What Paddy Shot At

Sorry that I’ve not written lately but I have had a busy week. When last I wrote, it was the feast of St. Bernard’s and it was a day filled with wonderful memories of that great community I grew up in.

Wednesday was the feast of St. Pius X. I did some reading on him and he was very pastoral and that’s why he encouraged frequent Communion and permitted children to receive at a younger age. He also asked in 1910 that there be a church in every diocese dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament. Our parish was opened in 1911 and named “The Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament”. The church was dedicated in 1912. I preached about that at the 11:00am Mass. As I was still feeling a little “queezy”, I spent the rest of the day in my suite – reading.

On Thursday, I drove down to Maggie’s. She, Kerri, Marie, and I went to BINGO to celebrate my birthday. I got in free! I didn’t win but I did have a good time. JoAnn joined us and I think Kerri did win something.

On Friday, which actually was my birthday, we just relaxed. We had a Mass at 6pm at Jesus the Good Shepherd chapel. I offered it for my Mom and Dad, which is a custom of mine for birthdays. Three of Maggie’s kids and grandkids and two of Marie’s children also were there as was Aunt Joan Clark. Afterwards we all went to Abner’s for crabs. They were very good and we had a great time.

On Saturday, I drove to Pittsburgh. I concelebrated the 5pm Mass at St. Bede’s and afterwards, the pastor, Fr. Brice and I had the pleasure of baptizing James Keith, the new son of my godchild, Kathleen Morris Haven and her husband, Dave. I officiated at their wedding two years ago. It was great to see all the family and to relax with them.

On Sunday, we continued the “relax” theme most of the day and then went to Kerri and Ed’s for a pasta dinner. It was so nice out that we sat in their yard from after supper till almost 10pm. Very pleasant.

On Monday, I stopped by to visit Betty and Norm DeLuca, dear friends from my diaconate days at St. Anselm’s. I caught up on their 5 boys and their families. Betty filled me up with cookies to take back to DC. I know, I didn’t need them but she makes great cookies! The ride home was beautiful and there was no humidity on the trip. I got home around 5pm and took a nap.

On Tuesday, I slept in because I didn’t have anything till exposition at 3pm and the 5:30pm Mass. I preached on St. Monica. I have (since the seminary) loved St. Ambrose’s words of consolation to her. She prayed and cried for Augustine, her son and he said, “A child of so many tears, could never be lost to God”. I think that is encouraging for parents and grandparents.
I’ve been having very interesting talks at meals with Fr. Justin, our new associate. Mostly I have just been relaxing.

Today, I had the 11am Mass and preached on Augustine, who like many of us came slowly to Christ. “Too late have I loved you” he wrote. Fortunately, as long as we come to Him, late doesn’t matter.

Lastly, I wanted to write something about “social networking”. I still don’t get it or find it easy to do BUT I really enjoyed all the birthday greetings I got on Face book, by mail and email, and by phone calls. It was so great to hear from friends and family, near and far. I read each comment and the words of the cards (e cards and by mail). I just let myself bathe in the love and it was so much fun. Thanks for taking the time to let me hear from you. God has been very good to me and surrounded me with great friends and family.

Sorry that I’ve not written lately but I have had a busy week. When last I wrote, I had a very relaxing Sunday as I only had the 5:30pm Mass.

On Monday, the 12th, I drove over to Villa Julie to see Sister Natalie. We had a nice visit and went to Mass together. I didn’t concelebrate but sat with her. She fell a few weeks ago and it was decided that she should move to their health care center in Ohio. I told her as I left that I would not say “Good bye” as I will stop to see her on my way back from Wisconsin around the 13th of September. We have known each other since 1949.

Tuesday, was Bob Beall’s anniversary of death. I said the 11am Mass for him, Joan, and the family. I also had the 5:30pm Mass as Fr. Lucas didn’t return till the next day. By next Thursday, we will be back to the 5 priests.
Fr. Beattie and I went to Positano’s for dinner (pasta must be the reason Mrs. B didn’t recognize me!! – that will make sense later in this article!). He is doing very well and is even driving – although I drove that night.

