Getting worse

Mass in the
Empty Tomb

They don't want to say it ... but it is war. The city of Lod (biblical Lydda) is under a state of emergency and soldiers have been deployed to maintain the peace as jewish and muslim residents attack each other. The mayor decried that he had lost control of the situation and asked the govt to intervene. Nearby city of Rishon leSion is also in near internal collapse. over 300 rockets have been fired from Gaza into Tel Aviv, destroying property and killing a few people. The Israeli anti-missile system could not cope with such a massive barrage at the same moment.

Other towns and cities throughout the country with mixed populations all saw clashes to some degree or other. Some people are calling it a civil war. Whatever it is, if the issues that sparked this nationwide unrest is not resolved, we will not see the end of it. And this centers mainly of israeli expropriation of palestinian land and houses for settlers to occupy. Meanwhile Israel has bombarded Gaza fiercely killing over 30 people.

Today the end of Ramadan is celebrated with Eid el Fitr ... and no one knows what will happen during this very tense environment.

Inside Jerusalem, there were clashes again at night and in the early morning. The stink gas has overwhelmed our house and I'm suffering terribly from asthma and pain in the lungs. Some of my local friends have called me to offer their homes for me to spend the week and escape the gas attacks. I;m very grateful for such friends. It's times like this that I see their care and loyalty.

Yesterday morning, while it was still calm, I celebrated Mass inside the Empty Tomb for all your intentions. A Mass for all the benefactors of the Holy Land is celebrate once a month by me, and another by the Custos in a different sanctuary. Thanks for your support which helps us offer aid to the poor people in our region.