What Paddy Shot At

Another busy day!
I had the 8:00am Mass and in the first reading, it suggest that we should not let anger (or frustration) find a home in our heart because then we’ll act out of that reservoir. I think I may have been letting my illness do that. So after Mass, I spent the rest of the morning trying to get all my prescriptions correct and filled.
I had a funeral at 11am of a lovely lady (89 years of age) whom I met and anointed at Sibley about a month ago. I kept in touch with her daughter as they took her home to allow her to die there. It was a very nice funeral and I did the last prayers in Spanish.

Then I took some of the “magic” elixer that allows me to sleep at night and took two drops and went to bed. Had a good three hour nap and then returned to four interviews for Confirmation.

Now, I am waiting to go to a parishioner’s home for Pre-Cana. A new session starts tonight at 7:30pm and goes for four Wednesays. I’ll be there today and for the closing session on March 7th.

Then home to bed, a little elixer and I don’t have to be over here again till 10:00am

I try to mention them all in my homily – I think it works!!

Today was another very busy day. It started with a prayer service with the lower school in the gym. I blessed all the valentines as messages and messengers of Love. It was very nice.
Then I met with a lady going through a divorce.
Then the daughter of the lady I will bury on Thursday
Exposition
5 Confirmandi interviews
Phone conversation with the family, whose mother I will bury tomorrow.
5:30pm Mass
and in between trying to get my prescriptions straightened out.
I have something that should keep me asleep through the night
I hope I get up in time for the 8:00am Mass tomorrow
So, I’m off to the rectory and some food and early to bed with my medicine.
May St. Valentine (and Cyril & Methodius) bless all of you with tokens of the Love you richly deserve – and this from one who is blessed by your friendship and love.

Just came in from dinner with Frs. Beattie and Duffy. We met at 6:15pm at DeCarlo’s. The spagetti was great, as always; and the company was great too.

I had a quiet day. Mass at 11. Interviews from 3:30 to 5pm. Went to pick up my prescriptions but the doctor’s office hadn’t called back and so they weren’t ready. Another night without sleep help – maybe three swigs of Nightquil – I think it’s 16% alcohol???

Yesterday, Saturday was a full day for me. I didn’t sleep well because of the coughing but I drove over to St. Bernard’s for Mary Windsor’s funeral. I was so pleased to see that they were lots of people there. I didn’t feel up to concelebrating, so I sat in the pew with my sister, Marie. Fr. John Clark, a dear friend of Mary’s presided and preached. He invited people to speak after Communion and a number did – including me. Mary was especially good in helping the Spanish community to develop at the parish and I wanted to say that. There was a luncheon afterwards but I really needed to come home and go back to bed.

I did that and slept so I was ready to go with Marie and Maggie over to Peg and Rick Jensen’s for a delicious dinner and to play cards. It was so much fun and reminded me of those card nights at Gramdmom and Grandpop O’Connell’s. “Aunt” Shelia, who is Kate’s Godmother and works at the Madera School joined us. It was so good to see her and “catch up”. Kate, Christopher and his friend, Halley also came by. We stayed till 11pm. When we were leaving, it was snowing and very windy and at times I drove 10 miles an hour through the city. I called Maggie and Marie to make sure they got home OK. Everyone did!

This morning, I had the 10:30 Mass in the gym. It was “in pew” day for the Cardinal’s Appeal. We also listened to a tape of the Cardinal. I think the kids were very good and very patient. I think it went well. Afterwards, I tried to get into the room where Chris Matthew was answering questions and signing his new book on John Kennedy. It was just so crowded, that I came down to my office instead. But I could hear yelling and so I went up to the second floor. It was packed with parishioners but there wer about 8 protestors screaming out and pushing people. I went over and asked them to stop yelling and those that didn’t stop, I asked them to leave. Some of the men parishioners also tried to lead them out but they were “out of control”, screaming about abortion and hypocrisy, etc I went and called 911. Told them who I was and asked them to send the police. I was afraid it would get violent. The men all left and I went outside to wait for the police. When a police car came, I went out. The men across the street were saying to the police, “Oh, we had a disagreement but we left as soon as they asked us”. I said, “That is not true, officer and I would like you to come in. I believe there are some other people causing trouble still in the building.” He came in and by that time, three women were screaming out. I asked him to remove them. They didn’t go quietly, condemning both Fr. Percy and me to hell for our sin in allowing this man to speak as they were led out.

It was exhausting and so upsetting to our parishioners, especially the older ones. I stayed calm throughout but I’m sure my blood pressure was off the chart.

I stayed till everyone had gone and then I drove down to Southern Maryland to meet with my TEAM couples. We had a great and spiritual meeting and dinner. I just got home and I am off to bed. I hope to get some sleep. I have the 11am Mass tomorrow.

Ah, the life of a parish priest!!!

I have always loved this feast. Across from where I sat regularly in the choir stalls at St. Vincent’s Archabbey is a stain glass window of St. Scholastica. She was the twin sister of St. Benedict. Both founded monasteries on hills facing one another and once a year they’d meet for the day in the valley and pray and talk. Once, Scholastica asked Benedict to stay after dark and he reminded her of the rule that the monk must be back in his abbey at night. A hugh storm came up and the rain pounded down and they could not leave the little hut. Benedict said, “Sister, what have you done?” She replied, “I asked my brother and he said ‘No’, so I asked our Father and He said, “Yes”. They spent the night in prayer and conversation. A few months later, Scholastica died.
They could never have another yearly meeting.
So we only have to ask our Father and his answer will be right.