On Wednesday, I had the 11am Mass and then I went to bring Communion to my 98 year old Spanish lady. Then I headed off to New Jersey.
Since I was dressed like a priest, I decided to stop in the nursing home in Jersey where Mrs. Bleistine lives. She is the mother of Steve Bleistine, who is one of the 50 guys I met on September 8, 1963 when I entered St. Nazianz’s seminary in Wisconsin. In the early years, I saw her often as she lived near Carmen in Penns Grove but I have not seen her in over 45 years. I told that to the nurse because I didn’t want to shock her. She went in first and said, “Margaret, you have company. A visitor”. She said, “I have a visitor, who is it?” I said, “Mrs. Bleistine, it’s Maury O’Connell from Washington, DC.” She said, “It is not!!”. and I went and hugged her. We had a nice hour long visit. She brought me up to date on the family. She was as funny as ever.
At one point, I said, “You haven’t changed at all. I would have recognized you at a Mall” She said, “Well, I wouldn’t have reconized you!” I said, “Oh the beard has changed to white” and she aid, “Yes, that’s true but I meant your body. Now you need to get that weight down”. It was still a great visit!!!
Then I drove over and visited her son Steve, his wife, Carol and their son, Stevie at their house. I officated at their wedding in 1974. We had such a nice “catch up”. Although I did too many of my stand up routines about life in the seminary. It sounded like a combination prison and insame asylum. It was so good to see this great family.
Then I drove to Philly and met Terry, John, and Joe for dinner at a nice Italian place. We had, as we always do, a lot of laughs. I stayed the night at Joe’s.

On Thursday, we went to breakfast (maybe all these meals out are why Mrs. B wouldn’t have recognized me??) and then went and saw a great move, “Way, way back”. If you get a chance, go see it. Slow start but I loved it. Then I drove home to DC.
It was also Mr. Milton McGreevy (Mac’s) 96th birthday. I called him in Denver and we had a great talk. I hope to see him when I drive to California next Spring.

On Friday, I went to a cemetary because they had buried someone in the wrong gravesite. It was very strange to watch them bring up the coffin in the vault. It was my first dis-interrment but saying the prayers as it was put in the right grave was strangly consoling.
That afternoon, I was feeling ill and cancelled going to the nursing home. I went to bed.

Since I didn’t have Mass till 5:30pm on Saturday, I spent the day in my suite and bed. I watched a Matlock Marathon – there was one I had never seen before.

On Sunday, I came over for the 12:30pm Mass and then had a baptism. Please keep Penelope Marie and her family in your prayers. She is also the grand daughter of Doug and Kathleen Hanratty. It was great to see them, Carlo Mancuso, and other family members.
I still was feeling funky, so I didn’t go to the party and went back to bed.

Monday, I had the 11am Mass and afterwards, I drove down to the Little Sisters and visited with Cardinal Baum. It was lovely to be with him and although he says he forgets; as soon as I start a “Lorenzo” or “Msg. Eckert” stories, he remembers them. We talked about genealogy and he said the nicest thing, I asked him if in addition to the cousins in Texas, and Pennsylvania, he had any other relatives out East. He touched my arm and said, “Only your family”. My sister, Maggie was married to his cousin, Mac. He was on the altar for their wedding in 1966.
I was visiting the Cardinal because I was driving Msgr. Tom Duffy out to meet Fr. Beattie and the three of us were meeting Fr. Paul Hill out in Laurel for dinner (Oh, pasta again!!). We had a great time as we always do. I was ready for bed at 9pm.

This morning is the feast of St. Bernard. I have the 5:30pm Mass and will offer it for all the wonderful people that I came to know and love through St. Bernard’s school and parish. Today is also Diane Leach Flanigan’s birthday. She is older than me.
I came over to the chapel at 8:30am and we had a prayer service for the faculty and staff of the school. I was pleased to be ask – but I know also that the pastor is on vacation. I think he returns tomorrow.
After Mass tonight, a couple who couldn’t make the baptismal prep meeting are coming to see me for a “mini-course”. I loved those kinds of thing.
I hope another early to bed evening is in my future.

Again, I am sorry for the long delay in writing. I’ll try to do better

I just finished the 5:30pm Mass. I had spent the day relaxing as I only had that one Mass. I had the 5:00pm Mass on Saturday at St. Angela’s Hall, a senior residence for the Sisters of the Holy Cross. It turned out that I knew about 15 of them. Many had been stationed at St. Bernard’s. We talked at the door after Mass and one was so funny. Her name was Sister Philothea but she said that Monsignor Dade use to call her Sister Philadendrum. I remembered her. I think she taught Maureen in the younger grades. Anyway, I had a great time and will say Mass there again on Labor Day. I think they have a steady stream of priests to call on.

Today at the Mass, there were college students who had walked across America for LIFE. They had left L.A. on May 18th and met up with others at the Capitol building yesterday. They were impressive and college students have been doing this for 18 years. They meet lots of people and evangelize just by being who they are. I liked them.

Had a great phone conversation with Steve Beleistine and a number of emails with some of the other guys. It looks like we might really meet in Milwaukee in September. And that will be fun.

Today is Tom DuBusky’s birthday and I called and had a nice conversation. I put him on my travel list.
I also talked with Joe Stoutz and I am planning to go up there for dinner with him and John and Terry on the 15th.

