Holy Wednesday

Veneration of the Column of the Flagellation

Although it is not recorded in the Gospels, ancient Christian tradition holds that Christ was bound to a pillar when he was scourged (flagellated). The pillar was noted by a 4th century pilgrim to Jerusalem, and was venerated for over 1,000 years until the 15th century when it was removed to the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre. On Holy Wednesday, the column is venerated as a testimony to the Passion and death of Jesus Christ.

(c)2010 Franciscan Multimedia Center and Cancao Nova

Holy Tuesday

The Passion of Christ sung at the Chapel of the Flagellation

The torture of Jesus Christ by the Romans is recounted in all 4 Gospels (Mk 15:1-20; Mt 27:1-31; Lk 23:1-25; Jn 18:28-19:16) and it is commemorated in the Chapel of the Flagellation, where the Passion narrative is sung at Mass every Holy Tuesday. Here Christ showed his love for us by enduring great suffering .... it is now our turn to respond to his love.

(c) 2010 Franciscan Multimedia Center and Cancao Nova

Holy Monday

Mass at the 5th Station of the Cross

The tiny chapel on the Way of the Cross commemorates the event of Simon the Cyrenean who was forced by the soldiers to help Jesus carry the Cross (Mark 15:21). In Luke 23:26-27 Simon is presented as the model Christian, the one who takes up the cross and follows behind Jesus.

(c) 2010 Franciscan Multimedia Center

Palm Sunday Procession

Over 12,000 joined in the annual Palm Sunday procession from the village of Betphage to Jerusalem. Some of the more significant moments are now presented .... 


(c)2010 Franciscan Multimedia Centre

Holy Monday.

This morning I was at Mass at the 5th Station ... which takes place once a year on Holy Monday. Every half hour there's a Mass. And unusually they were all very crowded. Well over 60 people for each Mass, many having to stand outside the small chapel. I remembered you all there.

Wasn't feeling too well during Mass as I only slept 2 hours last night. The fever and cough and congested lungs kept me awake the whole night. And I'm not the only one ... Fr Giovanni Loche is going through the same illness. We're both wrecks.

This evening the Jewish Passover begins. Already the West Bank has been closed off; people have been stuck in Bethlehem and cannot come to Jerusalem including some of our workers. Today they'll close off the Old City as well. I don't expect any violence or resistance but when they close the Old City again for Holy Saturday - barring entry into the Holy Sepulchre the many pilgrims and local christians - I think there'll be scuffles.

By the way if you want to watch the Mass of the Palms at the Holy Sepulchre, here it is (in italian):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlNzyJ6c2Eg

Palm Sunday

I didn't go the Vigil last night. I felt too sick. But I went to the Holy Sepulchre for Mass at 4am. Prayed for you all at Mass. Later at 7am the bishop came to bless palms and celebrated the Mass of the Entry to Jerusalem. It was a pretty small crowd. Not like previous years. I managed to get some olives branches blessed by the bishop.

I decided not to go the procession of the palms as well because its well over a 2km walk down ... but to get there you have walk the 2km up first! The dean suggested I meet the procession halfway through when the Patriarch reaches Gethsemani. From our terrace I could see the procession snaking slowing down the Mt. of Olives, so before the bells of Gethsemani were rung to announce the Patriarch passing by, I went out to St Stephan's Gate to wait. The crowd wasn't as big as previous years. But it was sizeable. When it ended at St Anne's Church (Pool of Bethesda), the Patriarch gave a sermon and blessed everyone with a relic of the Cross.

http://www.jpost.com/MiddleEast/Article.aspx?id=171985
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1159713.html 

Most people who met me at the end of the procession insisted that I shouldn't have come out. Anyway the Missionaries of Charity told me to stop by and they'll cook some white rice and stuff to relieve my cough and fever. They take good care of me. Anyway I'm helping them create their earthquake survival pack. Did I say last week we had a minor earthquake? 3.6 on the Richter. The big one is going to land soon.

Rain

The forecast for rain yesterday came true. It rained. And the temperatures dropped to 8 degrees. Wasn't good for my flu ... especially when I had to go out to buy medicine. Was soaked through. Came back coughing even worse and fever went up.

