What a lovely surprise to bump into some old friends here in the streets .... several protestant revs. whom i had collaborated for many years and some i have known for 30 years. Despite their age (80s), they are still spritely. It was very good and we were very happy to see each other again. Also bumped into Ghazi, an old colleague; and Daniel who used to work at our place back in the 1990s; Sergy who's happily married, Francesca who's making an unexpected stop over. Too may surprises for one day.
Action in the north and south today - Israel Defense Forces bomb and kill a terrorist in Gaza (south), while IDF troops without from Ghajar at the Lebanese Border (north). All I know is helicopters were flying overhead most of the day.
Muslim festivities continue throughout the country. Got spat at and cursed by muslims children in the streets. So much ecumenism and goodwill.
Good to see Prince William proposing to Kate M. ... finally. And a proud day for St. Sgt. Salavtore Giunta who's received the highest US award to a living soldier. We need a little smile in this worrisome times. Earthquake in Indonesia again; Ireland's econ. is collapsing, and here we have no rain. It gets terribly cold in the night but it still is not raining. But we try to smile.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
feast
And the festivities begin for the feast of the Sacrifice, The streets are filled with people dressed in their best. Music blaring everywhere. Fireworks in the night. Carcasses of sheep haging at all butcheries. Unbelievable scenes. Some of my muslim friends have gone to Mecca for the Haj.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Plant theft
Iraqi christians have demonstrated in the streets of Baghdad to call for protection from the European Union. http://www.straitstimes.com:80/BreakingNews/World/Story/STIStory_602957.html
But sadly I don't think the West is interested. When the US attacked Iraq in 2003, I was interviewed by a news agency regarding what will result from this siege: having been to Iraq and visited the Christian Quarter of Baghdad, my first response was "The Christians will suffer." I am right. The Christians have suffered and are still suffering. I feel sad for all the Iraqi religious who are now living here and around the Holyland - they have families still back in Iraq, persecuted and fearful.
Last night I went out for dinner with Osvalda our librarian. It's been a long time since we went out to catch up with the latest happenings - alot of memories of Fr. Lino. We had a simple dinner of kababs round the corner of Jaffa Gate - at a small christian restaurant. After that we went back to Casa Nova and had ice cream with the superior Fr Raffaele and a visiting bishop. I restricted myself to a small piece. Then on my way home I passed through Damascus Gate. It was bustling with activity. Lights were strung from outside to inside the Gate, vendors crowding every conceivable space selling anything and everything. It was very festive and exciting. Tonight begins the muslim feast of the Sacrifice - Al Adha. I think it will last for 3 days.
Tourists continue to flock here in the thousands. Good economically, a disaster for locals living in the cramp Old City. Tiny streets and alleys are not meant to carry thousands of people each hour and locals are feeling extremely frustrated by guides who stop in the middle of streets explaining this and that. Traffic is totally blocked and tempers flare ever so often. The groups are totally oblivious to the local community; they occupy the entire street taking photos and eating and chatting, causing so much noise and litter. And as I discovered yesterday evening, they even steal .... some of the plants I planted in our courtyard. Several geraniums and alyssums were totally lifted up from their beds and spirited away. I bought 43 pots of those plants and planted them 5 days ago. What will tourists do next? Stealing plants from a sanctuary.
But sadly I don't think the West is interested. When the US attacked Iraq in 2003, I was interviewed by a news agency regarding what will result from this siege: having been to Iraq and visited the Christian Quarter of Baghdad, my first response was "The Christians will suffer." I am right. The Christians have suffered and are still suffering. I feel sad for all the Iraqi religious who are now living here and around the Holyland - they have families still back in Iraq, persecuted and fearful.
Last night I went out for dinner with Osvalda our librarian. It's been a long time since we went out to catch up with the latest happenings - alot of memories of Fr. Lino. We had a simple dinner of kababs round the corner of Jaffa Gate - at a small christian restaurant. After that we went back to Casa Nova and had ice cream with the superior Fr Raffaele and a visiting bishop. I restricted myself to a small piece. Then on my way home I passed through Damascus Gate. It was bustling with activity. Lights were strung from outside to inside the Gate, vendors crowding every conceivable space selling anything and everything. It was very festive and exciting. Tonight begins the muslim feast of the Sacrifice - Al Adha. I think it will last for 3 days.
Tourists continue to flock here in the thousands. Good economically, a disaster for locals living in the cramp Old City. Tiny streets and alleys are not meant to carry thousands of people each hour and locals are feeling extremely frustrated by guides who stop in the middle of streets explaining this and that. Traffic is totally blocked and tempers flare ever so often. The groups are totally oblivious to the local community; they occupy the entire street taking photos and eating and chatting, causing so much noise and litter. And as I discovered yesterday evening, they even steal .... some of the plants I planted in our courtyard. Several geraniums and alyssums were totally lifted up from their beds and spirited away. I bought 43 pots of those plants and planted them 5 days ago. What will tourists do next? Stealing plants from a sanctuary.
