Vacation and visits

Our Patriarch is welcomed
by the children

 The summer holidays have begun. Although there's no uniform date for all the schools in the region, as schools can decide on their own end-of-semester dates, most occur within a fortnight from each other. And with the rising expenses of everything, summer camps are a rarity as most families no longer can afford sending their children there. Instead there're lots of one day excursions. They cost less and are a lot more educational, I think. Excursions bring students to other cities, to visit other cultures, religions, and even the physical geography that differ from where they live. 

Our patriarch with the Greek Orthodox patriarch entered Gaza yesterday with an entourage. It was to check on the welfare of the christians remaining in the enclave. It's heartwarming to see the solidarity and compassion in the small community of christians, numbering no more than 500 people. 

Visiting the Anglican hospital

A small clinic was established to care for the children. It was jointly blessed by our Latin Patriarch as well as the Greek Patriarch. Later our Patriarch also visited the Anglican hospital that is recovering from previous damage.  There is optimism and hope. And the faith is strengthened by the adversity.

Let's hope for the best during this ceasefire. Not just for our Christians in the enclave but also for those living in the West Bank that's under siege. 

Summer

Summer sun and shadow

 Exam season is almost over and summer holidays are beginning. For some schools, holidays have already started. Scores of school kids - from primary school to secondary school - go on excursions by the busloads. And there are many. Much more than I have ever seen,

I guess one of the reasons for the sudden surge of school excursions is the rising cost of everything. Organising a summer camp is now very costly. Most families struggling to bring food to the table, are not able to afford sending their kids to summer camps this year. So the alternative is a one day excursion to different parts of the country. Mind you petrol is also very costly and hiring a coach for transport is expensive. But shared between 40 - 50 students and subsidised by the school, it's more affordable than a 5 day summer camp.

one thing I noticed about these summer excursions is its very educational. Teachers and tourist guides teach the students the history of the place, visit churches, mosques and synagogues. It opens the horizons of the students and introduces them to other communities living around them that they hold with suspicion and fear. So I feel excursions are more beneficial than week long summer camps.

Exams

Peafowl in the street

School exams are underway. You see students in the bus, in the streets, in cafes ..,. studying hard. They should realise that education is the key to breaking out of poverty. Unfortunately there are still people with the mentality that education is a waste of time and money. They prefer their children to go out and work. This sense of hopelessness that education will not better your life leads to many children with low esteem for themselves. They do not see their gifts, and if they believed enough in themselves, they'd do well. But there's so much pessimism and feelings of inadequacy that it imprisons some very bright minds to a cycle of poverty and underdevelopment.

I know they can do it because I had a case that I followed for over 8 years. A girl from a very poor background but given the opportunity and the kind sponsorship from some of you, she's now studying her final year in university. She's done good in last year's exams so much so that a 6 star hotel in Tel Aviv invited her to work for a week with them as a trial. I'm very happy for her.

Meantime the summer heat is climbing higher by the day. During the cooler evening one day, I decided to pay a visit to the local Melkite parish. I've known the parish priest for over 3 decades. On the way there, in the village street were a couple of peafowls wandering freely. I was surprised the feral cats did not attack them ... and there were several across the street.

Marian feasts

Sri Lankan crowd gathering

 May is always a busy month, not least because it's dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Every community wants to celebrate its own Marian devotion. And everyone gets invited to join in.

Our Sri Lankan community organised their celebration last week. It was grand. Thousands of shekels were spent on the flowers and decorations inside and outside the church. It was stunning. And they did all the decorations within 4 hours at night. The flowers remained fresh the next day. The church was scented with rose blossoms. It was very beautiful.

Flowers galore

And the liturgy and procession of the Marian statue along the street was very well organized. All the work was done by the lay leadership. They were very motivated and everyone in the community contributed in some way to make the event a success. 

And the lunch that followed was another success. All sorts of Sri Lankan curries and saffron rice. I took two servings as it was very delicious. In fact all of us took at least two servings if not three. Nobody could eat dinner that day. We were stuffed.

