) - some people pronounce it as "shrak". It's a large very thin round bread that can be rolled up. Very fragrant. I also bought a bottle of orange/ginger marmalade to go with it. It tasted fantastic .... have been very hungry lately as I've not been eating house food, meaning it's mainly a bread diet. The new medicine is pulling my BP really low - it's never higher than 120/64.

And today I bought half a kilo of "tut" (mulberries) to share with the guys sitting around me during meals. They liked it. Its nice to be able to share things with people around you - some appreciate it, some don't - but that's the package you get with community living. And I guess that's the deal you get in family life as well. You didn't get to choose who your brothers and sisters are; they're simply there with you. I think tomorrow's Solemnity of the Holy Trinity is a good reminder to us about what community is about - the Father, Son and Spirit sharing a bond so close they form one being (in the Creed we say "...one in being with the father"). That's the ideal all our human communities try to imitate and achieve. The reality may be pretty hard to stomach, but that should not deter us from struggling to reach the ideal - or worse to lose the ideal and become cynical. Imagine living a life without ideals and goals ........ floating on the river of life but never knowing when, where, what or why.

a little hope

This week has been quite extraordinary. The earthquake in China has hit everyone here even in Israel. Not only have the friars here shown concern and compassion; actually the first person to come up to me and asked if I had relatives affected in Sichuan was our cook Khalil. He spoke of his sadness. People living around my area has also shown such concern, the first question always if I had any friends or relatives affected by the earthquake. Then they would express their sorrow and shock at the terrible tragedy and offer prayers. Yesterday a friend from a Brasilian TV crew called to ask the same thing. It was very touching. She said "I want you to know that we feel very close to your people right now and we are praying for you all." This tragedy has shown me the hidden goodness of people here in this war torn country - they still find a place in their hearts to weep for others' sorrow while they suffer they own pains. There is something good in everyone - and from this, there is hope for our world.

Thanks

Thanks for the quick response to my (our) appeal for the Kassis family - Andrew Chau (Canada) and Agnes Leung.

Today's continuation of Jame's letter (1st reading) tells us that faith without good works is empty. I was pleasantly surprised by Pastor Kong Hee (City Harvest Church, Singapore) who preached that James was correct and Christians (protestants) should put good works and faith together. That is quite different from the traditional protestant theology of salvation by faith alone, not good works. Pastor Kong, young man and vibrant preacher, has solid theological studies - which is often lacking in many other tv evangelists. last week I heard him quoting St Thomas Aquinas. Now that is something! Our own catholics don't even know who Thomas Aquinas is!

So people, search your hearts and put your faith in action - do some good work and help.

help

Fr Vincenzo has returned to Cairo today. He has been in Italy for treatment of thrombosis and is hopefully getting better. Everyone here is still worried for him. He called me last week and said he thanks you all for your kind generosity which is helping the poor kids get a decent meal, and several children to study in school.

Now I know your generosity and how the earthquake in China is pulling at your heart-strings; but I have another appeal to make. This appeal comes also with the urging of several friars of authority here in Jerusalem for my help in this matter. It concerns a Catholic family that is in dire need. The family is well known to us and the father works very hard to support his family (7 persons in all), and believe me, we friars here all know how he slogs to bring the bread home. Because he's an honest hard-working man now in trouble, the friars each are trying to selvage what they have to contribute to help him. I'm also offering the little that I have. But I turn to you now for help. If you can spare a little to alleviate the situation, we friars here will be very grateful to you.

You can leave your offering with Katie at our office in Leighton Centre, room 1104 and make sure to write "Kassis family' on a note. I shall acknowledge your offering on this blog as usual, and we will remember you at Mass and in our prayers. Thanks.

Today's Mass reading is from the letter of St. James. In it he tells us to love the poor because God has chosen them to be rich in faith. Now is the chance for you to live this message.

Matthias the Apostle

The Hamsin winds (southern desert) are on us. Everyone feels disoriented and ill. It saps the energy off you. Everyone is listless and unable to concentrate or sleep at night. And of course with many heads of state here in Jerusalem for the 60th anniversary, we have helicopters flying overhead the whole night - and day as well. All this weather and logistical changes are throwing our routine upside down.

And talking about changes, I decided to change my medicine because my asthma was too bad. Changed to Normitan 25. Any advice on this brand? It sure lowered my BP - way down to 120/67. Everyone got worried and told me to take coffee and suger. There was no asthma attack this morning after I took it, but now I'm wheezing big time. I guess I must change the medicine again - maybe to another family of drugs that're not beta-blockers.