The rains stopped during the night and started again this morning and all through the day. It'll make the Palm Sunday procession (2 km) pretty damp and off colour if it continues tomorrow. It's unlikely I'll go for the procession as I'm feeling pretty sick. Better to rest .... well sort of, because I just went for the solemn procession in the Holy Sepulchre (packed with Greeks, Armenians, Copts and Syrians all doing their own processions). Tonight I intend to go to Vigils and then for Mass because tomorrow morning at 7am I have to help with the solemn Mass in the Holy Sepulchre and cannot concelebrate. Will be praying for you all there.

Daylight saving

Manila hit by an earthquake yesterday. If you didn't yet know, there was a minor earthquake here in Israel several days ago. They say it was 3.6 on the Richter.

Yesterday morning I went down to the chapel for Mass but threw up before Mass started. Everyone told me to go up to my room and rest there. Apparently I'm not the only one. Massimo Carlino is also seriously ill and Fr Niccacci, I hear, was moved from the infirmary to hospital. This flu bug is real super and many people are downed by it. I've run out of paracetamol and Norvasc but was too weak to go to the pharmacy. The cook very kindly got my prescription and went to his pharmacy and bought me some. I wasn't aware of this, so in the afternoon I went off to the pharmacy to buy the medicine. Now I've got double Norvasc and Simvastatin. But we both forgot to get the paracetamol. Oh well ... you win some, you lose some. Let's hope the flu season will soon pass.

By the way, the local arabs here chew ginger to prevent effects of the flu. It can be boiled ginger, or ginger sweets. Give it a try when you get the flu.

Today is the last Friday of Lent. If you haven't yet tried a real fast, try one today.

And a couple of hours ago we switched to daylight saving. That means we're one hour ahead. And uniquely this year the Palestinians and Israelis have decided to switch to summer time together ... now that says alot. Usually Palestine switches to summer time several days before Israel, which switches just a couple of days before the Jewish Passover. Things therefore get pretty confused because if you live in Jerusalem and you're going to Bethlehem for Mass, you have to calculate the time difference even as you drive 10 km to get there. Or how about the Holy Sepulchre Basilica .... when you enter its doors, you have to switch one hour back; and when you leave, you switch one hour ahead.

thermometer

It's 2.30am and my fever and chills woke me up. Lots of phlegm and sore throat and headache. I found a site that explains why the fever and chills occur. Very interesting. http://chealth.canoe.ca/channel_condition_info_details.asp?disease_id=158&channel_id=1020&relation_id=55796 

From my window I can see the sky awfully red ... like it'll rain soon. Let's hope so. The Golden Dome is partially hidden behind a haze of cloud and sand.

Now let's see if my temp. has gone down. Using the made-in-China thermometer.

Annunciation feast

Yesterday was again a day full of sickness. My fever was up to 40 degrees, sore throat, burning eyes, chill attacks, nausea, aching joints. And I lost my appetite. And I ran out of paracetamol. Was too sick to go out and get more. But I learnt one thing - I must keep hydrated. That means drinking alot of water. Yuck!

Yesterday was also the singing of the Passion of Christ in our Condemnation chapel. I missed the Mass because I was sick.

Today is the Solemnity of the Annunciation. There's a big celebration in Nazareth. I should actually go because then I can pop by the hospital for my checkup. But I think I'll stay home and rest. Something to think about - will you allow God to do whatever he wants with you as Mary did? Can you say with Mary "Be it done to me as you say"? and then face the consequence of gossip and even death by stoning? Can we break out of this cynical selfish world which thinks only of its own advantage and gain, and be like Mary to do something for the world? What is God announcing to you?

Sicker

Everyone  know, and I mean everyone, is sick some way or other. It's all the weather. From 28 degrees dropping to 8 degrees, and very very dry. Almost all are sniffling, nosebleeds, phlegm, cough and sorethroats, or worse stage - fever and infection of the throat or lungs. Drained of energy, listless, joint-pains. Well one of the main reasons is here there is no culture of hygiene. People cough straight into your face or food. And I'm not talking about the local Jews or Arabs...

Anyway yesterday's sick fit is draining me. But there's no letup in workload. Not sure what to do actually. Just work.

Sick still

The flu is hitting hard. Nearly fainted during class and had to be companied home. Felt sick the whole day with no appetite and high fever. People say my face is bloated. Am taking paracetamol. Hope it works.

