All Souls Day

Chinese Mass at Last Supper Room

All Souls Day began early with me presiding the community Mass at 6.30am. Then I went off to our Catholic cemetery on Mt. Zion on the southern side of Jerusalem about 2 km away. Prayed at a few tombs of people I knew and laid flowers. Many arab families had also come to lay flowers on the tombs of their relatives. Some waited for the procession of Franciscans to the cemetery where prayers were said and tombs were blessed with holy water.

Catholic cemetery on Mt. Zion

Then at 10.30am the chinese-speaking priests and nuns in Jerusalem gathered at the Franciscan Last Supper Room to celebrate Mass for the souls of family, friends and benefactors. It was a good occasion to remember those gone before us marked with the sign of faith. Not all the religious were able to come as some had work while another had to prepare for his doctoral defense. After that we had lunch at Mandarin restaurant to celebrate Sr. Teresa's graduation from the Salesian University, and the arrival of Sr. Clara to join the Jerusalem community of chinese sisters.

Our chinese friend
buried on Mt. Zion

Then I had to go to M. Teresa's convent to preach a weekly conference, hear confessions and Eucharistic adoration with the MC nuns till 7pm. Then it was a quick rush back because the 3rd Mass in our community started at 7.15pm followed by Vespers at 7.45pm. As hebdomedarius this week, I have to be present to lead all the prayers. Now I'm totally exhausted and want to sleep early.

The weather forecast for next Monday and Tuesday is rain. Temperatures will fall to 12 degrees. Finally a feel of winter ... nice.

The Friday clashes have largely reduced today ... as promised by muslim factions in Gaza. Now that's a good sign. Perhaps this weekend will be quiet and peaceful. Well if not, Mother Nature has a way to save that ... the forecast rain on Monday and Tuesday will definitely send people indoors and stop all the violence.