Catholics killed

As we begin to celebrate All Saints Day, several Catholics were killed in Church in Baghdad during evening Mass. http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/10/31/iraq.violence/index.html?hpt=T2

When will the persecution end? What is the rest of the world doing?

Latest news is the priest was also killed. A suicide bomber was the culprit.

Time is flying

Last day of October. How time flies ... 2010 the first decade of the new millenium is coming to an end. And what have we done so far? Where are we going?

Yesterday we looked back a decade to recall the assassination of Itzak Rabin, the Israeli PM who came so close to bringing peace in the Holyland but was killed by a Jewish militant extremist. A huge rally took place in Tel Aviv.

Yesterday Krakatau - the monster volcano in Indonesia began to erupt (following last week's Merapi eruption) ... just a century ago Krakatau blew itself up in the loudest eruption ever - 13,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb. Ironically there is an awe-ful beauty to this destructive power. Photo by Marco Fulle (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1203028/Will-Krakatoa-rock-world-Last-time-killed-thousands-changed-weather-years-deadlier.html)

Soon Advent will arrive. The new liturgical year will begin. Another journey begins.

Today's 1st reading from the Book of Wisdom gives us some courage and support to continue our journey in life. It speaks of God's relentless love for his creatures - and note, the text is not speaking of Israelites but of the Egyptians and Canaanites the hated enemies, an "accursed race from the beginning [of creation]" - they were the recipients of God's infinite love. That being so, how much more those who believe in God? This consolation strengthens the soul in the face of a new sojourn towards 2011.

So much for good advice.

So I tried to follow my own advice and tried to eat 70% of my appetite. Or as close as I could. I didn't take the salad nor the pastasciutta (which was rice today which I don't eat), I took about 350 grams of stewed beef and 5 diced eggplant (each was about 1 inch big). Then I got terribly sick. I'm not used to eating so much now; I think 100 grams of meat would have sufficed. Was in bed the whole afternoon with dreadful nausea. Couldn't get the food out of my system. So much for good advice.

Rain

It rained heavily early this morning at 3am. We all knew because the electricity in our area was cut and the alarm sounded. It was cut 4 times after the electric lines were re-opened. And Internet connection and phone lines were all cut for almost 5 hours. There was thunder and lightening in a distance. And it was cold. Feels like winter for real. Now school opposite us has started and the kids are enjoying the wet ground and cold wind and drizzle. Their teachers are herding them into the classrooms.

I've been noticing how locals eat - very little. Families who sit under an olive tree in the park eating lunch, or road workers taking their lunch break or shopkeepers or office workers or even families at home etc... They eat very little. One or two pieces of pita bread with hummus (chickpea paste) or eggplant salsa, a cucumber and that's it. In the family they might have rice on weekends and meat (chicken mainly). Yet they get enough of energy to work (a relative term here). And they're all very lean and fit. I remember the doc saying it's enough to eat 70% and not to a full stomach. Guess there's some truth in that because compared to our eating habits, they actually eat very little yet they are very healthy. And there's very little waste of food. Good habit to pick up.

Winter at last?

Finally it feels like winter ... today a gusty cold wind blew into the country - around 20 degrees but felt alot colder. In the streets, jerseys and longsleeves were donned. It even drizzled a little. Let's hope this keeps up.

The wound has healed and today I was able to eat some fish (it's Friday hence fish ... but no lentil soup ... hurrey! we had veggie soup instead). Before lunch I went out to meet Ben our volunteer at Ss Simeon and Anna chapel. He's going back to Italy for his exams and wanted to see me. The new chaplain Fr David from the Patriarchate was there and opened the door for me. On the way I went to buy some paczki (pronounced ponchski) - the jam-filled doughnuts with no holes. No, I didn't even eat one though I bought 8 of them. It was pretty hard to find - 3 shops didn't have them and I finally found a bakery up Ben Yehuda Street that sold their last 20 paczki. I gave 2 to Ben, 4 to our sisters (I promised them I'd get them the paczki last week) and the remaining two I gave to Khalil and Nadia our cooks. I love eating paczki but with the diabetes, I thought I'd better not touch it.

The terrible earthquake and volcano eruption in Indonesia has troubled us. Prior to the Indonesia catastrophe, 5 consecutive days saw huge earthquakes in other countries including New Zealand, Philippines. This evening at dinner we were talking about the one which will hit Israel. We're still expecting it and my survival pack is still next to my bed.

Ss. Simon and Jude

Today we celebrate the feast of Ss. Simon and Jude. Simon is also called the zealot and Jude is also called Thaddeus, relative of Jesus. One tradition says both apostles went to Persia to preach and were martyred there. Or some say in Armenia or Lebanon. Whatever the case, they were apostles, local guys from this land and so today is a great feastday here. Let's pray that Ss. Jude and Simon will intercede for us to have peace in this land - Jude is the patron of hopeless cases.

Today also is the annual pilgrimage to the Baptismal Site of Christ in the Jordan. I think lots of people went there this morning - it's a military site bordering the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and military permission is required to enter that place. Solemn Mass was celebrated on the altar just along the banks of the shrinking Jordan River.

Yesterday there was a violent fare-up at Umm Al Fahm between Jewish and Arab demonstrators. Fortunately whatever happens there rarely affects the other cities in Israel.

