What Paddy Shot At

Yesterday was going to be a quiet day. I had a confession at 9am. Another at 2pm and then the 5:30pm Mass. I was going to “straighten up” my desk. I don’t think I got much done today. I did call Pat Berry and had a chance to speak with his brother and his wife, his sister and her husband. I knew they were all coming to visit him for his birthday, which is October 9th. I thought I’d call early because the last time I looked, it was October 4th. I do get confused!!
Then I met Fr. Beattie for supper at DeCarlo’s. Neither of us could make Tuesday and Fr. Duffy couldn’t make Monday but we had a nice dinner and a good talk.

Today was a very busy day. I had a 10am appointment. Then we had a very large funeral. She was 86 years old and the mother of 16 children. She had 59 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. There were 9 priests on the altar. It was, as the Irish say, “a great send off”.
Then I had Tuesdays with Fr. Maury (which started 45 minutes late because of the funeral) and our topic was “Elections and inaugurations I remember”. The farthest back people could remember was Roosevelt (FDR). Two of our newest members are from Rumania and Spain and they told us about elections there. Very interesting.

I had the evening free and I did some genealogy stuff and talked on the phone with some friends. Had a great talk with Tonya and Dennis Essig on his feast day. Caught up with Marilyn Cavallaro and that branch of the family. A relaxing evening.

This morning I had a service at Ft. Lincoln Funeral Home for the brother of Bruce Mulligan. His name was Mike and he was a veteran. His oldest brother, and his two nieces spoke. I think it went fine. There were a lot of people there and that always helps the family. Next weekend, one of the nieces will be married, so a happy ocasion is on the horizon.
Then I had the 12:30 Mass and afterwards drove up to Barnesville to perform a wedding. It was just a ceremony but it was lovely. So keep Greg and Shirley in your prayers.
Then I had the 5:30pm Mass. Just got some food and I think I’m off to bed. I am exhausted!

I thought that I had written since last Wednesday but I can’t seem to find it; so I guess I didn’t write it. Well here goes an attempt to “catch up”.
On Thursday, I went and visited Mary Rose Mudd, a dear friend and my accountant. She and Robert, her brother have kept me out of jail for years. They get me extensions on my taxes as I am never ready on April 15th and then I’m still not ready on October 15th. She is the soul of patience and today she had gone through the file of material I dumped on her in April and had made sense of much of it. She only had a page of information that I needed to answer and then she could send it off. I worked on that much of Friday and sent it off to her on Saturday (she responded immediately – she was working on Saturday!!) and now I think I am again SAFE.
Thursday night, I drove out to near Frederick and heard confessions for the junior girls from Holy Cross who were on retreat. I love doing that and it was very nice. On the way home, I stopped by Doug and Kathleen Hanratty’s and had a nice visit with them and their family.

On Friday, I went to therapy at 8:30am. I am learning how to walk up steps and afterwards I am exhausted. I guess I’m using muscles and ligaments that I never use. I took a long nap.
Had lunch with Ann, a friend from the parish and then I had the 5:30pm Mass. Afterwards there was a dinner for new parishioners. I stopped in and met a few but didn’t eat.
Instead I went over to the rectory, where 12 seminarians were visiting us. Fr. John Dillon, an old friend and pastor of St. Mark’s was also there. He, Fr. Ron (and I have to say I also) regaled the seminarians with stories of our early pastors and life in the rectory. They still want to be priests, so I guess the stories weren’t too bad. I really enjoyed the evening but was glad to get to bed.

On Saturday, I had a baptism at noon. And it turned out that the aunt of Carolyn Rose was one of my therapist from Friday. She was the one who told me I could get up those steps without using the rail. She told me afterwards that I went up the steps of the altar very well during the baptism so the therapy must have helped. They had a little party in the parish center and I went for a while. His family are from Turtle Creek near Pittsburgh and we had lots to talk about.
I called and talked to Fr. Ray Fecteau as Sunday is his birthday.
Then another nap.
I had the 4pm confessions.
Then I drove over to near Baltimore to attend the 86th birthday of Dot Witte Furnary. All her kids and spouses were there, including Mike and Lisa from Wisconsin. I had a great time as I always do with the Witte family. I stayed late and got home around 10pm. I called Joe Stoutz for his birthday and had a nice talk.

Enough for now. I’ll try to finish this update tonight.

I had a very full day yesterday. I had the 11:00am Mass and
then the parishioner picked me up and we drove to National
Park for the last game of the season. I hadn’t been there since
I attended the Pope’s Mass there. Greg’s wife’s company has
4 season tickets and so we met another parishioner, Bill and
Lynn, a friend of Greg’s wife, who had gone to high school
with her. The seats were down just above the dugout and we
could see everything. They tossed out T shirts and I got one.
I can’t say I caught it, it bounced off lots of arms up in the air
and fell into my arms; but it was fun. The Nationals won (
Sorry, Joe Stoutz about the Phillies!) and now it is on to the
Pennant!
I was late getting home but my 5:30pm appointment, Greg,
was kind enough to wait for me and we had a great discussion
about Catholicism, which he is interested in. He’s marrying a
Catholic next Spring. Keep him and Catherine in your prayers.

Happy feast day to all who know and love Francis.

Also keep the Pope in your prayers as he travels by train to
Lorreto, in commemoration of the trip Pope John took 50 years ago
today to pray for the opening of Vatican II, which began on October
11, 1962.

Yesterday was the new feast day of St. Therese, the Little Flower. As I grew up it was on October 3rd but it got moved in the new calendar. I don’t like to fight change and I understand that it was moved because she actually died on September 30th and the 1st is closer than the 3rd. I don’t know why but it annoys me. Also Sister Natalie (Ann Christine), who gave me a great love of Therese also gave me a statue of her when I was 7 years old. I still have it up in my bedroom. Over the years, I have sent Sister roses on the feast day but this change of date has thrown me. So I sent her roses today with this message: “I am either a day late or a day early. In any case: Happy Feast Day. Love, Maury” I should hear from her soon.

Yesterday, I went and saw Dr. Solomon, my pulmonary doctor. I wanted to let him know about Maureen because we’ve talked a lot about her. Also he checked me out – and except that I have to lose weight – I’m doing well.

Last night, I taught a class on Scripture and Tradition to the RCIA. I am so grateful that I had those wonderful Benedictines who really taught me to appreciate scripture.

Today, I went out to therapy at 8:30am. It was pouring rain but I’m glad I went. We spent a lot of time on going up steps – which is still a problem for me.

Then I went to the dentist. Was last there in June of 2010. I don’t know where the time went. I did well and may only have one cavity that needs to be dealt with. I always said that Mom gave us kids good teeth.

Now I am waiting for the 5:30pm Mass. It is for Maureen from the staff here. Then supper and I’m going to the Play Reading group. I haven’t been there since last March. I think it conflicts with dinner with Frs. Beattie and Duffy but we’re not doing that tonight as Jim is up at Mt. St. Mary’s for a special dinner, where Mike Roach is being honored!!!

Tomorrow I have the 11am Mass and then am being taken to the stadium for the last game of the Nationals. They have already sewn up the division but I think the game will still be exciting.

Just got a phone call from Mickey, my cousin in Florida. He came to Georgia and we had a nice talk there. He sent me some photos of his son and family and he wanted to be sure I’d gotten them. We had a nice talk again.