catching up

On the 15th we celebrated the dedication of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre. it's a feast that's celebrated only here in the Holyland ... unfortunately. It's the center of the Christ event - the death, bural and resurrection .. but it's remembered only here in the Holyland. On the otherhand, the dedication of St Peter's Basilica in Rome is a universal feastday. I wonder why? Is the resurrection less important than St Peter?

The feast of St Bonaventure, which falls also on the 15th, is transferred to the 17th, here in the Holyland. This is because the 16th is the feast of Our Lady of Mt Carmel - an optional memorial for you all but a feastday here in the Holyland because Mt. Carmel is here 200 kms away from Jerusalem, and the feast is celebrated on the site itself.

As usual I've been working overtime ... this Friday it was up to 1am. Walked home 2km and had dinner and slept at 2am or so. It's exhausting. Tried to rest on Saturday but the ubiquitous phone call kept ringing. Didn't fare better in the afternoon. I think the best solution is for me to move into the Judean desert and live as a hermit in the caves. There're still hermits out there, you know?

The usual events in Jerusalem - demonstrations, demolitions of arab houses, military presence heightened in the Old City, summer camps for kids throughout the country. It's been 37 degrees for the past few days so usually these events take place during the cooler part of the day.

Fr Vincenzo will return to Musky tomorrow. He thanks you all for your donations to sponsor the children in his area of Cairo.

It's interesting to see the Gaza story in the Straits Times. That's what's life is like in the Strip .... no hope, poverty. http://www.straitstimes.com:80/BreakingNews/World/Story/STIStory_554994.html