Just when I thought the wound had healed and I could eat solid food again, it started bleeding and I think it must have re-opened. Don't know if it'll have to be re-stitched. Let's see how severe the bleeding is and if I can stop it. Otherwise it's back to hospital.

Feeling better

Welcome Sr. Lucia! She's the new superior of the Faustina nuns that administer our kitchen and chapels.


The wound has healed and the stitches dissolved. Next week I'll have to go back to hospital for follow-up checkup. However after 5 days of a diet of milk and yoghurt (and lots of diarrhea), today I ate my first solid food - Khalil baked a chilli pepper stuffed with peas and mushrooms; Sr. Vicenta added cheese and tomato salsa on top. It tasted so nice.

Well, it was also very humbling to know people cared. The Faustina nuns kept asking to make sure I had everything I needed, the cooks were constantly on the watch on my diet, the MC sisters called now and again to see if they could help, Sr Paracleta (some of you may remember the Nigerian nun who prays constantly at the Holy Sepulchre) said she prayed that God would put all my illness on her instead since she is now old and has lived a full life while I still have lots to do; and Sr Regina from Ghana told me to remember all the little people around me who make a difference. I'm very grateful to all of them and also to you for your prayers. Today I'm feeling better and had gone down to join the community for dinner.

I discovered that Munir aka Abu George who runs one of the few catholic grocery stores in the Old City, had renovated his store (out of competition with the muslim one which is very large) and now sells pumpkin bread, muesli bread, 3 grain bread and sunflower seed bread. Fantastic. Will get my supply from him. Instead of breakfast and lunch which I never eat, I now can manage brunch comprising two pieces of 3 grain bread with eggplant spread. That keeps me going till 6pm or 8pm for dinner.

and thanks

Thanks also to
1) Rosary group for the gift
2) Gedeon and Hyacinta
3) Anne Lee
4) Rose Chiu
5) Glenda & Vincent Siu
6) Rosemary & Claire Ho
7) Alice (Rosary Church)
8) St Margaret's grp for gift to the St Vincent orphanage
9) Winnie Poon (perfect fit)
10) May Yu

Thanks

Thanks for all the stuff. The cloth will go to the Carmelites and Poor Clare respectively. And tomorrow all the books will be carried to Amman (Jordan) to the MC Sisters' formation house.

Wasn't feeling too good a couple o days after the operation. Nausea and headaches. And all the milk and yoghurt have given me diarrhea. Now am starting to take semi-solids again - Khalil made potato puree and soft mushy buckwheat. He's determined to feed me even though I've no appetite.

Dog says grace

A touching story of how a man and
a dog saved each other.  http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/10/21/man-saved-by-god-and-by-dog-who-says-grace/  

Jerusalem Knights

Went out to get some medicine and also to see the Jerusalem Knights event in the Christian Quarter last night. The streets were packed. Here're some pics.

This medieval tableau is entitled The Buffoons Parade.

Medieval musicians   and crowds packing the streets

Though not part of the official events, many creative artists joined in at various side-streets, like this man with a wind-up music box.

This street corner next to Casa Nova has knights fighting dragons .... well, we never got to see the dragons but there were lots of knights.

 and a court jester juggling balls; and more musicians ....



and here is where it all begins - Jaffa Gate, where a "muslim" introduces the events and two stilt-walking  performers welcome the people to Medieval Jerusalem.
 

English ROOTS

Remember that 1977 Alex Haley's book-turn-tv-series? Now there's a similar and very touching saga of the Addy family in Yorkshire. Inspiring. Makes you thankful for the little things you have and the value of hardwork. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-11584487

Dr. Rizen rocks

Got back from the operation. Feeling groggy. The time prior to going to the hospital was a nightmare - the arabs are treating me extremely bad.

But I got to the hospital - Hadassah, the world famous hospital. It's up in the hills of Judea overlooking the place where John the Baptist was born. And the entire complex is so huge - there's a hotel (yes! a hotel) and even a shopping mall in the hospital ... it makes being sick like going to shop. Pretty fun place. None of that sterilised cafeteria that you find in other hospitals, here it's a food street serving everything! Really fun walk (problem is no space for parking cars).

Got to the Oral/Maxillofacial Dept. - huge crowd waiting. I had to open a file and then got back in line. Waited for almost two hours before I went to insist on my turn - everyone else after me was going in first and I was waiting for 2 hours! So they got me into the compartment (literally what it is ... a huge consulting room separated by check-up cubicles. I got a nice doctor who asked if I wanted to speak english or arabic since I don't speak hebrew. Wow - an arab doctor at Hadassah?! Anyway he was very funny and we chatted. He's actually from Akko (as in Acre / Arc like Joan of Arc?) up in the north. Local graduate from the Dental School. He checked through my whole mouth for other lesions and found none; but he said it was wise to remove the black lesion as it looked worrisome. Then he brought me to the operating room and two assistants were there to help. It was only then that he found out about my status and was extremely happy and it was "Father this" and "Father that" afterwards ... I think he's a catholic. He told me his name was Rizen like "reason ... you know, I'm the reason why you're here"and he laughed and laughed. Duh ... he'll need a theological lesson. Anyway he was very reassuring, constantly asking if I was ok, in pain or not; patting me on the shoulder every now and again (to see if I'm dead I think). That was really good for me as my nerves were pretty frayed.

