What Paddy Shot At

Yesterday, Thursday, I didn’t get to do Part 2.
I got up early and did the 6:30am Mass. Then worked at my desk and tried to leave it relatively clear.
Then I had the 11:00am Mass. It was the feast of the Holy Innocents, so I preached about those who died for Christ. I mentioned again, those people who were going to Mass on Christmas Eve in Nigeria and five churches were bombed and many died. They died just because they were Catholics. I can’t get them out of my mind and heart.

Then I went to Joan’s and she rode with me up to take Betty back to Shrewsbury. Betty had spent the night at Joan’s and they talked till late at night. Joan, of course, as usual got up at 3:30am but Betty slept till 10. We had a very nice ride up, although it was snowing when we got to Betty’s. She was able to show Joan her new diggs but then we had to head home. The snow was just showers and didn’t stick.

I dropped Joan off at home – where she presented me with my stocking, filled with goodies!! It is the same stocking that hung up at Christmas in my home. Joan did say that it “burst” from the toe when she put stuff in it She had to sew it!! I did explain that it is 67 years old and I think we got good use of it!!!

I got home around 3:30 and at 4pm, one of my RCIA people came and we covered 5 topics that she had to make up. Fortunately, I’ve been around the church a long time and I was able to cover them all in 2 and a half hours. Now she’s back on track for the Monday night classes.

Then I had supper with the pastor and we “caught up”. Then TV and off to bed.

This morning I had the 8:00am Mass and preached on Family and what a blessing it is. I’ve been at my desk since. Had a great phone conversation with Steve Bleistine, whom I went to St. Nazianz’s with and whom I had the privledge of witnessing his marriage to Carol on December 28, 1974. I got their Christmas card and there was a great picture of their 9 year old son, Steve. He is adorable and is a “miracle baby” as they almost lost him at birth. I can hardly wait to meet him.

I have the 11:00am Mass and then I have to go out and get my hair cut.

The afternoon and evening are free – I may take in a movie or just relax in my room and prepare for the retreat that I am giving at the Dominican Retreat House in Virginia on New Year’s Eve. I probably won’t write again till January 1st. Have a very Happy and Blessed New Year.

I didn’t get home last night till almost 1am, so here is yesterday’s message.

I worked at my desk, trying to catch up on voice and e mail and left around 9am for Baltimore. I stopped in to see Sister Natalie (Ann Christine), my kindergarten and 1st grade teacher. She lives at Villa Julie, with about 25 other Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. She is the sacristan and works in the office on Medicare information. She is 83 and is still the “little ball of fire” she was when she taught me. We have been friends since 1949, when we met at St. Martin’s. She prayed me (and others) through the seminary and has been my “rock” over the years. Two weeks ago, she and another sister were taking the dog to his cage for the night and a cat ran by. The dog ran after the cat, pulling the one nun by the leash and falling into Sister Natalie, who fell into the wall and cracked her elbow and shattered it. She is wrapped up like a mummy and can’t really use her right arm. It’s funny to hear her tell it; but she is “most annoyed” at the cat and at her being forced to have people cut her food, which she can “still feed myself” with the left hand. It was great to see her and Sister Bernadette Glodeck (another SND friend of mine) who is one of the “drivers to the doctors”.

Then I drove up to Shrewsbury, Pa to pick up Betty Neary. She has moved – about three blocks – and she gave me a great tour of her new digs. It is about three times the size of the apartment she has lived in for the last 8 years. It is actually the first floor of a house and she is very happy about the move. We went to lunch and then drove back to Silver Spring and stopped by Joan Beall’s house for a visit. (I took a nap).

Then we came to Blessed Sacrament. I had the 5:30pm Mass. It was the feast of the Holy Innocents and I preached about those 27 people who were killed in bombs in Nigeria on Christmas as they were going to Mass. It seems that people are still dying because the Messiah has come!

