Brother Thomas in Israel
This page was last updated on Saturday, 01-Apr-2006 14:08:20 PST

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December 24, 2005
Greetings from Bethlehem on this Christmas Eve. We are preparing for the Midnight Mass which will be my first here and very special. This afternoon we had a festive procession through the old town to the grotto of the Nativity where Jesus was born. It was led by the Catholic Bishop who is called the Latin Patriarch to distinguish him from leaders of other Christian groups like the Greek Orthodox and the Armenians. These celebrate Xmas at different times. Add to this all the Muslims and the Jews and life is very complicated here. No wonder there is so much misunderstanding and friction.

As of now, you might like to add the link to Bethlehem University which is: www.bethlehem.edu

This gives some general information on life here. Definitely I will send on something a little more personal after the holidays.
April 1, 2006
Click the images for larger view.

I am sending on photos of the only and lonely Chinese Restaurant in Bethlehem. The sign-board over the door is in four languages: English, Arabic, Hebrew and, if you look carefully, the two characters for the name, Tachi. Inside, the menu is mainly geared to tourists and pilgrims with lots of "sweet and sour" etc..

When it was first opened it had nice views over the hills and valleys of Bethlehem. But now the monstrous 8m concrete barrier being erected by the Israelis to imprison the Palestinians, snakes in front of it. (photo on right). A number of Brothers, Sisters and lay people gather every Friday evening at the wall, under the noses of the suspicious Israeli soldiers to pray the Rosary. It is always a deeply moving experience and hopefully God, in his own good time, will bring this shameful wall tumbling down as he did others before.

A very happy Easter to you and all our old boys and lets keep each other in prayer!