Then came the anesthetic jab ... it really hurt; and Dr Rizen kept apologising for it. He said "Lie back, relax, think of happy things" and I said "not if you're in my shoes" and they all laughed. Then the assistant pinched my lip (to stop the blood apparently) while the doc operated the lesion away. It was quick ... 7 minutes or so including stitching. Then he applied vaselin on my lips and told me to keep it moist always. And he said "For the next two days you feel pain .... oops no, discomfort is better" and laughed. I think my op. was the best fun event they had in the surgery today! It was all very reassuring - Dr Rizen was really great ... and he gave me his private phone-number if I needed any help for the next few days. I was afraid the stitches would burst. So I guess all your prayers worked ... God sent me a good catholic doctor who took good care of me during the op.

I'll have to come back in 2 weeks as a follow-up and find out the biopsy results. The receptionist was very nice as well - she speaks very good english - and reassured me that everything will be fine, I don't have to pay for follow-up visits and she'll get my biopsy results through the telephone.

On the walk back to the carpark (1 km away) I was pretty groggy but I noticed that I was walking past the famous Marc Chagall stained-glass windows of the 12 tribes of Israel. They didn't look very impressive from the outside. I'll go inside the synagogue and have a look the next followup.

Now I'm back home, the anesthesia is wearing out and the pain is kicking in. I asked for milk and a straw ... but like I should have known, the arab worker is taking 2 and a half hours to get a straw ... and even as I write, he's not back yet. I don't know if he's stupid or he's doing it on purpose. From the Dental Dept. to the carpark is 1km and the easiest way is to go back the way we came. But no. He wants a "shortcut" - meaning taking the lift, going up and down 3 times and then realising that there is no other exit except leaving the building the way we came. I tried to tell him through my swollen lips, but he will not understand, insisting on doing things his own way. So we wasted 10 mins. in a lift that went nowhere. How much longer can I survive in this country?

Hey you gentile!

From Haaretz 20/10/10

Rabbi Ovadia Yosef says in Saturday sermon that 'Goyim have no place in the world - only to serve the People of Israel'; ADL chief calls Yosef's words 'hateful' and 'divisive'.

By Natasha Mozgovaya and Haaretz Service

The Anti-Defamation League on Tuesday condemned comments about non-Jews made this past weekend by Shas spiritual leader Rabbi Ovadia Yosef.

In a sermon given on Saturday on laws concerning what non-Jews are permitted to do on Shabbat, Yosef said: "Goyim [non-Jews] were born only to serve us. Without that, they have no place in the world – only to serve the People of Israel."

"Why are gentiles needed? They will work, they will plow, they will reap. We will sit like an effendi and eat."

According to Yosef, death has "no dominion" over non-Jews in Israel.

"With gentiles, it will be like any person - they need to die, but [God] will give them longevity. Why? Imagine that one’s donkey would die, they’d lose their money. This is his servant... That’s why he gets a long life, to work well for this Jew.”

On Tuesday, the ADL said that Yosef's comments contributed "to an atmosphere of hatred and a global trend of intolerance."

"It is disturbing to see any religious leader, and particularly Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, use their podium to preach such hateful and divisive ideas," ADL chief Abraham H. Foxman said.

"In a world where bigotry and prejudice are prevalent, it is especially important for religious leaders to use their influence to teach respect and acceptance," he continued.

In August, Yosef sparked controversy when he called for Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to "perish from this world" and said that Palestinians were "evil, bitter enemies of Israel."

Christians suffer in Palestine

from Arutz Sheva 19/10/10


The Christian holiday season is the time to publicize the real "moment of truth" about Christian Arabs' suffering under the PA. Up to now, for the most part, Church leaders have remained  silent about Muslim abuses. On December 11, 2009,  Palestinian Christian leaders issued a 13 page document known as   "Kairos Palestine - 2009: A Moment of Truth". Having "reached a dead end" because of the “Israeli military occupation,” the leaders appealed to churches worldwide to treat Israel as they had apartheid South Africa by divestment and economic boycott. The authors of this document include anti Israel Patriarch Emeritus Michel Sabbah from the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, the Lutheran Bishop of Jerusalem Munib Younan, Archbishop of Sebastia Atallah Hanna from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, so this distorted description of the plight of Christian Arabs in Gaza, Judea and Samaria is no surprise.

Justus Reid Weiner, an international human rights lawyer, warns that the present Christian Arab leadership is not telling the truth about the conditions in these areas, and who is responsible for the anguish of Arab Christians.  The “patriarchs and archbishops of Christian Arab denominations,” he says, “who are currently deceiving the international community, are self-interested people. They collaborate with the Muslim perpetrators of intimidation and violence. Against all evidence they claim that the Christians Arabs are living comfortable and prosperous lives. In fact the present situation is growing worse by the day."

Though these false accusations are not new, there is a danger they could change the way some of Israel’s Christian supporters view the Arab/Israeli conflict. Let us examine what is really transpiring in these areas.  

Samir Qumsiyeh, owner of the private Al-Mahd (Nativity) TV station in Beit-Shahur, warned that, “15 years from now there will be no Christians left in Bethlehem. Then you will need a torch to find a Christian here.” Christian population changes in the West Bank have been flat from 1967 to 2006.