Tomorrow, I’m going over to say Good bye to Sister Natalie. Pray for both of us.

I did have a great time at the ball game. They lost but I loved the company. We got home around 10pm and it didn’t rain.

Although Thursday is my DAY OFF, I took the 11am Mass as I think Fr. Justin had three. Then I went to hear confessions nearby and then worked on my photos. I am planning to have them put into some DVD for my wake. I have lots of great memories and it takes so long to work on them because I drift off into daydreams of the people and/or events.

Today is my niece and Godchild, MaryAnn Walburn Pearson. I’ve been trying to call her but I think she is out “running around” with Marie.

I had the 11am Mass and then some confessions and the 5:30pm. I preached on Edith Stein (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross). She was a convert who died in the Nazi camp.

I was on the phone a lot. I was making plans to go to New Jersey and Southern Maryland in the next few weeks. I must go see Fr. Mike Dolan. We laughed for 30 minutes today and we didn’t cover everything we wanted to laugh about.

Tomorrow I have the 11am Mass and will say a Mass at 5pm for the Sisters of the Holy Cross over in Kensington. I have some friends there.

On Sunday, I don’t have Mass till 5:30pm, so I guess I’ll watch the Sunday Talk shows. Probably will write Sunday night.

Yesterday was Maureen’s birthday. Her good friend, Edith put a great picture of the two of them on Facebook and I really enjoyed it. The staff here arranged for the 8am Mass to be said for Maureen and Pat and Janet Kennedy had the 5:30pm Mass offered for Maureen. It was very thoughtful and meant a lot to me and my sisters.

I spent most of yesterday working on a “reunion” for September 9 – 11 in Milwaukee. On September 8, 1963, I joined the “Specials” at St. Nazianz’s Seminary. We can’t decide how many we were (51 or 54) but we were there to study Latin. About 8 of us have stayed in touch and so we are trying to contact the others and arrange this reunion. I will keep you apraised of our progress.

I talked on the phone to lots of people and had a good talk with Joe Stoutz, John Bohrer, Joan, and my sister, Maggie.

Today is a special feast day (it is the day I met Dan Poje for the first time in 1971) and also the 35th anniversary of the death of Pope Paul VI. Boy, I really do have a lot of history!!!

I have the 11 and the 5:30pm Masses as three of our priests are away. Only Fr. Justin, who came here about three weeks ago, and I are covering things and have at least two Masses a day. It’s not a burden.
Also I have a blessing of a marriage at 6pm.

I will probably spend most of the day working on the reunion.

Tomorrow, I have the 8am and the 11, so that I can go to the 7pm National’s baseball game with a parishioner and Frs Jim and John. That should be fun but I probably won’t write again till Thursday.

Everything was lovely at the wake on Friday. Fr. Beattie was on a roll and had them laughing and telling stories like you should at an Irish wake. I took him home as he wasn’t interested in eating out. I had soup and went to bed early.

On Saturday, I went to St. John Baptist in White Oak. Fr. Brault, the pastor was very welcoming and gave a great homily on the Baptismal promises that are fulfilled at the time of death. I just sat on the side but he had the deacon bring Communion to me. I did use the oxygen. Two of the siblings gave surprisingly similar sharings about Robert (they had not discussed their talks). He was an important part of the family and he will be missed at family events. Do keep him and his Mom and family in your prayers.
I saw Joan, Eileen and Jay, and Mike Jones there and we all agreed to “horn in” on Michael and Theresa some Sunday afternoon in August or September and just laugh!!!

I spent the rest of Saturday working on this 50th reunion for the guys of St. Nazianz. Again, I’ll keep you posted.

This morning, I drove out to Darnestown and had the 9:00am Mass. I think I had a good homily on “getting rid of stuff”. I told them I was really preaching to myself. (I do have two boxes for the Sodality fair in November already full in my room).

I had the 12:30pm Mass here and then I had a baptism. Keep Molly Carroll and her family in your prayers. Also her Dad and Uncles were students at GC. Then a lot of cousins and friends who also went to GC (Some were girls!!!) joined Molly and me in a photo op. I hope to get a copy and learn how to put photos on this blog.

Now I am waiting for the 5:30pm, which I have and then home for soup and relaxation.

I talked to Bette, Sister Natalie’s cousin and she told me Natalie fell and is in a wheel chair. On August 15th, she will move out to Ohio to their health care facility. Bette and Tom are visiting this week, so I think I’ll go the beginning of next week and say “Goodbye”.
Also Barb is back from New Jersey. She thinks her sister, Jane, knew she was there. She had a nice visit with her nieces and I think she is ready to let her go. Keep all of them in your prayers.

Time to go to Mass.

