Cold

Very cold and rainy

The rains finally stopped after 2 days. But it's still very cold. Mornings are about 6 degrees and the highest at daytime is 15 degrees or so. This morning I had to go to Jaffa for the Chinese Mass and the difference in weather and temperature is very significant between the 2 cities. From cold, wet Jerusalem we reached a sunny 20 degree seaside weather. All the thick waterproof jackets were taken off ... only a woollen sweater was sufficient. That's how extreme the wether can be from one city to another.

My right knee is much better now. I'm able to walk without pain. And climbing stairs is also better though it still hurts after a dozen steps up or down. The cataract in my left eye is very bothersome as it's obstructing my vision. I really need to go to the Eye Hospital on the Mt of Olives to get an assessment as to whether it can be removed.

Dar al Majus

Our orange tree

As the new year starts, we thanks all the donors for their prayers, concern and gifts to the poor, needy and suffering here in the Holy Land. Be assured that every month a Mass is celebrated for you here in the Holy Sepulchre. 

As tourism has grounded to an almost halt, our churches are tranquil and peaceful, with our flowers and famous orange tree not vandalized for the 3rd year running ... the first 2 years of Covid lockdown and this year the war. The tree has grown robust and produced huge bitter oranges good for making marmalade. All our little Spring flowers are not only blossoming without being plucked and trampled, but new seedlings have also sprouted everywhere especially the gazanias.

But the serenity we experience is offset by the closure of shops and hotels that depend on tourism. Many families are suffering financially and psychologically as they stay at home with no work to do.  Our italian fundraising association has organised an online shop to sell the products of our Christian artisans in Bethlehem. If you wish to help them earn a little livelihood and keep their dignity, please visit https://damfairtrade.com/shop/  The association is called Dar al Majus of House of the Magi, founded by our Franciscan "Pro Terra Sancta" non-govt organization to help the under privileged. 

Ordinary time

Simple manger

With the very busy weekend over, our tempo forte comes to an end. That means the time of intense spiritual and liturgical activities ... being Christmas season. The past 2 days saw Epiphany followed by the Baptism of Christ back-to-back celebrations. It's the shortest Christmas season we've ever had. Advent week 4 was only one Sunday because immediately after that was Christmas Day. A whole week of Advent was skipped. Now the week between Epiphany and Baptism was also skipped as both feasts followed each other. 

Our simple manger and Infant Jesus was removed last night as we suddenly enter Ordinary Time in our liturgical calendar. Because of the tragedy around us, all the churches in the Holy Land have decided not to celebrate Christmas with the usual festivities and mangers. Ours was simply the Infant Jesus on top of our Tabernacle. Nothing fanciful.

The weather has been very cold and damp, though not a drop of rain fell. Let's hope we won't face another drought year. This time of weather affects my joints ... like all old people. My right knee that was swollen for the past 4 days is much better now. I am able to walk without the stick. But climbing stairs is still difficult. What a way to start the new year.

New Year

Sunrise on the New Year

We're into the 3rd day of the New Year ... the war is still on. People are still suffering. And we out here are helpless. A general sadness is palpable in the streets. Our Christian Quarter has not been celebrating the New Year. Nobody wants to say "Happy" New Year. 

My right knee is swollen and very painful even if I am lying down. Walking on flat land is ok ... but climbing up and down stairs is terribly painful. I walk slowly now with a walking stick. It took me one hour to walk to work this morning 1 km away. I'm not sure what's happening but I'll not waste time going to the doctor.

The weather is cold and wet. It's been hovering around 12 degrees day and night. It's winter after all. Let's hope it won't make life more difficult for our poor Christians in the war torn enclave. We continue to pray.

Last Day

At the Tomb of
St. George

Christmas was a hectic weekend. The borders were opened only for a few hours so to get to Shepherds Field in Bethlehem for Vigil Mass was a rushed affair. I brought some 18 local asian sisters in Jerusalem for the Mass. Because of the hassle of border closures, many if not most of the communities and congregations refuse to enter the other side of the border. We managed to celebrate the Vigil Mass and then rushed back to Jerusalem on the other side of the border before it closed. The traffic though going in and out was heavy and it took one hour to get there.

Shepherds Field was very empty compared to the previous years. Only one filipino group and 3 Indonesian groups were there. All protestants. Christmas Day itself was very quiet. Most churches were closed due to the lack of pilgrims and tourists. There are no festivities or carolling. All Christmas celebrations except Masses are cancelled due to the tragic war. I have never ever in my life here experienced such a sad and quiet Christmas as this year. Not even during the 2 Intifadas and other Gaza wars. The mood of this Christmas is so heavy. No one can even smile. People avoid saying "Merry Christmas" as there's nothing merry about it.

At the Church in Arimathea

On Boxing Day the local asian sisters asked me to organise a halfday pilgrimage to Lod, Ramle and Jaffa. In Lod we prayed at the Tomb of St. George the dragon slayer. In Ramle (Arimathea) we celebrated Mass at the Church of St. Joseph of Arimathea. Then at Jaffa's St. Peter's Church we visited the Crusader ruins and had a picnic lunch before going home. It was enjoying ... a brief distraction from the pain and suffering in our country.

Yesterday the Nuncio came to our Chinese Convent for home cooked lunch. He wanted the meal on the last day of the year to be a homely, private asian meal. He is filipino. All went well and we enjoyed ourselves in a very informal gathering.

Let's pray that the new year will be kinder and more loving than this year.

Christmas

It's Christmas but there's nothing festive or merry about it. No festivities. Only Masses were celebrated and in sombre mood. There is so much pain and suffering, so much fear and death ... no one in living memory has celebrated a Christmas like this year.

I can only repeat the prayer at the mixing of water and wine during Offertory "May we come to share in His divinity as he humbled himself to share in our humanity" Christmas is God becoming man so that man can become like God ... perhaps in all this suffering in our land, we may taste the comfort of God's divinity

The Nativity scene at Manger Square in Bethlehem this year

Christmas this year ....

Christmas this year ....