The cause for the concern is the Islamic success at the municipal elections,  and the Muslim campaign of “intimidation” to force Christians to leave and relinquish their land.  After the Palestinian Authority (PA) took control of Bethlehem in 1994, they altered the municipal boundaries of the city and the predominately Christian suburbs of Beit Jallah and Beit Sahour to incorporate the 30,000 Muslims residing in the nearby refugee camps of Dehaisheh, El-Ayda and El-Azeh, and thousands of residents living near the Ta’amarah Bedouin tribe. These boundary modifications created sweeping changes in the demographic balance of Bethlehem. 

Muslims were persuaded to move from Hebron to Bethlehem where large-scale Muslim housing was  planned. 

In 1990, Christians comprised 60 percent of the population of Bethlehem. By 2001 they were 20 percent of the population, resulting in a significant effect on local elections.  As a result, PA chairman  Arafat appointed a Muslim as Governor for the Bethlehem District, and the bureaucratic, security and political apparatus was purged of Christians.

Muslims boycotted Christian businesses in Bethlehem’s Nativity Square forcing many of them out of business.  Approximately ten percent remained by paying extortion money to Muslim terrorists. When a Christian owner of a café in Manger Square refused, he was charged with collaborating with the Israelis,  later shot in the eye, and fled after having lived in Bethlehem for 30 years.  Refusal to pay was often fatal.

At the PA-controlled Voice of Palestine, Christian names are not permitted to be mentioned in the obituaries read on air.  Those who sell land to Jews are subject to the death penalty according to the Palestinian Land Law, a clear violation of international rulings.

Christians have considerable trouble buying land or selling their own property to other Christians, as there is a perception that selling to any non-Muslim is prohibited. The PA does not recognize Christian property rights, including holy sites. As early as 1997, the PA Ministry of Information claimed that the Palestinian people “have assumed their natural right to of controlling parts of the Palestinian land, the most important of which under Palestinian national sovereignty is in the Palestinian city of the birthplace of Jesus Christ---Bethlehem.” 

Palestinian protection means little when Christian cemeteries and symbols are desecrated, property wrecked, monasteries robbed of gold and precious objects, and parishioners hindered from attending services.

Of all the abuses Christians are forced to endure, the treatment of their women is the most egregious. They are subjected to verbal sexual harassment and rape and compounding the problem is that in the Middle East, a female who has been violated is regarded as “unfit for marriage.” Raping a Christian woman often has fewer consequences than raping a Muslim one. The rapist knows that under a Muslim- controlled PA there is a greater chance of not being prosecuted. If the victim is Muslim, the perpetrator has to contend with members of her extended family,  who are obligated to obtain compensation or revenge and do not turn to government agencies.

Christian women are forced to marry Muslim men in violation of Article 16 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which states, “Marriage shall be entered in only with the free and full consent of the intending spouses.”

Those who speak out openly about this are subjected to death threats. Samir Qumsiyeh documented 160 attacks against Christians, including physical harassment, home robberies, and illegal seizure of land during the past several years and spoke publicly about it. His home was fire-bombed. 

The 3,000 Christians living in Gaza among 1.2 million Muslims are also anxious about their future. Archimandrite Artemios, the Greek Orthodox priest who heads the St. Porphyrius church in Gaza, observed that Christians never felt so “endangered” as they do now. He did not know whether they were still “part” of the Gaza community. 

 On February 15, 2008, a library managed by the Young Men’s Christian Association was firebombed, resulting in the destruction of 10,000 books.  A Christian bookstore owner was kidnapped and murdered, his shop bombed twice. A Catholic church and a school were vandalized in August 2007. These incidents led Artemios to conclude, “the edifice of tolerance is crashing down over our heads.” Before dawn on May 16, 2008 a bomb exploded outside the Zahwa Rosary School, a Christian school in Gaza city, operated by nuns primarily for Muslim students.  

 Writing in the London daily Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, Hussein Shubakshi, a Saudi columnist complains about Christian emigration from the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon, Iraq, Egypt, Sudan and Syria which “has reached astonishing proportions.” In Gaza and the West Bank, there is “a plan to eradicate the entire deeply-rooted Christian presence from its territories.” There are 70,000 Palestinian Christian émigrés living in Chile, particularly in Santiago, the capital others emigrate to Europe, Australia, the U.S. and Canada.

 
They are “openly and collectively” leaving by the thousands from Arab countries out of “fear, worry” and “society’s failures,” he asserts, adding that failure to address the spread of extremism will be costly to all. 
 
What is particularly discouraging is that many church leaders throughout the world are aware of the human rights abuses perpetrated by the PA against the Christian Arabs, according to Justus Reid Weiner. The Western Christian leaders involved in this anti-Israel activity are from the American Episcopalian and Presbyterian movements. Those taking comfort in evangelical backing for the Jewish state should know that Jim Fletcher, publisher of the pro-Israel Balfour Books and an evangelical Christian, observes that there is an increasing erosion of evangelical support for Israel influenced by the constant attacks against Israel in the Western media. Until there is a concerted effort to counter the lies and distortions within the Christian community, this erosion will continue.

