What Paddy Shot At

I got up early this morning and went to the medical center. Since Bangkok, I have been having trouble with the heel of my right foot. I just can’t put any weight on it. I went on Easter and had an acupuncture experience. It didn’t seem to help and it cost $200. So I’ve just been tolerating it. I lounge around when I am not saying Mass or eating. I lay on the bed and read or find a nice quiet place somewhere on the ship and just put my foot up and read.
Yesterday I took that tour and once again put on my tennis shoes (which I had worn in Bangkok); hoping it would help. It didn’t! So this morning I went and saw the doctor. I took an hour in the waiting room because there were lots of people there with the “Cunard Cough”, which I don’t have.
When I finally saw the doctor, she asked me all kinds of questions and I told her my sad tale of woe. She had me take off my shoe and sock and then asked me to put my knee on the chair. She asked if this hurt and that hurt as she poked my foot. Then she told me to sit down and she said, “I know what happened but I can’t cure it! Only time can do that”. I stretched a muscle that runs between my heel and my toes. My tennis shoes gave me no support and so that what happened. She gave me a muscle relaxer and I take a pill three times a day (with food) and threw away the tennis shoes and we shall see!

I had Mass at 5:15 and there were 11 parishioners. It was in that room again and a number of people came late. Tomorrow we are in Oman ( I won’t get off – will just look from the deck) so we’ll have Mass again at 5:15pm but this time back in the theatre. Patrick and I tried to change our dinner time but it didn’t work out, so we are still at 8:30pm.
So that brings you up to date!!

We are in Dubai and Patrick and I went on a tour. It is almost 98 degrees here but since it is right on the water; there is a breeze. The buildings are so modern and tall and I’m sure many of you have seen them in movies like “Mission Impossible”. The one that looks like a sail coming across the water!
Mass yesterday was at 8:30 and I had a little ceremony where couples could repeat their marriage vows. About 25 couples did it. I wrote it from memory as I don’t have any books here. Also a number of people came to say good-bye as they were leaving in Dubai.
Mass today is scheduled for 5:15pm but it in a different room. I don’t know why but I’ll go early to be sure that everything I need is there.
Also since 1800 were getting off the ship and only 1600 were joining us; we asked if we could move to early sitting for dinner. 8:30pm is late and then if we go to the show, we go to the cabin around midnight. Sasha, the maitre d’ has arranged for the change but we are staying at the same table we had been sitting at, so we’ll have the same waiters, Romulo and Jeff, whom we like.
Got a number of emails today and will respond to them later. We are staying overnight here in Dubai. I am through with it but I think Patrick may take the shuttle and see some more of it. We came through the straits of Hormel, which Iran has been threating to close; so we are on alert for Iran and for pirates! All this for a boy from Riverdale!!!
More later!!

I had the 8:30am Mass today and was vvery surprised that almost 80 people came. A number spoke to me after Mass to say how much they have enjoyed my homilies. “You always say something that is thoughtful in such a short space”. That was very sweet.

I just finished listening to two lectures: One of the Italian campaign in WWII and the other by Gerald Raffe, who is a political cartoonist from Great Britian but appears in the New Yorker as well. He was very entertaining and glib. I found the lecture on WWII. I learned a lot about the bombing of Monte Cassino, a Benedictine Monastery.

I can not believe that I forgot to tell this story yesterday. Many of you know that I give up Snickers for Lent. It may not seem like much but I really enjoy them and often I might have 4 or 5 in a week. I do other things for Lent but that is a “biggie”. Yesterday, Easter Sunday afternoon, I was lying on my bed reading and Patrick said, ” Oh, good I see you have some water near you. It will help you to wash down your Easter gift.” Then he took out a Snickers; broke off a small part for himself and handed me the rest. It was soooooo gooood. The best part was I had looked in the ship store and they didn’t have any Snickers, so I asked Patrick, “How did you find that?” He said, “Oh, I brought it from Chicago. I knew you would enjoy it for Easter!!!” And I did! What a good and thoughtful friend.

Yesterday, I had the Vigil Mass at 5:30pm. We started by lighting one candle as an Easter Candle. We did, The Light of Christ and they responded in song, Thanks be to God. I just used the creation account, the crossing of the Red Sea, – then we said the Gloria and I lit the altar candles. Then, the Epistle, and the Gospel. I preached BRIEFLY, I blessed water, which I placed on the altar for people to come and bless themselves after Mass as they had come to venerate the Cross. We are in the theatre and it’s about 30 steps down and I figured that once down for Communion was enough. We repeated our Baptismal vows. Then the Mass continued. I had three Eucharistic Ministers and we had over 100 people. I sang the dismissal Alleluia and they repeated it. So I think it was as good and proper as the Pope’s Mass in Rome.
This morning, Mass was at 8:30am and again, we had over a 100. We had flowers that a couple had arranged for. It turned out that the husband, Bill ended up in the infimary and so his wife, Mary, took Communion to him and one of the flower arrangements.
We did the Mass of Easter Sunday and even recited the Sequence. A lady had gotten some copies made of Jesus Christ is Risen Today run off and we shared them and sang verses 1 and 2 as openers and 1 and 3 as a closing. It really was nice and we even took up a collection for the seamen’s fund.
At 1pm, I went and had an acupunture session. I hurt my foot in Bangkok and thought it might help. It didn’t but I enjoyed the massage and the needles didn’t hurt at all. Afterwards, I joined Pat in the sauna, hot tub, and the pool. He joined the club when we first got on board and has enjoyed it. I enjoyed it too.
Finished my second book and rested all afternoon. Supper was formal, so we had a drink before dinner.

