Hot Epiphany!

Hello from sunny, hot Sydney! On New Years Day, we went out as a house to celebrate Br. Dominic's birthday (the day is actually 28 of December). Here is a photo (1) at the Italian restaurant (Chianti's) of (l to r): myself, Fr. Gerard, one of our students, Jerome (visiting family in the area), Bernard (another student, assigned to the house for the summer), Br. Jerry and Br. Dominic.

On Wednesday I concelebrated a mass at the Marionite Co-Cathedral of Parramatta, Our Lady of Lebanon. Anastasia's grandfather, Colin Boulus, had passed away earlier in the month, a 5 hour drive up north. The family wanted to do something in the area for the locals who knew him. I was impressed with the liturgy: my first Marionite-Catholic Mass! First impressions: lots of incense, Middle Eastern chanting, greater participation by the congregation in the Eucharistic Prayer and more solemn. During the liturgy, the Words of Consecration are in Aramaic, the language Jesus used! It was just a daily Mass, but it lasted a whole hour! And this was the second daily Mass that day!

Here are some pictures of the church and its different parts: the outside statue of Our Lady of Lebanon atop the Church (2); the same lit up at night for Christmas (3); interior under the statue (4); baby Jesus under the altar (5); interior manger scene behind the altar (6); the Baptismal Font (7); and the Tabernacle (8). I had Jacob, Anastasia's brother, go and stand by the Tabbernacle for scale (9). It is made to look like wheat shafts lain atop a chalice. The bronze wheat opens up from the front, like a draw bridge. Very unique!

Here are some of the stained glass saints gathered around the perimeter of the circular church (10-15). Outside was a huge gift shop (16), open throughout the liturgy, and an outdoor nativity (17). They also took up a collection during daily mass! Even the family of the deceased was expected to contribute! After the Mass, the Christmas lights were in full bloom (18-19).

My dear friend Soo also celebrated a birthday on New Year's Day! Pina and Juanita (the others of the trio) took her and some of us friars out for lunch (20): (from l to r) Br. Jerry, Soo, myself, Fr. Gerard, Juanita and Pina. Here is Soo with the cake and candle (21-22).

Finally a picture of our nativity set with the three Kings in place (23). Our temperatures reached 112 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday. Needless to say, I celebrated Mass in 32 minutes, according to one grateful parishioner! I'll do my best to send some of the heat your way!