Sick

Everyone is sick. The weather is the primary cause. Fr Niccacci is in the infirmary with severe pulmonary infection. Everyone else is sniffling and coughing. I got the flu. Yesterday evening I was shivering from cold, then sweating hot fever. Terrible sore throat. Nausea. Painful joints and general weakness. Am taking Panadol.

Yesterday several other Palestinians were killed in sporadic violence, and one soldier was killed by friendly fire. It's such a sad situation here. But a general calm is enveloping the region ... at least for these few days until Jewish Passover begins on Monday. Then the Old City will be closed again, road blocks and checkpoints set up, restricted movement ... that'll stir more violence again. We hear that the soldiers will block entry to the Holy Sepulchre during Holy Week. That means we can't go there for services. We're stuck in our muslim quarter. Movement restricted.

5th Sunday of Lent

Yesterday was calm in the Old City ... tense but calm. But riots took place outside the Old City. Two youths were killed by rubber bullets, and probably there'll be retaliatory attacks in the next few days. http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=171426

Riots also in Tekoa - the village of the prophet Amos.  http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=171423 

A volcano erupts in Iceland; earthquake in Fiji and the Indian Ocean, Papua New Guinea (6.2 richter) ... all within 24 hours. Armageddon is at hand?

The Greek Orthodox community is perturbed - not only was the body of the late Greek Cypriot President stolen and ransom was demanded, today the bodies of two Archbishops were also stolen and held at ransom. They're angry at the greed for money that has led people to do these things.

Sadly another legend has died - Fess Parker aka Davy Crockett/Daniel Boone. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8575904.stm 

Frog fail

St Joseph's feast

St Joseph's feast today. There was a solemn Mass at the Church of St Joseph in Nazareth. Many people went there to participate. It's a great feeling to know here in this land, St Joseph grew up and became the foster father of Jesus. And of course it was Josephine's feastday - she's a volunteer here with us - and Jan and I went out to buy fried rice and roast chicken to celebrate. And we had "Tapuzina" orange juice and some cakes as dessert. The girls bought lilies to give us guys as a reminder of St Joseph's feast (St Joseph is always pictured holding a lily).

Got a message from Fr Vincenzo who wrote to say he went to buy chocolate to treat some of your adoptees in Musky (Cairo).

The canaries have begun laying eggs. But monster mum (remember her from last year?) threw her eggs out of the nest one day after laying them. I'll have to get rid of her.

Meantime there was some violence in East Jerusalem today. http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=171335  And militants in Gaza continue to fire rockets into Israel - yesterday one Thai worker was killed by rocket shrapnel.  http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1157625.html Israel fired back ... we could hear fighter jets flying overhead several times yesterday.

And it was on-and-off raining the whole day yesterday, and dreadfully cold today. Makes my spondylosis feel worse, and my knees and ankle hurt alot. Jan said I felt better today because I actually ate lunch - I threw up twice the day before. And on the way home I told him and Josephine that I did pretty good today, having managed to keep my food down. Spoke too soon. When I reached the 7th Station of the Cross, I threw up. What a way to remember the 7th Station - "Jesus falls a second time" and I threw up there.

And my earthquake survival pack is now ready. I hope I don't have to use it. The Missionaries of Charity have asked me to prepare a simple pack for them too.

Bashed

These few days of violence and rioting are taking its toll on me. I'm a nervous wreck. This morning I cleaned out the bird cage as usual. But suddenly a military helicopter hovered above our  courtyard ... very low and twice at that. At the second descend, I could see the head of a soldier popping out from the side and my first thought was "He's going to shoot". Memories of riotings and shootings flashed. Panic! I ran back to the house, but bashed my hand against the door. Now it's all swollen and very painful. Black and blue.

Anyway it's Wednesday in Lent, which means we have solemn Mass and the singing of the Passion of Christ in one of the "Passion" churches - Dominus Flevit (The Lord wept) on Mt. of Olives, then the Garden of Gethsemani and today our Chapel of the Flagellation. All in latin and the singing is done in parts. Quite nice if the singers are good ... all friars of course.

In Holy Week, the 5th Station gets its turn when we can celebrate Mass there. This happens only once a year. A rare occasion.

