What Paddy Shot At

Today we were in Vietnam. I got off the boat and visited some craft sellers at the pier but I didn’t want to tour. What I saw as we travelled the river and went past the Mekong delta was beautiful. It is lush with trees that grow right out of the river. There is no coastline. It is very hot. It was 97 degrees with 87 percent humidity. You can imagine how I liked that. Didn’t spend a half hour and then I was back in the airconditioning. I had Mass at 5:15pm. There were 30 people there. I have to be done in half and hour, which is easy for me. I give a homily and Communion is just the Host and someone helps me. I have a reader and the people are very helpful and grateful for Mass. When we are at sea, Mass is at 8:30am. I don’t know if things will be different for Holy Week.
Pat and I are eating at the late seating, which is 8:30pm. We wanted a table for just two and all were filled at the 6:00pm seating. It is working fine for us and I just didn’t want to sit with other people. I have too large a Christmas card list!!
I use the oxygen at night and it helps with sleeping but during the day, I’m fine – even though I walk the length of two football fields just to go to meals (and that’s twice a day).
I also am doing email and am keeping up with people. It is very relaxing. There are talks and I have been to two. There was a great stage show last night and tonight the magician was very good. Well, according to my watch, it is now 11:40pm and I am going to my room, read, and go to bed. More tomorrow!

I am still having trouble with Internet but just wanted to say hi. Will arrive in Vietnam tomorrow and will get off ship but not take a tour – too many bad association with the war. I will get off in Thailand. Will write again soon.

Have had some very interesting events over the last four days. We left Chicago at 1:15pm on Saturday and flew for 14 hours. Arrived in Hong Kong on Sunday, the 25th at 5:30pm. Stayed in a hotel and went to the ship on Monday, March 26th. As I write this, it is Tuesday and we are on the sea going to Vietnam. Lots of little problems but it all looks OK now. Had Mass this morning, a nice group of about 40 from all over the world. I didn’t sleep well last night (nervious that I’d over sleep) so I am going to take a nap. I will update later.

I am in Chicago and waiting for our limo to the airport. Our flight leaves O’Hare at 1pm;then a 15 hour flight to Hong Kong. We cross the dateline, so we’ll arrive there on Sunday at around 5pm. We’ll stay at a hotel and then go to the ship on Monday around noon. I will be glad to get settled on the ship and be able to use the Internet cafe on the ship. It has a keyboard and it takes a long time to write with just one finger as I have to do on the I-Pad. Just wanted you all to know I am OK, I was very busy before I left and I’ll tell you about that later.

Rejoice!!
Once again the last few days have been packed.
Friday, I did preach the homily at Marilyn Judge’s funeral. It was easy to do as she was truly a Renaissance Woman. A great wife and mother, college graduate and teacher, lover of reading and travel, a convert and a woman of faith. I knew her from Good Counsel days. She also went with our group to the Holy Land when she was in her 80’s. She was a real trooper. May she rest in peace.
I drove Barbara Ostrye and Ginger Burch to the cemetary and we met Mary Mudd’s grandson, James, who was kind enough to come up and introduce himself. He was charming. I missed speaking with Barry Trick, who was at the funeral but had to leave immediately after. I was sorry to miss him. He was one of my favorites at G. C.
I just stopped in the luncheon because I had to get back and work on my Christmas letter for 08,09,10, and 2011.
Susan Cassidy helped me a lot and I have about 90% done and ready to go to the printer. We worked till about 6pm
I relaxed and went to bed early.

St. Patrick’s Day:
I spent the morning cleaning the office and filing lots of papers. Even Fr. Ron was amazed to see the top of the desk.
Then at 1pm, I drove down to the cathedral, St. Matthew’s to preside at the wedding of Elizabeth and David. Elizabeth is the grand daughter of Helen Marie O’Brien Nolan, my dad’s first cousin. I realized that the only other time I was at that altar was 40 years ago when I concelebrated with Cardinal O’Boyle and my classmates at our Ordination Mass. How thrilling to be there again for such a happy family event. I went to the reception and besides the food, which was delicious; it was nice to be in the Mayflower Hotel, a wonderful old hotel that has been the scene of some very happy brunches with great friends. I met David’s family who are from Baton Rouge and were lovely. The two families and all the guests had a great time but around 8pm, I left to come home and stop by the St. Patrick’s Day celebration in our gym. They MADE me have some Baily’s and then I went home and slept soundly!!