I slept well and had the 8:00am Mass. My voice still sounds bad and I still cough but I think I am over the hump. I went back to bed and slept for a couple of hours without coughing.
In the afternoon, Susan McCoy and her sister in law, Sharon came to visit with Susan and Danny’s two children. I baptized Alya a few years ago and now I will baptize her brother. We’re going to have it in our chapel and then a little reception in our hall. It will be great to see all the family
I am heading over to supper. Fr. Jim, a friend of Fr. Ron’s, from Scranton is joining us and Fr. John Dillon. I do love that Ron has lots of priest-friends and has them over to visit. We’ll have a fire afterwards and sit in the front room and laugh and visit.

Mary Windsor, who was the secretary for CCD at St. Bernard’s died this week and I will attend her funeral tomorrow at St. B’s and I’m sure, I’ll see lots of old friends. I hope I sleep well tonight.

I had to take three of the sleeping things but I slept for almost 9 hours. I was so refreshed when I got up.
I had the 11:00am Mass and spent the rest of the day at my desk trying to clean up lots of loose emails, phone calls, etc. After exposition at 3, I had four confirmandi for interviews. They are so excited about Confirmation and the service projects they did. Then I had the 5:30pm Mass; and now I am heading home to eat, take more medicine and sleep. Have the 8:00am Mass tomorrow. I am still coughing but it doesn’t hurt as much.

This will not be long.
Terrible night with no long period of sleep. Had Mass and then a lovely little ceremony of First Penance at Stone Ridge with fourteen 2nd grader. The the doctor’s. She changed my anti-biotic to something stronger and gave me some stuff she tells me will make me sleep.
I had three confirmandi interviews and then 5:30pm Mass. People are so good and patient. I didn’t do Communion and had lots of volunteers to help with the Mass. I just finished a very nice interview with a couple whom I will marry at St. Michael’s in July.
Now I am going to eat some soup, take my medicines and get in bed. Have nothing to do till the 11am Mass tomorrow. Hope I sleep the whole time. Keep those prayers coming.

Had five hours of sleep this afternoon. – No coughing or anything! Hope that means I’ve turned the corner. Did the 5:30pm Mass and met with my RCIA person. Think I’ll skip the play reading tonight and go to bed after some soup. Have the 6:30am Mass tomorrow and then first Penace at Stone Ridge aat 9:00am. Doctor’s appointment at 11:15 and then maybe another nice nap.
Got a phone message from Fr. Dan. All went well and if he can eat something today, he may go home to rest tomorrow. Thanks for the prayers. Keep them up for all us sick priests.

I haven’t written because I’ve been ill.
On Sunday, I had the 10:30am Mass in the gym and then I headed South. I went to Bowie and saw the movie, “Man on a Ledge”. It was very exciting and just the kind of film I like, where the good guys win, and the bad guys have the s…. kicked out of them. Then I drove to La Plata and had supper at a Spanish restaurant with Ray Fecteau. Then we went to Loyola Retreat House. It is a beautiful place over looking the Potomac River. It was one of the priests retreats sponsored by the Archdiocese. This one only had about 14 of us but I knew them all and it was nice to see some I hadn’t seen in awhile as well as my buddies, Fr. Beattie, Fr. Bazan, and Fr. Kane.
Also a very nice surprise, was that Jim Greer, who was a seminarian with me at St. Vincent’s is now the director of the house. We had a nice long talk and caught up on things in both our lives.
I even sat through “the game”. But as I was getting to bed, I felt that the little head cold was getting worse. I did not sleep more than an hour at a time and I coughed all night. I got up around 6am and met some of the guys for coffee (I had hot water) and then I headed home. I hated to leave as the retreat master gave a great talk on Sunday night and I was looking forward to more.
On the ride home, I called my doctor and he fit me in for a visit around 4pm. He told me it wasn’t pneumonia but a bad sinus infection. I got anti-biotics and after saying – and I do means – just saying the words – the 5:30pm, I went to bed. Had a horrid night of coughing and bringing up phlem and didn’t sleep much. I tried to stay in bed but finally at 10:am I just got up and came over here. I have the 5:30pm Mass and then I’m back to bed. Being old and sick is no fun

Woke around 6am from a very good sleep. I had stayed at the party for the pre-Cana speaker longer than I intended. It was very nice and I met some parishioners I didn’t know by name yet. I went to bed around 11pm.

Came to the office worked. At 10, I met the high school students I’ve been helping get ready for Confirmation. I think he’s ready and willing.
At 11, I had the Mass and also brought into full Communion, a lovely doctor who was born in Egypt 75 years ago and was baptized, confirmed, and given Eucharist as a child in the Coptic Orthodox Church. After the “Our Father”, he stood and affirmed his desire to come into full Communion with the Roman Catholic Church. After the sign of peace, he recieved the Eucharist. His wife, Libby also. At the end the congregation applauded and then stopped by to welcome him. It was very nice.

Then a married couple came to visit and talk about some health issues.

Then one of my pre-Cana couples came to see me and arrange about FOCUS – an instrument to gauge communication skills. We give it to all our engaged couples.

Then I home and got a bite to eat. Then a woman came to visit and talk. Then I had the 4pm confessions. I am sitting at my desk waiting to go up and help with Communion at the 5:30pm.

Made a number of phone calls ans set up some appointments. I was suppose to go to Brian and Bernie Degenhardt’s 50th birthday party at the Deaf center but I think after Mass, I’m heading home. I have a little bit of a head cold and it’s sleeting outside and I just don’t feel like driving.

My cousin, Eileen is in the hospital again. Please keep her and Phil in your prayers.