And the temperature dropped to 10 degrees today .... from 20 something! It's so weird. That's not helping my poor left hand that's all bruised. The cold only accentuates the pain.

Safe and sound

I'm glad I wasn't in the Old City today. From what I hear from students who managed to get out, there was rioting at the 5th Station and the soldiers charged and sent the rioting crowds into our monastery frontdoor. Stun guns were fired and teargas was also fired. And apparently the arabs had some weapons to shoot back too.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1156775.html
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=171141

A bedouin friend from the north called to ask if I was alright and was relieved that I was 2 km away from the Old City. Well I stayed away till 7pm when I walked back to see the remains of the rioting.

The situation will slowly die down in the next few days. The military presence was very much reduced in the muslim quarter.

Tension Tuesday

The walk up the street to Herod's Gate was surreal. Not a soul in sight. Only me. Even the usual bread sellers who get up early are missing. And the street was strewn with rocks and broken bottles. Last night there were attacks on the street with rock and bottle throwing. Alot of chaos at about 10pm.

At the Gate, the blockade was up and some 20 soldiers were hanging around. They let me out the City. Later I came back. I saw a dozen or so arabs being turned away by the soldiers at the Gate. But they let me through without checking my passport. Back inside the City street I could count the number of people - not more than 15 - mostly students going to schools outside the City.

At the road corner to my place, I met a couple of arab friends who told me to stay away from the streets at 9am because something is going to happen. Well .... let's see.

Day of Rage

It's 4.45am and I'm preparing to go to the Sisters of Ivrea for Mass. They have Mass early - at 6am. I'm substituting Jobi who's not feeling well.

Don't know what to expect when I reach the City Gate (Herod's Gate): the sisters' convent is outside the Old City. The papers say there'll be big problems today. Apparently busloads of Bedouins from the desert are coming to join in the protest http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=171085  And the Palestine Authorities have declared today "Day of Rage" - http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1156775.html

And if anything, the weather has been reflecting the tensions in the city. A hazy heat wave overtook us for the past few days. Stifling hot in Spring ... 35 degrees!!! http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1156768.html  Now that's something to rage over.

Reason why

All the violence and closure of the Old City is due to the rebuilding and rededication of the Hurva synagogue in the Jewish Quarter. It's not simply just another synagogue - the symbolism is packed with undercurrents that result in these 4 days of unrest. http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Editorials/Article.aspx?id=170971 

More thanks

Sincere thanks to Antonia Wong, Michael Tung, Augustine-Patrick and many others who have generously helped in one way or another. Every contribution helps make lives a little more livable here. The water-purification tablets are especially important. But of course all your prayers are most important for us to sustain our work with the under-privileged.

We too are praying for you.

Thanks

Thanks to Michael Tung for his generous help.

Protests

Just as Mass was ending this morning, we could hear schoolboys outside our monastery chanting slogans and kicking down their school door. Apparently the soldiers closed their school which lies on the northern wall of the Dome of the Rock esplanade. The schoolboys charged several times trying to breakdown the door and stopped only when their teachers and principal arrived to speak to the soldiers inside. After another half hour of protests, they relented and opened the school. Calm was restored. But the rest of the City remains closed.

Trouble

There's trouble in the Ras el Amud area about 2 km south of where I live. I can hear alot of shouting and stunt guns being fired.

Sunday

Totally knocked out this afternoon. Like after lunch I was so overcome with tiredness, a dull headache, and was really getting incoherent. Then fell into a strange sleep that lasted four and a half hours. Really weird. It's like the time when I got my mobile stolen in the mall ... like being drugged. There was this woman who came up and talked and talked and asked to see my mobile and I became so out of sync till another Father came up to me and asked why I gave my mobile to the lady who had already walked away with it.

And talk about stolen ... I'm getting stock of my things being stolen ... besides the two mobiles on two different occassions, there's the everyday stolen mail, two pants, several socks, two shirts, one winter jersey   and several woollen clothes. It's becoming a joke here that whatever is sent to the laundry's never returns. And there's the bigger joke last week when Fr Marcello actually bought two new towels. I laughed at him because I said it's gonna get stolen when it's sent to the laundry, and he sorta regretted having bought them. So each time I see him I ask if he still has the towels and he says he's not using them .... yet!!!!

