What Paddy Shot At

Got up early today and did some work at my desk. Brian saw me through the window and stopped in. He thought I had Mass or why else would I be here. We caught up – he’s been ill and is going to Florida to act as “Nanny” for Hunter. They’ll both love it!!!

I drove over to Baltimore to Villa Julie. I was early and Sister Natalie was having therapy for her shoulder, so I sat in the chapel and prayed for all the SNDs that I knew and know by name. Also saw Pat Bennet and Joan Urban and had a nice visit. Natalie and I went to the Peppermill restaurant and had a good meal. She enjoyed it but she was glad to get back to “the familiar”. It was hard to see her nervious.

I came home and took a nap. Then came over and had the 5:30PM Mass. The Scriptures were a reminder not to judge others – which I do try not to do.

We are having a mission on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday;
Fr. Francis, OFMcap had dinner with us and that was very nice. I just came down from his talk, which was very good and was about forgivness. I find I am not angry with anyone – interesting.

I did some more work on the presentation. Enjoying just reading and looking up stuff about Vatican II.

Talked to Steve Schoenwetter and found out that he is having surgery on Thursday. Keep him in your prayers.

Going home and probably to bed because I have the 8:00am Mass tomorrow.

The day went just as I planned it and at the 5:30PM Mass, I preached about the Transfiguration. How it occured while Jesus was praying. I reminded the people, that part of a good Lenten program includes prayer. We are having a mission on Mon, Tues, and Wed. I can’t make all of the sessions because of other committments but I encouraged them to try to be at some of the sessions. The theme is Faith.

Now, I’m returning to the rectory and watch Dalton Abbey. And early to bed.

Had the 8:00AM Mass and preached on the readings that remind us that we are not only “to love our friends but also our enemies”. First, we should try not to have enemies; but if there are those who do not love us, we must love them anyway.

I enjoyed my visit and interviews with the scouts (who also served Mass). They had lots of good questions and I think they enjoyed the time together also.

Had a baptism at noon. Pray for Avery Elizabeth. Her father’s family are Cuban exiles and she is the first grandchild. Her mom’s family are from Puerto Rico by way of NYC, Nice families!

Next was the younger brother of Eleanor, whom I baptized 3 years ago. He is Samuel, Richard, Charles. His mom’s family is from Mt. Pleasant – near Latrobe and it was nice to see them again. Nice crowd for each of the baptisms.

Then I met with Chrissy, who will marry Jeff in April. He is in California but we had some papers to get done. She is a sweetheart.

Then I went out and got my lottery tickets. You have to play to win!!!

Had lunch and took a nice long nap. Now I am finishing this up and working on the presentation, watching TV and going to bed whenever.

On Sunday, I am meeting the 2nd graders from CCD and giving them a tour of the sacristy. Then meeting a couple for Baptism. Around 3, I’m seeing a couple whom Fr. Ron is marrying to do some paperwork. I have the 5:30pm Mass and then I think again, it will be early to bed.

I hope to take Sister Natalie out to lunch on Monday. If the cold will only stay away!!

Today was a very light day because I am trying to avoid going out in the cold and wind.
Did a lot by phone. Got ‘caught up’ on Marie and Maggie (leaving today for a weekend in Atlantic City. Talked to John in Camden, Dwight in Wichita (14 inches of snow!!)and Regina in Florida. (today is her birthday). Sr. Kass is in re-hab in Annapolis and doing OK.

Met a high school student to talk about faith.

Had the 5:30PM Mass and talked about the Pope as it is the Feast of the chair of St. Peter. Today is the last Friday in which he will be prayed for throughout the world.
Worked a lot on the presentation and then had Stations of the Cross. Good turnout – about 150 people. We had pizza afterwards in the center and a lot of people and families came.

After this, I’m going home.

I have the 8AM Mass tomorrow and will work all morning with the Scouts on the Ad Altard Dei medal. I have a baptism at noon and another at 1pm. A full day so I’m already for bed!

Came over to the center around 8:30AM and left for the doctor. He is near Sibley hospital on Thursday, so I was there in about 20 minutes. Mike, his assistant administered a breathing test. I hadn’t had one in two and a half years and so we wanted to see how much the PFB has grown. I had a great talk with Dr. Solomon and he said there has been more “scratching” of the fibros but not a great deal. He thinks my lungs filling with gunk is the lungs way of protecting the fibros from the cold and wind. He gave me a dilator to use twice a day and encouraged me to use the oxygen during the day when I have activity. So I will start that tomorrow. I already use the oxygen every night when I sleep. I’m going to go back to him between my trips to Wisconsin and Texas, and report on my successes.

I ate and took a nap.

At 3pm, I started my interviews and the last one just left. I’m off to have supper, work on the presentations, and go to bed.

I talked on the phone to Mary and Mary Rose Mudd (about the upcoming election!!), to Loretta Favret, and my cousin, Karen.

I also recieved a cute card from a high school student in the parish, telling me how much she likes my homilies. She said, that like I suggested in my homily, she is sending notes to people that she appreciates as part of her Lenten program. Mine sang “You are my sunshine” (the modern one!!) and it made me laugh. Which is what those notes are suppose to do. God is good!!

When I woke this morning, I found that I had not written yesterday so I did first thing:

After breakfast, I came to the center and got ready for Mass at 11. The reading were about Jonah and Nineveh. I reminded the people that God did not change his mind. God is Love and never desire bad things to happen. We don’t pray to change God’s mind or heart. We wouldn’t want that to happen. We pray so that our hearts and minds will change. That’s why we are in Lent – for conversion.