Today is the Feast of St Matthias the Apostle - and I bet many of you don't know who he is. Yes he's one of the twelve but no one ever mentions him!!!!! I told the lunch Bible Encounter group that just as Matthias was chosen to replace Judas, so we are called to a mission sometimes in the middle of our lives; a change of course and plans. Sometimes God does these things in our lives, and I wonder if we're prepared to take the challenge. So what do you have to lose? It's God calling anyway - time for change!

Central Perk

The earthquake in China is horrendous - coupled of course with last week's Myanmar cyclone disaster - it jolts humanity back to reality that despite all the high tech inventions, Mother Nature still commands the earth and we are in constant need of God's sustaining help. It reminds me of Pentecost Sunday's responsorial psalm (bet you can't remember it) which says "You [God] take back your Spirit and they turn to dust; you send forth your Spirit, and the world is renewed". Now more than ever need we pray for the Holy Spirit's help for the peoples of these two countries.

And to top that upset, I've been having diarrhea and stomach cramps for the past week. Finally found out today it's one of the side effects of the medicine I'm taking for the BP. Gotta change it soon.

Despite my exhaustion, I went out to the Dominican Ecole Biblique (Bible School) for dinner last night as Fr Thomas Chui (Mainland Chinese priest studying there) invited me for the umpteenth time. Couldn't push it off anymore so I went. It was the solemnity of the dedicaiton of the Dominican Basilica of St. Stephan (it's where they buried St. Stephan after he was stoned to death - see Acts of the Apostles). Solemn vespers was chanted in french - simply magnificent in the basilica. Then we had dinner. I had the chance to share the table with Fr Chui and his thesis director Fr Adrien Schenker - a world famous biblical scholar, and Fr Terence, a young Irish Dominican friar - brilliant young chap. We spent a lovely evening chatting and then I went home. But before that I invited them to our monastery for lunch today.

It was very nice that all three came for lunch today. Fr Schenker is very well respected here in our school and we were very honoured to have him with us. Lunch conversation flowed from french to italian to english to chinese. it was abit complicated to follow, but it worked out. We then showed our guests the terrace panorama of Jerusalem and our school. Then they left for the Dominican priory at 2pm.

I've read Fr Schenker's books, some connected with my own thesis, and was really honoured to have finally met him in person. Imagine my surprise when he saw me for the first time in the Basilica sacristy yesterday evening and said he had heard alot about me and knew that I was in Jerusalem and that he was happy to finally meet me in person. My BP must have shot way up! One of the "Central Perk" moments of my life. Was too excited to sleep last night!

No new canaries

The rest of the students returned from their Jordan excursion last evening. The house is full again. Massimo Luca, who went with the students to Jordan, came to tell me they were going out for dinner and if I wanted to join them. Well I was feeling exhausted and I don't want salt in my food (can't escape that when eating in restaurents) so I said no thanks. At the same time Jean Paul telephoned to ask me to join another group that's gathered in Pavel's room for munchies and chat. I went over and stayed for about 10 minutes before returning to my room. Its very nice to have these guys around.

But I couldn't finish my two pieces of work as originally planned. Just didn't feel up to it. Will start again today. Everyone else who's been in Jerusalem these two days can feel the oppressive weather - yellow dusty days (hamsiin winds from the southern desert that's hot) and cold nights. People are falling ill alot lately. And the psychological tension in our area isn't helping.

No new baby canaries today - everyone was guessing at breakfast how many new ones will hatch today.

We're back into the Ordinary Weeks of the liturgical calendar. That's when the priest wears green vestments. Hopefully you'll start reading up on the daily Mass readings or join our Bible study groups soon. There're no major liturgical celebrations to keep you on the high during the ordinary season, so joining a group for the next 30 weeks before Advent will be a good sustaining backup for you.

Happy Pentecost!

Am happy I managed to complete two pieces of work yesterday before I slept. Will try and do 2 more today. The weather has not been good - very cloudy and even drizzled yesterday morning. Lots of people are getting sick - again. I'm staying out of reach of the virus and locking myself in my room. Lots of vitamin C and other stuff. I don't want to be sick right now when my asthma is on an all time high and the BP is still not quite stable.

