Time flies

my Echium bush

 Another week has passed. And the end of April is upon us. One third of 2026 is ending. Time flies. 

And time flying past is evidenced by the little Echium Candicans bush I gave the Ivrea sisters. It was barely a 6 inch stalk struggling to survive. Now planted on the ground, it's a hefty bush throwing out blossoms of purple spikes. attracting bees and butterflies. The sisters cut the spikes and made 4 flower baskets for their chapel. They look amazing. I'm just so happy I gave them the echium. Had I kept it, it would have died because I do not have a garden to plant it on the ground. It was living out in a little pot. Sometimes it's necessary to let things go, and then they'll flourish.

Echium basket in 
the Ivrea chapel

I sprained my neck and right shoulder carrying boxes of books and stuff. After the heart operation, my body is no longer as strong as before. Any twist or turn will end up in bruises and sprained muscles. Then I spend the entire night in pain. So there's so much lifestyle adjustments to make after the operation. Life is no longer the same. And don't even talk to me about my memory. It comes and goes. That's why I'm not regularly updating my blog. I just can't remember anything anymore. 

Easter again

Fr. Patrick knocks
3 times to open
the church doors

It's Easter again! For the Eastern Catholic churches that follow the Julian calendar!!

Our Ukrainian Catholics of the Byzantine rite celebrated it yesterday. It was a huge presence! Most brought home baked Easter bread and painted eggs to be blessed. This took place after the liturgy which lasted almost 3 hours! The people laid their baked easter goodies on the plaza in front of the church and the priest splashed copious amounts of holy water on everyone and everything. The aim is to wet everything in sight ... literally soaking wet. That's why it takes place outside the church!!!

The Ethiopic Catholics also celebrated their Easter but I haven't received photos from them yet. I'll share them with you once I get them.

Today we get to eat Easter Bread and eggs all over again .... for the next few days!

People waiting for
the blessing

Easter

 It's Easter already. Holy Week came and went pretty fast. In Jerusalem there were no public celebrations as wartime regulations prohibit crowded gatherings. Everything was private. It was like Covid again. Only this time we had sirens and alerts and hiding in bunkers. I guess all the preoccupation with avoiding a missile hit and shrapnel injury made us oblivious to the time. Imagine Holy Thursday night in the middle of Mass and the sirens are sounded. And it happened on Good Friday and Easter Vigil as well. 

As with every Easter, I'm posting the same photo of the ancient tomb with a rolling stone. It's eloquent in its simplicity and silence ... an empty tomb. A space between death and resurrection; between darkness and light. A moment which is neither here nor there, neither filled nor empty. It's almost surreal.

Empty Tomb