Sylvester

Birth of Christ manuscript from
our library

It's the last day of 2019. In the Church calendar it's the feast of St. Sylvester ... and that's what it's called today here in Israel ... "Sylvester". They don't use the Gregorian calendar but they join in the celebrations of New Year's Eve. Usually there's a small fireworks display in the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna in the gospels) but we're never sure what time it starts. And every year I'm already asleep when they start the display. Frankly I prefer to watch the fireworks from around the rest of the world.

This evening like most other religious houses in the Holy Land, we'll sing vespers and add the Te Deum as thanksgiving with Eucharistic Adoration. Looking back it was a year where health wise it wasn't too bad despite the numerous hospital visits and interventions. Thanks to you all who helped defray my medical bills ... it really means a lot. Work-wise the load was enormous ... and there were moments when I was crushed and totally helpless. But I survived. Charity-wise a lot was done through your generosity: we managed to sponsor many school children, pay rent, electricity/water, food and medication for several poor families, provided clothes and heat packs for the winter ... on the whole it was a great job. Congrats to you all for your generosity and support!

Sr. Sarita's birthday

Tomorrow's New Year Mass will be celebrated with your intentions in mind. I'll be celebrating it in Nazareth at the Annunciation Basilica.

One good piece of news for the new Year ... petrol prices in Israel will drop tonight. That'll help relief the financial plight of most people. And the other day we celebrated Sr. Sarita's birthday ... it's her first birthday in the Holy Land and it was good we were around to celebrate with her.

The new strain of influenza is scaring everyone to have vaccination shots ... such that there is now a shortage. Already 11 people died and over 100 in serious condition. It's a national scare.  https://www.ynetnews.com/health_science/article/BJNdnmv1U?fbclid=IwAR3AcevnmU24ee6U0-0IzoHxOt0hxo_V2uJtC3CDRvFJ0uxkNwuNwhMCnRU

Year ending

Hanukkah musicians in the plaza

It's the last night of the 8-day jewish festival of Hanukkah. I was out in the New City to buy some necessities ... something I've been avoiding for the past days as it was too cold ... but the birds have no more food so I really needed to go buy some. Buddy and JJ are fretting because they have to eat fruit and veggies instead of seeds.

Darkness falls at 5pm and entertainers come out to all the plazas in Jerusalem, each doing his own stuff. At Cat's Plaza, there was a giant hanukiot (9 candle stand) serving as a podium for musicians. In the neighborhood of Nahalat Shiva, a marching band with illuminated hats were making loud music. And in Zion Square, a giant hanukiot was waiting to be lit while crowds milled around and illuminated stilt-walkers weaved among them. It's a joyous feast celebrating light .... but on its darker side, it's a celebration of Judaism over other religions. We've been getting a spate of anti-christian attacks these few days. Yesterday 2 jewish men came to our church and spat at the cross. When tourists and guides protested, they attacked the christians. Then they called the police and accused christians of attacking them in the name of anti-semitism. How long will these people hide behind that excuse of antisemitism while perpetrating anti-christian acts?  

Hanukiot at Zion Square

It's almost the end of the year. 2019 passed very quickly. Thank God we had come very close to war ... several in fact ... but everything calmed down. We survived the butter crisis and the yoghurt crisis. The drought came and was washed out by last week's storm. The US embassy moved to Jerusalem but everything fizzled out ... no one cares. 2 elections came and went ... and still we have no govt. We survived 2019.

Holy Family feast

At St. Anthony's
church, Jaffa

It's Holy Family Day. Most have gone to Nazareth to celebrate the feast at the house of the Holy Family ... also known as the church of St. Joseph. I spent my morning after Mass instead cleaning the sacristy of the Armenian Catholic church. There were lots of laundry to do: purificators, alter linens etc. Then it was back home to clean the courtyard. The storm of the past 2 days have littered the courtyard with leaves and branches. It needed some tidying.

In the afternoon visitors began to come. 12pm one, 2pm another and 3pm another. Not sure if any others are coming later. I must go and buy food for Buddy and JJ as they have no seeds left to eat. Poor boys. And they have hardly seen me the past few days as I was away working in the parish. So today they've stuck close to me ... on my shoulder and arm all day. I try my best to play with them ... but JJ who is almost 1 yr old is very mischievous and noisy ... like a typical teenager. It's non-stop playing for him everyday. That means chewing everything in sight ... especially electric wires. I have to watch him all the time so he doesn't get into big trouble. Buddy is older ... 3 yrs now ... and is much more settled. He'd just sit on my shoulder and go to sleep. No problems with him.

The rains of the past 2 days have caused the Sea of Galilee to rise by 20cm. It made up for the drought for the past year. Flash floods have led to 2 deaths so far. It's stopped raining today and this should last till next weekend when rains are predicted.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/days-of-heavy-rainfall-raise-sea-of-galilee-by-some-20cm/?fbclid=IwAR3nL31fvUWuTruBZ4Ag6JU2sqFXj8CWTEEtqeJfENZqu2NTI_pgUjCEfSM

And while the winter gets harsher in Syria, thousands of refugees are on the run again ... govt. bombings in the north-west where most christians are seeking refuge have led to a bitter exodus for safer areas. Our poor christians are so persecuted but the world continues to ignore them. In Nigeria, christians were killed on Christmas Day by ISIS ... but hardly any noticed is given around the world. What a terrible way to end the year ... and begin another.