Then, with the addition of one of the parishioners, who was at Mass and whom I invited to join us, we headed out for the Kennedy Center. Carolyn is a very active member of the liturgy group. She was born in Missouri but has lived her for about 50 years. She works at a law firm and we have just hit it off well.

Just before Mass, I got a phone message that Kate Berry was not well and wouldn’t be able to join us at the Center; so I invited Carolyn to sub. At first she demurred but I wouldn’t take No for an answer. So, she, Joan, Betty, and I headed to the Center. We met Rick and Peg Jensen, my cousins from Virginia and Bill and Pat Berry, who had driven in from West Virginia. We saw a one woman show about Anne Richards, the governor of Texas. Holland Taylor, who wrote it was the star and she was just fabulous. She plays the mother in Two and a Half Men on TV but has many other credits in her career. This will be one for which she is long remembered.

After the show, Rick and Peg invited us to their home for refreshments. Their daughter, Kate and their son, Christopher and his friend, Halley were there as well. We had a very nice time and good food!! (Again, we missed Kate Berry!!!). Finally around 11:15, we decided that the Berrys needed to head out to West Virginia and we needed to head home. I took all the ladies home and, as I said, fell into bed around 1am. So now I am up to date.

God is trying to teach me something by letting the computer freeze up – but I don’t know what it is yet.
As Kass said, “I thought you were typing it in Word, and then transferring it”. Yes, that would be a sensible thing to do but it required two steps and I thought I’d just do one!

As Fr. Tom use to say, “All sin is Pride”. So here I am in Word trying to remember what I wrote.

On Monday, I drove out to Charlestown and had a very nice visit with Bill, Kate, and Patrick. They gave me a great tour of their new church, St. James. It stands in a huge piece of property and looks like Chartres Cathedral. It is red brink – like most of Charlestown – and it could be a medieval complex when it is done. The windows – some of which are not done yet – will be a teaching tool like the old stain glass of Europe. There are classrooms and a very large multi purpose room below. I was most impressed.

We had shepherds’ pie for supper and then the Pros, who live across the street came for a visit. I had met them when I was at St. Michael’s in Ridge. They have a nephew who lived there. During the conversation, I learned that John had gone to St. Vincent’s as an adult and took courses from Fr. Demetrius – small world!

I must recommend the Berry’s Bed and Breakfast. My bed was so comfortable and I slept very well. Kate made French toast early on Tuesday because I had to get away by 9:00am. Their home and hospitality was exceptional. I hated to leave.

It rained all the way home but I got here for the 11:00am Mass with time to spare.

Then I went to RIP’s to meet Sr. Kass for lunch and to catch up on all the news.

Then Jim Beattie called and asked me to meet him and Tom Duffy at Sergio’s for supper. Maybe all the eating out is the reason I am stuck at only losing 38 lbs!! You think???

I had a great day and it was only spoiled by the freezing up of the computer last night.

I’ll write today’s message later tonight.

I am enraged!!! I typed a long message and it froze. It said it had been saved as a draft, so I just waited and when it finally moved again, it was gone! I am going to bed.

Christmas was lovely!! Every Mass was filled. The Music was uplifting and I had a great time. The 4pm on Christmas Eve at which I presided was so full that people were standing 5 deep. Communion took almost 30 minutes. All the other Masses were also crowded. It was most impressive. I prayed for all of you at Midnight. I also presided at the 10:30am and helped with Communion at the 12:30. Then I took a nap.

I spent the rest of the day, watching TV and eating. I especially enjoyed watching “Going my Way”. I never noticed how much the story was like those wonderful seven years I got to live with Monsignor Dade, when I was pastor at St. B’s.
He was a very special priest.

I tried to go to sleep before 11pm as I knew I had the 6:30am Mass today. I got up easily. There were 8 people at Mass but it was good. I shared how it wasn’t till I was in the seminary that I noticed and thought it strange that the day after Christmas was the feast of the first martyr. Now I realize that the Church doesn’t want us to be so wrapped up in the infant in the manger that we forget that He came to teach us how to love – even at the cost of our lives. I prayed for all the Stephens in my life.