Synod on M.E. Christianity

from Arutz Sheva 19/10/10

A two-week conference of bishops is underway in the Vatican to discuss the future of the dwindling Middle East's Muslim-threatened Christian communities. Pope Benedict XVI has convened Catholic bishops from all over the Middle East to discuss and debate how to save the minority Christian communities in the area. Issues under discussion include strife in Iraq, the Israeli-Arab conflict, radical Islam, the divisions among the region’s many Christian churches, and the economic situation.

While Christian demographics in the Middle East vary from country to country, the overall trend is the same: down. Christians currently account for some 5 percent of the region’s population, compared with some 20 percent 100 years ago. In Turkey, for instance, where the Christian minority numbered 20 percent a century ago, it today is one-hundredth of that, or 0.2 percent of the total population.

“If this phenomenon continues, Christianity in the Middle East will disappear,” Rev. Samir Khalil Samir, a Beirut-based Egyptian Jesuit taking an active role in the conference, told Reuters.
A Voice of America report on the synod focused on the difficulties Christians face living in Moslem societies, specifically Egypt and Lebanon. It quoted Ziyad Hajjar, a young Christian man living in Beirut's largely Muslim Hamra district, who said that being a Christian in the predominantly Muslim Middle East is not an enviable position.  He said that Muslims “have the power here in the Middle East, and we cannot say anything.  We cannot talk about our religion because here it is dangerous.  Here, [Muslims] can easily make problems for you if they find out you are Christian."
Similarly, a Christian refugee from Sudan now in Cairo, says that Christians are persecuted both in Egypt and in his homeland. He said it is difficult for a Christian to find work because many fields are closed to them, and that Christians often face the choice of converting to Islam or dying of starvation.
In Iraq, though Christians number less than 5 percent of the total population, they make up 40 percent of the refugees now living in nearby countries. Recent anti-Christian incidents include the following:

• Algeria: Looting and burning to the ground of a Pentecostal church, January 2009
• Sudan: It is estimated that over 1.5 million Christians have been killed by the Janjaweed, the Arab Muslim militia, and suspected Islamists in northern Sudan since 1984.
• Pakistan: In August 2009, six Christians - four women, a child and a man – were burnt alive by Muslims and a church was set ablaze after the alleged desecration of a copy of the Koran.
• Egypt:  Seven Christians leaving church services were killed and ten were injured by three Muslim shooters, January 2010

Monday

Wow - great discovery in Kenya! Chinese Ming dynasty porcelain and coin in a coastal town. More evidence that possibly the legend of Cheng He could be true ... he reached the African coast before any western power. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-11531398  And how about the theory that some chinese sailors remained and married local Kenyans - DNA tests seem to prove it's true ... some Kenyans in the region have chinese blood. You just might have a very long lost relative who's Kenyan ... I wonder from which parts of China the sailors came from. Cheng He (aka San Bo aka Sinbad) was himself a muslim; descendent of the Persian general Sayyid Ajjal Shams who served in the Mongol court.

Today we remember Yitzhak Rabin, the former PM who was assassinated 15 yrs ago. I remember that day well. Who could forget the shock, the intense incomprehensibility of the madness that resulted in the death of a distinguished statesman? It was sad. It still is.

And there're warnings of another Gaza war coming up. I happened to pass through the village of Silwan where last week the two boys were knocked over by the car .... it's full of soldiers at every few meters: helmets, bullet-proof vests, semi-automatic in hand .... and the street is strewn with rocks. How long more can we continue to live like this? It's surreal ... I've been thinking it's like what you see on TV, it can't possibly happen here in my neighbourhood. But it is. It's real. It's here. It hurts.

Bingo

As we had expected, the car-hits-stonethrowing-boys incident has reached a conclusion that raises no eyebrows : the boy is under house arrest while the car-driver is free. http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=191684 

Today we have 5 new saints. These include Sr. Mary McKillop of Australia and Bro. Andre of Canada. Bro. Andre, a lay brother of the Holy Cross congregation suffered much in fulfilling his vision of a shrine to St. Joseph on Mt. Royale in Montreal. When his superiors came down hard on him, it was the poor laity of Montreal who stood up for him and realised his dream. So too Mary McKillop, who was excommunicated for 5 years, only to be cleared later when her sisters stood up for her. Tough times being a religious these days.




I'm so happy for the Chinese communities in Sydney and Melbourne; and the chinese community of Montreal especially those who brought me up to St Joseph's shrine twice. Really proud for/with you guys for giving the Church two inspiring models!

Sts. Mary and Andre, pray for us!

Go to school!

In the West Bank and especially Gaza, when going to school can be quite an ordeal - because of wars, checkpoints, strikes ... children actually value the importance of education because it is the passport to a better life. Yesterday even a chimpanzee went to Gaza university! http://www.france24.com/en/20101016-runaway-chimp-joins-university-class-gaza

chill out

OK, it's chill out time. Everyone here is saying I'm at my snapping point now; been so drawn taut emotionally, psychologically, physically the past week everyone here thinks I'll breakdown soon and they'll have to send me to the looney house.

