Christmas

Merry Christmas

 It's been a terribly busy Christmas ... the days leading up to the feast was filled with cleaning and going through the liturgies. We had a Vigil Mass at 9pm on the 24th and everyone in our house attended including our Indian sisters. The superior presided and he used incense ... which I have difficulty in breathing when it gets too  smoking. After Mass we had the traditional hot chocolate and panettone ... and everyone was taking photos to remember this strange Christmas when we're all locked indoors because of the pandemic. Our diocesan students for once had put on their cassocks ... very elegant and everyone wanted photos with them.

The weather has been sunny and bright these few days but a very very cold wind is blowing. It still feels christmassy ... though lots of public banners and lights have been reduced. The police allow christians to go for Mass ... there's hardly any social distancing in the streets but the police are not enforcing the law so as not to dampen the festive spirit. It was nice of them though healthwise it's a big risk. Already we have 5 cases of the new strain of corona virus and 1 death. The govt is imposing a nationwide lockdown tomorrow after Boxing Day so we can enjoy a little. Bethlehem and all the churches there are however ordered to close by the Palestinian govt because the pandemic is out of control. Israel will close the borders tomorrow. I'm just wondering how the Orthodox will celebrate their Christmas on Jan. 6th when the lockdown is in process.

Our diocesan
students

Last night the chinese community gatehred for an evening Christmas Mass at the Notre Dame Center. Though we were only 9 persons, the Legionaries of Christ who're in charge of the center, gave us the enormous auditorium to celebrate Mass so as to keep social distancing. It was very nice of them. Besides the 2 chinese sisters and Fr. Abraham, there were 5 chinese migrant workers from different parts of the country. They are very fervant catholics and we try to meet them for religious services and  meals as much as possible. They were very happy to have Mass since where they work there are no churches nor christians.

Today is Boxing Day or the Feast of St. Stephan. Usually the Dominican Fathers have a solemn Mass in their monastery as the burial place of St. Stephan is under their main altar. But due to the pandemic restrictions, it's been cancelled ... or at least closed to the public. Let's hope next year things will be back to normal.