Lenten Vigil

The chinese sisters in pilgrimage

There is a sudden influx of tourists and pilgrims this week. Well "influx" is an understatement ... it's a tsunami. Our chapels and the Via Dolorosa are so packed, groups have to wait to get inside our courtyard ... let alone the chapels. I find it such a hassle to squeeze among these groups to get in or out of our house... as pilgrims and tourists are utterly and absolutely oblivious to the needs of others. They block the streets, take pictures, chit chat, drink and eat ... and make our lives so difficult because we have no place to walk. And the crowds will get bigger now that the Orthodox Lent has begun today. I dread it. I should move to Jaffa to stay during Lent. It will reduce my blood pressure.

GuangZhou youth group at Bible class

Among the countless groups are many chinese Catholic groups. Yesterday I met 6 sisters ... a very small group ... from TaiYuan. They're the first lot of sisters to make the final profession of vows as their congregation was founded only in 1997. They're called the Chinese Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows. Gave them a talk and tonight I will accompany them to the Vigil and probably for Mass after that. That means reaching home at 2.30am. I'll be exhausted. There have been many other catholic groups coming as well. Despite my illness I have been running around the City in the evenings giving them talks. One was a youth group from GuangZhou and we had a Bible conference. And as Lent continues, more such group talks are lining up. I work all day and and nights as well now ... practically 16 to 18 hours a day.

And yes it was another night of insomnia. Last night I slept only half an hour. The night before it was 2 hours. The medication is wrecking my life. It solved my allergic reaction but it created another mess in my life. Veins in my hands are bursting, fingers are swollen, I get confused and disoriented. I lose my appetite but my students here constantly check me to make sure I eat something otherwise I faint. They're good guys.

Well as I said earlier, tonight I'll go for the Lenten Vigil which starts at 11.40pm and ends around 1am, followed by Mass on Mt. Calvary till about 2.30am. I shall be praying for you all there.