What Paddy Shot At

Thanksgiving Day was lovely. I had the 8am Mass and as my homily, I shared some beautiful letters that third grade students from our day school had written. There were about 4 themes that ran through them. Gratitude for family, friends, and especially pets were especilly mentioned. One of them thanked God for a hamster. who always brightens up their day; another was grateful for his large family “if one of my brothers brings me down, another one will always bring me back up”. I suggested we sit for a few moments and thank God for blessings and people He sends us. I think it went very well.
On Thanksgiving Day, I say aloud the names of my blessings. It is such a wonderful activity and when I say my night prayers, I take them all and lift them up to the Lord.
I also went to Kensington to Angela Hall, the retirement place of the Sisters of the Holy Cross and said the 11am Mass. It was very nice and they invited me for dinner. I sat with two sisters, who are Washingtonians and we had a great time talking about “old Washington sites and experiences”. Then I came, took a nap and watched TV all evening.

On Friday, I had an appointment for confession at 10am and then had the 11am Mass. James, a young man who often substitutes for teachers here was at Mass and I asked him to drive me to Chevy Chase House for Mass at 1:30pm. It is so hard to find a parking place nearby; Joan usually drives me and of course, the office was closed. He did drive me and picked me up afterwards. It made it much easier and I was grateful for his kindness.
I spent the rest of the day, trying to clean my desk but paper just keep reproducing!!

Today, I had two lovely baptisms with lots of out of town family visiting. Please keep Emmerick Robert and Anne Grant and their families in your prayers.
Still trying to get stuff organized.
Just finished the 5:30pm Mass. I gave Communion from a stool at the end of the aisle and it seemed to work. I’m glad to be doing that again. My Homily was about “quieting time” for Advent.
Now to eat and early to bed.
“Be still and let God be God”

Another week without writing but I think that is because I still don’t have an Ipad. I will have to go to an APPLE store. I looked and there in one in Bethesda and I’ll try to go this week. I really do miss having it at my beck and call. Oh well!

So last time I wrote, I was going out to Barnesville to cover for Fr. Kevin, while he recovered from an operation. He’s doing well. When I got home I had the 5:30pm and went to bed early. Bob Norton called me to let me know that Fr. Demetrius, our rector and scripture professor at St. Vincent had died. I saw him last July at priests’ day and he was really failing. He was an important person for me in the seminary. RIP

On Monday, I met Jerry Trancone at Scanlon’s, where his car was being worked on; then we went to the Social Security office for him to file. It went very well and then we went to the Diner for brunch. I had a good time and it’s been too long since we visited. Then I came home and I gave a talk at RCIA that night on the Communion of Saints. I had a great phone conversation with Tish Rossi. I hope to see her in December when she comes to visit her great nephew, who lives in Silver Spring. I also learned that today is the 16th anniversary of her mom’s death. I have put it in my computer so I don’t miss it in the future. Rose and Uncle Nick were great friends. RIP

On Tuesday, I got a phone call that Fr. Beattie was in the hospital. I just couldn’t get over there but I found out it was something serious – just a precaution. I had “Tuesday with Fr. Maury”. Our topic was a realistic approach to illness and death. We had a great discussion and shared a lot of information about legal and moral decisions to make. Then I had exposition and the 5:30pm Mass and supper with the guys in the rectory. I then, came and met with my Play reading group. It was delightful. I went home and worked on my talks for the retreat.

On Wednesday, I drove early in the morning to Priestfield in West Virginia. I was facilitating a retreat for about 20 DRE’s from our Archdiocese. I was there really just to give 5- 15minutes talks and then lead them into discussions and reflections. They were a great group and I learned a lot as they shared. I slept well as it is a dark as night and removed from any distractions. I did have to use the oxygen a lot but I put it on a little cart and dragged it around.

