Rain in May?

So we finally have a new Custos. It's been quite a surprise to many if not all of us - an outsider was chosen by Rome and not any of our nominees. He has never lived in the Holy Land so he'll have a lot to learn ... especially in dealing with the delicate political situations in Syria and the Israeli-Arab conflict. May the Holy Spirit lead him in wisdom and courage.

Frogs in a pond

The Old City is preparing to celebrate the Festival of Lights ... an annual event that winds it's way through the Christian, Jewish and Armenian Quarters with light displays and performances. The Muslim Quarter is always left out because of fear of violence and attacks. Last year it was canceled because of the rising tensions between the jewish and arab communities. This year the organizers feel confident enough to go ahead with it .... but definitely with all precautions taken into consideration.

The heatwave has passed and the daytime weather is more bearable .... about 25 degrees. The nights are chilly though ... down to 12 degrees. Forecast is rain on Monday and Tuesday. Rain in May???? Well if the frogs are right, it should rain. There were countless frogs in the pond of the local nursery that I visited yesterday. I had to buy some flower pots for the Chinese Sisters convent. And as I entered this huge nursery in the valley just after the Valley of the Cross, you can hear the loud droning of frogs that drown out even our voices. The frogs are making their mating call and this happens only when the rains come so their eggs and tadpoles have survive in the temporary pools and ponds. Being so deafening, the frogs must seem very confident that it will rain.

Mother Teresa's sisters organized a
Mass inside the Empty Tomb for me
to preside for my Jubilee celebration

On another note, the City will also celebrate Jerusalem Day or Unification Day on June 5th Sunday. That's when the Israelis recall the Israeli army taking over the Jordanian side of the Old City including the Wailing Wall and all the territories of the West Bank. For the Israelis, it's a unification of the country. For the palestinians, they were chased out of their homes and land, becoming refugees ... and hence it's not a happy occasion. Like every year we expect some violence. Sadly it's the violent and extremist zionist israelis who will enter the Muslim Quarter of the City to provoke the arabs, mock them and deride of their loss of land and statehood. The govt is tripling its funding to these groups to march through the Muslim Quarter this year!!! http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.720161  As if things cannot get worse, this year it also happens to fall on Ramadan. Tensions will be high. I might just go out like every year to take photos. But it's getting risker by each year. Last year there was the real fear of being attacked by these extremist jews because they want all non-jews out of the country. I think they feel the same way this year.