Exam results

Waiting for Tawjihi results

A week has passed since my last post. As most of you know, I slipped and fell at Damascus Gate, injuring my wrists, ankles and back. Was bandaged for several days. They're off now but I still have pain in my back. The filipino community here bought me a pair of anti-slip shoes which are very comfortable and make my daily walk to the Ivrea convent for Mass very much easier. It has much better grip so my calves and feet are less tense while climbing up the slippery slopes and stairs of the Old City. 

Nervous wait

Two days ago East Jerusalem was exploding with fireworks from 9am onwards. From New Gate I could see unending plumes of smoke and very loud explosions as families celebrate the graduation of their children of their Tawjihi or "A" levels exams. It went all from house to house, village to village, city to city. The results are sent to their handphones. Many students gathered in street corners and cafes waiting for the messages to arrive at their phones. A lot of tension, a lot of relief ,,, also a lot of disappointments. One generation of students passes .... another prepares itself.

On the other hand another type of explosion was going on around the country: gangland murders have spiked this week. The anti-judicial overhaul protests have blown into tens of thousands throughout the country ... some marching for a week to reach Jerusalem today. Highways aer blocked, army reservists refuse to serve, medical teams go on strike .... to protest new bills that will make the parliament override any Supreme Court decisions .... and now another bill that can dismiss any case of a govt minister if he/she thinks it's unreasonable. Everyone thinks it's a great law for themselves but not for others. Jews continue to provoke and harass christians in the Old City with impunity because the rightwing govt and rabbis are protecting these perpetrators. 2 days ago the german Abbot of the Dormition monastery was told to remove his cross at the Wailing Wall because it offended jews. But it's ok for jews to offend christians by spitting, attacking, destroying and vandalising our churches and properties.

Heatwave

Hawkers in the heat

So from what I've read in the news, the heatwave is global. In Italy temp have risen to above 40. Luckily that heatwave has to pas over the Mediterranean ea before reaching us ... which lowers it by a few degrees. Today was 37 degrees for us. Before the heat peaked at 2pm, I sprayed water on the terrace and walls to prevent cracking of the plaster. Birds and butterflies and bees immediately flew over to drink from the puddles. My zinnias are all wilted from the hot dry winds even though the soil in their pots are moist. From the weather forecasts, this heatwave will continue all through the week. 

I'm trying to stay hydrated and indoors as much as possible. It's not easy when now that it's summer vacation and hardly anyone is home to celebrate Mass for the nuns, especially the old ones who cannot walk. That means going from convent to convent celebrating Mass in the scorching heat. Let's hope the heatwave passes quickly.

Another hot day

Empty streets in the heat

Another staggering 36 degrees today. The relentless sun beating down hard and the ground is like one giant frying pan. My skin is beginning to peel like after a suntan. Everyone is putting sunscreen and lotion as the skin scorches away the living flesh. And the wind is no help ... dry harsh sandy winds from the desert. Unfortunately with the drought, we don't dare use any more water than we need to. Plants wither away, walls and pavements crack ... a bit of water would have solved that. Now there'll be long term repairs in winter when these cracks let in winter rain and snow.

There was alot of violence the past 2 days. Gangland and mafia killings have not abated. Israeli raids into palestininan erfugees camps continue. And the naitonwide protests over the judicial laws are grwoing even more widespread and bviolent. There is a new law being forwarded which prevents lawmakers from being investigated if they feel it is unreasonable. And that's the only reason needed - if the accused feels it's unreasonable to be investigated, the case is closed. Everyone in the street thinks its a great law for themselves.

My feet and legs are simply too tired and swollen to walk anymore. Everyone is telling me to get an electric wheelchair or some other small transport vehicle. I'm even almost convinced of it. Spoke to the bishop this morning who said my health has detriorated very quickly and gravely.  There's nothing he nor I can do about it.

Heat

 

Scorching heat

It is 36 degrees today. The wind is dry and harshly hot. The sun scorches the skin. It's terrible to be out today. I pity those working in the street-repairs (which is just about everywhere). They're under the dreadful heat. I hope they have enough water and shade/rest during the day. Poor children who have to help their parents work this summer are in danger of heatstroke. And hopefully this year no parent will forget locking their toddlers inside cars. Every year there are such tragedies here.