On Friday, after Mass and lunch; I went and visited Marilyn and Frank Cavallaro at their house. We had a great time and “caught up”. Then we met Bill and Kate Berry, Mary Alice McGreevy Perez, Brian McGreevy, Sarah, Mary’s daughter and her husband, Wolfi, and their daughter Isabella. We met at an Italian restaurant – good food and good company!!! I drove home that night and was home by 9pm.

On Saturday, I had the 11am Mass and spent the rest of the day cleaning up my room

On Sunday, I had the 10:30 Mass in the gym. I haven’t done that lately but I arranged for a stool to be placed where I use to give Communion. It worked well and someone helped me by carrying the Eucharist for me. I was able to give Communion and bless the children. I haven’t done that for about 3 months and it was great to be able to do it. I have another stool for the church and I’ll test it out on Thanksgiving.
Then I met with a young couple whom I am doing the paperwork for their wedding. Then I took a nap and drove out at 5pm to Darnestown to help with confessions at Our Lady of the Visitation’s middle school CCD. It was very nice and then Fr. Ray Fecteau and I went and had supper together. That was very nice and I was in bed by 10:30pm.

On Monday, I met with the family of a lady whose funeral I will have on Wednesday. They were so nice. Then I had lunch with Jim, a new friend I have developed through John and Antonia Bass. He has had a wonderful and fascinating life and I enjoy talking with him. Then I had exposition and the 5:30pm Mass.

Today, I spent the day in my office and since I’m the only priest here, I got all kinds of things to deal with. I loved it. I had the 11am Mass, exposition, and the 5:30pm Mass. I had to use the oxygen most of the day but that will please my doctor. I was on the phone a lot and just hung up from Sister Natalie. She was born on November 24th in Sicily but her mom didn’t get recorded till the 26th. So all her documents to come to America had the 26th date and so do the Notre Dame Nuns and her Social Security, etc. I sent her some flowers yesterday (the 25th) and the card said, ”Happy day between your two birthdays”. She was thrilled and got the joke. I’m about to go home. Humberto made me some soup and so I’ll just sit upstairs and watch TV.

Tomorrow, I will have Monica’s funeral at 11. Please keep her and her family in your prayers. I will ride in the herease to the cemetery in Falls Church, Va and then just stay in the house. The weather and the traffic are too much for me.

On Thursday, I will the 8am Mass here and then go to the retirement house of the Holy Cross Sisters in Kensington and have Mass at 11am. They’ve invited me to dinner and then I’ll come home again and relax.

Know that I will spend all day Thursday thinking of the wonderful people that God has graced my life with and saying their names aloud and asking God to bless you. Happy and Safe Thanksgiving to you all.

While I was in Cambridge, I got some information on my Ipad that I should “update” to something. I followed the instructions (which I am not usually good at) and I think it told me I was now in a “cloud”. Well, whatever I did; when I got home and tried to open my Ipad, I received a message that said, “The Ipad is disabled, connect on Itune”. No one, including the young priest knows what to do – and so I haven’t had my Ipad for over a week.

That kind of explains why I haven’t written in over a week.

On Friday, the 8th, I met with Kevin, who is meeting with me to received Eucharist and Confirmation. He is using Joe’s book and loves it.
Then I went to a pub on Capitol Hill and met with Mike Donaghue and his friends. Mike roomed at my Mom’s house, while I was in the seminary and he was a student at Catholic U. He is a professor in Chicago but comes to town three times a year and meets with a great group that he was a part of while living in DC. I really enjoyed myself. First, it was great to see Mike and catch up; but then to meet and experience this group was a great time. Too long to write about here, maybe I’ll put it in my Christmas letter.
Friday afternoon, I drove to Philly and met Terry, John, and Joe for supper. It was, as always, a lot of laughs and good to be together. I stayed the night at Joe’s and watched a DVD on Maryknoll Sisters. I enjoyed it so much because I have always thought so much of them; but when you see the film, you learn so much about what they did – way back in the 1930’s in China.