Today, we had confessions for CCD and then I had the 10:30am Mass in the gym. I will help with Communion at the 12:30 and then meet with a couple. They had been in our Pre – Cana program and just found out that they need to have all the paper work done up here and taken down to New Orleans. I hope I can – I don’t know too much canon law!!
Then I’m going down to Maggie’s to meet with her and the lady who will cater the dinner after the 40th anniversary party on May 20th.
ONLY 5 DAYS TILL I LEAVE – so much to do!!!

Yesterday, Wednesday was full. I had the 8:00am Mass. Then I went to Miguel Pro School in Takoma Park. It is run by the Christian Brothers and is for young hispanics in grades 6, 7, & 8th. I went for confessions and I had a great time. Then I went to the Knights of Columbus Rock Creek Council for a St. Patrick’s Day luncheon. My cousin, Ann O’Connell was there and I sat with her a a group of her lady friends. Sean Culkin’s dance troup did Irish dancing for us. I spoke to him for a few moments because his wife, Denise taught with me at Good Counsel. Also many of the dancers were from St. Jane de Chantel school and their principal, Betsy Hamilton was there. I taught her son, Tim at G.C. as well.
Then because Patrick Berry told me we have to have more than one suit on the cruise, I went a bought a blue blazer. I shall report from the ship if that was necessary. Then I returned home for exposition and a private confession. Then I had the 5:30pm Mass and had a quick supper. At 6:30pm, I went into the confessional for the “Light is On for You”. A program where in every church in Virginia, DC, and Maryland, there is a priest in a confessional untill 8pm. It is a great program and I enjoy it very much.

This morning, Thursday, I had an 8:00am Mass at Stone Ridge for the 7th graders and their mothers. The students have been studying Mary and the Mass was in honor of her and the special relationship these students and their Moms have. It was very lovely and the girls were very impressive. I also had a chance to see and talk with Pat Davis. She was the art teacher at G.C. and is now a teacher at Stone Ridge. We were great friends and it was good to see her even briefly. After the trip, we’ll try for lunch.

I came right home as I had 11:00am Mass. Then I had an appointment and then a private confession. Then Patrick Mullan stopped in to see me. He was substituting as a teacher in the school. We had a good visit.
Around 4pm, Susan Cassidy came up from Ridge to help me work on my Christmas letter from 2008, 2009, 2010, & 2011. I am trying to get it together and ready for mailing before I leave on the cruise. We’ll see.
We worked till 6:30pm when Abigail and Mark came and the four of us went out to supper. Susan is spending the night at their house and then tomorrow, we work on the letter in the afternoon.
I have the 8:00am Mass tomorrow and then an 11:00am funeral at Leisure World for Marilyn Judge, another friend from G. C. She was also a fellow traveller. May she rest in preace.
So I’m off to the rectory and some sleep.

I had a wonderful time on Sunday night. In addition to my cousins, Rick and Peg Jensen; they brought their son Christopher. It was a very nice surprise but also he is so computer savy that we adults look like aliens! The three of them taught me a lot and I tried out some of it. I had almost child-like questions but they answered them all. Then we went to dinner at Clyde’s and continued a very nice get together. I went right to bed when they dropped me off.

On Monday, a very nice lady came to see me. She had been working with Fr. Jim before he left and I am going to help her with an annulment. Then I had the 11:00am Mass and joined the other priests for lunch and then took a nap. I also had the 5:30pm Mass. As I was going out of the room, the phone rang and I answered it. It was Judy and Jennifer, Gerry Hudder’s daughters. They wanted to tell me that he had died very peacefully with them on either side of him, holding his hands at 10am that morning. I prayed for them and him at the Mass. They will call me and let me know the details. I would love to go out but I can’t. He was a very good friend.
And then I drove out to RIP’S in Bowie to meet Rusty and Krista. Rusty is Jean Pizza’s grandson and he came into the church last year. He is an Anne Arundel police office and he and Krista will be married at St. Mary’s in Annapolis in August so we met to get some paperwork done.
On the way home, I called Mark Gribbin. I just got his email and phone number recently. He is living outside of Seattle and we had about a 45 talk. He was one of my officers in the Teen Club at St. Camillus. It was just so great to talk with him and “catch up”.
Maggie’s son, Mike had a procedure done yesterday up at Adventist Hospital in DC. It was suppose to be at 8 in the morning so they were there at 6am. It kept getting delayed and didn’t occur till about 5pm and then he had to stay still for 6 hours. They left the hospital around 11 and got home to Calvert County about 1am. Everything seemed to go well, so that’s what’s important. A priest’s day can be full of so much.