Meantime the soldiers are still flooding the Old City and the City gates are all closed. Dreadful tension. Shopkeepers speak to me in whispers. Observation balloons hover a mile up in the sky with cameras watching everyone's move in the Old City. I don't know if I can go out to work tomorrow. But sleeping would be a nice alternative.... give or take the endless pain of the spondylosis.

Total closure

It's confirmed that the closure of the Old City will extend to Tuesday. It's because the Jews have reconstructed the ruins of the Hurva synagogue and will inaugurate it tomorrow; but fear the arabs will riot against it. The synagogue abuts a mosque. And it purposely has a large dome to compete with the Golden Dome of the Rock mosque and our Christian Holy Sepulchre Basilica.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1156238.html 

I've just got back from Vigils at the Holy Sepulchre. It's 2am. We sang well and the crowd was just right, not too many but enough to fill our chapels. It ended with the procession around the Empty Tomb - very solemn and impressive. After that I celebrated Mass in the Crusader Chapel while everyone else joined the Custos for Mass up on Mt Calvary. But I had to babysit Sr. Vicenta .... as she wanted to come along for Vigils. I had to accompany her to the Basilica at 11pm and she came for Mass and we returned home together - lots of soldiers at every corner despite the early hours of the morning. It does give a sense of security when you're walking alone in the dimly lit alleys of the Old City, not knowing who's hiding behind one of the doors or corners.

I'll do some reading now and then try to sleep. The spondylosis is killing me.

And again ....

Now it's women and teenagers getting into the stone-throwing thing. This time it's at the Qalandiya checkpoint between Jerusalem and Samaria.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1156063.html

Let's see what happens tomorrow. If things get ugly in the streets, I'll stay in. If it looks ok, I might go to buy the long-awaited painkillers. Maybe a rock in the head might solve the spondylosis.

Now I'm preparing to go to the Vigils. Will pray for you all.

Holy Hour at Gethsemani

Eternal Light Webcast will bring you the Holy Hour celebrated in the Basilica of the Agony (Gethsemani) on Holy Thursday (Holyland time).

Tables turned

The Old City is closed off today. For the first time in 20 years I've seen the New Gate, usually one of the more relaxed points of exit/entrance, actually blocked off with a cordon and heavy police/military presence standing guard. Only inhabitants of the Old City and arabs over 55 yrs of age may enter the City. At Damascus Gate the scene was like straight out of a war. Blockades and soldiers everywhere, with crowds of arabs standing outside demanding to enter. Same case at Herod's Gate. Down at St Stephan's' Gate, cars and trucks were turned away. Any motorist allowed to enter had to surrender their identity cards to the soldiers. They can collect them only when they exit the City. One soldier - an arab christian from Mughar - told me the closure will continue for 4 days till Tuesday.

Uneasy calm in Jerusalem - that's how Haaretz describes the situation today.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1156063.html 

A strange twist yesterday when it was the Jews who threw stones at Arabs at the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood. Usually it's the other way round.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=170858

Riots

Another Friday of riots - though less serious than last week. Rock throwing and police charges. But it was ok enough for the Way of the Cross to take place. I smartly stayed far away from the Old City. On my return I asked several arab store-keepers what happened and they said "A lot calmer than last week".  Well, it should be! The soldiers closed off the Old City since yesterday. Literally. No one below 55 years old could enter the Old City and no one below 50 yrs could enter the mosque which is in the Old City.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=170858 
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1156048.html 

Being a foreigner, I could enter and exit the City but not without being questioned by soldiers. And the military presence is awesome. The City gates and certain angles in the Old City near my place were packed with police and soldiers. People are saying there're more military in the Old City than inhabitants.

Meantime I'm trying to solve my spondylosis problem. it's a killer. I've lost alot of sleep because of the pain, which is excruciating. I think tomorrow morning I'll go to the pharmacist's and get some painkillers. I'm like a zombie during the day. Utterly exhausted. And my water bag traction doesn't seem to be helping. Aaaaagghhh

It's Friday today - fasting day. I was pretty good today. Stayed off water and food till 5pm. Then Janik (our computer expert) and I walked back to the Old City, having a sandwich along the way to break our fast. We had to go to the Curia to get some documents sealed with the official stamp. And tomorrow night is another Vigil ... will go and pray for you there at the Tomb of Christ.

