Cremisan Valley - Friday Mass on the hillside

Every Friday afternoon for the past six years, the local priest has taken a Mass on the slopes of the Cremisan Valley, close to where Israel intends to build the Annexation Wall. I gathered with about 15 others for the Catholic Mass, taken in Arabic. I was offered and received the Eucharist for just second time in a Catholic service, the first time being at Worth Abbey. This was moving for me - a very simple service in this beautiful place. 

It is so sad to see these beautiful lands cut to pieces by this horrific wall. The reason for this latest extension is of course security - the valley contains only the Monastery and the Convent. The six elderly nuns in the Convent must be very scary indeed to necessitate a 24 foot wall around 3 sides of their property. 

The children in the house where I live go to the Convent School. Building the wall will mean that they have to pass through a checkpoint. Dan downstairs watched two soldiers here in the camp this week - one was eating a sandwich, the other was kneeling and pointing his sniper rifle at a 10 year old. Children grow to hate soldiers because of the way they are treated by them. They never get to meet Jews who are nice to them.

Father Paulo thanked us for coming, and another drove us home - so kind. Tomorrow a large delegation from Italy is coming to hold a Mass and to march to Bethlehem. I hope to join them.