My bandage is off but my wrist and ankle still hurt. My back also hurts and I can't stand or sit for long. It'll take some time for it to heal. The fall was not too bad but the double anticoagulants are making the healing process slow. I'm just glad I did not hit my head as I fell backwards.

Endless roadworks

I wish I could start my summer vacation like everyone else. I'm feeling so tired even mentally. Each afternoon at 4.30 in the intense heat, I have to hobble 1km to celebrate Mass for a convent of old nuns. I don't mind doing it, but in this heat and my injuries, it's very trying. Each time I celebrate Mass there at the altar, I think back of the many times I was gasping for air, thinking it was asthma attacks, even sitting down for Mass ... only to find out now that they were angina attacks. I could have had a heart attack there. I've been so close to a massive heart attack at that convent but thank God I didn't. Fingers crossed today.

Summer Camp

I've probably caught an eye infection when the dry hot winds blew sand into my eyes. They're all red and I cannot see properly. And it's making me dizzy as a result.

Summer camp

Well the big news is that our patriarch had been nominated cardinal. And ignorant folk are uploading congratulations for the "elevation" to the cardinalate. Nothing could be further from the truth. A patriarch is "inter pares" with the pope; a patriarch is way higher ranking than a cardinal. For a patriarch to be made a cardinal is a demotion from than a promotion. For this reason, none of the Eastern Rite patriarchs have ever accepted being a cardinal. The exception began only with the Maronite patriarch Sfeir in 1994 when he accepted the cardinalate; as did his successor patriarch Rahi in 2012, followed by the Chaldean patriarch Sako in 2018. They saw the cardinalate as an opportunity to be an influencer in the Roman power house. Well frankly I don't really care for all that ... the poor will still be poor, they will still be hungry and homeless, without education and security no matter what title the bishop carries.

Swimming

The sisters of St. Vincent de Paul organized a 7 day summer camp for the poorest children of the City, after I urged them by assuring them for financial sponsorship. It started yesterday ... and the children came and played and swam and had some classes. Some of the children were clearly malnourished. We provided meals for them to eat, and lots of time to rest and play. It's such a great event for these poor children because they usually would be helping their parents work and earn money. And swimming in plastic pools is a treat because in Jerusalem there are no public pools or any large body of water for people to swim. Thanks to all of you who helped sponsor and make it possible!

Strike

Shops on strike

Staying offline for a week has seen the viewers fall to 15. Now that's a bit more normal. Off the radar.

Well it's been an unlucky week. While everyone is on summer holidays, I'm alone doing the work of everyone else. I can't rush. I do it slowly within my health limits. But last Monday I slipped and fell at Damascus Gate .... twice. My left wrist and ankle are swollen, and my back hurts as well. I had to bandage my wrist and ankle because the doctor said it need to keep the inflamed ligaments bound in place. I also have to put anti-dolorific medicine on them. I try not to walk but the past days have been demanding and I've had to walk 5 km or more for the past 2 days. Now I'm having fainting spells.

The terrible raid and air attack on the arab refugee camp in the north ahs shocked everyone. Many people dead and injured. Roads dug up to prevent people from escaping. Shops in East Jerusalem and our neighbourhood had gone on strike for 2 days to protest the violence.

Meanwhile attacks on christians have become more violent in the past few weeks. One newspaper says if not checked by police and politicians, christian blood will be shed. 

Coming down

Our new priests today

A reassuring sign, the viewership is dropping slowly to 1606 on Monday 26th. Today down to 822. It's terrible to be watched and stalked because of my private opinions over geo-politics.

Today 4 of our seminarians were ordained priests. It's a great day as they reached another goal inlife. We have about 80 seminarians in various stages of training. We don't have enough rooms for so many seminarians so we have 2 seminaries. Philosophy seminarians stay at Ein Kerem while the theology students stay in Jerusalem. Aspirants stay in Bethlehem. Postulants in Montefalco in the Umbrian hills of Italy. And novices in La Verna, the sacred mountain where St. Francis received the stigmata. Europe and America is dying from vocation shortages. But here we have asians and africans who are now slowly making the majority of the seminarians.

Tensions are high these past 3 days. It's the muslim feast of Eid al Adha or the sacrifice of Ishmael. 3 days running the Al Aqsa is packed with worshippers. Prayers run all night. It's difficult to sleep with all the noise outside all night.