New week

Fried noodles and prawns

It's Monday again ... and I had a terrible night coughing and wheezing. Woke up at 2am and was up since. The morning was filled with work, classes and meetings. Then I had to go meet my student who graduated last week. He'll be transferred to Nazareth next week and will be ordained priest there. I had helped guide his thesis and he passed the defense very well. We had a simple meal at mandarin restaurant to celebrate ... fried noodles and a dish of tomato prawns. Cost 200 shekels. Expensive ... but that's the prices nowadays after the lockdown. My other student whom I guided also for his defense did extremely well ... scoring 100%. Very proud of them. Next week I start daily intensive english classes for the students who are stuck here in Jerusalem.

Tram between New Gate and St. Louis
hospital

I did manage to take a short rest in the afternoon as I was too exhausted to continue doing anything. Short but deep nap. And Buddy and JJ were sleeping with me as they like to do. It's some quiet time we spend during these months of lockdown and restricted movements. Other than that it's play time for the birds ... they have endless energy and are constantly seeking attention to play. JJ can play for hours with paperclips. Buddy will play with coins and bells.

Now for a funny ironical story in the news ... a local top health official contracted coronavirus after the organised a "end-of-corona" party. Everyone is having a good laugh at this. Over confidence and lack of prudence ... and the result is this.  https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ByLzo976U?fbclid=IwAR1NyLbc_XAYerOhdEMUhJBt3PvHoHNKD_rUW5APrjup3LegPGOHCsLP8ng

Virus infections have continued to rise ... with the epicentre now in south Tel Aviv-Jaffa. And if that;s not enough, the nightly demonstrations against the demolition of an ancient muslim cemetery continues despite lockdown and distancing rules. Police in Jerusalem and enforcing the mask ruling ... yesterday at New Gate 2 policemen were handing out fines to people going to Church not wearing masks. It;s 200 shekels a fine. That's a lot when you have no job.

Sunday Feast

My armenian chapel
today

Woke up at 2.30am (solar time: 3.30am daylight saving) when the muezzin began calling to prayer. It is noticeably louder than the previous months ... almost like a protest. There's a law which forbids the use of PA systems going beyond certain decibels. It's annoying to be disturbed so early ... but I'm used to it. It's a sign that summer is here. I started work at 4am ... throwing out the huge load of garbage into the dumpster outside, the watering the flowers. Had a breakfast of bourekas (puff pastry with potatoes) and coffee on the terrace facing the Mt. of Olives as the sun rose. Then an hour of studies till 7am. Then it was off to the 3rd Station for Mass.

The small community of armenian catholics faithfully showed up and we had a lovely celebration with great singing for the feast of Corpus Christi. Though it's a Roman Rite feast day, the armenians have warmly embraced these devotions. Vicky who is a soprano added to the volume and solemnity because the Sanctus (Sourp in armenian) is sung by a soprano. Because of the diaconal ordination of the Salesian students at the same time, my usual acolytes could not help me at Mass. But my deacon did come and today he even tried proclaiming some parts of the Mass in armenian. Well done!   


The PM's security guards have been tested positive with the cornonavirus. And they're not just neighbours to our Terra Santa College but actually work inside the compound because the PM uses our compound as a carpark. The infection has a high probability of spreading to our students staying there ... and these students are irresponsible ... refusing to wear masks and caring less about other people's wellbeing. And they come to our school for classes. I find it repulsive that students aspiring to be teachers of the Bible are so irresponsible and reckless ... contrary to the Bible.  https://www.timesofisrael.com/177-new-coronavirus-cases-diagnosed-in-24-hours-including-among-netanyahu-staff/?fbclid=IwAR2j6cr0Z8YepNp_LH3uSZPX2RocGKQg5LyMnj1dxCW7XZlOPJU7iFcLurA

Breakfast at 5am

Riots in Jaffa continued last night. Though the news mentioned that the govt had spoken about it ... I'm not sure a compromise has been reached. That's one bone of contention that will not easily pass away this summer.

Well we'll just have to adapt to the new realities this summer ... with the pandemic, the local violence and the predicted heatwave ... I'm still planning to have a busy summer schedule and making the most of it.

St. Anthony feast

Relic of St. Anthony at
the Holy Sepulchre

Another feast today ... in fact it's a solemnity here for us. St. Anthony of Padua (or Lisbon) ... who is the patron saint of the franciscans in the Holy Land. There's the Gloria and Credo and 3 readings at Mass. We've been praying to St. Anthony these past 2 months to rid us of the coronavirus. He's famed for chasing out demons and ridding plaques from cities. Let's hope he hears us and gets the job done soon. There's a relic of him at the Chapel of the Apparition in the Holy Sepulchre and the ancient statue of the saint is displayed at the St. Saviour parish.

