Proluzione

The proluzione ("address") went off well this morning. As most of the students were in attendance, as well as professors and guests from other schools, we had to use the Immaculata Hall at St. Saviour's Monastery. It was filled. The first speaker was Bishop Lackner from Austria, a franciscan who teaches Duns Scotus' philosophy and theology. It was very interesting, especially when he concluded that Scotus taught that we "encounter" the Bible, that we are passive, that we are "listeners" to the Word. We're not the active subjects that "study", "analyse" the Word of God. I was happy because that is exactly what I teach all the time.

Going to and from St. Saviour's was a hassle because the streets (the Way of the Cross) were simply packed. Literally jammed pack with tourists and muslims and Jews. The last two groups are going to pray but a cruise ship just landed in Haifa this morning with over 5000 tourists and they're all doing this one-day whirlwind tour to see Nazareth, Jerusalem and Bethlehem. We usually take 6 days to do that!

And for all you out there waiting to see our school video - it made it's preview during the proluzione. It's in Italian though, but I think an english version will soon be done. Anyway you get to see my school! Enjoy!

Friday again

School is back in full swing but the real academic year begins only tomorrow at the "Proluzione" ceremony where invited guests give speeches and reports are made of the last academic year and new publications are presented. I think this year something special will happen .... the much-awaited video of the school will be shown during the refreshment time. Already lots of students are talking about it. Keep watch at our school's website. It should be posted up soon.

Meantime the rains have gone like a dream and the dry sunny weather is back. But very cold though. Let's hope the rains return.

And a new online course will soon be on - the Historical Books. It'll cover the books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel and Kings. Sign up quick! And those of you who have not discovered Eternal Light webcast ...... there's a treasure of biblical and Holyland programmes waiting for you.

The first readings for these mornings are abit heavy ... the Letter to the Romans. I don't think anyone has made a series of reflections based on this first reading.

Cold day

The rains have gone and the sun is back. The temperature has climbed as well - it's 20 degrees now but it'll drop to 9 degrees tonight. Cold .....

We have a terrorist on the loose. So security is extra tight down in the Sharon plain (that's the area running along the Mediterranean Sea). Winter time is usually bombing time because it's cold and people wear lots of clothes .. that means they can hide bombs inside clothing. Summer time is alot tougher for terrorists. And as if that's not enough, the Israeli Navy caught a boat with 60 tons of weapons heading for Lebanon. Boy... that sure sounds dangerous.

Saturday is our Proluzione Day ... it's like Inauguration Day for the School. We have a professor coming to speak on Duns Scotus and Fr Manns will speak on Judeo-Christianity. I think the video on our school will also be launched. Not sure yet.

Anyway it's back to studies. I need alot of strength to stay up and alert to study. Asthma is again back, fingers and joints swollen with arthritis. It makes walking and typing very painful.

9 degrees!

The rains were intermittent throughout the night. But it's cold - 9 degrees right now. Imagine just less than a day ago it was 27 degrees. No wonder many people are falling sick. But we need the rains, so we'll suffer gladly. So much rain has fallen in one day that the Sea of Galilee has risen by 4mm.

Rain at last

It finally rained .... yes yes yes. Everywhere else in israel was raining. Just a km away in Bethany (House of Mary, Martha and Lazarus) there was a severe storm. But all day Jerusalem was high and dry. It was mighty cold though .... dropped to 17 degrees and tonight will be 7 degrees. And at 5pm it started to rain. It's not like a storm or anything near, but the shower right now (and strong winds) is very welcoming.

Hope the rains continue through tomorrow (even though I have school).

Christian in the Holyland

A serial terrorist has been arrested ... at last after 12 years of terrorism. And he's not arab. He's Jewish. He kills arabs, christians and messianic Jews. And he's not alone. According to Shin Beth (Israel's intelligence service) there're still others at large.

I'm trying to copy and paste some of the news items on this, but obviously they're all blocked. So you'll have to navigate the sites yourselves - http://www.jpost.com and http://www.haaretz.com

So it's not easy being Christian in the Holyland .... you get killed for it. Nice thought especially when today is All Souls Day. Will celebrate a second Mass for all your deceased relatives, friends and benefactors.

All Saints Day (Nov. 1st)

Cold night we had. I had to turn on my "hot air fan" .... but it wasn't working well. Sparks fly every few minutes and it turns off. I guess I should buy another one. Today was pretty cool too. Already people outside were wearing woolen pullovers. And the slight drizzle at 4pm made it feel even colder. Well .... that's winter. Forecast is heavy rain in Jerusalem tomorrow .... we hope.

Jerusalem might not have rained today but the rest of the country is. Lots and lots and lots. After 10 years of drought, the drains have not be used and have been stuck with 10 years of leaves, sand, and other garbage. And now with the heavy rains in the rest of the country (meaning it's not raining in Jerusalem) the drains have jammed and the country is flooded! Two men died in a mudslide, traffic held up, train system stopped .... all because it rained!

We celebrated All Saints' Day with lightheartedness. The bells at the Holy Sepulchre was ringing very loudly; same with the Lutheran Church bells.

Tomorrow is All Souls Day. I shall celebrate Mass for all relatives, friends and benefactors who have passed on into the Kingdom. It will be a thanksgiving for the gift of life; and I have not forgotten you all.