In a few moments, I will head out to Charlestown, West Virginia and visit with Bill and Kate Berry. Patrick came there yesterday from Chicago and I’ll spend the night with them and be home tomorrow in time for the 11:00am Mass. I hope we find some time to stop in the casino out there – You have to play to win!!!

I hope that your Christmas was enjoyable and love filled.

I didn’t get a chance to write yesterday because I was like a doctor and had appointments and events all day.

I went to visit a lovely 92 year old lady, who is the regular Communion call of my friend and parishioner, Brian. He is in Florida with his family; so I went. I had visited her in the past. She is from Johnstown, Pa and came here as an 18 year old to work in the government. She has had a very exciting life and has travelled around the world. We had a great time.

Then I had to drop my suit off at the cleaners.

I had the 11:00am and I preached again (it was a different congregation than the 8am the other day) about how Elizabeth and Zacariah were not in their 80’s but were probably in their 20’s. They were about to celebrate their 10th anniversary of marriage. That was not a happy time as, since he was a priest and needed a son for the priesthood to continue; if Elizabeth did not produce a son within ten years, the law required that Zachariah divorce her and take another wife to have a son. My homily has led to some very interesting conversations. I had some confessions after Mass, we usually make that available on Fridays.

Then I cleared all my voice mails and emails and talked to lots of people. My desk is nearly clean!!

Then Chris Core, a parishioners and local radio personality, drove me over to visit one of his Communion Calls. A lovely 91 year old (who told me she was 80) from the Domincan Republic. We had a great visit and then Chris dropped me off at Chevy Chase House and I had Mass. After that, Joan picked me up and brought me back to the office.
Then I had a person come for confession. I called Dan and Stephanie Poje (Mimi, her Mom was there visiting) and had a nice visit by phone.
Then I took a nap.
At 6:30 I went to Maggiano’s Italian Restaurant and met Maggie, her son, Mike and his wife, Sue and Sue’s Mom, Janice, whom they had just picked up at the airport. She came from Kansas to spend Christmas here. We had a delicious meal and lots of laughs. I got home by 9pm and went to bed.

This morning, I got up and came over to the office by 9:00am. Have heard some confessions and met with a parishioner who is undergoing treatment and just wanted to talk.
I will go up to say the 11:00am Mass and then go take a nap as I have the 4:00pm Mass in the church for Christmas Eve. I just learned that the readings with be the Midnight Mass readings and that may change my homily a little. So a nap and some resting in the Lord might help me to work on my homily.

After Mass, one of our parishioners always sends in a delicious supper; so we three priest will sit down to a nice supper.
The others have Masses at 6 & 8 but I’ll relax till I come over and concelebrate the Midnight Mass. I like concelebrating because I don’t have to worry about the servers and getting things together for the Offertory; I can just sit there, listen to the music, and by name, speak out in my heart all of you – special people that I love and am grateful for God’s putting you in my life.

Know that you and your intentions will be lifted into His presence. Have a very Blessed Christmas. I will write tomorrow after the 10:30am Mass.

Today, I slept in and when I came to the office, I cleaned. I put all my Christmas card together to take to Pittsburgh and read them at my leisure in the hotel. I also returned all of my 24 voice mails and tried to catch up on emails.
At noon, I took a nap till 2:40. Then I did exposition. Met with a person who came to my office and listened to her for close to an hour. She needs more professional help.
I had the 5:30pm and preached about Samuel, one of my favorites from the Old Testament.
Then I drove down to the National Rehabilation Center to see a parishioner who had a stroke last week and today was moved to rehab. We had a nice long visit and I left around 9pm. Now I’m home and going to bed. I have a full day tomorrow. I am now up to date!!!!!