Friday, November 12, 2010
It's a hard-knock life
Yesterday was a real hardwork day. Andrea came over and we worked on 4 texts in 8 hours flat - no lunch. By 5pm I was so exhausted I fell asleep immediately. Didn't wake up for dinner. I think today will be the same ... I need to finish my work today.
There'll be another Day of Prayer and Solidarity for Iraqi Christians this Sunday. Sadly no one except France has made any gesture to help the Christians in Iraq.
Israel has issued warnings for its citizens to leave Egypt and Sinai because of terrorist threats. I'd warn tourists to leave those places too ... no good getting caught in crossfire. Meanwhile tourists are flooding into Israel like never before - Indians and Russians are the majority ... literally coming in the thousands.
There'll be another Day of Prayer and Solidarity for Iraqi Christians this Sunday. Sadly no one except France has made any gesture to help the Christians in Iraq.
Israel has issued warnings for its citizens to leave Egypt and Sinai because of terrorist threats. I'd warn tourists to leave those places too ... no good getting caught in crossfire. Meanwhile tourists are flooding into Israel like never before - Indians and Russians are the majority ... literally coming in the thousands.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Feast of St Leo the Great
This morning at 10am I got a call from a journalist telling me there was another bombing in Baghdad killing some Catholics. I was horrified ... less than a week after 50 were killed in our church ... and the Iraqi govt. has still not provided protection for Christians??? All talk talk talk but no action. And no western country is protesting .... no guarantees from America to protect christians. Shameless.
It didn't make the feast of St Leo any better for me. This afternoon we had the funeral Mass for Fr Lino. We had to rush it through because by 4.30pm the sun sets and we cannot have the procession through the Old City to the cemetery on Mt. Zion. Mass was filled with nuns and local christians. Many were crying. Three bishops were also in attendance. I had a hard time walking up to S. Salvatore for the Mass as my knees are all swollen and weak after having knelt for half an hour beside Fr Lino trying to resuscitate him. Now I'm wearing my leg braces. Luckily Johanny came with me and helped me climb the hill to S. Salvatore. Also accompanied me home.
So ... feast of St Leo - my festa onomastica (patron saint's day). Everyone was very nice. Khalil baked a lovely cheesecake with strawberry topping .... aaaahhhhhh but I was good. I shared half with Mother Theresa's sisters and the other half with the librarians (Osvalda, Sr. Maria, Martha-Maria, Hilda, Sinead). Then Nadia made Makhloubey ("Upside down" vegetarian version) - my favourite dish. And Jadallah's wife made Warra Dhawalli (greek Dolmades - grape leaves wrapped with lamb meat). And the sisters of the kitchen made an apple-crumble with saccharine instead of sugar. All so fantastic! But I can't possibly eat all of that - so I called Johanny to share most of it. He doesn't have lunch most of the days because he lives up on the Mt. of Olives and cannot go back for a meal and return to school in time for afternoon classes.
The celebration was muted as I asked the superior to keep it sombre in respect for Fr Lino's funeral. Everyone understood and respected it. But the brothers here are so warm and sincere. Lorenzo, Matteo, Linson, Bijou, Alejandro, Rosario, Matthew and the professors especially Fr Ravanelli who made an intercession during Mass for me, everyone shared their joy and best-wishes. I really like this community. And all the workers in the house too ... and even some of the muslims across the street who knew about the feast.
It didn't make the feast of St Leo any better for me. This afternoon we had the funeral Mass for Fr Lino. We had to rush it through because by 4.30pm the sun sets and we cannot have the procession through the Old City to the cemetery on Mt. Zion. Mass was filled with nuns and local christians. Many were crying. Three bishops were also in attendance. I had a hard time walking up to S. Salvatore for the Mass as my knees are all swollen and weak after having knelt for half an hour beside Fr Lino trying to resuscitate him. Now I'm wearing my leg braces. Luckily Johanny came with me and helped me climb the hill to S. Salvatore. Also accompanied me home.
So ... feast of St Leo - my festa onomastica (patron saint's day). Everyone was very nice. Khalil baked a lovely cheesecake with strawberry topping .... aaaahhhhhh but I was good. I shared half with Mother Theresa's sisters and the other half with the librarians (Osvalda, Sr. Maria, Martha-Maria, Hilda, Sinead). Then Nadia made Makhloubey ("Upside down" vegetarian version) - my favourite dish. And Jadallah's wife made Warra Dhawalli (greek Dolmades - grape leaves wrapped with lamb meat). And the sisters of the kitchen made an apple-crumble with saccharine instead of sugar. All so fantastic! But I can't possibly eat all of that - so I called Johanny to share most of it. He doesn't have lunch most of the days because he lives up on the Mt. of Olives and cannot go back for a meal and return to school in time for afternoon classes.