On Saturday, Joe and I went to breakfast at a diner – nothing like a diner in Philly!! Then we drove to DC. We had a chance to talk about our presentation at the NCEA convention in Pittsburgh in April. I dropped him off at Tim’s. They will visit and have dinner and then Joe will return to Philly by train that night.
I came home and had the 5:30pm Mass but did not have to preach as the Deacon was doing that. I went to bed early.

On Sunday, I met my cousins for brunch at Mrs. K’s. My cousin, Lauren lives in Silver Spring but her sister, Sharon and her spouse, Amy and their adorable child, Alexander (who live in NYC) were down for their Dad’s 95th birthday. We had a great time and my cousin, Alex “warmed up” to me and as we said goodbye, I shook his hand but he wanted a hug – so I guess I’m accepted.
At 1pm, I met with Mary Beth and Vance. I am doing their pre-Cana paperwork and giving Vance some instruction – using Joe’s book!
I just lounged around in the afternoon, packed, and went to bed early.

On Monday, I drove down to Maggie’s and she, Marie, JoAnn, and I headed off to Myrtle Beach. It is about 430 miles and takes about 7 hours. We got there and met up with Rick and Shirley Thompson, who had driven up from Atlanta. Marie has a time share and so does Rick (not in the same place but near) and it was right on the ocean. It was very cool. I think in the 30’s but we had a great time. Went to two shows with Christmas themes and played card. I had a great time and we ate well. I did missed my Ipad!!

On Friday, we met at Cracker Barrel for breakfast and everybody headed home. We got to Maggie’s around 6:30 and I came on home. I relaxed and watched TV and went to bed around 11pm. I went to sleep very quickly.

This morning, I had the 8:00am Mass. I preached on Queen Margaret and her kindness to the poor and how she helped her husband to be a better King. I didn’t know that she was born in Hungary but was chosen to be the Queen in England. That didn’t work out, and she was returning to her home, when a storm caused her ship to go aground in Scotland. King Malcolm met and loved her, so they married, had 8 children and Christianized all of Scotland. I like her even more now.
I was suppose to go down to Leonardtown for a TEAM meeting but was just too tired to drive again. After this article is done, I’m going back to bed for awhile. I have confessions at 4pm.
Tomorrow, I am covering the Masses at St. Mary’s in Barnesville as Fr. Kevin is recovering from surgery. Then I am joiong Antonia and John Bass for brunch. Then a nap, and I have the 5:30pm Mass. I’m sure it will be “early to bed” again.

And now you are up to date!!!!and some!!!

I am in Cambridge, Maryland at the bi-annual convocation for the priests of the Archdiocese. There are about two hundred of us here (out of 300 in the Archdiocese). I have had a great time. I came on Monday although the convocation didn’t begin till Tuesday. I brought two bags of mail and paper from my desk that I just needed to go through. I put them all around the room and went through them. I filled two trash cans and got about 8 pieces of mail ready to send out. I also went through 5 or 6 magazines. I went to bed feeling like I had accomplished a lot.

I should go back to last Saturday first and update you. We had a special Mass at 11am that day, All Souls Day. I always enjoy the Mass because the names of all those who were buried from the church during the last year, are read and a candle is lit for them – sometimes by a relative or friend who is present. I listen to each name – many of whom I buried – and lift up their families in my prayers. The choir does a beautiful Latin Mass parts and that is nice to hear. I forgot how long the Mass is with the music and so I had to leave at Communion as I had a noon appointment.
I met with a young man who wants to receive the Sacraments. He was baptised but nothing more. I am enjoying our visits.
Around 2:30pm, I had another young man who was baptised a Lutheran but will marry a Catholic in the spring and wants to learn about the Church. Another great discussion.
I had given each of them, Joe’s new book: An Introduction to the Catholic Faith. They are enjoying it – as I am enjoying the discussions.

I was supposed to go to a birthday surprise party for my cousin, Rick Jensen but I called the hostess and said I was really wiped out. I hated to miss it because he and Peggy are close friends as well as cousins. I will try to meet with them again soon.