On Tuesday, I was suppose to have the 11:00am Mass but we had a funeral that had to be at 9:30 because people were flying out that afternoon. It was a 91 year old lady who was born in Cuba and came to high school at Visitation. Then she returned home and after awhile knew she had to leave Cuba. She came back in the 60’s; married and had two sons; was widowed; and eventually married again. She had a lovely family of children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. I did the opening and closing in Spanish. I rode out with the director to Gate of Heaven and did the interrment. While there, I spoke with a number of people – Cokkie Roberts, who is a relative and the Dominguez family. Jose was a student at GC and his beautiful sister, Rosa, worked at camp Good Counsel. She was hit by a car in Ocean City, when she was 16. I remember her funeral and I had said a prayer for her family as we passed her grave, which was only about 30 feet away. It was so nice to talk to her parents and find out how the other children are doing. One is a priest.

I got back just in time for my Tuesdays with Fr. Maury. Our topic was “Christmasses we remember”. There were lots of delightful stories. I shared about the Christmas I wanted a boy’s bike (use to get hand me downs from my sisters). I was so sure I would get one. I think I might have been in 5th or 6th grade. It wasn’t there and I tried to be excited about the shirt I got and the other gifts. My Dad kept saying “Let’s get rid of all this wrapping paper. Maury, take that out back to the trash can”. I delayed but finally went and there next to the trash cans was a boy’s bike. I could hardly speak when I came back into the house. It is as memorable now as it was then. We had some refreshments but I had to leave right away.

I was picking up Ceil Mattingly to take her to RIP’s to meet her sister, Katherine, and my sisters, Marie and Maggie. Katherine lives in Winston-Salem and she was visiting two friend from her days of working at the Treasury Dept. They, Linda and Juanita, joined us. Anne-Marie, Maggie’s second girl, also joined us. Ceil and Katherine’s family – Jim and Thelma Mattingly were like second family to ours. Jim was a Deputy U.S. Marshall with my Dad and Thelma and Mom were “travel buddies” when they were widows. It was a wonderful meal and time together.

Then I went to Patty Petrone’s house. Fr. Jerry Trancone, Patty’s children, Philip and Molly, her sister, Rose, Patty and I are long time friends from St. Bernard’s days. We had delicious pasta (Masta somethiing – sounds like moustaches). Rose made it and it is one of my favorite meals that her Mom, who cooked for me at St. Bernard’s use to make. Rose learned the trick.
Then we went on a car trip (It’s impossible to describe how we fit 6 of us in a van but we did – much laughter and some moaning!). We went to Homestead Gardens and through neighborhoods to see the light displays. They were very beautiful (if a Little overdone in some places). Then we returned home to decorate cookies. This has become a wonderful Advent tradition with them and I had a ball. Got home after 1am.

On Wednesday, I had the 8:00am Mass and then the school Mass at 9:15. Both were wonderful but the kids did some special things that made it even lovelier. Then I took a nap.
When I got up, I went to meet Patrick Mullan for a light lunch, a visit, and then to see ‘Mission Impossilbe”. I love all that special effects stuff and it had a good theme. It reminded me of Sunday night in the seminary (when we had to reschedule evening prayer) so that we could all go to the TV room and see Mission Impossible, the series. Had a great time with Patrick and then I got home around 6pm. Worked on trying to catch up on Paddy and went to bed by 10pm. I didn’t set the alarm as I didn’t have anything to do until Thursday at 3pm. I slept great and although I starting waking up around 7am, I didn’t get up till 9. I think I am fully rested.

Now you are up to date as Thursday, the 22nd will be posted later tonight.

I had to stop yesterday as a man whose Mom had died came in to see me. He is taking her body home for burial on Friday and just needed to talk. When he left, I just didn’t feel like continuing.