Afterwards, I went to the crews’ section and said Mass for about 70 of them. It was very similar to the 8 this morning except they sing the parts and a couple of hymns. I walked among them to sprinkle them with holy water after we repeated our baptismal vows and they spontaneously sang. It was just lovely.

Now I’m off to bed. At sea tomorrow, so Mass is at 8:30am and I need to find a new book.

Hope you all had a very special and blessed Easter.You and all your intentions were in my prayers.
This is the Day the Lord has made, let us rejoice in it!!

This was the most unusual Good Friday I have ever had.
Our service was at 8:30am because we are “at sea”.
I brought 60 consecrated hosts from the safe in my room and placed them in four ciboria and lit a candle. Then we started with the liturgy of the word. John read both the readings and led the responsorial Psalm. Then I read an abridged version of the Passion according to John and preached. Then Patsy (who was an O’Connell before she married) read out the General Intentions, we prayed silently and then I said the prayer aloud. It went well.
Then I had covered the medal crucifix we had on the altar and as I took off parts of the cloths, I sang, “Behold….” and they say, “Come let us worship”. Then I placed the cross at the edge of the altar with the candles lit and told them that they could come down and touch it when they come to Communion or at the end of Mass. I then did the Our Father and three eucharistic ministers came and helped me to distribute Communion. I told them to break each host in half as we had close to 100 people there. We had two full host and three halves when we were done. Then I said the prayer over the people and dismissed them. It took 28 minutes!!!
A few more came down to reverence the crucifix. I think that Fr. Germain who taught us Liturgy, would have approved of what was created.

Tomorrow we are in India and so the Mass will be around 5pm. I’ll do a Vigil Mass and as we are at sea on Sunday, we’ll have another Easter Mass at 8:30am. Then I’ll say Mass around 10:30pm for the crew. About a 28 hour Sunday.
Hope you all had a very good Good Friday.

Because the schedule is set by the ship, we had Mass at 8:30am this morning. I used the readings of the Chrism Mass and preached on the Eucharist and the Priesthood. There were almost 50 people there, so I consecrated over 100 Hosts; so that I’d have an equal number for the service on Good Friday. I have the Blessed Sacrament in the safe in my room (but do not have a candle burning – not allowed)
I had explained to the staff that we don’t have Mass on Good Friday and that the service that I knew had to be at 8:30 would be “A Good Friday Service”. So the program comes out and it say, “Good Friday Mass”. The people will understand.
Also because it is a long standing custom of mine to visit 7 churches on Holy Thursday; this afternoon, I went on line and make a “virtual” visit to:
St. Matthew’s Cathedral, where I was ordained
St. Anthony’s, where I was baptized
St. Martin’s, where I went to k thru 3rd grade
Immaculate Conception, where my parents were married
St. Camillus, my first parish
St. Michael’s in Ridge, my second and last pastorate
Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, where I live now

I went to each of their web sites and looked at scenes inside the church and I prayed in each of them for all my family and friends. It took 57 minutes (still less than my usual time to drive) but it was worth it.
So know that all of you and your intentions were lifted up while I was on pilgrimage

We are off the coast of Thailand. There is an island here with very nice beaches; but I am staying on board as you have to use “tenders” – little boats to go back and forth. I am reading a very good book by Pat Conroy, who wrote Conrack, Prince of Tides, and the Great Santini. It is an easy read.
I had Mass yesterday at 8:30am with about 38 people. Today is the Mass is at 5:15pm just before we leave for India. I didn’t get a visa for India, so I can’t get off but that is OK.
Tomorrow is Holy Thursday and I did ask if we might have Mass in the evening but I think it will be at 8:30am. I’m sure the Lord will understand. I will consecrate extra Hosts to distribute on Good Friday. Heaven knows what time that service will occur. The congregation seems to be able to go with the flow; so I’m sure that the Passion, Death, and Resurrection will be celebrated.
More later.

Am just leaving Singapore. I was here 30 years ago with Monsignor Dade. It has changed so much. When we were here, the port was about a five minute taxi ride to the Raffell’s hotel. We docked at a container dock about 5 miles away and the skyline is filled with skyscrapers. The hotel is the same. It is where I had a singapore sling so long ago.

Yesterday was Palm Sunday. I had Mass on Saturday night for about 40 of the crew, which was very nice. Most were Phillapinos and they sang beautifully. I gave out crosses of Palm that I had brought from home. I did the same at the 8:30am Mass on Sunday. Had about 60 at that Mass.

Today, we didn’t have Mass scheduled. I don’t think it is a priority for the cruise line but a number of the “regulars” asked about it. I told them I just follow the daily schedule sheet. I did see we have Mass scheduled for tomorrow, while we are at sea. It is 8:30am.

I get confused about the date because as I write “Monday”; it is still Sunday for you people at home. Also the date and time on the computer is never the same as what I think. It seems like I am a day ahead of you and about 12 hours difference. We are heading towards an island that belongs to Thailand. I won’t get off as the heat here is terrible. I have lots to read – in the airconditioned ship.

I can’t tell if I wrote about going to Bangkok but it was very interesting and again, much different than it was 30 years ago. Last night the movie was called Anna and the King and starred Jody Foster. It was probably more historical than ‘The King and I’, the musical but it was very entertaining.

I will close for now.