The celebration was muted as I asked the superior to keep it sombre in respect for Fr Lino's funeral. Everyone understood and respected it. But the brothers here are so warm and sincere. Lorenzo, Matteo, Linson, Bijou, Alejandro, Rosario, Matthew and the professors especially Fr Ravanelli who made an intercession during Mass for me, everyone shared their joy and best-wishes. I really like this community. And all the workers in the house too ... and even some of the muslims across the street who knew about the feast.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Fr. Lino Cignelli R.I.P.
It was all so sudden. We were all at the Immaculata Hall at St. Saviour's this morning for the opening lecture of our school year by Bishop Bruno Forte. I was sitting at the end, the last seat, with Fr Johnny. Fr Lino came down the aisle and joked to me, tapping me on my shoulder - the last place will be the first, he said, it is the place of service. Then he moved up to the row in front of me and spoke to Eusebio. Then he collapsed on the ground. I rushed to catch him but was too late. Eusebio tried to raise him up but I said to let him lie where he was. His lips were turning purple. Someone was shouting to Sergei to come as he knows first aid. But I could see Fr Lino was not breathing and tried to force open his mouth - he was biting his tongue. It was so rigid, he bit through my fingers. Luai came and both of us continued to try opening his mouth. Sergei started massaging the heart. We couldn't breath into his lungs as his mouth was tight shut and the tongue was blocking the way. He turned blue. After half an hour, he was gurgling and Sergei said it was the end. There was nothing we could do or knew what to do. By the time the nurses came down from the infirmary, it was past half an hour. Fr Lino died. I was holding his head all the while. I made the sign of the cross on his forehead and kissed it.
Fr Lino was my professor of Greek 18 years ago. And although he was retired, he continued to follow my research. In fact I go to see him every week as we analyse the text of my research together.
Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord; May perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Chill out
Took yesterday and today as chill out days ... didn't study during the day (read some books in the night though) as I was just too strung to do anything. Yesterday I snapped at Lorenzo when I misheard what he said ... but later when I realised what he actually said, I went back to his room and apologised. He was ok with it as he knew I was at breaking point. He told me to take a vacation. Today it was Entre the Transylvanian who got a tongue-lash from me. But he deserved it. No apologies for that!
I told the Dean I wanted a couple of days to chill out and he said ok. So yesterday I cleaned my room and planted the geraniums in 8 flower boxes downstairs. Elias - who serves as my unofficial bodyguard; he calls me his "brother" - whom I have known for 20 years, came to see how I was doing after the operation; and he exchanged his 2 canaries with ours in order to spread the gene pool of our broods.
Later in the afternoon a german lady fainted in our courtyard. We weren't sure if it was fatigue, heatstroke, haert-attack etc... so an ambulance was called. Well, it's Jewish and they don't want to enter our Quarter without armed security. I said according to the Accord, no weapons are allowed in religious houses. But seeing the german lady in need, I decided to close one eye and let the two armed police enter our courtyard with 3 para-medics and 4 student medics. And ... it drew so much attention all the arab neighbours came over to see what was happening. I took the opportunity to get to know them, exchange a few words here and there. Got to know Yusuf, who's the son of the photographer Haymed ... he wasn't as nasty as I thought. Then I learned that Achmed comes from the Tanhouri clan - Achmed is very selfconscious that he's a muslim and he would never speak to me in public when other muslims are around; he only speaks to me when no one sees or is within earshot. When I walk pass him while he's with his muslim pals, we pretend not to know each other. That's how great the religious divide is in our area. Muslims and christians don't speak to each other - at least not openly. Anyway the armed police and para-medics brought the lady to Ramat Rachel Medical Center (near Bethlehem) and the crowd dispersed.
Then when it was dark, I decided to take a long walk in the New City. Stopped at the chinese restaurant and it was bustling with people. But the boss, Ah Ling told me to sit in a corner and after a few minutes she brought out a big bowl of porridge and mui-choy ... not on the menu obviously but what the workers cook for themselves to eat. Really really nice. And I didn't have to pay for it! Ah Ling, Por Por and their gang are very good to me ... even the arab waiters ... we had a good laugh and chat while the porridge was boiling.
Last night a massive asthma attack got me at 1am. Couldn't sleep for the whole night. Used the inhaler but no use. It was really bad. I had to sit up the whole night without sleeping. By the morning I was exhausted. After breakfast I went back to sleep. In the afternoon went out for a walk and did some shopping (veggies for the canaries, an apple strudel for diabetics- the owner came out to personally show me the latest cakes he baked), then planted the rest of the geraniums in 8 other flower boxes upstairs.