As I was saying:

We were dropped at the theatre at 1pm for a 2 o’clock performance of “Sister Act”. It was tremendous – a real stand up and shout type of show. We had great seats in the mezzanine and the time flew by.
Afterwards, Maggie and I walked the four (short) blocks to the Marriott Marquis and checked in. Our bags had been left on the bus and now they were in our room. We relaxed ( I think we took naps) We left our coats in the room and then went down to the ticket booth in the hotel and got tickets for “Follies”, which was in the Marquis Theatre. The show was at 8:00pm, so we went to supper in the hotel restaurant. We were back upstairs and in bed by 11pm. It was so relaxing!!

On Sunday, Fr. Paul said Mass in one of the conference rooms. There were 39 of us and he gave a great homily on silence. I didn’t concelebrate; a sat with Maggie and just enjoyed being part of the congregation.
After Mass, we met our cousin, Sharon, her partner, Amy and our little cousin, Alexander, who is almost 3 years old. I have his picture on my wall and had met him last year at his aunt’s house in my parish. He was a little shy at first but eventually he warmed up to us. He was at the buffet and kept saying he had “get back to my friends” at the table. So I guess we past muster. We had a wonderful time and just talked.
Nap time!!
Then, a long time friend, Jean Morere, who lives in Florida and New Jersey, met Maggie and me for dinner. Jean and I met in 1978 when Msgr Dade was the chaplain on a cruise from Alaska through the Panama Canal to NYC. I was his companion and Jean and another nurse, Kathy came to daily Mass and we just became friends and have remained so.
Christopher Ziobro, who is Joan Beall’s grandson and live in Brookllyn also joined us. He came here after graduation from Marist college in Poughkeepsie and is loving it. He works in Manhattan and seems like he’s doing fine. His mother, Sharon and his grandmother worry about him but he is “native” now. It was again a very relaxing time to sit, eat, and talk.
Maggie and I went to bed early.
On Monday, the 19th, we got up early and took a cab around 6:30am up to Rockefeller Center to try to be on the Today show. We stood there for an hour and a half but never got closer than the third row. I could, at least see things but Maggie had a lady with a parka with fur coming out of the hood and she couldn’t see anything but the fur; so finallly at 8:30, we headed back to the hotel. We had breakfast – and talked to a lovely hostess whom we had met on Saturday night – Casey Carney Quinn – who was doing a great job of dealing with “crazy and demanding” customers – Oh, not us – we’re crazy but fun!!!
Then up to the room for a nap. They came and took our luggage down – and interupted our nap but we went back to it. At 11:30, we went down to the bus, which was on 45th street, next to the hotel. Pointed out our luggage and then got on the bus. By 12:30 we were sailing down the Jersey Turnpike. We got back to Dunkirk around 4:30 and I dropped Maggie off and home and was back at Blessed Sacrament in time for supper and the Penance Service at 7pm.
Fr. Jim came to help at the service and so he, Fr. Ron and I sat in front of the fire in our rectory and visited. He left around 10:30 and I was sound asleep by 11pm.

MORE TO COME!

I did what I said I would do on Thursday night, December 15th and spent the night at Maggie’s.
On Friday morning, Maggie and I went to the pool and exercised. It was very refreshing and very tiring. I drove home and would have done the exposition at 3pm but I got a phone call that Ralph Kennedy was very ill and I went to give him the Sacrament of the Sick. He and Mary moved to Ryderwood and he has hospice. I got a chance to see Bobbie and Angie, two of the children, who were also visiting.
The pastor took the expostion and I returned and made an appearance at the Home School party in the rectory and then I had the 5:30pm Mass.
I finally headed back to Maggie’s and arrived around 9pm. Had a nice visit with Sue, Mike’s wife, who is looking into Catholicism. We had a very good discussion. I was in bed and asleep by 10:15.

On Saturday, Maggie and I were at the parking lot of Jesus the Good Shepherd church in time for our 8:00am departure. The bus trip was so easy and relaxing. They kept bringing food and drink. We arrived in NYC around 1pm. ( to be continued)