And oooohhhhh earthquakes in Hawaii and again in Chile. It's a bad sign. it's coming........

hacked

Somebody has hacked into my email accounts and all google services. There's a warning that flashes saying I might not be in the real google site and that material can be taken from my computer. So what do they want from me?

Saturday and Sunday was a very tough time as Fr Samir was said to be very ill and perhaps to the point of death. But Sunday night I received news that he got better. We had all been praying so hard for him. This morning I heard that they found a liver for him and he's preparing for the transplant. Let's hope it works out well. Also Fr Benjamin our very young African superior in Tiberias was diagnosed with liver failure. This is all such bad news.

Since Saturday evening I've been suffering from my old problem - cervical spondylosis. This time it's so severe I cannot sleep. Any movement of the head causes a sharp pain that radiates down the right arm .. which has turned numb and weak. I'm thinking of going to see a physiotherapist or chiropractor but it's terribly expensive here.

And it's been like 30 degrees here since yesterday. People are dressed in shorts and T-shirts like it's August. The weather has all gone crazy.

Thanks

Sincere thanks to the following for your generous help:
Rose Chiu, C. Yau & family, Cavero family, Fr. Ephrem Lam, Anita Lee, Rebecca Choy, Augustine-Patrick (for Sr. Maria), Alice and Andrew, Amy Chan, Kath Malone, Gertrude, Debbie Wong (for Caritas Baby Hospital), Simon Yam.

And the medicines - from asthma meter, rhinocort, Advair, Adalat, water purification pills etc.... everything is so precious and helpful for us here.

I and your beneficiaries and friars in the Holyland will be praying for you all during this Lent and Easter season.

For your information, I'm using some of your gifts to help sponsor a poor student who cannot afford school fees here in Jerusalem. You have made Easter something special for someone ... through you he has touched the resurrected Lord.

Peace

Yesterday saw the largest demonstration in Sheikh Jarrah so far. Sh. Jarrah is the neighbourhood 2km from where I live, a rundown Palestinian refugee camp along the Kidron Valley that saw the forceful eviction of several Palestinian families by Israeli soldiers so that Jewish families could take over the houses. Every week small demonstrations take place against this, but yesterday the High Court allowed it to occur en masse. http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=170358

A scathing article against the govt. was posted in Haaretz today - in biblical perspective of the prophets -
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1154537.html 

Let's hope that somehow peace will return to this land.

3rd Sunday of Lent

It's 1.50am. Just got back from Vigils at the Holy Sepulchre. There were more friars but less people tonight. But we managed to sing through the psalms and canticles. And also an impressive procession around the Tomb of Christ. Some of my students were present. Good to see younger people joining in the prayers.

The Custos presided at the Vigils and also at the Mass following it. Because this week it's the Greeks' turn to solemnly celebrate Lent in the Holy Sepulchre, the Custos had to celebrate Mass inside our Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament instead of Mt. Calvary. Most of the priests present went to concelebrate with him. But I went to the Crusaders' Chapel and celebrated Mass alone. There in the 12th century hall that is now a chapel, I remembered all of you - family, friends, students, benefactors, living and deceased - when I celebrated Mass. It took some time remembering everyone, but I was alone so I could spend that time.

I'll do some work now as I don't feel sleepy. But it'll hit me like a tonne of bricks later in the day.

Meantime reports everywhere that a religious war will start if the violence in the mosque continues. http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1154437.html 
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=170331
The muslims claim that Israeli police entering the mosque is desecrating a holy place. Well, what do they say when muslims covertly come to Mass and receive communion, then spit it out and take photos of it? http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8553493.stm 

The day after violence

Yesterday's violence was severe enough to draw the attention of the UN who put out a statement of warning.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=170331
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1154404.html

Now the muslims around my area are warning that March 15-16 will be a date to watch out - bigger violence.

But yesterday was also Friday - fasting day. I had a half cup of coffee in the morning and nothing till 4.30pm when I broke the fast. Praveen fasted too but I didn't see him around. I had a plate of rice and lentils (typical lent food) and a glass of water.

Tonight I'll go to the Vigils at the Holy Sepulchre and pray for you all.