Tuesday: Today I came over to the office around 9am and then headed over to the Pastoral center to have a paper signed.
Then I came back to the office and got a lot of work done. I am trying to get my taxes done before I head out on the cruise. Also I had a number of phone calls to make. I had exposition at 3pm and then worked again at this desk. Had the 5:30pm Mass. There were 100 people there. It is so impressive.
I just finished meeting with Andrea, my RCIA person for our last session. I have really enjoyed meeting with her. She is the person who couldn’t come to the regular classes on Monday because of work and she came to me to make up the material. I am sorry to be missing her coming into the church at Easter. And so now I am heading to the rectory and a quiet night and early to bed.

Life just seems to fly by.
Thursday night I just stayed in the hotel and watch a movie, “The Iron Lady”. I had meant to see it before the Oscars but just was too busy. I’m sure it would have been different on the big screen but I enjoyed it very much. Meryl is a great actress and you just felt like you were watching Margaret Thatcher. I learned some things and I think now, I’d like to read a couple of books on her – Maybe on the cruise.

Friday, I got up and ate breakfast at the hotel; then walked – yes walked – the length of the building, and I was in the Hilton Hotel, where the congress was being held. I went to the key notes. One was a Doctor who spoke about Catholic Relief Services and the work they do. She had a great video that I think should get a TV showing, so people, but especially Catholics can know the wonderful work that is done with their contributions to CRS. The second key note was Fr. Jim Martin, SJ, who wrote “My life with the saints” and “From Heaven to Mirth” and is the editor of America magazine. He talk, which was on hope, was terrific and I enjoyed every word.
Afterwards, I went down to the exhibits, which I always enjoy. Of course, I ran into lots of old friends from my every enlarging Catholic circle. It was great to see them and catch up. Joe, John, and Terry didn’t come down and so I was sorry not to see them. I saw Sr. Kass and we had lunch. Then I went home and took a nap. I came back for one more presentaion by Dr. Somebody, who is speaking at the NCEA in Boston on Catholic Identity. He was very good and I recommend him to those going to Boston. I decided to come home early as I wanted to sleep in my own bed.

Saturday, we had our first Confirmation at 9:30am. Bishop Holley was great and the kids loved him and the rite. We had a nice luncheon over in the rectory with the bishop and three of the staff and we priests. It was catered and very tasty. Then we had our second Confirmation at 1:30pm. Again, it was lovely and went very well. Then I had the 5:30pm and was picked up by Julia’s father and taken to their home. I was Julia Elizabeth’s sponsor. She asked me a year ago and I was very pleased as she is only the 5 person to ask me in 40 years.
We had a tremendous buffet at her house and another Confirmanda, Sara and her family joined us as did relatives and friends. It was very relaxing and I had a good time. I came home around 9pm and was ready for bed.

This morning, I had the 9:00am Mass and then I relaxed in my office till I went up to give a presentation on Freedom in Maryland to a group of people involved in the parish outreach programs. There were about 40 people and my presentation went well and we had lots of questions and discussion.

Then I went and did a “teaching Mass” for the 140 children getting prepared to receive First Communion with their families and relatives. It went well but I don’t do as good a job because I don’t know the Mass by heart, like I use to. But no one seemed to mind.
Then I met with some people from the retreat I am participating in in July down at Camp Maria for a little prep.
Now I am waiting for Rick and Peg Jensen to come and teach me some more about how to use my I-Pad2. I have lots of questions and they are both very good at this. I imagine that we’d end up by going to Clyde’s. I don’t have to get up early tomorrow as I have the 11:00am Mass and the 5:30pm; so I don’t care how late we stay out.
Oh, I see them driving up! Time for class.