Holy Innocents

4am and heavy rain

It really rained yesterday ... all day and all night. In your country, you'd call it a storm. We've not had one that lasted so long .... practically 24 hrs. There were rumbles of thunder and the wind was very strong. And I was working outdoors for 18 hrs. Started at 4am going to the Holy Sepulchre to say Mass for a group of sisters. And it was raining heavily. After that we toured the basilica till 7.30am. Then from 9am to 1.30pm I brought them to see the Jewish Quarter and the archeological exhibits. Then from 2.30pm to 5pm I brought them to the Gethsemane and the shrines in the Kidron Valley. All the time it was raining very hard. We were all wet and I was afraid I'd catch pneumonia. I was coughing very badly.

Quicho the cat

Then at 5.30 I had to rush 1km to East Jerusalem and meet a group. I was extremely tired and breathless. I didn't think I'd make it. I was having blackout flashes. And my legs felt like jelly. When that finished .... and it was raining very hard all the time... I had to walk 2kms uphill to West Jerusalem to meet another group. By the time I got home it was 10pm and I really thought I'll die. It was a punishing schedule but I had to do it and I survived ... even in the storm. It was quite an achievement.

This morning started also at 4am when I had to go back to Jaffa ... in the storm. It's Holy Innocents Day. Visibility was very poor in the highway ... and it was very foggy ... so our car had to go very slowly. At 8am I had to bring our seminarians around Jaffa to visit some important sites. And it was a storm so heavy, umbrellas were overturned and everyone was utterly drenched. I took the taxi home at 12pm because I really couldn't stay in the cold anymore. I was feeling really sick. But it was a very fun morning ... with our philosophy seminarians on their christmas holidays. And our cat Quicho in our Jaffa monastery was very playful and kept us entertained when we had breakfast.

By the way there's a new strain of flu in Israel, already 11 people have died and 90+ in serious condition. Maybe it's time I got my flu shots.

Stephen aday

Spot where Stephen was killed

It's St. Stephen day ... so say T.S. Elliot in his "Murder in the Cathedral". The Greek Orthodox Church now stands over the stoney slope where we believe Stephen was stoned to death. There was solemn vespers there yesterday evening .... and lots of candles were placed over the stone slope. Right now solemn Mass is being celebrated over his tomb ... which is under the altar of the Dominican priory outside the walls of the Old City.

The weather is really wintry. This morning I had to walk to the Ivrea and it was cold and wet. Now it's drizzling heavily and the wind is so strong the drops cuts into the flesh. I wanted to go and deliver the chives to the chinese sisters but because of the weather, I've decided to stay home. Since yesterday I've been coughing very bad ... like an onset of pneumonia. Serious. I need to stay home and warm. But this morning, in the strong drizzle, I decided to work in the garden. It's the perfect time to plant tulip bulbs ... and I had to repot the canna lilies that are killing our rose bush. Those bulbs have grown so deep into the giant pot of heirloom rose bush I had to use a spade to dig the out.

The rest of the day will be slow ... I need to rest. Tomorrow begins a hectic day on excursion with some nuns and Saturday it'll be excursions with the seminarians. No rest till hopefully Sunday.

News just in ... a teen was swept away by strong currents as he and a friend tried to cross a stream on their all-terrain buggy. They should have known better. Nature here is raw and vicious ... never take anything for granted.  https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ByR4Hbz1I?fbclid=IwAR2ihv58JJpJCkls6DLDg2ng-Wd5yOzECM-2VFpWSWmXIbDEOFFGuVPkwcU

Christmas

Christmas bouquet with berries

It's Christmas ... our sanctuary of St. Peter's in Jaffa was packed all through the night. Every hour there was a Mass in a different language. I had the first vigil Mass which was in english. It was standing room only. Half the crowd was jewish. They came to see how Christmas is celebrated. And they packed every other Mass as well ....  polish, spanish, hebrew ...

There were no stop confessions especially in russian ... lots of them coming to ring our doorbell. And the indian Mass had 2000 people ... so many there were some 12 priests and seminarians helping to distribute communion. And being a holiday we had no cook so we had to buy cooked food the morning so we could microwave it for lunch and dinner. No time to cook. I bought some thai street food from the Carmel market 2 kms away ... and luckily they were large portions because suddenly for dinner 5 others showed up and ate it a well. We had papaya salad, pahd thai, tom yam soup and pahd krapao.

Thai street food for dinner

After the Christmas morning Mass I came home to help in our kitchen. We have no workers as well so our sisters had to do everything. Too stressed. They could't enjoy Christmas. I bought bread and laid the table and clean the kitchen so they didn't have to do all that ... and can have more free time to enjoy Christmas.

It started snowing in the north this morning ... now let's see if it spreads down to the south here. It's dreadfully cold and the wind is extremely strong and cold. Lots of stuff have been blown down from houses. I was nearly knocked down by the wind while walking to church.

Christmas Eve

Choppy sea at Jaffa

It's Christmas Eve ... and it's very cold in Jaffa by the sea. I arrived late because many roads in Tel Aviv were blocked due to works on the new tram line. My driver got dreadfully lost ... but luckily I saw the tall spire of the Russian Church ahead and directed our driver from there. So after setting off from Jerusalem at 4.45am ... I only reached Jaffa at 6.30am and was too late for the morning Mass. And though Jaffa is many degrees warmer than Jerusalem, it actually feels a lot colder. Maybe it's the sea breeze. The sea is very very choppy and everyone is saying it'll rain heavily tomorrow. I doubt it. The sky is just simply deep blue and cloudless. Then again, anything can happen.

