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.

Time flies

my Echium bush

 Another week has passed. And the end of April is upon us. One third of 2026 is ending. Time flies. 

And time flying past is evidenced by the little Echium Candicans bush I gave the Ivrea sisters. It was barely a 6 inch stalk struggling to survive. Now planted on the ground, it's a hefty bush throwing out blossoms of purple spikes. attracting bees and butterflies. The sisters cut the spikes and made 4 flower baskets for their chapel. They look amazing. I'm just so happy I gave them the echium. Had I kept it, it would have died because I do not have a garden to plant it on the ground. It was living out in a little pot. Sometimes it's necessary to let things go, and then they'll flourish.

Echium basket in 
the Ivrea chapel

I sprained my neck and right shoulder carrying boxes of books and stuff. After the heart operation, my body is no longer as strong as before. Any twist or turn will end up in bruises and sprained muscles. Then I spend the entire night in pain. So there's so much lifestyle adjustments to make after the operation. Life is no longer the same. And don't even talk to me about my memory. It comes and goes. That's why I'm not regularly updating my blog. I just can't remember anything anymore. 

Easter again

Fr. Patrick knocks
3 times to open
the church doors

It's Easter again! For the Eastern Catholic churches that follow the Julian calendar!!

Our Ukrainian Catholics of the Byzantine rite celebrated it yesterday. It was a huge presence! Most brought home baked Easter bread and painted eggs to be blessed. This took place after the liturgy which lasted almost 3 hours! The people laid their baked easter goodies on the plaza in front of the church and the priest splashed copious amounts of holy water on everyone and everything. The aim is to wet everything in sight ... literally soaking wet. That's why it takes place outside the church!!!

The Ethiopic Catholics also celebrated their Easter but I haven't received photos from them yet. I'll share them with you once I get them.

Today we get to eat Easter Bread and eggs all over again .... for the next few days!

People waiting for
the blessing

Easter

 It's Easter already. Holy Week came and went pretty fast. In Jerusalem there were no public celebrations as wartime regulations prohibit crowded gatherings. Everything was private. It was like Covid again. Only this time we had sirens and alerts and hiding in bunkers. I guess all the preoccupation with avoiding a missile hit and shrapnel injury made us oblivious to the time. Imagine Holy Thursday night in the middle of Mass and the sirens are sounded. And it happened on Good Friday and Easter Vigil as well. 

As with every Easter, I'm posting the same photo of the ancient tomb with a rolling stone. It's eloquent in its simplicity and silence ... an empty tomb. A space between death and resurrection; between darkness and light. A moment which is neither here nor there, neither filled nor empty. It's almost surreal.

Empty Tomb