Happy New Year

New Year altar

So the Lunar New Year started here on a very cold morning. The sun's shining brightly but it didn't help the cold. But it felt right ... just like Chinese New Year should feel ... with thick coats and scarves and vapours each time you breathe or talk.

The  Arhcbishop paid a visit to the Chinese Sisters at 5pm and he greeted them on the occasion of the New Year. It was a very nice gesture. Then at 7pm the chinese speaking community of religious in Jerusalem met for the Reunion Dinner at the chapel of Sts. Simeon and Anna. It's a little chapel in the New City ... in fact right in the heart of the City's Mall. There were about 10 of us. Mass was in mandarin and it finished in 40 mins. As Ss. Simeon and Anna is a chapel for the hebrew speaking catholic community and in their Mass they use unleaven Matza of the jewish Passover.

Reunion Dinner 2018

After Mass we walked 50 meters down the road to Mandarin Restaurant where we ate the Reunion Dinner. There was another chinese family from Wen Zhou eating there and 2 chinese couples in at the other end of the restaurant. Dinner was simple: noodles, chicken, soup and toufu. It was the company that was important as all of us are lone students. We ate slowly and chatted till past 11pm then we had to get home. The weather outside was even colder and damp ... even a slight drizzle.

Home cooked lunch at the convent

This morning Mass was as usual. I had to open and work in the library till late morning then I went off to work in the other library. All the other workers in the libraries told me to take a day off. And I really wanted to so with the 4 hours left in the day, I went to the Chinese Sisters' convent for lunch. It was home cooked and very simple ... all vegetarian as is traditional for the first day of the New Year. The convent is now exactly 2 years old since its foundation. And the Archbishop yesterday praised the sisters for their handwork and contribution to the diocese.

After lunch I walked to Independence Park with a seminarian and we plucked branches of almond blossoms. They look so much like cherry blossoms and smell just as sweet. I had them arranged at my little altar in my room with some oranges. That feels a little more like the Lunar New Year.

Happy and Holy New Year to you all and thanks for all your generous support and help that make my mission here possible.

New Year's Eve

Sunset on the Rooster Year

It's the eve of the Lunar New Year. While the rest of Asia is celebrating the last day of the Year of the Rooster, here in Jerusalem there're only a handful of asians who will be festive. I think we number no more than 50 and the majority are students at the university. But I'll bet you the chinese restaurants will be packed with asians especially the tourists. As with every year for the past decade, I'm organizing a Reunion dinner for the chinese religious community. I've invited the religious from Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Korea and Indonesia ... a total of 10. But I doubt everyone will be able to come. But before that we'll be celebrating Mass at the Chapel of Sts. Simeon and Anna in the New City.

The Iron pergola

The weather has been very cold again and though it's not likely to rain again (unlike a couple of days ago) it just might just dampen the Reunion Dinner.

And talking about dampen, there is this ugly iron-cast pergola at Damascus Gate for the Israeli security. There was nothing there and suddenly this morning it was there. In less than 10 hours a 2 story iron pergola was constructed. And it spoils the view of the most beautiful Gate in the Old City. The iron just does not go with the old yellow stones of the City wall. And it obstructs the panoramic view of thuebridge leading into the gate and it just totally mars the turrets and towers. It's such a shame that the architects have not put more consideration into preserving the spirit and aesthetics of this ancient beauty.

Well it's now time for class and then Bible Class, Adoration and Confessions at the M. Teresa's convent ... then a mad rush to Sts. Simeon and Anna for Mass and the Reunion Dinner.

Ash Wednesday

Noodles to end my 27 hr fast

Another Ash Wednesday. I'm responsible for the liturgy this week so this morning I had to preside the Mass. It took some preparation yesterday for the liturgy to go smoothly and this morning it well better than expected. I preached a 5 line sermon ... the shortest that I've given and it was effective. Everyone appreciated it ... in fact I think I heard some sighs of relief. Some people here can preach 20 minutes of nothing ... and we're terrified of it. A group of italian pilgrims came to join in the Mass so our chapel was packed. Most of our community was also present. Because of the crowd I had to ask another concelebrant to help with the distribution of the ashes. Anyway everything went fine.