Carmel Market this morning

I took a long walk down to Carmel Market in Tel Aviv ... about 2kms away. It's always lively there ... especially now during the Hanukkah feast. Tourists and locals mingle in the tiny streets of the market selling from food to vegetables to clothes to religious souvenirs. A very strange assortment of goods. Most from China ... as the discarded cartons are printed boldly. And I found the Thai cookout ...a really tiny place ... that I once bought Pahd Krapao 2 years ago but since couldn't find it. In the veggie stalls there were lots of chives ... which are not available in Jerusalem for some reason ... so I bought 3 bunches for our chinese sisters. Then it was a long walk back to our Jaffa house for lunch.

Stall selling sufganiot

The walk was very refreshing ... the powerful sea waves bashing the promenade, spraying salty seawater on the walkway. Jogger and strollers in thick hooded jackets skipped out of the way. It felt really good to be out ... away from the cramp, tense, polluted atmosphere of Jerusalem. Spending Christmas Eve here is great.

Anyway I'm actually here to serve the midnight Mass and tomorrow's morning Mass because of a shortage of priests. Our only english-speaking priest has to serve one other parish and 2 other chapels, covering 3 cities, and it's practically to rush from one to another in one night, so I was asked to come and help.

Anyway the tranquil atmosphere is great for my preparation of tonight's and tomorrow's homilies. Back to work.

One more day

Our indian sisters
singing carols

Yes ... one more day and it'll be Christmas. Another Christmas. 2019 comes to and end and a new decade begins ... 2020. How fast time has flown. And to make it even more stark and real, last night I met up with a schoolmate from college days. That's 38 years ago. He still looked the same except for the white hairs ... which is great because I've lost all mine. It was good to reminisce and shared the missing years when after college, each of us went our own ways.

Yesterday I started working on the pine bouquets that I do every year for our refectory for Christmas. But this year I didn't go to the park at midnight to cut the pine branches. Last year it rained and I caught pneumonia. This year I got the nuns to cut the branches from the numerous pines in the parish garden of Beit Hanina. They brought back 3 huge bags of it ... but though it seemed a lot, they just managed to create 8 small bouquets and one large one in the middle of the refectory.

Pine bouquet in the refectory

Our indian sisters yesterday came to our refectory to sing carols and wish everyone a happy Christmas. It's a little early ... but on Christmas day itself most of us are away ... either in Bethlehem or celebrating Masses for various communities ... so few will be at home to celebrate. We'll probably meet up on Boxing Day. It's not much of a holiday for us because the numerous Masses t celebrate around the country.

The temp is now 9 degrees but strangely it feels very hot .... I'm only wearing a T-shirt. The weather is no longer what it was. Nevertheless most of us christians are very happy because only a while ago the Israeli govt has granted permission for some christians in Gaza to come to Bethlehem and celebrate Christmas.

Tension is in the air since Israel allegedly fired into Syria but was intercepted by syrian military. The northern border is jittery ... and the new year doesn't seem to get off on a good start.

Nablus visit

Traffic jam in Nablus city centre 

Yesterday was another very busy day. I had woken up at 2am to finish a translation job so I could be free during the day to do other urgent chores. Managed to finish the translation by 9am and then it was a rush to Nablus 60 km north of Israel. because it's in Palestine, there's need to pass through checkpoints ... and there the traffic jam can be horrendous. Then once inside Nablus city, the traffic at the city centre was even worse. All in all it took almost 1 hr and 40 minutes to reach the MC convent. Nablus by the way is ancient Sebastiya and eve more ancient Shechem where Joseph 11th son of Jacob is buried, and where Jesus met the Samaritan woman by the well.

Once there we had to carry all the donated food to the convent and then celebrate Mass for the sisters who have no priest. The sisters there care for some 20 handicapped and sick women from all around the West Bank. After that it was another quick rush back to Jerusalem where I had to do another translation job for 2 hours. Then it was bible conference and confessions with the MC sisters in Jerusalem. Ended by 8.30pm and I was ready to sleep without dinner. Simply too exhausting.

Fresh fruit for sale in Nablus

This morning was we had solemn Mass at the Armenian Catholic church ... solemn because today both armenian seminarians came and they chanted the creed for the first time. Everything was sung and the readings were all in armenian ... another first. For the past 2 Sundays, we've also been visiting families and blessing their homes. The families love it especially because they have not had their homes blessed for almost 20 years ... because they have no resident priest. I hope to visit a few more families during this Christmas period.

There's a good article on one of our friars who works in Syria ... a true hero. Read it  https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2019-12/the-franciscan-who-stayed-in-war-torn-syria.html?fbclid=IwAR2JSEePq5eFMoN3RYDk47FiZHlKCEhrUUTqG-LjbO2OSw920Nxbea3MvGw

Armed police are all over our neighbourhood, behind our house. I think it's our neighbour again ... he's very violent and is in and out of jail regularly. He must have caused some trouble again and the police are watching him. 3 weeks ago he started a fight with another neighbour ... so violent that the police had to close the road and make arrests. That's the environment I live in.

Christmas gatherings

Chinese dinner

We had a nice evening get-together for Christmas ... the chinese priests and religious in Jerusalem. There're not many of us ... about 10. Not all could join in. But we had Mass in the Casa Nova chapel and then dinner at the IHM convent. The sisters prepared northern dumplings which I love .... and southern chinese hotpot. Simple fare but very filling. We chatted alot, catching up from the past 6 months that we haven't met qs a community. I did pity the sisters though as they had alot of washing up to do.