So today I decided to put my books aside (phone, people etc... everything) and chill out. Searched out the latest news on X Factor UK and found the newly formed boyband One Direction did a fantastic version of Coldplay's Viva la Vida. Zayn Malik fouled up at the end but still they pulled through with lauds from the judges. Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lINAdS73SI

Viva la Vida is a very catchy song ... I bet you'll want to hear it again after the first time. Very intelligent lyrics - a fantastic play of biblical imagery (pillars of salt, head on a silver plate, St Peter,  etc.. see how many you can catch). It's about a monarch/ruler/authority who's been deposed, and it's from this point of view that the song is written. This song has engendered lively discussion - who is this deposed monarch? what are the biblical images? Some posit King David, or Solomon, or Napolean or Stalin or Hitler or the Church or a regime. I first thought of King Lear! Some say it's anti-authoritarian etc... Everyone has views on this song, and no one is necessarily wrong. A smart song - it makes people think and discuss. The very biblical (Catholic) imagery, with strong orchestral swirls of bells (Jerusalem bells) and heartbeat drum pounding .... it sometimes verges on drowning the lyrics (not just vocals) but somehow the despondent voice of a crumbling power is carried through in direct contradiction to the consistant, solid thumping. I have my own views about "Roman cavalry choirs are singing" ... some people think it should be "Roman Calvary choirs ...." which they argue is more consistant with the "Jerusalem bells" image. But I think both "cavalry" and "Calvary" don't make sense with "choirs". I think "Roman Catholic choirs" would make more sense.

Anyhow here's the full song with lyrics (click the description window below the video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2txn_Kktyw0&feature=related

and here's the official music video by Coldplay. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTSG5PGCceM&feature=related

Jerusalem Knights

The past few evenings here in the Old City saw a flurry of happenings at many street corners of the Christian Quarter. Street plays, musicians, jugglers ... all dressed in medieval costumes. The theme was "Jerusalem Knights" which featured the Crusader period of Jerusalem. It was very fun, and lots of people (especially children) came to join in. You follow a trail of banners along the streets of the Christian Quarter, and at every corner there is a happening. Funny thing is almost all the visitors were local Israeli Jews, and hardly any local christians. Praveen and I wandered around a few happenings and quite enjoyed ourselves. It was very well thought-out, and fun. Unfortunately it wasn't well publicised otherwise tourist groups would have come to join as well. Hope they'll put up more events like this in the future.

The weather has turned hot again, so hot that at 3am I couldn't sleep and decided to take some fresh air in the terrace. When I got out of the corridor, I noticed that many others were awake as well ... lights were on in their rooms. And then I saw a white figure at the far end of the corridor walking towards me. I thought it was Fr Kaswalder so I didn't give it a 2nd thought. But later I was thinking if it could have been him ... I didn't see the face properly and the figure was all white. Pretty disturbing. So I asked him at breakfast ... just to make sure I didn't see a ghost ... and he said it was him ... it was too hot to sleep. So that settled it. No ghost.

Today we get a new saint - Mary McKillop of Australia. You can watch the canonisation Mass live from several catholic TV channels on the Internet.

St Theresa of Avila

Today is St Theresa's feastday - the great carmelite reformer. Tenacious and fiery,  she drove ahead the reform of the Order, clashed with the power that be, and won. Not an ordinary lady, this one. I haven't called Sr Rita from the Nazareth Carmel yet. I'll do so later for dinner ... just to congratulate her community.

Something strange today - I was terribly sleepy the whole day. Just couldn't keep my eyes open. Tried to do my research but fell asleep 3 times. I've developed a cold sore (herpes simplex) and someone said all the tiredness and toxins are coming out of my body, that's why I'm so tired.

New students have moved in - Entre from Transylvania (Dracula country!!!), Alejandro from Chile (I think), Biju and Linson from India, Jakub from Poland, Lorenzo from Italy. And Jean Paul returned from England; he was studying english there during summer. Now we're pretty crowded. But I haven't joined the community for meals or prayers yet, only for Mass, because I'm still not feeling well enough.

Go catch a virus

It was so good to see my former students again - israeli, brasilian, african, polish, italian ... the whole bunch of them. I really missed them and hope I can teach them again in the near future - they hope so too! They want to petition my superiors to allow me to return and teach them. This morning at the Academic Day celebrations, they sang a lovely song set to the words of J.H. Newman's "Lead Kindly Light" - lovely rendition composed by Fr Aurelio for the occasion. Veronica, one of my students, said something funny when she came up to greet me. She said "What happened? You're only half your size now". She hadn't seen me for several months since summer holidays. Anyway on the positive side, my drastic lost of weight has spurred several other guys (overweight) to go on diets and exercise. You can't imagine what they're asking for - boiled veg. diet, green tea.... if only they knew the secret: that sickness can reduce your weight superfast in a week; go catch a virus, guys!

Well I'm getting better from the bout of illness of the last few days ... but still no appetite. The cook is still force feeding me. I was late coming home this morning after attending the Academic Day; and as I also had to see the doc again (my op. is coming up soon but the waiting list is long). Anyway the cook was mad that I was late and got Nadia and Firas to watch me make sure I eat - he cooked buckwheat, mashed potatoes and barbecued chicken. I ate some ... but I was reflecting why everytime when I even think of eating I feel nauseous - am I becoming anorexic? This evening it's Praveen's turn to make sure I eat. It's becoming quite a chore to take care of me ... like babysitting.

Rex had an eye operation yesterday. Poor chap - he's 10 yrs old but he's always still so solid and loyal.

