Christmas generosity

One would have thought after living here for so many years, I would not be shocked by anything in the Old City. But shocked I was when I visited some of the "houses" (really apartments) in the Old City. Small cubicles where a family is crammed - one room that serves as bedroom, dining room, kitchen... everything, a small toilet in a corner, walls cracked and leaking, roofs leaking, damp and fungus growing on the walls. It's like the walled city of Kowloon City minus the cages. So that's how some families are living in here. Appalling. There's so much need to repair these cubicles - about 92 of them at the moment so that some appearance of normalcy is in place.

The Franciscan Sisters in charge of Caritas Baby Hospital just (literally 35 seconds ago) called to say thank you for your help. They received your donations and it will go a long way to keep the babies healthy and warm.

The Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa) in Nablus (biblical Shechem) and Gaza also wrote to say thanks for your kind donations. Right now I'm buying toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap for them to distribute as basic hygiene is a major problem in those poor places. Because of lack of hygiene, the kids get sick and need the doctor and they can't pay for it, so the vicious cycle continues. By providing basic hygiene, we hope to break this cycle. The warm packs are coming very handy for all of them who have no heating this cold winter. What we now need is water purification pills. if we can't get them, then I'll resort to using ketapang leaves for them.

The Sisters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul (orphanage in Bethpage) also thank you all - especially the St Vincent de Paul society of St Andrew's parish - for your support to helping the 28 orphans have proper schooling, food and clothes.

And of course Fr Vincenzo thanks you all for helping the poor families in Musky (Cairo). Right now with your help, you're sponsoring 6 children for food and schooling. We hope to sponsor more children in the coming months. By providing food and education, they can better their lives and future, thus breaking away from the cycle of poverty that has gripped their families for generations. Christmas is coming and Fr Vincenzo and his community will do a big cookout with meat to feed these children in our parish hall.

And finally Mr Kassis thanks you all for your generous help to his family. He is still in need of help though, so if you're thinking of doing something meaningful this Christmas, spare a thought for these poor families and send your donations in.

And we all here in the Holyland especially your beneficiaries will pray for you and your family, that God will reward your generosity with His blessings for the new year. I will go to Bethlehem on Dec 24th to celebrate the Vigil Mass at Shepherds' Field for you all.