After dinner I gave them a small present each ... a small panettone with a baby Jesus made from clay. It's very well done by the nuns in Bethlehem and it's very cute. Everyone loved it. Sr. Magdalen gave everyone a bar of chocolate. And of course we had to organize for the next gathering which will be on Chinese New Year. It's very early on Jan 25th which is a Saturday. And everyone seems to be busy. We'll have to reach a compromise.

Earlier on in the day our library staff also gathered for a simple Christmas exchange of greetings. Almost all 8 staff made it. We had panettone and a home-baked cake and lots of relax time to chat. It's good to show some appreciation for their hard work and I'm sure they all liked it.

But outside there was tension on the southern border with Gaza. They fired rockets into Israel again ... twice ... and each time Israel resounded by bombing their weapons storages. And the anti-arab attacks also continued with 2 arab cars burnt by jewish extremists with threats scrawled on walls. Things are not looking good.  https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-two-cars-set-ablaze-hateful-slogans-sprayed-in-west-bank-hate-crime-1.8292801?fbclid=IwAR3vKw1P-vB6yA9iGVY9jU2UwRZqVPOtVYezuIv-Im0Z7n_eEy5FP_4uaRc

Stromata

Relic of Manger close-up

Another day closer to Christmas. The decorations at New Gate are almost finished but sadly we cannot put anything up of New Gate or outside it ... because ultra-orthodox jews object. Somehow we must go through this every year. A little tolerance could go a long way but in this City only the extremists rule. Those who shout the loudest reign. The message of Christmas ... of peace and love ... has no place in their hearts or minds.

Grilled chicken

More attacks on arab property by jewish extremists. Cars and buildings defaced with threats. It's appalling how this can continue 3 weeks in a row and nobody is arrested. And you can be sure in the newspapers, reports of archaeological finds disparaging Christianity will soon be printed. It happens every year at Christmas and Easter.

Now news coming in to say Israel has turned off the electricity to Gaza because Gaza has not been paying its debts. Imagine the poor people suffering in this cold without heating and lights or hot food.

Somehow all the news today is not good. I guess that's all the more important for us to keep the hope and faith in such times. So ... just to end off in a happy note, I'm putting a photo of the grilled chicken I bought in Bethlehem yesterday. It's the only shop left who does it the traditional way ... whole chicken deboned, flattened in 2 halves and roasted over a charcoal fire. I love it.

6 days more

Archbishop & MC sister in Gaza

Our Archbishop (the Apostolic Administrator. We don't have a patriarch) spent 4 days in Gaza celebrating Christmas with the 150 Catholics inside the war torn enclave. It was a great highlight for them as they have been denied entry permissions to Bethlehem or Israel. The MC sisters have 2 homes for elderly abandoned women and handicapped children which the Archbishop visited and stayed for lunch. The visit strengthened the little community and it was a big reminder for the rest of us what Christmas is all about .... the Word becoming a helpless human in a war torn district of the Roman Empire.  https://www.ynetnews.com/article/Syao1MVCS?fbclid=IwAR0WFA9-KquGR-1iiYL5PeEfGqOTBuwA-qpIVP0dfmDOhiME--esXWJU8Io

Bethlehem's
Christmas tree

Yesterday's fighter planes and rockets are now explained as we learn the jets bombed and killed an almost successful infiltrator at the Gaza border. There's been tensions down south. Luckily our Archbishop had left Gaza by then.

Some families have been cooking food for me as a christmas gift. I've been helping them through your generosity to pay for their children's school fees and they want to show their gratitude. It's very nice of them and I can't possibly eat so much food so I gave most away to M. Teresa's sisters.

Christmas will probably be very cold as the forecast for this weekend is 3 degrees at the lowest. I'm not sure if I'll enjoy that. But I'll certainly be keeping warm as much as I can while doing my Christmas obligations. I'll have one vigil Mass on the 24th and a morning Mass on the 25th. That'll keep me busy for the feast.

We've begun singing the O antiphons for Vespers. Nice ancient gregorian chants to inject some Christmas feel into the season. It's 6 days more to Christmas.

Bethlehem

Relic of the "Manger" in the crib

Yesterday was the first Christmas gathering this week. It's with my collaborators of the General Library. We do this annually with all our workers. Our usual custom is to give them each a panettone ... which is the large fruity christmas bread we eat during this time. Before and after that, it was the daily queue at our lawyers' and accountants' offices to settle the buying of books for the library. Its an unbelievably complicated affair which does not guarantee the arrival of the books. All in all it was a very busy day which ended at 11pm ... I had to do the washing up of dishes and preparing the breakfast table as well.

Sr. Amruta at the real manger

Today I made an early trip to Bethlehem. I had lots of winter clothes to bring to M. Teresa's sisters. Many pilgrims have left their winter clothes behind for the poor. I needed a taxi to bring all the bags there. 2 of our indian sisters came along as they wanted to see Bethlehem and pray there before Christmas. Surprisingly there was hardly any crowd in the basilica. We could enter the grotto of the Nativity in 5 minutes and then to the manger next to it. Remembered you all in my prayers there ... all the living and the dead ... for this Christmas. Prayed for your health and wellbeing and all your intentions.