Almond blossoms at
Damascus Gate

Most of us fasted today. I ate my last meal yesterday at 3pm and today I only had half a cup of coffee at breakfast and another half cup at 2pm. By 6pm, 27 hours without food I was still not feeling hungry though I was a little faint. I happened to pass by Mandarin restaurant and went to say Happy New Year to Ah Ling the manager. She said there was leftover noodles and insisted I took them home to eat. So my fasting ended after 27 hours. Others who ate dinner last night will end their fast at midnight. We take fasting seriously here.

Well Lent has begun so the Lenten rigours are in force. On Saturday midnight we'll have to go to the Holy Sepulchre for the Office of Readings and procession around the Empty Tomb. It'll end around 2pm and most of us will come home for a few hours sleep before celebrating Sunday Mass at 7am.

The onslaught of ultra-orthodox jews on other jewish denominations continue. One town's rabbi says mixed gender swimming pools are worse than incest. Another rabbi from another place called the reformed liturgy as rites for dogs.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/go-hold-bar-mitzvahs-for-dogs-orthodox-lawmaker-tells-reform-jews/
and
https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-mixed-gender-swimming-makes-waves-in-kiryat-arba-1.5821287

On a different happy note, the first ever Israeli diplomats attended a UN Conference in muslim Malaysia. A nice thaw in relations.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-first-israeli-diplomats-attend-un-conference-in-malaysia/

Fat Tuesday

Cold wet day

It actually rained and drizzled alternately all day ... actually it already started last night. The temperature has dropped again. From 20 degrees yesterday, it's now 9 degrees. The wind is gusty and cold, carrying rains at an angle so using umbrellas is useless. You get soaked from the sideways rains. It was so strong the rains came through the exhaust fan in my toilet, rain falling down the wall and the flooding the floor. It's the second time it's happened this year. But just as suddenly as the gusty shower came, it suddenly stops and a gentle drizzle takes over. Then when you least expect it, the shower comes back on.

Today is Fat Tuesday or in french Mardi Gras. We're trying to consume all the week's leftover meat today so they are not left over during Lent when we abstain from meat. It would be a waste to throw it away. I've been bringing soup and rice and other foods that were left over, to the poor all week. In this cold weather, some soup and rice would keep the poor warm.

Umbrellas everywhere

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and I'm presiding at Mass. Hope I won't make any mistakes with the ashes.

The local newspaper has made an important observation which escaped me ... that for the first time Iran and Israel are facing off each other directly in the tensions in the Golan this week. Another article says there's escalation of tensions and Israel must prepare for war. Let's hope and prayer nothing results ... that summer will be peaceful and no one has to suffer.   https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/after-years-of-covert-proxy-wars-iran-shifts-to-direct-contact-1.5810960   and   http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Escalation-on-the-northern-front-Israel-must-prepare-for-war-542388

In the palestinian territories, though there has been a series of vandalism  against arab properties this whole week. More such acts are reported today. No one was been caught yet.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/cars-vandalized-daubed-with-hebrew-graffiti-in-east-jerusalem-neighborhood/

Fun before Fast

Dusty gray skies today

The weather is turning cool again. The nights linger around 16 degrees which is quite comfortable, and daytime goes up to 20 degrees. However today the sky is an awful yellow ... a sandstorm from the desert. It's a bit too early for this type of winds called "hamsiin" or 50 (hence the name pentecost) as it should start only after Easter and before Pentecost ... the 50 day period. I had sand in my eyes and mouth as I went out to the New City this morning after Mass at the Armenian parish.

School kids dressed for Carnival

Ash Wednesday is approaching fast, but so is the Lunar New Year. Wednesday will be a full fasting day but Friday we asians will be exempted because of the New Year. Yesterday we saw many school children from our chaotic schools dressed up in costumes for Carnival (carne meaning meat) which takes place before the fast of Ash Wednesday. It's the last days you can eat meat before 40 days of abstinence. The europeans also call it Mardi Gras or Martedi di Grasso (Fat Tuesday) when they stuff themselves with good food and then start the fast on Wednesday. It's the fun before the fast.