The day before there was a solemn Mass and procession at the Holy Sepulchre for the feast of Corpus Christi. Like all the liturgical celebrations nowadays, we join in only through live streaming. It's better than nothing.

Corpus Christi in the Holy Sepulchre

Right now I'm in a dilemma. I came to the other library and started work ... only to discover I cannot find my keys. Now I'm locked inside the library. I must have had it with me otherwise I won't have entered the library ... but after I closed the door behind me I just cannot find it anywhere. Another job for St. Anthony ... patron saint of lost articles. Help!!  

The viral infection has shot up to 226 overnight and all the talk is about wearing masks and keeping distance ... but it's not enforced rigorously. I know in certain spots police are handing out fines to deter such irresponsible behavior ... but over 90% of the places, the police are not doing anything. It's disappointing ... for the elderly and the sick who are high risk. Me included.  https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkEKzVZpU?fbclid=IwAR2oqnSMeUEdEQlAG4IlSgYmOACHuU4n98So7d7BOZCvwHDdZ8ncCtooYTs

And bracing for a 2nd wave ... the country is making its own masks ... except there's no guarantee anyone will wear them.   https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rJ2DdOqn8?fbclid=IwAR3j6IHalzSsNfdPkxkGgTPmbHwwLKLFgaq-nLbU4R3-a90rnQb5x_tu6-U

Bl. Antonia feast

Sisters of Ivrea this morning

Today I had to preside at the feast of the founders of the Ivrea Sisters - Blessed Anronia Maria Verna. She founded the Institute of the Sisters of Charity to educate the poor children in Italy. So today's Mass was solemn for the sisters ... sung in most parts, including the Gloria, 3 readings, a sermon plus renewal of vows. After Mass the sisters offered breakfast and came to chat with me. They're a lovely community ... 2 elderly and 2 young sisters who came to replace the superior who died and another very old sister who is now in a care home. The sisters run a kindergarten in this poor neighbourhood of East Jerusalem. It's very famous for its quality education and many families try to send their toddlers there. However the sisters remain faithful to their vocation and accept many poor children from the nearby Kidron Valley as well.

Homegrown veggies

Talking about sisters ... our chinese sisters are cultivating chinese veggies on their terrace. They plant seeds in styrofoam boxes and now they have lots of lettuce and garlic chives. They harvested some for me and I ate them fresh ... very delicious. All organically farmed ... no chemicals used.

The spike of corona infections hit 200 yesterday ... but the govt is still unsure what to do. Even orders to enforce strictly the distancing and mask rules seem to fall on deaf ears for the most part by the police themselves. They not only are reluctant to enforce the law, they themselves do not wear masks. So much for discipline. No wonder the virus is still with us. One thing you can notice here in this country ... civic-mindedness and public concern is almost non-existent. Only the Self matters.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-records-over-200-new-virus-cases-in-a-day-for-first-time-since-april/?fbclid=IwAR0RJr8Eq_ZZEHNl25GhK7MgzWeHmZAL9x7-dD7S-d6Si-yytuMA_LZAeBc

Violence continues to plague Jaffa as muslims after Friday prayers gathered in the streets to demonstrate against the destruction of the cemetery. We hope it won't spill over to other cities.  And talk about bad news ... one of the two iconic cooling towers near Haifa collapsed. Fears of contaminating material spilling into the area has been squashed by the company in charge.

**Today my uploading and downloading functions are working again. Strange?

Hacked again?

It's almost the weekend ... and the holiday mood is certainly flooding in. I'm preparing the books I plan to read during summer. I also have to plan my timetable as a Thai seminarian is unable to go back home for summer because of the lockdown so I was asked to teach him English during the holidays. It's 2 hours every day from Monday to Friday. That'll take up my mornings. I also have remedial English classes for the chinese sisters. I'll spend tonight thinking what else I can do for the rest of my summer holidays. There will of course be classes on the Bible since lockdown guarantees that no one will be going on overseas vacation. Maybe I'm biting off more than I can chew ... but I'll give it a try. It'll be a different kind of summer holiday.