In the Church of St. Catherine next door, we prayed at the Immaculate Conception chapel where the relic of the "manger" is kept. Then it was a long walk up and down the hill to reach the bus stop where we reached just i time before the noon schedule. It's important to avoid the noon bus because the university students finish their classes and pack the buses to return to Jerusalem. Meantime Israeli fighter jets were roaring overhead and the plumes of 2 rockets could be seen overhead. Nothing has been reported in the news but it's obviously something serious that no one is easy to make public.

Christmas might not be so calm and peaceful after all.

Of storms and Santa caps

Sunless sky with rain clouds

We've been hearing fighter jets booming overhead the whole morning. Not sure what's happening ... where the bombing is taking place. It's very unsettling.

My morning was very busy with one Mass at 7am and another at 9am. After that it was house visiting and  blessing the families and homes. I was my first time walking inside the Armenian Quarter visiting the armenian catholics there. It was very pleasant to see the families in their homes. I'll have a couple more houses scheduled next Sunday ... I bought panettone and sweets for each family ... something to make the feast a little more fun. Most of the families are very poor and a little extra goes a long way ... and Christmas can be spent less stressful and hectic.

Tree at Notre Dame

The weather was stormy up in the north. Reports say there were floodings and injuries and even one death. I'm sure there'll be flooding in the southern Negev desert as well. The sky over Jerusalem was heavy and dark. The sun can hardly shine through. And the wind is very very cold. Forecast is for similar weather for the next few days.

Meantime the political storm over the 3rd election is brewing. People are unhappy that tax-payers one are being spent a 3rd time round. Companies are offices are unhappy that another day off will take place and workers must still be paid. And it doesn't look likely that this 3rd round will guarantee any one party from achieving a majority vote.

On a festive note, Christmas decorations are found everywhere in the Christian Quarter. I haven't yet seen the iconic La Salle College Christmas Tree at New Gate but the one in Notre Dame centre is huge enough to see part of it from the road outside. There were lots of secular jews and groups coming through the Christian Quarter yesterday and today to see the decorations. I saw some even buying Santa caps at a christian shop. Ecumenism at work.

Retro -snow

Holy Sepulchre this
morning

The day continued to be very cold. I had early Mass at the Holy Sepulchre and the walk up to the basilica was chilly. I had to wear a woollen beanie and scarf and a thick jacket to stay warm. The basilica was a lot less crowded than the past months. I could say the Mass with less stress ... without crowds around the Empty Tomb chatting and pushing.

After Mass was the usual Bible class with the expatriate community from St. Anthony's parish in Jaffa. They cooked me a plate of pansit and salmon. That was very nice of them. But I had also decided to cook some chill crabs for lunch. I had received 2 packs of those spices and had bought some "crab meat" ... the frozen stuff sold at the asian grocery ... and cooked it up with some fresh egg noodles which the grocery also sold. I must say it tasted very good ... considering the lack of real crabs.

6 years ago ... snow!!

6 years ago today we had a huge snow fall that blanketed the whole City. It was a marvellous surprise which most of us remembered. Of course there was the dreadful shovelling of the snow from the library terrace which was backbreaking. Despite that, I'd really like some snowfall this year. It would make Christmas a little more special.

I'll have to go and buy bread for breakfast tomorrow. I'd rather do it now than tomorrow morning at 4am when it's freezing cold. I did buy some panettone to give to some poor families when I visit them tomorrow. It'll help give them some cheer.

Another cold day

My Christmas decor

What an incredibly cold day. Though the sun was shining, it was only 9 degrees. And the wind was strong and cold. There are less people in the streets and shops close early. I'm wrapped up in a woolen beanie and scarf. And people have been collecting old winter clothes to give to the less fortunate who have no heating. Let's hope tourists groups who are returning to their countries will leave their winter clothes behind ... especially those from tropical countries who don't need them back home. This week I've been going around several hotels picking up bags of these clothes and bringing them to M. Teresa's sisters.

As per every Advent, the weekly Saturday solemn entry of the Custos to Bethlehem to celebrate vespers takes place with pomp. I haven't joined in for almost 20 years now. It's too demanding ... all the walking and chanting for several hours. And in this cold as well.

My back is much better though I still have pain carrying things. Lots of other guys are sick in my house. Coughs and fever ... thank goodness I've not caught any of it. Everyone is drinking lemon juice to ward off the illness. I think we go through box of lemons a day. All our lemons on the trees were harvested last week.

One bit of sad news. Israel is not permitting christians from Gaza to enter Bethlehem to celebrate Christmas. It's a major blow as these poor christians have nothing to look forward to. Stuck in a muslim majority community of 2 million, christians number only 500 families and they face very tough challenges. It's also the only occasion when they can meet up with other family members living in Israel or the West Bank.   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/israel-bars-gaza-s-christians-from-visiting-bethlehem-jerusalem-for-christmas-1.8262631?fbclid=IwAR2Fm8hQPsKYZntv4NACaketBORv8Xiuzc7B0K7LhxfCQLimuePUEn_ukJE

There were more attacks on arab property yesterday. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-muhammad-is-a-pig-dozens-of-cars-vandalized-in-arab-village-in-northern-israel-1.8259518?fbclid=IwAR3HCDgzGHu-_866a1MgViQH3r7lhBpfdvVEkYJEQAas-YbjsXxvMCO2RTE

Storm ... but not here

Cold weather

My back is a lot better today. I kept my room warm and I placed a board under my old collapsing mattress. Thank goodness for that. But right now I've just seen Sr. Clara our indian superior who cut her finger with the automatic meat slicer. Deep cut ... and she's bleeding a lot. I told her to go to hospital but she said she can't because another sister had fallen down earlier and is already in hospital. They both can't be in hospital at the same time as no one is preparing dinner. Well ... of course we can handle our own dinner. She should really go.

