Stigmata of St Francis

Opening of school year at Ratisbonne. Accompanied Hidri as he was alone. He was anxious over financial matters so I had to try settle his nerves. Poor chap. Anyway I need to find 5000 euros to finance his studies, food and lodging in order for him to be a priest. He'll be the first Ethiopic Catholic priest here in the Land if he succeeds. You might remember him as the refugee seminarian from an older blog. So if you can help, please do. This is an urgent appeal.

Anyway at the inauguration of the school year, I had the opportunity to meet some of my old students. They're into 3rd year now. And I'm very proud of them. Many professors say that they are the best batch of students the school ever had. Everyone from the class except Chuen the American Vietnamese was there. He's still in America. And Boris from Africa came in a football sports-shirt ... but the inauguration was a formal affair! He didn't bat an eyelid and felt comfortable as he was. That's how much confidence he has.

So far nothing unusual has been happening despite the rising tensions that you can feel in the streets. Police on horses now patrol East Jerusalem ... the horses are taller and larger than cars. People tend to walk faster at Damascus Gate, avoiding direct looks.

The markets are selling the last harvest of figs and peaches. The peaches are huge but not very tasty, being the last batch on the tree. So are figs, which are much smaller. Prunes are almost over by now and the short season for limes is defnitiely over. Wish we could get bottled lime juice. It goes well with everything. Anyway yesterday I tried to make fish curry ... must say it tastes pretty good. Cooked it for Valerian from S'pore and Praveen from India. I can't eat it myself as my stomach still ends up in cramps and diarrhea.

Today we remember the Stigmatisation of St Francis. He received the 5 wounds on Mt. La Verna during a vision. It's a reminder that we all have to carry the wounds of Christ ... to be a christian is to be wounded for love and by love.