I had a great time in Latrobe and Greensburg and have been busy since I got back; I do apologize for not letting you know how things went.

I got to Greensburg around 3pm and used my points to stay at a hotel. The ride up was easy and the weather was sunny with no humidity. I took a nap and then went out to Forbes Road. Josephine Merenda prepared a wonderful Italian meal just like she use to do when we seminarian would visit. Her daughter, Denise, her son-in-law, Chris and their daughter, Miranda joined us. We laughed and talked for about 4 hours. I slept well with the oxygen.

On Monday, I rode in to see the renovations done to the cathedral in Greensburg. The sanctuary is lovely and I’m sure it is great for ordinations. The bishop’s chair is a little too big for my taste and dominates the sanctuary. I prayed before the crests of Bishops Connare and Bosco for all the wonderful people and priests of the diocese that I have known.

Then I went and prayed in the chapel at St. Vincent’s and then Tom Kredel and I went and met Tish Rossi at Eat’N’park, where we had a great time. The food, laughter, and the waitress were all wonderful. I went and checked into the hotel (closer to the abbey) and took a nap; but I learned later that Tish and Tom made an afternoon of it with visits to St. Emma’s, where the sisters who use to cook for us live, and then they visited the Steeler’s workout. St. Vincent’s is their training camp. I think they bought a lot of stuff!!

Sheila and Keith Morris came up and took me from the hotel to this wonderful Italian restaurant at the airport (Arnold Palmer Airport). We had a very easy meal together. They made me have two Margueritas (since I wasn’t driving!). I slept VERY well!

On Tuesday, Bob Norton picked me up at the hotel and we drove together to the basilica for the 11am Mass. I think there were about 80 concelebrants. The bishop of Erie presided and preached. I have to say that I took a little pleasure that when he lifted the Host at Communion time, he said, “…Happy are those who are called to the supper of the Lord”. The new translation say “…supper of the Lamb”. It is nice to know that I am not the only one who keeps getting confused!!
We had a great lunch. I sat with Tom, Bob, Rich Wesolowski, Bill Feeney, Jim Gaston (Greensburg), Joe Kleppner, who is waiting for a liver transplant but looks OK, and Brother Elliot, one of our Benedictine classmates. We sang the “Ultima” to close. Then we went to the monastery and played cards. I loved it – even though Bob and I lost! Then we went out to the barbeque. I didn’t eat much but Abbot Douglas, another classmate joined us as the crowd thinned out and we had a great visit with him.

On the way home, Bob insisted that we (Tom and I) join him at the bar at the airport and again I was forced to have two Margueritas! I really slept that night.

On Wednesday, I woke (refreshed!!) and headed home. I got back earlier than I expected so I joined the Farewell lunch at the rectory for Martino with the staff. Then I went and anointed my 97 year old (I practiced more of my prayers in Spanish while I was away) and brought her Communion. It went very well and I didn’t have to speak extemporaneously. Then I went to bed early.

Although Thursday is usually my day off; I took the 11am Mass and then just relaxed in my suite. I did join Fr. Ron, Martino, Fr. Percy, and two seminarians who had just arrived from Nebraska. They are John William and Andrew ? (don’t know). All the seminarians are at the retreat camp down in Southern Maryland for fellowship for a few days before school starts again.

Today, Friday, I went to the funeral of Mary Louise Humbert at Holy Redeemer in College Park. I just sat on the side as it’s humid today and I needed my oxygen. I met her 38 years ago when I officiated at her daughter, Shirley’s marriage to Dennis O’Donnell. They live in North Carolina and I’ve kept in touch with them, although I discovered that the dinner I had at their house must have been about 10 years ago. Their children, who were just going into high school, were there today. One is a married lawyer in Ohio and the other is a lay missionary in Colorado. Where does the time go. Mary Louise was a very special lady who lived a full and holy life. She was 89 and is the sister of Bob Scanlan and the cousin of Anna Marie Kinerney from St. B’s. I also saw children that I baptized – one of whom is 13. I really am old.

I came home and met with a nice couple who want to get married here in March. I took the information but explained that would need to find another priest to do the wedding. I really am not up to that – and certainly won’t be by next March.

I spent the rest of the day, emailing the guys from St. Nazianz’s about a reunion. We are planning it for September 9 – 11 in Wisconsin. I’ll keep you up to date on our progress.

Also Barb Ostrye has headed up to NJ. Her sister, Jane is not going to make it. Keep them all in your prayers.

I have the 5:30pm Mass; then I’ll drive over and pick up Fr. Beattie and he and I will do the prayers at Bob Morse’s wake tonight. I will go to the funeral on Saturday at St. John’s in White Oak. Again, I’ll just sit on the side. I will try to write again on Saturday night.