Sri Lankan chaplain
is rightly proud of the
success

Last week also saw the first communion and confirmation sacraments being conferred in the Latin parishes. Another wave of celebrations.

This week the Eastern churches celebrate Pentecost. The Ethiopian and Ukrainian byzantines are holding big celebrations in their turn.

So every week was busy with events, going to one parish or Mass Center to another to help or give moral support. There's never a dull moment in this diocese.

Feast

Ss. Vincenza
& Bartolomea

Once again a whole week has flown passed and I didn't even realize it. We've been busy preparing for the Ascension, and children's first communions ... such that I lost trace of time.

April is over and we're well into May. Today I was reminded that the Sisters of Charity celebrate their feast day of their foundresses - Ss. Bartolomea and Vincenza. The congregation was founded in northern Italy for the care and education of poor girls. Nowadays the sisters run schools and vocational institutes, hospitals and most famously cared for emeritus pope Benedict in his retirement. Happy feast to them! Here in the Holy Land they administer two hospitals and two sanctuaries.

Ajue bread

I'm quite exhausted from all the activities and have been resting more than usual. The body and mind is not longer able to cope with daily activities ... and I was "gently" reminded I'm no longer young nor in good health. In fact the numerous medicines I have to take each day is now reacting badly. Acid reflux is so major it's choking me daily and preventing me from sleeping. The anti-reflux medicine that I take every morning is not enough. Doc said to take another one every night. But I'm reluctant because the side-effect is loss of memory. As it already is, I can't find my books, my keys, even my direction. Augmenting it with medication is not welcome. I may forget even my name next.

This morning I did a very local thing ... eating a piece of bread under the palm trees. It was ajue bread ... dough baked with date paste. I haven't done this is many years. It feels very nice. Very homey. Something for the feast of Ss. Vincenza and Bartolomea.

Reunion

After a year's absence recuperating from my open heart surgery, I was able this weekend to meet with the Konkani communities that I used to serve: those in Jaffa, Tel Aviv and Herzliya. It was wonderful to meet them again and I thanked them for their prayers. They were very worried for my situation. It was a very touching reunion in 3 cities.

While I've improved from before the operation, I'm still suffering from pains, and worse the memory is dreadfully lost. Today I was drying the dishes and when I put away a large pot, I couldn't find my drying rag. Everyone laughed. Then I made a cup of coffee and couldn't find it. People got serious. It has happened before but not with the frequency of these few months. Now they're as worried as I am.

Herzliya Mass

Festal Mass at Tel Aviv

              

Update

Market

 Unbelievably 2 weeks have flown by and it's already May. I didn't even realise that I had not posted on the blog.

Health is a constant problem. The heavy dosage of medicines are still causing diarrhoea, fatigue and lost of memory. The sternum continues to be very painful and I tire easily. With the ceasefire in effect, we're allowed to see the doctors again. They reserved consultations only for war victims before this. I had to argue and convince the reception desk that it was an emergency because the doc needed to change my medication. That was 3 weeks ago. Now that consultation is open again, lots of people are queueing to see their doctors. The wait now can be up to a week before my appointment comes up.

1st Communion

Nevertheless despite all that, I try to walk as much as I can. The hospital demands that I walk 4km daily, 8km is better. I will be so tired I won't be able to walk home. I try my best. 4km fits nicely for a walk to the open market and back.

The change of weather is also affecting many people. Cold and flu symptoms everywhere. I try to steer clear from crowds because of this. My immune system is low and it's risky for me to catch any germs.

Yesterday all our churches celebrated the 1st Communion of children. I was asked to help in the Geez Rite liturgy for this. It's the Alexandrian rite for Ethiopians and Eritreans. It lasted 3 hours. I was seated most of the time as I don't have the stamina. About 20 kids received their 1st Communion and the community was dancing and ululating throughout the liturgy. It's very difficult from the Roman rite that requires silence, order and conformity.