St. Anthony feast

St. Anthony in
Bethlehem

Yesterday was the feast of St. Anthony of Padua ... the patron saint for franciscans in the Holy Land. St. Anthony wanted to come to the Holy Land after learning the martyrdom of the first friars in Jerusalem ... but he could not fulfil his wish. He's known for the miracles especially with healing little children so many christian children yesterday wore the franciscan habit as an act of consecration to St. Anthony. There was solemn Mass at our central parish church.

Anyway it was a big feast for us and school wa closed and both libraries had a day off. I went north to Galilee and visited our communities in Capharnaum and Tabgha. It rained along the way!!!!! Rain in June!!!!! Utterly unbelievable. The weather has gone all crazy. But it was good to be away from Jerusalem for the day. On the way home I stopped by a couple of nurseries in Jericho. Plants are a lot cheaper here and they are heat tolerant ... being raised in 40 degree weather. I bought a Bird of Paradise plant and 2 white Gaura which I could not find in Jerusalem. Along the streets there were numerous plantations of bananas, grapes and sunflowers. Very beautiful.

Vines with young grapes

Church leaders in Jerusalem are in an uproar because the Israeli High Court has ruled in favour of israeli settlers in ownership of 3 important church properties. Well the fault lies squarely with the former Greek Patriarch who sold the properties in the first place without knowledge of his council or laity or clergy. He wanted money for his own family in Greece. Now all christians in the Christian Quarter pay the price for his greed. 2 such properties control a main entrance to the Holy Sepulchre. If the settlers decide to block the road, then there will be no more solemn processions and entrances from Jaffa Gate to the Holy Sepulchre.   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-christian-leaders-blast-decision-to-sell-jerusalem-properties-to-settler-group-1.7366340?fbclid=IwAR0_RwdKUXh0fCm8y420qSNJsDbjH5i3GJbvL0FqnsFZtR2sCkrYnSQd8nU