Full moon & rain
clouds

The full moon is out but it's constantly being covered by thick rain clouds. Not that it's raining now but the clouds are really dark and heavy. The forecast is for thunderstorm today ... which never came today in Jerusalem. It just might break tonight. I hope so. The Christmas lights in the Christian Quarter will be dampened in this very cold and cloudy weather.

But outside of Jerusalem there was vicious weather ... strong winds that forced a commercial airline to make an emergency landing, people hurt by falling things, trees felled .... and I think there were heavy rains in certain areas as well. Jerusalem simply missed all this.  https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SJvsyAkCS

Well it's official that the country will go back to the polls for the 3rd time in a year. I worry ... because the political impasse and lack of a functioning govt will portray instability and weakness. There may be some out there who might try to take advantage of the situation. Good thing the military is always on the alert. There is general nervousness how the next elections will turn out.

Meantime the Brexit circus continues to entertain us. So Britain goes to the polls as well. Whatever the outcome, it'll have little bearing on us .... except maybe to provide more free entertainment. There is of course the nagging fear that if Corbyn gets into power, then a rise in anti-semitism is expected. Well ... I'd say the greater worry is anti-Semitism in the USA which is fully blown and warmly encouraged by the president.

Lights

St. Francis Street

My hurt my back last night. Not sure exactly why. I did carry some boxes of books but didn't feel as if I pull a muscle. I think it's more due to the old mattress which is too soft and also the cold. The whole thoracic region from neck down to torso hurts a lot. It's like cramps. I can't bend forward or back, or even breathe or cough. It hurts too much. Sprayed some analgesic spray on it but only had slight effect. Have decided to go to sleep early ... with some heat packs on the back. Let's see if it works.

The streets in the Christian Quarter is getting more festive each night. St. Francis Street is fully lighted with a christmas tree on the roof of the Catholic Scouts den. Decorations have just started to be put up at New Gate and I noticed the giant iconic Christmas Tree at La Salle College is still not up. It's always a touchy issue here because the ultra-orthodox jews every year protest against this tree. They call the police and order all christmas lights to be torn down from New Gate and carols banned. They say it's idolatry. I guess they remembered their ancestors praying to "sacred poles" (cf Isaiah etc..) which were trees. Too bad they have to carry that baggage and then apply it to everyone else. No christian has ever worshipped a christmas tree. It's simply a decoration during the cold bleak winter months.

Setting up decorations at New Gate

Looks like a 3rd election is on the way ... there's not been a functioning govt for the past months and since no party is giving way to form a coalition with the others. Such a stalemate is resulting in lone soldiers (immigrants with no families) with no monthly stipend (at least that's what some newspapers are saying) and no budgets allotted to various facilities ... and worse ... we have no butter!!! I saw my first bar of butter today at a grocery. Only 3 for sale ... after months of lack.

No news from the borders so it seems things are calming down. Thank goodness.

After the rain

St. Francis courtyard in the rain

The rains have stopped but it's still very cold and everyone is enjoying this wintry weather. But reality hits home when Israel announced the army and other agencies will be holding an emergency drill in winter in the case of an earthquake and tsunami. That's the worry preoccupying the mind of the govt. And rightly so.

We've seen pictures of little children killed in Syria ... kurdish school kids whose school had been bombed by the Turkish army. It is utterly unacceptable and the world is not saying anything .... the complicity of silence especially by the american troop pullout from that region will come back to accuse them. But while time is the judge, innocent people continue to die in the meantime.  But on the happy side, we also received news and photos of the Armenian Catholic Cathedral in Aleppo (Syria) rebuilt and reconsecrated in a big ceremony. Muslim and christian leaders all came to the event. I'm so happy ... because I'm now closely associated with the Armenian Catholic community.

Jaffa Street after the rain

I've been forgetting alot of things lately. Like this morning I forgot there was a seminar that I had to attend. Luckily all my workers remembered and asked what I was doing at home when I should be at the seminar. I never ran so fast in my life these past years ... wheezing and coughing. Had only 15 minutes to get to the seminar venue. Once I reached there, I found out they changed the venue because there was an error in booking. What a day.

Pne consolation though ... as I went out to do my shopping for the week during the lunch break (it was raining during the weekend so I couldn't go shop), I passed by the Thailandi restaurant. It's a fast-food place with standard foreign food with thai sounding names. Well I know the cooks there ... 2 thai ladies ... and today they offered to cook whatever I wanted. I always ask for Pahd Krapao which is not on the menu and the cooks don't dare to cook it because the manager is around. But today the manager was out so they cooked a version of Pahd Krapao without the basil. It's really weird because the dish is all about the basil. Anyway I liked it. It's the best they could do without basil.

Feast of the Immaculate

Car ride in the rain

Yesterday's rain continued all through the night. Though it was mostly heavy drizzle in Jerusalem, it was stormy up in the north. A 17 yr old was struck by lightening there. But things don't stop on the meteorological level. Down in Hebron at the tombs of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, 2 stabbing attempts were foiled by the army. And last night ultra-orthodox jews rioted in central Jerusalem because the police had arrested one of their kin who dodged the military draft. So much tensions everywhere, it's spoiling the festive spirit. And I don't just mean Christmas. The jewish feast of Hanukkah falls on Dec 21 and it's one feast that stirs up nationalistic feelings.