Then I had lunch and took a nap because I knew the rest of the day was full. I called and talked with Marilyn Cavallaro. I am going up to visit them next Thursday.

Then I had Exposition and 10 interviews with Confirmandi. They were so good and I really enjoyed them. Then I had Benediction and 5:30PM Mass. (Same homily)

Then from 6:30PM till 8:00PM, I was in the confessional. We have a program in the diocese that’s called, “The light is on for you”. In every parish in Arlington diocese, and the Archdioceses of Washington and Baltimore, a priest is in the confessional for that hour and a half. I had a number of people. It is a great program.

Now, back to the rectory and some food and then TV and bed. I have a 9:20AM appointment with Dr. Solomon (Pulmonary man).

Later!!!

I planned out all that I wanted to write and thought I did – and now I see I didn’t post yesterday.

I drove over to Our Lady of Lourdes and attended the noon Mass, which Msgr. Beattie was celebrating. Then he and I went to Sergio’s for lunch. I had called Msgr. Duffy to see if he would join us; but he is in Florida visiting his sister for a couple of weeks. Fr. Hill couldn’t join us as he was going to the casinos. We had a good time and talked about the priesthood and the papacy. There are so many articles in the papers about the election but many of the reporters don’t bother to learn the correct words for thing. One the other day, said “the gold cane” to discribe the Pope’s crozier. Oh, well.

I called Mike Witte and talked about the presentation in Wisconsin on March 9 – 10. I am enjoying the prepartion and know that I’ll have a great time with his parish.

I had 7 interviews for confirmation. 4 of them were from divorced families – that really surprised me. Nice kids and very interesting.

I had the 5:30PM Mass and preached on how kind of Jesus to teach us the “our Father”. It gives us an intimacy with God that people did not have before Jesus.

Four of us were in for supper and we sat and talked till almost 7pm. It was nice to be with the guys. Martino leaves on Wednesday for an 8 day retreat in Scranton. I’ll miss him.

Called Joan Beall to let her know I prayed for her and her parents on her birthday. Called Maggie to see how Kerri is. She is out of the hospital but still has to go through some more test, so she is not back to school.

Played solitaire for a couple of hours and went to bed.

Since the office was closed, I slept in and went over there around 11:45. I met with a man from MIA (Montgomery Interfaith Association). He wanted to talk about community organizing and it was very interesting. We already do it here but he was interested in talking about other Catholic parishes.

At 3pm, I met a lovely lady here in the parlour to celebrate Confession. It was very nice. I had the 5:30PM Mass and I preached on the readings, which encouraged us to serve “the least of our brethern”. I had soup and am relaxing in my suite. It really was a “holiday”.

Keep Sister Kass in your prayers as she is having knee replacement surgery tomorrow.

I came over to the office around 9AM, so that I could begin to clean up my desk. I got a lot done. Then I had the 10:30AM Mass in the gym. I like the readings very much. In my homily, I asked this question: “How do we know that Jesus was tempted in the desert?” I think the answer has to be that Jesus told his disciples that. And St. Paul reminds us that we have a savior, who, like us knew temptation. The person who put the liturgy together reminds us in the first reading that the Jews felt these temptations in the desert, Paul says that the early church also faces them and as we walk towards Lent, we too are facing these temptations – to do our own will, to give in to our desires, and to stand against God’s plan. It went well and I enjoyed the children around the altar.
I stayed in the office and worked. At 1PM, a couple came to take an instrument called FOCUS that helps couples to communicate better. We also settled some questions about the ceremony, which is in April. Then I went and picked up my prescriptions and now I’m all caught up. I missed some last week!!
I returned to the office and cleaned up my email and desk. I just put on a marathon of Perry Mason and the time flew by. In a few minutes, I’ll go up for the 5:30PM Mass and then home to pizza, Dalton Abbey, the Good Wife and a good night’s sleep

Tomorrow is a holiday and the office will be closed. I don’t Mass till 5:30PM, so I can sleep in!!!

Friday, February 15th. I had the 8:00am Mass and then headed over to St. Camillus for Eileen’s funeral. It was a great celebration of who she was: wife, mother, grandmother, and parishioner. Five priests and a man who will become a deacon in June were on the altar. Daughters and grand-daughters did the readings and her two sons spoke after Communion. The church was full of friends and relatives. She was buried at Gate of Heaven and then people were invited to Keith’s house for refreshments and stories. Our cousins, Ann O’Connell and Peggy Caruso and Jackie Wilkerson came as did Eileen’s sister, Peggy Forsythe. My sisters came and they went to Keith’s. I had the 1:30 Mass at the Chevy Chase House, so I came right home. Keep Phil and the family in your prayers. They were very close and she’ll be greatly missed.

In the afternoon, I went to Gawler’s Funeral Home and said prayers for Jim, whose funeral is at 11AM on Saturday. At 7:30PM, I did the prayers for Ellen, here in our chapel. Her funeral will be at 1PM on Saturday. Fr. Ron has them both but couldn’t be here for the prayers, so I did them. Met nice people at each, so please keep them and the deceased in your prayers.

On Saturday, the 16th, I had the 8:00AM Mass. Today is the 22nd anniversary of my Mom’s death. Boy, that seems like only yesterday. I still miss her when the family is together. I am blessed to have such a great and loving family. I spent the morning trying to catch up on this site. I just have been so busy and so tired. At noon, I took Communion to Judy, who has been a very active parishioner and who had a stroke and is housebound. Rita, who runs our senior program usually visits her but she is away and asked me to go. I was glad to see Judy and catch up.

I did some reading and playing solitaire and watching TV for the rest of the day and evening and went to bed around 8pm. I was exhausted and ready for bed.