I am in Baltimore to participate in a conference. I just checked into the hotel and slowly learned how to connect to the hotel wi-fi.
I don’t have my appointment book with me, so I don’t know why I didn’t write on Wednesday. Susan Cassidy came in the morning and we worked on my Christmas letter for 2008-2009-2010 & 2011 for about five hours. It is my hope to get it out before I leave the country.
I had exposition, a Confirmation interview,5:30 Mass, my RCiA student, and at 7:30pm, I went to the last session of Pre-Cana. I went to bed by 10pm

Today, I had the 6:30am Mass. Then Sharon Beall met me and we picked up Isabelle Gallagher and we drove down to Leonardtown, Md for Mrs Pott’s funeral. It was lovely and lots of people from many of the parishes where Fr. Ron has served. Also Bishop Knestow and Bishop Curlin were there. Fr. Ron gave a beautiful homily. I saw lots of old friends like Fr. John DAKES, who is pastor there and Maggie Grau,from St. Camillus days.
We didn’t go to the burial or luncheon. We stopped at RIP’S for a bite and to unwind. When I returned to the center, there was a man who needed to talk with a priest, so I spent an hour with him and then went to the rectory to relax. At 6pm, I headed over here. I don’t think I’ll go over to the conference tonight. I think I’ll just relax

I had to go back into last week and change all the titles as this – not last week – is the second week of Lent. The Thursday, Friday, and Saturday after Ash Wednesday are not the first week.
So now we are correct.
I just saw that I haven’t written since Saturday. There is much going on because of the death of our pastor’s mother. The funeral is going to be Wednesday night (Wake) and Thursday (funeral Mass and burial), so we’ve been busy here.
On Sunday, Regis (from Catholic University) came and said the 9:00am and the 10:30 in church. I took the 10:30 in the gym and the 12:30 in the church. Fr. D’Silva took Saturday night, 7:30am Sunday and the 5:30pm on Sunday. Everything went fine.
After Mass, I drove down to Jack and Fran Cullison’s for a great buffet and some cards. Sister Mary Rita, who is Jack’s blood sister, and who was principal of St. Mike’s for 18 years was down visiting and so I was invited over. Judy Raley and Brenda Ridgell were also invited as well as other relatives of sister. We had a great time and both teams won the same amount of games, so we all left the floor with dignity.
On the way home, I stopped at Paul and Ellen’s. They had helped me to decide about a I-pad2 and then ordered it for me. Paul gave me a mini-course about how to start and then I brought it home. I was too tired to use it when I got home (it was 1am)

Monday. I had the 11:00am Mass and the exposition at 3 and then the 5:30pm Mass. In between, I tried to learn more about the I – pad and also to clean up my desk. At 7:30, I went to RCIA. Brother Cajean taught a great class on Morality and I added some stories and commentary from pastoral experience. It went well.

I didn’t sleep well and am going out to buy some NiQuil – Just the 15% alcohol should help me to sleep.

Today, Tuesday, I met with Grant Orr, who sells religious goods and he is getting more some stuff for Holy Week on the ship.
Then I had the 11:00am Mass and then Tuesdays With Fr. Maury. We had a good number today. Our topic was growing older and the comments and ideas were so varied and fascinating. We went till 1pm. Then I came back and tried to clear my desk a little.
Got a phone call from the school asking if I would lead the Stations of the Cross for the 6th grade classes. It was very nice – even though I walked around the church.

Then I had exposition and I did a “teaching Mass” for nine children who are in 3rd or 4th grade and a being prepared for First Eucharist by my friend, Pat. It was wonderful and the kids had good answers and good questions. We finished just in time for Benediction. Then I had the 5:30pm Mass. Then two ladies, who are friends of mine, Susan and Abigail, came and we went to participate in the “empty bowl” event. There are about 300 bowls that artist have made in DC and they give them to SOME (So Others May Eat), who sell them and with the purchase of the bowl, you get soup, bread, and desert. I bet there were 300 people there. The soup was great!! I bought two bowls.
As we were leaving, someone came and said, “They’re waiting for you in the church. It’s practice for Confirmation.” So I went there and played the Bishop. Now I’m heading home and hope to be in bed and asleep by 9pm. It was a good day but a full one.