On Sunday, I came to the office and tried to clean it up. I had the 12:30 Mass and then I drove down to Maggie’s. Spent the evening watching TV and visiting. Went to bed early.

On Monday, I went to BINGO with Maggie and Marie. Didn’t win but had a good time. Then I left for the Eastern Shore and the convocation. It was a beautiful day for the drive.

On Tuesday, we began with evening prayer together and then a very nice dinner. I sat with 7 other priests – among them, Bill English, Jim Beattie, and Ray Fecteau. Meal was good but just being together was even better. Went to bed early.

On Wednesday, I had breakfast in my room and then we had the first talk. It was given by Dr. Ralph Martin, a lay theologian. He was very interesting about the “new evangelization”, which I have to be honest I haven’t been to interested in till now. We’ll see.
We also had a Mass where we prayed for all our brother priest who have died this last year. I always like that Mass and the Cardinal gave a great homily.

I had a chance for a long talk with John Dakes, who was in the teen club at St. Camillus and with Kyle Ingels, who was my seminarian at St. Michael’s. Both are great pastors and good friends but we just don’t get together enough. This was fun.

Today, we have a conference at 9am, then Mass and departure. I will stop at the post office and mail a number of things I got to work on.
I might stop at Maggie’s on the way home.

Again the time just flys by:

Last Tuesday, 10/29, I had the 11am Mass and then drove down to Maggie’s. She had lots of doctors’ appointments that Marie was driving her to, and so I took a nap. Then the three of us went to supper at a restaurant nearby to help the Jenkins family celebrate Bradly (9) and Mike (?) birthdays. Judy, Mike’s Mom joined us as did a young friend of Amanda’s (Tyler). I found out that Amanda is now driving – and I felt even older.
Then we went to North Beach Bingo. I didn’t win – and I don’t think Maggie or Marie did!; but we had a great time. Al and Gerry Size, friends from St. Bernard’s, were there and we “caught up”. Al was our barber at St. B’s and as I told him, I haven’t had a haircut I like since he moved.
When I got back to Maggie’s, I realized that in my rush to leave, I forgot to bring my oxygen with me. I didn’t sleep well, visualizing my heart having to work to pump both my blood and my oxgyen – a very real picture that the doctor painted for me when he asked me to use the oxygen at night. I was glad when 5:30am arrived and we could head out to Baltimore for Maggie’s surgery. We got there around 7:40 as it was raining and the traffice was terrible.
Surgery went well and after a short recovery, we headed home. I dropped them off at Maggie’s and came back to the rectory.
I did meet with a young woman who is interested in becoming Catholic around 6pm and then I went to the rectory, had a bite to eat, and put on my oxygen and slept till 9am the next day. Good sleep!!

On Thursday, I drove over to see a 92 year old lady, who hasn’t been able to get to church. We had a great visit and I gave her Communion.
I had exposition at 3pm and then the 5:30pm Mass. It was the vigil Mass for the feastday and was well attended.
Then I joined the priests for supper. Humberto is back and it was nice to sit and chat with the guys. I watched some TV and went to bed around 9pm.

I had lots of phone time this week and caught up with the Petrone family, Father T, Sister Kass, and some parishioners. It was a good week.

It’s Friday, and I just returned from Knollwood, the retirement community for the military nearby. The Jesuits do Masses there but we hear confessions every other First Friday. I always enjoy it and I did today.
I have the Mass at Chevy Chase House at 1:30. I will drive down around 1pm and wait to see if I can get a parking space on the road. Our office is closed today and so there is no one to drive me and pick me up afterwards. We’ll see how that goes.
I was suppose to go to a dinner for SOAR. The parish bought an add in the program and got two tickets. But I will not feel like going after Knollwood and Chevy Chase. I called the seminary to offer the tickets to any seminarian but I haven’t heard back.
I will relax this evening and go to bed early.