Yesterday's bombing of Iranian targets in Syria by Israel as a consequence of Iran's drone flying into Israeli airspace was really a major scare. Even the airport was closed for one hour for fear of syrian missiles might hit commercial airplanes.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/ben-gurion-airport-briefly-halts-flights-due-to-northern-conflagration/

The Israeli Air Defense is geared up for war at the Syrian border.  http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Preparing-for-war-in-the-north-Israel-boosts-air-defense-542284

Meantime Gaza which supports the Iranians, may also be gearing up for war with Israel. Faced with a north and a south attack, the Israeli army needs clear strategies to stop both prongs.  http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Hamas-raises-alert-level-following-Syria-confrontation-542270

Well ... a war in Lent. Perfect timing.

War looming?

Jaffa parishioners at Mass in the
Holy Sepulchre

This morning was a very early start to work. 5.30am I was at the Missionaries of Charity convent for Mass. one of the sisters is celebrating her patron saint's feast day and also the community has to go early to Tel Aviv where they care for the drug addicts, homeless and prostitutes. These people appreciate the sisters' visit once a week. Anyway after Mass I had to rush to the Holy Sepulchre for another Mass at 7am in the Empty Tomb. It's the monthly Mass when the parishioners from our Jaffa Parish come. After Mass I teach them some Bible lessons before they go to visit some other shrines.

Now I'm back home to clean my room for the Chinese New Year ... a lot of Spring cleaning. If I have time I might make some small changes in my room. But not today because I have 2 hours to work before I start another class at 4pm. I work throughout the weekends as well so you see, I have no days off. It's 7 days a week. Merciless schedule. I am utterly exhausted and there is no one 24 hrs when I can recuperate. Maybe I should just go on strike.

Tensions are rising at our northern border with Syria. Missiles misfired from Syria into Israel has occurred many times and Isrel usually fires warning shots to remind the shooters (not sure if they're rebels, government or ISIS) that Israel is on the alert ... but this morning it was direct encounter. A syrian drone flew into Israeli airspace and Israeli fighter jets shot it down ... then sent the jets into Syria to bomb Iranian bases there on a very large scale. The Syrians responded by firing anti-aircraft missiles ... downing one helicopter at least. The pilots ejected and were rescued by Israeli ground troops. Remember that Damascus is only 60 mins away from our border. Tensions are rising and this afternoon we'll see if things get worse. http://www.jerusalemonline.com/news/middle-east/israel-and-the-middle-east/syria-fires-at-israeli-fighter-jets-after-israel-downs-iranian-drone-34500

While external war is looming in the north, the internal war among jews continue. This time we hear of the ultra-orthodox jews who are so absolute in sex segregation they would erase women standing among men in their newspaper photos. They did that with politicians and now we hear they erased even the women Holocaust survivors who stood among men to have their photo taken. These survivors are venerated in Israeli society but the ultra-orthodox do not think so. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/haredi-newspaper-censors-photos-of-women-holocaust-survivors-1.5770715

What a Sabbath .... so much tensions and uncertainties. There is no rest ... not for the mind and heart.

Blossoms

Almond tree blooming at
New Gate

Another weekend has begun. I will be terribly exhausted with work even though I'd love a quiet relaxing 24 hrs. I think I'll have to preside the Armenian Mass again this Sunday.

The weather is still warm and the almonds and Judas trees continue to bloom. Utterly amazing ... the pinks and deep violet flowers on bare branches. I noticed even the hazel and oaks are flowering their long spindly bunches of dull yellow petals.

Thee's the alarming news that the cash-strapped govt. has got the high Court's ok to claim taxes from the churches in the Holy Land. Strange that mosques and synagogues are not covered. From the Catholic Church alone it wants to claim 11 million shekels.  I think this is from back-taxing. The Anglicans must pay about 7 million and the Armenians 2 million. And very strangely the Greek Orthodox Church which is the largest private land owner in Israel pays only half a million. Something smells here ... if you consider my past posts regarding the Greeks selling large tracks of land to jews. http://www.janglo.net/index.php?option=com_adsmanager&page=display&catid=99&tid=437596#.Wnbct9zO3aE.facebook

The american army is here and a very large scale drill with the Israeli army is underway to simulate a massive missile attack. That makes us all nervous here ... if indeed a war is imminent.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/us-troops-arrive-for-drill-simulating-massive-missile-attack-on-israel/