Pine branches &
cones on the Madonna
statue

Today the rain continued ... and it's really rain ... a downpour with thunder and lightning. The temp remains around 9 degrees and we even had to turn on the heater in our refectory. It's the feast of the Immaculate Conception and I remember during this feast decades ago, it gets really cold and we have our woollen habits and mantles on.

The cold weather is just right for Christmas. With festive lights all along the Christian Quarter and giant Christmas trees on the roofs of several institutes ... the feeling of Christmas is catchy. In the evenings when the lights come on and carols are blared throughout the Quarter, not only christians but muslims and jews also come and see the festivities.

Last night I had to go to the St. Vincent de Paul convent to meet a group. Travelling by car up the Mt. of Olives in the rain was an experience going back 30 years. And luckily for me, the convent garden also had lots of pine trees so I had the gardener cut 3 branches for me. Killing 2 birds with one stone. Spent some time in the morning arranging them at our Madonna statue in the refectory.

More rain

Rain inside Damascus Gate

Tensions rose again when Gaza fired 3 rockets into Israel yesterday. Israel responded by bombing several military posts. It's a sudden escalation which saw a renewal of protests at the Gaza border .... something which stopped for the past 3 weeks. Everything is so unpredictable. We just need to be on our toes.

It drizzled a lot last night and into the early morning. The sky is cloudy and grey and it's 11 degrees but the weather forecast says it feels like 8 degrees. It actually does ... in fact it feels even lower than 8 degrees. One third of our house is sick with fever and coughs. The other third has already gone home for the holidays. And only one third is active enough to be out and about. I'm ok so far ... touch wood .... but I'll have to go out to the park to gather pine branches to decorate Our Lady's statue in our refectory. It's the feast of the Immaculate Conception today but being an Advent Sunday, the feast is postponed to tomorrow. I could buy fresh flowers for tomorrow but in 5 days I still have to put up the pine branches so I might as well do it today and save from buying any flowers.

Awnings are extended

It's 2pm and I'm still debating if I should go to the park and cut the pine branches. The thought of trudging in the mud and braving the cold winds is not very nice. But the evening it might get worse ... much colder and winds much stronger.

Last night I met a chinese group and there was a chinese doctor among them. He checked my tongue and wrist (don't know what you call it) and diagnosed that I have a weak tummy, high blood, diabetes, headaches etc... So he started blood-letting on my all 10 fingers! It was painful! Every finger had 3 pricks and blood was squeezed out. Apparently my blood is too thick and they had a hard time squeezing it out. And the initial blood flow was very dark.  Anyway after that I did feel better ... and I actually slept 7 hours without waking up. I would have it done again if it didn't hurt so much.

Rain

Rain at Damascus Gate

It rained in the evening yesterday. We were quite disappointed that it didn't rain in the afternoon as forecast but by 6pm it started to rain hard. It didn't last too long ... about an hour or so but it was quite enough. Then the drizzle continued through the night. It was cold ... 6 or 7 degrees during the night. And very humid. I was only worried not about getting wet but slipping on the wet smooth pavement stones. I went home slowly and carefully. I did go to the 24 hour bakery to buy bread on my way home ... and people were generally happy that it rained. Nobody carried an umbrella. It's normal for  locals to walk in the rain and get wet. They consider it a blessing. Tourists on the other hand were carrying umbrellas. You can tell the difference a mile away.

Rain at Musrara

Today the air is clean and cold but it's not raining. Winter plants are growing new shoots ... like the roses. I should start pruning them tomorrow so they'll grow stronger in this cool weather.

There are so many groups coming these days ... I've met 5 groups in 5 days now. Thanks to their generosity I've collected lots of winter clothes which they will not need back in their home countries. The poor street sleepers need warm clothing and M. Teresa's sisters go and distribute the donations to them.

Butter shortage

The butter shortage in the country is hitting us at home. We have no butter. There is none on sale in the shops. A visiting prof wanted some butter on his toast but we couldn't find any. Too bad. Now let's hope it's only butter and not spread to other essential foodstuffs.

Rain clouds over Jaffa Gate

And the sky is awfully dark. The dark is for rain this afternoon till evening. We need the rain ... but it's terribly inconvenient to have to walk home in the rain and the very slippery pavement stones. The rest of the students are searching for portable radiators and heaters as the rooms are now very cold in the nights. I've emptied half my wardrobe and gave them to M. Teresa's sisters because the street-sleepers are suffering for the bitter cold outdoors. They also need blankets so I'm going around the monasteries asking and collecting them.

There was an air attack in Syria early this morning which destroyed an iranian weapons arsenal. It was the Saudis who reported it but everyone is eyeing Israel. Well let that be a silent lesson .... don't prepare arsenals to shoot Israel and think you can get away with it. Every country has a right to self-defense. Nipping in the bud is alot more effective than damage control. But it makes the country very tense ... security helicopters have been circling over us most of yesterday. Small price to pay for a safer future.

There was a wonderful piece of news ... Tel Aviv University has come up with a remedy to reduce pancreatic cancer and its side-effects. Let's pray and hope it'll work and be available cheaply.

Christmas shopping

Christmas shopping

 The drizzle has stopped but the temp continues to hover around 10 degrees or a little higher. But forecast is 6 degrees on Friday. Marvelously wintry. Christmas is right on time for such weather. Now if only it'll snow ...