Dies Irae

What an awful nightmare the past 3 days - sheer unbelievable utter horror. It was bad enough to be sick with a fever and running nose etc... but the medicine I was given made me so groggy I was hardly standing on my feet. Then the inevitable incessant phone calls that never ever come when I'm well. And the demands to do this and that ("NOW" the arab janitor insisted), regardless of whether I was dead or alive; the utter disregard and ..... I can't go on ... the very thought of those things just make me more sick.

If I ever do get sick again, I'll either choose to die or go far away to a secluded arab village hospital where no one, absolutely no one, will find me.

Luckily the safe return of the Chilean miners brought some joy to my otherwise days of wrath. The power of Mother Earth is once again evident - swallowing up humanity in her belly and vomiting them out again ... sounds like Jonah and the whale.

Perfect 10

Today 10/10/10 at 10am I checked out of the supermarket with my few groceries. I didn't plan it; it just happened. And after lunch I felt a piece of paper in my pocket which I took out to throw away and saw it was the bill from the supermarket. Right at the top was printed 10.00 10/10/10. So how about that? Remember last year I wrote on 09/09/09 that I'll be looking out for today? Well, it's buzzing around our place now that the coincidence of numbers occur only once in a 100 years .... so enjoy this special 10/10/10. It's unlikely you'll be around when it happens again!

Wasn't so perfect for Sr Veronica, the outgoing superior of the community that helps "cook" and minister to the sacristy. She was out at the airport to pick up two new replacement sisters at 2am and this morning she was probably very tired .... the whole of Jerusalem knew that .... because she started tolling our church bell at 11.35am when it should have been 12pm. Everyone came out to see what the matter was. What a way to leave the Holyland ... for whom the bells toll.

More rain!

Oh my! the uproar by the students opposite us is drowning all other noise!! Why?? It's RAINING!!!! It's such a happy affair - most of these children would have hardly remembered seeing rain before. Now it's raining relatively hard, with a strong westerly wind. The students let out an almighty shout and broke out of their classes, running into the courtyard to let the rain fall on their faces, waving their hands in the air, thanking God for the rain. Even the teachers are out. The principal is speaking through the PA system, trying to keep order in the school .... a rather futile attempt. The wind is strong enough to blow the rain through my window ... have to close them. The window panes are wet. Most of our guys here are also out in the terrace to see/feel the rain .... it takes so little to make the people in this drought-stricken land happy ... just some rain ... that's all we ask.

The forecast is lighter showers tomorrow, and continuous falling temp. - down to 14 degrees.

Rain

Dramatic pictures of a Jewish settler leader crashing into 2 palestinian children in Silwan (Siloam) directly south of the Old City.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/settler-leader-drives-into-two-palestinian-kids-as-they-hurl-rocks-1.317933  and http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=190682 The question is: could the driver have done differently in such a situation, such as turn a sharp right? Or did he deliberately drive into the boys?

Rain was forecast for today and tomorrow. The temperature has been falling steadily this afternoon and late in the afternoon it started raining. Pretty short ... 15 mins. or so. But it wetted the ground, and that is important for us. Now it feels like 18 degrees or so. The dark clouds continue to cover the sky but a strong westerly wind is blowing the clouds into Jordan. Time to bring out the winter blankets.

Torah funeral

Yesterday was the feast of O. L. of the Rosary; and Bro. Rosario's feastday. It was a simple celebration with Mass and a lovely lunch (seafood spaghetti) but without a cake. I only eat whole-grain pasta which I buy and it went well with the seafood sauce. Khalil our cook is really good at his stuff.

And we said goodbye to Sr. Aquila (spelt Akwila in polish) who left the Holyland for good after a 6 mth stay and service. She is a seamstress in her congregation but came to work as sacristan because of a shortage of sisters. We were good friends even though we couldn't communicate - she speaks only polish and I don't. Bye bye Sr Aquila!




Yesterday witnessed a rare funeral - of 11 Torah scrolls. A fire started from a short-circuit and burnt the Ark that held the scrolls in a synagogue. The Jews revere God's Word so much, the burnt scrolls cannot be discarded but must be given a proper funeral. http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=190608 . 25,000 people came to pray and bury the torahs. I wonder if christians hold as much reverence for their bibles.

Feast of St Faustina

School has officially started today. But some of us who are researching have worked all through the hot summer, it makes no difference if school has started because it never ended.

The weather has changed ... alot colder in the nights. Some trees have already began shedding their leaves. And the autumn harvest of fruit are quite delightful - lots of peaches and nectarine; the figs are in their last leg and mandarins are just coming into season (terribly sour).

Today we celebrated the feast of St Faustina - actually it should have been yesterday but it was postponed for a day. As no one celebrated the feast yesterday, I decided to buy a cheesecake from English Cake in the New City for the sisters (they're from the Faustina congregation). Wonder of wonders! English Cake sells cakes and cookies for diabetics. The lady there was very kind and spent 15 minutes showing me all the goodies for diabetics and I was impressed. And guess what? Buy one, get another for half price. So I got a blueberry cheesecake and a normal cheesecake for the sisters ... and a marble cake for myself!!!! The sisters were very very appreciative ... they had a small party at tea time and ate the cheesecakes.