It's the feast of Corpus Christi today ... in the Holy Sepulchre. The Archbishop was there with a small entourage. The Mass and procession was limited to 50 people ... a little lacklustre but poignant nonetheless. The rest of us only watched it on live stream. Tomorrow the Ivrea sisters are celebrating their founder's day ... the Mass will be a little longer with the Gloria and sermon ... but I rather enjoy that.

Clashes continued in Jaffa for the 3rd night ... this time more focussed on the destruction of the muslim cemetery in order to build a care home in its place. And still on Jaffa (and Tel Aviv) ... it's now the epicentre of corona infections, edging Jerusalem out. The highest infections are from migrant workers and the arab population. That's not good news. The spike overnight is now so high the govt has authorised police to strictly enforce the law ... and today alone hundreds of fines have been issued. Anyone refusing to comply will be arrested. I for one am very very happy.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-to-step-up-mask-enforcement-as-virus-cases-spike-overnight/?fbclid=IwAR3q_pQtTecPm7o5Al4CU9GlWtDfc2452y2ivzL-Z4cnMwASYPODA9PkJF0
and   https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SJ9rBS1aL

** someone is tampering with my blog. Now I cannot upload any photos. For the past month I couldn't download them. Why can't the police catch those hackers?

Stromata

Sunrise at Rockerfeller Park

What a lovely walk to the Ivrea convent this morning. There was a chilly wind blowing but the sun was out and bright at 3am (solar time). Mass and Lauds was as usual with the Ivrea sisters and then I went out to their garden to see the lovely flowers. Their gardener was there and he brought me around to see a beautifully scented tree in flower ... I thought it was a buddleja but the leaves smelt like lemongrass. The gardener told me the leaves may be used to flavour salsa for spaghetti. I should try it one day. Anyway the gardener promised to cut me some branches for planting in winter.

View of the Dome of the Rock
from Musrara

Instead of going home after Mass I went instead to the other library because today my volunteer is off and no one is working there. Even as I opened the library door, there were already 3 requests for books and reference material. Looks like a busy day. And I have class in the afternoon. I'll probably have to rest early tonight again though I'd love to finish reading a book on 1st century medical practice.

The govt is not considering lockdown again because the economy needs picking up. However all other plans to ease lockdown are put on hold. What is now opened, remains open. Schools may have to shut though as there are over 17,000 infections in a week. Authorities are calling on everyone to observe the restrictions, wear masks and keep distancing .... but the police are not willing to enforce it so they people couldn't care less. It's actually up to the police.   https://www.jpost.com/opinion/put-on-a-mask-to-prevent-a-second-covid-19-wave-630882

And last night there was a silent clash in Jaffa as people protested the killing of the autistic man near my house ... and the plan to build a geriatric home over a muslim cemetery. It got quite violent and riot police were called in to quell the chaos.    https://www.ynetnews.com/article/S11K1P628#autoplay

Grateful

Summer fruit on sale

It's Tuesday ... the weather is hot during the day and work continues. I can't wait for summer holidays to come ... even nature is hinting at it. The first summer fruits are on sale in the markets ... cherries especially but also peaches, apricots and plums. And strangely autumn fruit are also on sale ... grapes for example. Anyway the markets are colourful with these fruit.

Foodstuff sent to the
MC convent

It's been very good to see donations coming in to help the poor. Most family businesses have collapsed. Those with work have lost everything ... not just food or medication but even homes. Just this afternoon alone I've received 2 requests for help. But I've received donations of foodstuff and money from many places as well ... and I thank you all for your kindness in remembering the unfortunate in the Holy Land. I've distributed the foodstuff to the MC sisters who'll repack them into bags and distributed them to the poor. I know times are tough for everyone so your donations are even more appreciated and gratefully received. We'll pray for God's blessings on you.

A spike of 179 infections in the last 24 hours ... sparking concern. Yet some research says Israel is the 3rd safest place in this pandemic. Frankly I don't care about all that ... just get those irresponsible people to wear masks. The govt has admitted that majority have dumped the mask and ignored distancing ... which is the cause of this spike.   https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-alarming-spike-186-new-virus-cases-recorded-in-24-hours/?fbclid=IwAR1hIxfiblLVrrVYw1W5jJXpPIcsKMet5dpAHyMTtIkeFddFzI1SeelQ6y4
and regarding the mask:  
https://www.timesofisrael.com/as-more-israelis-ditch-masks-massive-study-says-they-cut-infection-risk-by-85/?fbclid=IwAR3gne-WE5RFto-Z0DPoiDgormkM6OISN3fGJIJeHajURmUvFoB8JeK9uHQ