Tensions with Jordan is rising as the Israeli PM is discussing annexing Jordanian land in the Jordan Valley. It doesn't look good. Most people think it's the PM's ploy to remain in power by creating a war. A 3rd election is due in 2 weeks and the PM will lose immunity from impeachment when he steps done or loses the election. A war is always the solution to any crisis. But with attacks from the south in Gaza and the north in Syria, that's the last thing we need ...

Christmas shopping

I've decided to take a slow day today. Fatigue is catching is on me and I can't continue with the workload and pace of the past month. In the afternoon I decided to do some Christmas shopping. I visited the shop in the Old City but the prices were quite steep. So I walked to East Jerusalem to my usual Christmas shop run by a Greek Orthodox couple. It was good to see them again ... once a year. I think it's important to show support for our small and poor christian community struggling to make a living. I don't have much money to spend but even a little thing bought will be an encouragement. I bought a couple of mini-Christmas trees about 5 inches high as gifts to our indian sisters working in the kitchen.

Christmas is huge in Bethlehem ... not just religiously but economically as well. Once a year the locals get to earn some money from the boom in tourism during the festive season. There's a surge in new hotels and private B&Bs. Restaurants are also opening up everywhere. That's a good sign. The people deserve a break.  https://www.ynetnews.com/article/Sy00mCpXTS?fbclid=IwAR17oSWK6gwaACApbwBwvECnyPVya-zBiGH2JcIg6Sk-rA5iCYRAP4NUr08

Cold wet night

Damascus Gate ... cold and wet

As forecast, it drizzled all night. Even before the drizzles came I was walking home from work at 9pm and the paving stones were all wet from the humidity. It gets very slippery and everyone was walking slowly and holding on to the street railings to avoid an accident. It's been like that for 3 nights now. Unbelievably wet and humid. It started to drizzle again at 11am but now at noon the sun is up. It's still cold though ... not more than 11 degrees. Everyone is wearing thick jackets and hoodies. Winter is finally here. There's a Christmas feel in the air.

Wet streets

The giant Christmas Tree at Manger Square in Bethlehem was lit last Saturday and I think this week it'll be Jerusalem's turn. Ultra-Orthodox jews are repulsed by the sight of Christmas trees which they regard as idolatry. And they have enough influence to get the police to stop us from putting up Christmas Trees in our Christian Quarter.

KFC is back in Israel ... the 4th time. Locals do not take kindly to KFC which is not kosher. And the Colonel has stiff competition because israelis are experts in chicken dishes. Let's see how this time KFC fares. MacDonalds has survived but only because it adopted kosher food and preparation. Wendy's was here 30 years ago and it left just as quickly. So did Buffalo Wings. You should know that restaurants and food-chains who do not observe kosher have to pay a fine though they're allowed to operate. This raises the cost of the food. https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/KFC-officially-returning-to-Israel-in-fourth-but-not-kosher-attempt-609543?fbclid=IwAR2591gGFvBUb1tE_twFNoojjBArekhz_Eh2nxqfczZV_lmPPcH3kvcngnQ

Last week Jordan conducted a military exercise the border with Israel in view of an invasion by Israel. Tensions have been rising because of US recognition of jewish settlements in Palestine and the Israeli PM's plans to annex land from Palestine and Jordan. That's not a nice prospect when there's also tensions with Syria in the north and Gaza in the south.  https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/.premium-why-jordan-conducted-a-major-military-drill-against-an-israeli-invasion-1.8203913?fbclid=IwAR2nOvnrer0PmZ-rNPapP5WA2_PPiY6VEB-BLEaWfEMOIDG3HrDN2sTWYs0

Of ordinations and Advent

Advent wreathe

It's Advent. Yesterday began the 1st of the solemn entries of the Custos into Bethlehem ... a custom from the Crusader times. But yesterday was different ... the Custos brought the relic of the Manger into the Basilica of the Nativity during the solemn entry. I'm pretty skeptical about that relic. Firstly it was  dreadful disappointment ... 1cm bit of wood when the original is a meter long. And the headlines over the world is "Manger returns to Holy Land". Well no ... a sliver of it came back to Bethlehem, not the whole Manger. Secondly anyone who's lived in this land knows that mangers are made from stone and not wood. In the desert region where Bethlehem is, there are hardly any trees whose wood could have been used for a wooden manger. Anyway there were few local christians who showed up at the Notre Dame Centre when the relic arrived from Rome in Jerusalem. Most of the crowd were tourists and foreigners.

4 new acolytes

I can't remember much about yesterday. I've been forgetting so many things lately. Was reading a book when someone rang the bell and I went to answer the door ... got back an couldn't find my book. Couldn't find my keys the day before. Couldn't find my jacket. Then I can't remember people's names. Total blank. I think I'm mentally exhausted.

2 new deacons with cardinal

OK now it's suddenly come back to me ... yesterday morning my students were ordained deacons and acolytes. It was a festive event as they're all africans and the african community from Tel Aviv came to show their support and there were many cultural happenings, dances, singing during and after the liturgy. The seminarians are all from the Missionaries of Africa or popularly known as White Fathers because of the habit they wear. Their community just had one of their members made a cardinal ... and he returned from Rome to ordain the seminarians.

Yesterday an arab teenager was killed near Hebron when he and others threw firebombs at Israeli soldiers. Police presence in the Old City was stepped up. Security helicopters were flying overhead most of the time. And 2 of our neighbours started a fight that shook our neighbourhood. They were very very violent ... and the police had to come in and close of the street till things called down.