Chilly weather

1st public Mass

Time flies so quickly. It's already almost the end of October and 2025 is slipping away. It's unbelievable. The sun is rising later at 5.30am and sets earlier. And it's much cooler. Nights are 16 degrees and daytime 26 degrees. It's pleasant but it can feel chilly indoors. Winter is approaching.

However there's no sign of rain which we desperately need. The morning dew is rather heavy and the ground is very wet, but it's not enough to sustain us for the next summer. Let's hope the rains will eventually come.

Despite the ceasefire, fighter jets continue to roar over our heads in the early mornings; drones buzzing overhead and soldiers everywhere. These few days it's even more tense as the US delegation is in the Old City - Vance and Kushner.  Arab farmers are prevented from harvesting their olives. The situation is deplorable. The signs of poverty is everywhere and people keep coming and asking for help.

I managed to celebrate my 1st public Mass last Sunday.  It was tiring but luckily I had 2 Indian deacons to help me. 5 other priests - all our MA and PhD students - joined me. Several nuns from convents in Jerusalem came also. It was a nice celebration. It's slowly getting back to normal routine. Except I'm much slower and clumsier. I drop things and shuffle as I'm afraid to fall. That's why having deacons with me is important.