Matthew came home after 6 months away in Germany and everywhere else. I wonder if he'll be able to finish his thesis this year. We really need to work hard this year ... once we get our rooms done up that is ..... yup ... problems week after week with the local workers who never show up. This time my shower cubicle is paid for but not set up because the guy says he's "Jewish and will not work for a christian". So give me back my money!!!!!!!

???

When the american pastor proposed to burn korans, the whole world slammed condemnation and islamic movements threatened retaliation, and there was general distress if not panic if it went ahead. But a mosque did get burn here a day ago by alleged Jewish settlers, and korans did get burn here .... but you don't hear those same voices protesting. So where are they? Why are they silent? Because they know that the Israelis will not react like Christians ... who turn the other cheek, who see virtue in suffering; the Israelis will fight back tooth and claw .... hence the silence from the neighbouring arab nations, from the west, from those who made alot of noise a month ago. And therefore it is even more significant that several rabbis actually went to the muslim village in which the mosque was burnt, and offered solidarity, and replaced the korans.

http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/barak-west-bank-mosque-arsonists-are-terrorists-and-must-be-stopped-1.317161
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=190301
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-11477037

Feast of St Francis of Assisi

A day to recall how a rich young man, pampered with the good life and encrusted with wealth, decided to leave everything and become a beggar. He wanted to follow Lady Poverty. He wanted to live the Gospel. He was disowned by his family; derided by his townsfolk; scorned by his peers; suspected by the Church ... and all he ever wanted was to be free like the birds of the air, to be joyful and thankful for the little things in life. To be simple, unencumbered and Christ-like. Watch this bit from the film "Brother Sun, Sister Moon" by Zeffirelli - the moment of Francis' conversion from riches to a beggar. It makes you think of your own priorities in life.




Sadly on the feastday of our Saint of Peace, more violence in the Holyland. Jewish settlers are suspected of burning a mosque in the West Bank. Tensions are high. Then clashes between secular and ultra-orthodox Jews because the latter want segregated streets and public transport for men and women. Parts of the ultra-orthodox district has been cordoned off and traffic restricted. In the light of all these disturbances, it is good to hear from voices from the Israeli side speaking candidly of their (in)experience during the wars that caused so much lost of lives. http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/features/we-were-supposed-to-enter-quietly-instead-we-threw-grenades-1.317038  But I would add, this is only half the story. Let's hear some brave voices from the Palestinian side of the horrors they caused. All the fear and suspicion that lies at the root of these wars; the attachment to property and material goods the source of all these unhappiness; all the so-called technology and philosophy to justify self-interest over others .... why? why? look at the birds of the air ... they are content with only little and yet they are joyful and free.

From the same film, Francis and his beggars meet the Pope (part 1).


part 2


St Francis, pray for us miserable sinners.

Transitus

More tensions. This morning a Palestinian was killed.  http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/israeli-policeman-kills-palestinian-near-east-jerusalem-1.316844 

Yesterday I had the chance to see a bit of a very wonderful children's video called "The Miracle Maker - the story of Jesus". The scenes are drawn from exactly what exist here archaeologically. Those of you who have been to the Holyland will recognise many of the places reconstructed. It's well researched and well presented, but i don't agree totally with some of the script as it's vague in some places regarding theology. Nevertheless it's a splendid movie event - a clay animation. Fabulous. Something as a christmas gift. Watch the trailer. http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi4008706329/  or the full movie (in segments) on Youtube.

Tonight begins the Transitus of St Francis - the celebration of his passing from life into eternal life. It will be a very crowded affair. Let's recall how the Poor Man who gave up everything to be a begger, changed the lives of millions down the centuries. By having nothing, he gained everything. Tonight we celebrate the begger saint.

Guardian Angels

Another day of tensions. There were helicopters flying in the early morning (3am) that woke us up. Arabs are still protesting in commemoration of the killing of 13 youths 10 yrs ago on this day. Police presence in the Old City is stepped up.

Today we also celebrate the feast of the Guardian Angels. How we need their help here in this land.

I've finally figured out why I get terribly sick once in a while. I think it's the reaction between the medicine I take (Norvasc and Simvastatin) and grapefruit juice that is served daily for our meals. I'll have to stop drinking it (once in a while ... I prefer Coke though!!! but it's off limits). Anyway the Jewish holidays are over so I'll be making my appointment to see the dermatologist and get my melanoma removed. Guardian angel, help!!!!!

St. Therese the Little Flower

Today was a tense Friday. The arabs are commemorating the 10th anniversary of the killing of 13 teenagers that sparked the 2nd Intifada. Small protests around the country had taken place and today a general strike was called. Military presence in the Old City was pretty visible.

Also today another commemoration - the feast of St Therese of Lisieux. And today we also celebrated the 50th anniversary of profession of our dean. He's caught a cold but we celebrated it nonetheless with a simple lunch and lots of well-wishes. He and I also telephoned Fr Buscemi in Rome because it's his birthday.

I've been feeling pretty down since yesterday so before lunch I took a slow walk to the New City. Am feeling better from the diarrhea but very listless and tired. Needed some fresh air. Got some spray to stop the cat from pooing in our flowerpots, then bought some whole-grain biscuits and mint-water. It was very hot and the walk was terrible. Met the MC sisters along the way and followed them to their home to get some info. They are always very nice. They did some washing for me last week.

Today's reading from Job is God's enigmatic answer to why a good man must suffer. Still grappling with that. Not easy.