After that it was the moment to truly chill out - get to watch Youtube results of last night's X Factor. I'll bet you after last night's performance, Matt Cardle will be the winner next month. His performance, his vocals were just "utterly stunning" as Simon Cowell says. Listen to him hit the high C ... faultless. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYnb8n8wxAk Disappointed - Mary Byrne my favourite contestant - her powerful voice failed last night; it was a wrong choice of song, too low and outside the range of her vocals. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCppkc0MGVg Disappointment - One Direction - too much hype, can't sing, can't dance, the only thing going for them is the cute factor. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nxTirfs5dM Frankly this year the contestants aren't anything like previous years' - this year the vocals are an absolute letdown other than Matt, Mary Bryne and Rebecca Ferguson (Eartha Kitt!!! How come no one has made this connection between them yet??? Rebecca has the voice of Eartha Kitt!!! Let it be on the record that I am the first to note the resemblance) Last year we had fantastic vocals like Stacey Solomon, Danyl Johnson, Olly Murs and the fantastic winner Joe McElderry or previous winners like Leon Jackson and Leona Lewis. My bet this year is Matt. He'll win hands down.
I told the Dean I wanted a couple of days to chill out and he said ok. So yesterday I cleaned my room and planted the geraniums in 8 flower boxes downstairs. Elias - who serves as my unofficial bodyguard; he calls me his "brother" - whom I have known for 20 years, came to see how I was doing after the operation; and he exchanged his 2 canaries with ours in order to spread the gene pool of our broods.
Later in the afternoon a german lady fainted in our courtyard. We weren't sure if it was fatigue, heatstroke, haert-attack etc... so an ambulance was called. Well, it's Jewish and they don't want to enter our Quarter without armed security. I said according to the Accord, no weapons are allowed in religious houses. But seeing the german lady in need, I decided to close one eye and let the two armed police enter our courtyard with 3 para-medics and 4 student medics. And ... it drew so much attention all the arab neighbours came over to see what was happening. I took the opportunity to get to know them, exchange a few words here and there. Got to know Yusuf, who's the son of the photographer Haymed ... he wasn't as nasty as I thought. Then I learned that Achmed comes from the Tanhouri clan - Achmed is very selfconscious that he's a muslim and he would never speak to me in public when other muslims are around; he only speaks to me when no one sees or is within earshot. When I walk pass him while he's with his muslim pals, we pretend not to know each other. That's how great the religious divide is in our area. Muslims and christians don't speak to each other - at least not openly. Anyway the armed police and para-medics brought the lady to Ramat Rachel Medical Center (near Bethlehem) and the crowd dispersed.
Then when it was dark, I decided to take a long walk in the New City. Stopped at the chinese restaurant and it was bustling with people. But the boss, Ah Ling told me to sit in a corner and after a few minutes she brought out a big bowl of porridge and mui-choy ... not on the menu obviously but what the workers cook for themselves to eat. Really really nice. And I didn't have to pay for it! Ah Ling, Por Por and their gang are very good to me ... even the arab waiters ... we had a good laugh and chat while the porridge was boiling.
Last night a massive asthma attack got me at 1am. Couldn't sleep for the whole night. Used the inhaler but no use. It was really bad. I had to sit up the whole night without sleeping. By the morning I was exhausted. After breakfast I went back to sleep. In the afternoon went out for a walk and did some shopping (veggies for the canaries, an apple strudel for diabetics- the owner came out to personally show me the latest cakes he baked), then planted the rest of the geraniums in 8 other flower boxes upstairs.
After that it was the moment to truly chill out - get to watch Youtube results of last night's X Factor. I'll bet you after last night's performance, Matt Cardle will be the winner next month. His performance, his vocals were just "utterly stunning" as Simon Cowell says. Listen to him hit the high C ... faultless. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYnb8n8wxAk Disappointed - Mary Byrne my favourite contestant - her powerful voice failed last night; it was a wrong choice of song, too low and outside the range of her vocals. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oCppkc0MGVg Disappointment - One Direction - too much hype, can't sing, can't dance, the only thing going for them is the cute factor. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nxTirfs5dM Frankly this year the contestants aren't anything like previous years' - this year the vocals are an absolute letdown other than Matt, Mary Bryne and Rebecca Ferguson (Eartha Kitt!!! How come no one has made this connection between them yet??? Rebecca has the voice of Eartha Kitt!!! Let it be on the record that I am the first to note the resemblance) Last year we had fantastic vocals like Stacey Solomon, Danyl Johnson, Olly Murs and the fantastic winner Joe McElderry or previous winners like Leon Jackson and Leona Lewis. My bet this year is Matt. He'll win hands down.
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