September 17, 2000

Bishop Carlson and Fr. Louis.

Fr. Louis shares a laugh with one of the visitors.

Bishop Carlson, Fr. Louis, and a number of our students.

Sundays are proving to be our busiest - but most joyful - days. We began with a visit from 120 Americans from the Diocese of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for morning mass. Bishop Robert Carlson had visited Zababdeh alone back in March for the parish's confirmation mass. He returned with a group on their pilgrimage to the Holy Land and to Rome. Once again, Zababdeh rolled out the red carpet for their visitors. There were gifts (Monsignor boasts his new tonsure sun protection) and food (the traditional Mansaaf - rice with spices, meat, and pine nuts, topped with yogurt and chicken). The school children did some "traditional" dance, and we toured the school.

This dear couple has opened their home to us countless times already.

But the celebration for the day had yet to come. Abuna Tomie, the Greek Orthodox priest, celebrated the wedding of his son. Dancing and food for weddings begins at around 8:00 and often goes into the wee hours. You can hear the sounds of music and dancing over much the village. Among the guests were some of the groom's extended family who have opened up their homes and their hearts to us. Did we mention that they invited us in for coffee?