Must have been absolutely tired because when I closed my eyes at about 11pm last night, I woke up thinking it's the usual 2.30am but instead it was already 4am. Quickly bathed and changed and went off to the Holy Sepulchre. Celebrated Mass there for the Solemnity of Pentecost, as well as the Office of Readings and Lauds (Morning Prayer). I like it there early in the morning. There were groups but everyone was respectfully quiet. The Missionaries of Charity were there in full force - some on Mt. Calvary others in front of the Tomb. I went up to Mt. Calvary and the superior Sr. Capilla saw me and offered to bring me to hospital because I looked sick. I joked and said if I die here on Mt. Calvary, that would be the best death anyone can ask for. She got upset and kept saying "I'm not joking!" - so maybe next week I'll go to the Victoria Augusta Hospital with the sisters - I still need more tests to be done.

Fr O'Brien of Adelaide just stopped by so I broke off this blog for about .... 4 hrs. He speaks chinese and was chaplain to the chinese Catholic community there for a while. He had previously contacted me about coming to the Holyland for a visit 1 yr ago - now we finally meet in person. Interesting guy with a wide range of pastoral experience.

Oh ..... and Jughead our canary has hatched 2 chicks this morning. Everyone was very excited and came out to see the hatchlings. Jughead is a good mother - she already produced 3 chicks last month. The other hens are still a bit of a problem. The white hen laid 4 eggs and ate them all up. Another hen laid 3 eggs and threw the entire nest on the ground. The rest are sitting on their eggs but no hatchlings yet .... and they laid the eggs earlier than Jughead. Our superior is not optimistic with them.

OK spent too much time on other things already. Must get back to work. Yes it's Sunday and a feastday but I need to catch up with my work.

May the Holy Spirit give you courage to witness to your Catholic faith.

Pentecost tomorrow

I decided to go for the Way of the Cross yesterday. Large crowds from Europe joined in. But what struck me was the high profile presence of armed soldiers and police escorting the procession. Yes we all knew this are tense times in the land, and even though I've seen armed police escort our Way of the Cross, I never felt so tense the procession became until yesterday. Armed soldiers and police at the front and back of the procession, then almost the all the first 8 stations had soldiers standing guard.

It was precisely what I've been trying to avoid - getting tense. And it wasn't helping. So I went ahead of the procession and sat inside the 7th Station chapel to be alone and calm down. When the procesison passed on to the 8th and 9th stations, I took a shortcut to the Holy Sepulchre where the 10th - 14th stations are found. William found me and we stood together behind the Tomb of Christ for the rest of the procession. After that we chatted awhile. He's upset about the war in Beirut and fears he might not be able to go home for summer. Poor chap.

Anyway my BP shot up again today....long story. Am resting and did some work on the computer. Am going to Vespers now - Pentecost tomorrow.

Simple life

Have been flitting between studies, caring for the birds and doing some important stuff outside the house (documentation work for other people). Am trying to take things easy as my BP shot up again yesterday. Had a rough time the day before. Matteo (our italian student) is very nice and has been around for the past days to chat and just to make sure things are ok.

Anyway the new medicine is pretty ok except it's causing me to have a continuous asthma wheeze. I can't strain or walk far or do strenuous things as a result. And there's a tightness round the chest all the time. Will have to go back to the doc for another change of medicine. And no I can't say I'm back to normal as psychologically, emotionally and physically I am very stretched to the limit. So I'm just locking myself in my room most of the time to avoid unnecessary problems, and I don't answer phones or Skype anymore. I just want to be alone. Its good Matteo stops by once in a while to help me regain some normality.

This morning I went out to East Jerusalem to collect something left for me by a group, then walked 2 km uphill to Notre Dame institute to get some other things and also to meet with the Legionaries of Christ as I have some important matters to settle for 2 chinese clergy coming to study here next year. Then I took a long walk back to my monastery. Everything done slowly as I can't rush anymore.

Its Friday and the Muslim crowd is gathering in the Golden domed Mosque for prayers. I've been noticing the kids that play around the streets here and thought how simple their life is: with a stick or a rubber tyre they can play for hours. An old man carries a big box filled with small brown paper bags. Kids pay a shekel and choose a packet of surprise - usually some plastic toy that we once played way back 30 years and you can't find them on sale anymore in HK or S'pore. The kids get excited, exchange with each other, play ..... all wearing clothes that have been past down probably 5 or 6 times - torn, stained; noses running, fingernails dirty, but they are so happy laughing and playing. Another man pushes a cart selling boiled corn. School kids spend one shekel to buy this treat and sit along the streets eating it. I'm sure they want something better in life, but the reality is that this is what they have to live with, and they choose to enjoy it rather than curse it. Guys make a living selling kebab on carts, others make a living taking photos of tourists and selling them. Streets stinking of urine and spit; road corners stacked with rubbish, people walking over them, around them. I have - despite the many years that I've been here - suddenly found how different this world is from HK or S'pore - the struggle to survive, the joy in simple things, the grime of reality. And I am now a part of this world. And I love it.

little news

The 60th anniversary celebrations are well underway - with fireworks and laser shows on the western side of the Old City (Jaffa Gate) last night. It will continue for the next two days I think.

