Jerusalem Marathon

The weather was fine the last few days - temp. as high as 28 degrees ... almost like summer. Then the last 48 hours saw a turnaround ... temp. dropping down to 10 degrees. It rained the whole night as well and the wind is bitterly cold. I have to turn on my 2 radiators to stay warm at night as my asthma is back again after a course of courtesans and antibiotics. My body is falling apart ... I can feel the overpowering pressure and tiredness in mind and body. Too much work, too much worries and my allergic asthma is recurring after the medication has stopped. I've lost over 5kg. And people around me are warning me of a breakdown ... I should take a break. Easier said than done.

Marathoners at Jaffa Street junction

The weather did not dampen the Jerusalem Marathon this morning though. Thousands of participants joined in the cross-City run. Roads were closed till noon and no traffic was allowed. There was no train service as well since the route followed parts of the rail system. I wanted to carry some stuff to the chinese sisters convent but at the Jaffa Street junction I was stopped by police. There was no way I could cross the road as the marathoners had taken over the road. One thing though - police presence was super heavy with even the dog unit and mounted police joining in. Luckily there were no incidents ... with only 2 stabbing attempts thwarted outside of the City.

Holy Week starts in 2 days ... let's hope there'll be no incidents as well.

Emergency Ward again

Was in hospital for a couple of days. Symptoms appeared to be the flu coupled with an allergic reaction but after tests at the Emergency Room, the docs say it's a severe allergic reaction plus exhaustion. Am under heavy medication. And I lost my voice. And work has been accumulating. I start at 4am each day and end by midnight ... mostly without a meal. The mental exhaustion is even worse than the physical.

The wave of violence continues ... not like the previous Intifada when co-ordinated attacks occurred. It's still lone wolf attacks, sporadic and often involving youths below 20 yrs of age. But recently a few attacks involved guns and explosives. Police and soldiers have tightened control in and outside the Old City but it is not stopping thee attacks. Everyone is saying the Israeli military is not prepared for this new method of aggression. Newspapers have been analyzing this phenomenon and say it's the result of frustration by youths who see they have no future.  The political stalemate has left many young people without school, work or freedom of movement. The youngest in jail is a 12 yr old girl who tried to stab a soldier.

People try to get on with their lives despite all the blockades, stop-and-search and other inconveniences. It's not easy But the sense of hopelessness hangs heavily. "What can we do?" is the answer. Streets are now filled with Spring fruit such as strawberries but few families can afford to buy them now that work restrictions have tightened, cost of living skyrocket and everyone is barely getting by day by day. This year looks miserable.

Saved by the flu

Artichokes are in
season

48 hours of violence ... starting with a 50 yr old arab woman stabbing policemen inside the Old City yesterday morning; then her son and an accomplice went on a shooting spree at Salahaddin Street in East Jerusalem, while at the same time 60km away another attack took place in Petah Tikvah and 70km away american tourists were killed or wounded in Old Jaffa.

This morning a shooting spree from a moving car hit a bus in Ramot (north of Jerusalem); the same car came into Jerusalem just outside the Old City and opened fire indiscriminately ... critically wounding a passing christian. Later we found out he was Victor who used to work in our kitchen. Word is that he was shot in the head.

I would have walked by that section of the road at that time everyday to go to work, but today because of the severe flu I stayed home and that saved my life. Well being saved from being shot is one thing .... but the flu is really killing me in other ways: painful joints, fever, chills, coughing fits with congested lungs; and a dreadful asthma reaction which I now think is an allergy to a new toothpaste that I'm using. There's a chemical in there that I'm severely allergic to.

Sick

After a very very tiring weekend filled with non-stop work ... I'm now sick with a cold and severe asthma (possibly bronchitis). Painful joints, fever, headache, sore throat, phlegm, dizziness, lost of appetite, fainting spells. Am feeling extremely weak.

Female religious
at the chapel

Saturday started with an early Mass for the Konkani speaking people, 2 baptisms and Lenten talks all day. Ended quite late at night ... I got home around 11pm. Sunday also started early with a retreat in Bethlehem. Over a hundred female religious from the Judah region gathered for the election of delegates for their new federation committee. They were divided into language groups: arabic, italian, english and french. I had to preach the english conference and preside over the general liturgy. Then the afternoon was more work till late in the night. The hot sun but chilly wind made me very sick. Then of course Monday morning means getting up at 3am for classes. Everything has taken its toll.

I'll try and rest today ... if possible.

Trust no one

New Coptic Archbishop enters
from Jaffa Gate

The weather has been extremely erratic ... becoming cold and hot within hours thus making lots of people sick. However Spring is certainly here and flowers are blooming everywhere.

The new Coptic Archbishop of Jerusalem made his solemn entrance into the Holy Sepulcher yesterday by way of Jaffa Gate (status quo entrance). Heads of other churches were there to welcome him. But being very poor, we lent them some of our kawwas (dragoman / Ottoman protectors in traditional dress) to lead the procession and provided also the bagpipe band to lead the march.

Procession going toward the
Holy Sepulcher 

Meantime everyone is disgusted at the muslim fringe that killed M. Teresa's sisters and their co-workers. Though no one will say it openly, we know never to trust them, never to believe what they say.  And no ... we should stop making excuses for them by calling them "fringe", "extremists", "fanatics" , "radicals" because they are not. They are normal muslims mainstream and fervent.  Only the Hindus and Buddhists have the courage to stop these people. Other religions cower and submit.

Spring may be in the air ... but I smell a war coming.

We will not leave

Our friars in Syria

As we are still reeling from the terrible events of Yemen yesterday ... we here in the Holyland had to also make up our minds regarding our presence in the Middle East especially in Syria. Already one of our friars Fr Dhiya was kidnapped twice within a year by jihadists in Syria and another beheaded. Our 4 village parishes are reduced to a few hundred mainly elderly catholics who have no means nor strength to escape. It is difficult for new friars to enter these areas to assist the resident friars who are exhausted psychologically, emotionally and spiritually by the constant dangers, lack of electricity, water, medication and food. It is not fair to demand that these friars remain in these areas.

Aiding syrian children

So our Custos sent an email asking all of us to reflect if we should continue to remain serving in these danger zones. The answer from all of us was practically unanimous: WE WILL NOT LEAVE OUR PEOPLE ALONE. We will stay. We will not abandon the old, sick and helpless to the hands of ruthless muslim extremists. Some of us even volunteered to enter Syria. It is not and will not be an easy mission but we will persevere. And like Mother Teresa's sisters in Yemen, some of us will have to die for this commitment.

I am proud to be a Holy Land franciscan.

Mother Teresa's sisters killed

We just received the tragic news that 4 of Mother Teresa's sisters in Aden (Yemen) were killed by armed men who stormed their convent this morning. The awful tragedy of persecution does not end. Now the handicap and abandoned elderly have no one to care for them. One of the youngest Sr. Reginette was supposed to come to Jerusalem next month to prepare for her solemn profession. I was helping her with the visa arrangements. Now she is dead.