Well, just for the update, one computer is totally out of action - thanks to Gina D's VIP song! Repairing another because I don't know what happened but it's blocking my thesis. What to do? I have to leave a computer in the library for my work, but sometimes people use it without my knowledge and it gets infected.

Healthwise my asthma is under control thanks to the medicines you've sent me. But my knees and feet are painful and swollen. Lenten penance I guess.

The Good Friday Collection

Do something meaningful this Lent - help the poor in the Holyland. Spread this video to your friends!

Violence

Violence broke out in the Temple Mount at muslim noonday prayers. Youths were pelting rocks at the Jews praying at the Wailing Wall below. Soldiers fired stun guns. The fighting then spilt out of the mosque into the streets - no guesses which street .... ours. I was on my way home from work when Christian arabs told me not to go back home. There's problem in the mosque, they kept saying. Anyway I continued down to the 5th Station to see what was happening. Muslim men were gathering at that corner, looking at the 3rd Station angle. I squeezed my way around them and as I approached my monastery I could see the road was rather deserted. Several shop-keepers told me to hurry as there'll be problems anytime. Helicopters were flying directly over my head. I could see lots of soldiers rather down the road towards St Anne's Church (Bethesda Pool) and youths throwing rocks at them. Then I got a phone call to say the Way of the Cross is cancelled because of the violence in the streets and I was to inform everyone waiting at our gate about this. Then came a second call from another official telling me the same. So I stood at the gate for 2 and a half hours telling people the WoC was cancelled and made sure the street violence didn't spill into our courtyard.

I am tired. The people living around here are tired. Tired of the tension and fighting and shooting. Even the muslim shopkeepers whom I know well just shake my hands as I pass by and shake their heads. There's nothing much to say .... we know what each other is thinking and feeling.

Bad news Thursday

Now it's Taiwan that's rocked by an earthquake. This is getting global - this earthquake. And it's gonna hit Israel as predicted. I'm preparing my survival pack. If you guys have dynamo-operated torches (flashlights) - not the battery-operated types - pls send them over as Mother Theresa's sisters are asking me for help to prepare for the earthquake.

And don't try flying out of your country to escape it. The air control at the airport could be directed by just a child. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8547875.stm  Can you imagine that? Human lives in an airplane directed by a child? Where is America heading?

And Facebook is fun? An Israeli soldier actually posted his platoon secret operations on it - letting the whole world know the IDF is going to raid a [arab?] village. Thanks Facebook! http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/03/03/israel.raid.facebook/index.html  By the way, Israelis are the world's most frequent Facebook users... I think clocking over 1,000 hours a week.

Fr. Ludovico Reali R.I.P.

Another confrere passed away - Fr Ludovico Reali - yesterday morning in our infirmary. He was 87 yrs old and very weak. Fr. Ludovico had served in many capacities in the Custody during his long life and was known for his dedication and hardwork.

Personally he was a good friend whom I knew since I was a seminarian. He taught me how to be a good guide to pilgrims - responsible, spiritual, always respecting the Holy Places and bringing Christ to the people. We would sometimes meet and chat when he was retired from work. He was a very gentle and kind soul ... could be firm if needed. And he was always direct and to the point.

Dear Fr. Ludovico, rest in peace.

Calm

There were no riots in the Old City today, but the military grip was heavy. The City gates were closed off till I think after noon prayers at the mosque. It was practically impossible for any arab man to enter the City let alone the mosque. Even in the New City, the military presence was overwhelming. It's the Jewish feast of Purim and children dressed up in costumes went about reveling under heavy guard. Well they tried to enjoy but the weather proved too much.

The rains perhaps was the saving grace from more violence. It beat down and the wind was blustering cold. It made sure people stayed indoors and not cause anymore trouble. Pitied the poor soldiers though, who had to stand guard in the rain and cold. In a word, it was a miserable day for most of us. The violence has got to stop. But no one dares to cradle this hope that has long proved elusive.

The 93 yr old widow of Moshe Dayan gave a biting interview in the papers. She says "We [Israelis] don't know how to make peace. We go from war to war and it will never end", and "We're a mob that can't even get along internally, so we're going to get along with them [Palestinians]?" Read all about it at http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1152801.html 

Anyway my exhaustion is breaking me. More people today have remarked that I look totally broken and I think one has even gone to speak to the Custos to let me have a break from work. I am exhausted.