Thanks to Mary Leung, Helen Sou, Dominic Tam and Kath Malone for your kind offerings and Helen & May Yu, Johnny Siu, Irene Teoh and Letty Chabot for the Mass intentions. The Holyland sanctuaries depend on your generosity for its upkeep. Tell me if you don't find your names on my calendar.

marsala in Israell

Tonight Israel begins celebrating its 60th anniversary of the founding of the state. Tonight begins the memorial of those fallen in the war. As can be expected, security is extremely tight in and out of the Old City. I'll not go out to avoid the crush and also the security hassle.

Yesterday I was at Mother Teresa's sisters' convent. They cooked me a nice meal with no salt - white rice (which is getting more expensive here in Israel), beans and veg curry. Nice to eat some local (as in Asian) food again. I kept half the food for today's lunch. Sr Alphonse-Rose says she'll cook some marsala next week - yum! imagine eating marsala in Israel!!!

The weather has gone all strange. Nice hot sun but a very cold wind blowing. People are actually wearing winter jackets again in the streets. I've covered the canaries' cages with cloth to protect the hens and eggs from the cold.

Fr Gregor Geiger and Matteo came to visit just a minute ago so broke off writing this blog. Gregor was a visiting student back in 1993 when I was first here. Now he's professor of hebrew - he's very good at learning semitic languages. Matteo is from Assisi (where St francis came) and had just earned his Licentiate a couple month's back. He's also very talented in hebrew and Aramaic. He's got a bright future ahead. It was nice they came by and chatted - they had to stand as I don't have chairs in my room. Like I said, I like this community here at the Flagellaiton because some friars are very kind and thoughtful. I really appreciate them.

Pentecost is round the corner - made your novena to the Holy Spirit yet? I think the novena (meaning 9 days) originated from this period between Ascension Day and Pentecost (count how many days these are!). See what surprises the Holy Spirit will bring to your lives!

7th Sunday of Easter

The house is very quiet today. Most of the students have gone to the compulsory excursion to Jordan this morning. Now I can study in peace because the Sala Cafe opposite my room will be finally quiet.

The canaries have a total of 19 eggs being incubated by 6 hens. Everyone took some time out this week to come and have a look. They were pretty impressed by the success this year. Fr Dobromir, whose canaries they are, came and had a look yesterday afternoon. He's happy.

Early last week I went to see Dr Ben Daniel who is a middle age GP specialising in family medicine. He has his newly opened clinic at St Louis Hospital run by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition. He changed my medication to one tablet a day because the former one was making me suffocate - it caused spasms in my windpipe and I cannot breathe. And again the warning to avoid alcohol, smoking, salt etc... and I have to exercise one hour a day. Also I either have to maintain my weight or go on a diet because he's worried about my cholesterol - though it wasn't checked yet. Have to go and get it done this week. St Louis Hospital doesn't do these tests because it actually is now a hospice for terminal cases.

Ascension day is over and here in Jerusalem we're preparing for the liturgical celebrations of Pentecost. Today's reading from 1Peter says "he should thank God that he has been called one [i.e. a Christian]" in the context of suffering for one's faith. Well have we thanked God for that? We thank God for our food, our work, our family, health .... but I don't think we ever considered thanking God for calling us to be Christians. The jews everyday say a prayer thanking God for making them Jews and not Gentiles. Our vocation as Christians is a priceless gift and we should not only give thanks for our Catholic faith but also be proud of it. That's what the Holy Spirit in Pentecost did for the Apostles.

Sharings from friends

From F. Chua

Ode to Regis :
So 1 am glad, not that my friend has gone/
But that the earth he laughed
and lived upon was my earth too/
That 1 had closely known and loved him/
And that my love 1'd shown/
Tears over his departure?/
Nay, a smile/
That 1 had walked with him a little while.

From Daniel
"...to a lesser extent this [has] also effected all those people who knew Regis' tragedy and who tried in different ways to help. Finally the poor dog settled the whole problem by giving up his life and saying good bye to every body."

From Tiff
"If [Regis] has a soul, he will be very proud of what God has brought to you through him. He has accomplished his work."