What Paddy Shot At

I didn’t get back to this on 9/23 but I will try to finish off my “ride around” and bring you up to date.

On Thursday, September 18th, I spent the day recovering! I had a great room at the Taj and except for lunch and dinner, I stayed in the room reading, watching TV, or sleeping. I didn’t even go into the casino!!!! I’m reading a good book called “Still Alice” It is about a college professor who is beginning to see that she has dementia or Alzheimer’s. It is fascinating.

On Friday, the 19th, I stopped at Ed and Jeanne O’Flynn. They had been parishioners at St. Michael’s and once they left to come back to Jersey; I kept threating to visit – but only did once! They gave me lunch and we had a great time catching up on the family and talking about the Church. Then I had heard there was a fund raiser at St. Mary’s in Williamstown for a 16 year old who has cancer. Her grandparents are friends of mine and lots of people that I’ve come to know through Carmen were going to be there. I had a wonderful time and met Taylor (who is just lovely and has a great face), Keep her in your prayers. Then I drove to Joe’s and spent the night.

I had breakfast on Saturday, the 20th, and then hit the road again. I was driving up to Albany to see Sister Mary Xavier McKenna, a daughter of charity who had been my pastoral sister at St. Bernard’s. It took most of the day because of accidents on the Jersey Turnpike and just the distance. It was a beautiful day and the weather was sunny and cool. I got to my hotel around 6pm. Got some food and fell asleep watching TV

On Sunday, I drove to the provincial house and met Sister. We visited for awhile and then joined the sisters at Sunday Mass. They must have been about 80 of them and the singing was beautiful. Then sister and I went out to lunch at a nice little restaurant nearby. We laughed and talked about the past and what is going on now in the church. Sister was born in Albany but has not been stationed there. She is hoping to do tutoring nearby. I left her around 2pm and started towards Canada. I stopped to buy a map of Canada since I hoped to go to Madonna House. However when I saw the map, I realized that I would have to drive about two hours to the border and then I would have to use back roads (not Interstate, which I used always) and in the dark! So I turned around and headed South. It was just getting dark when I arrived back at Joe’s. I called Isabelle Gallagher, who was our receptionist here in the parish but who fell and broke her hip and went to stay in Philly, and invited myself over for a visit on Monday morning. Then I went to bed.

I got up early to visit with Joe on Monday morning as he had class at 10AM. I complemented him on his “bed and breakfast” and then I headed South to Peggy Ann’s, Isabelle sister. We had a nice visit and coffee cake as we sat and laughed and caught up. Isabelle will be staying a while longer as she has some eye issues. I assured her, we’ve kept her desk available. Then I called Maggie from my car phone and told her I thought I might return early to the parish. She said, “No way, you come down here and visit for a few days!!” So I continued South on 301. I realized that I’d be driving by Marie Smith’s home and so I called and went by to visit. She is an old friend from St. Bernard’s and we sat and looked at pictures and caught up on our families and other St. B friends. When I got to Maggie’s, she had made beans and franks and macaroni and cheese for supper. I knew I’d the right choice to come to her house.

On Tuesday, Marie had to have some test done at Calvert hospital; so we spent the morning there. Then we went to Bob Evan’s for brunch. Maggie and I tried to buy me bathing trunk but I think they already put them away and so we couldn’t go swimming. We went to visit JoAnn Adams at her work and then we went to BINGO at Chesapeake Beach. It was so nice to see and talk with Gerri Size, another St. Bernard’s friend who lives down there now. I won $150. Marie and Maggie both won. It was a good night

On Wednesday, Marie had doctors’ appointment, which Mary drove her to Georgetown and Maggie went to On Our Own, a center for people with disabilities that she is involved with. So I spent the day, writing the previous posting on Paddy and then read and relaxed. My niece, Keri and her husband Tim came to visit. Both have lost over a hundred pounds and are looking so good. When Marie and Maggie got home, we went to Ledo’s and had pizza.

On Thursday, (It was the first rainy day in two weeks!) we drove over to the Eastern Shore of Maryland and visited two of our cousins (Margaret Stoner and her son, Eddie). We had a great time and caught up on family news. We had lunch and then we went to visit Jean Pizza. She is my nephew, Rick Walburn’s mother-in-law BUT A LOT MORE. She’s cruised with us and is a close friend. She fell and had to have a shoulder replacement. It didn’t work and so she had to have another. She is in rehab and doing wonderfully. She lives in a senior place and may go back there next week. She lived in Cheverly, Md for 39 years and her kids made her move and she loves it!! Hope my sister, Marie will learn. We had a great time and then I drove Maggie and Marie to a funeral home in Beltsville to see a 44 year old lady friend who died after a 5 year battle with cancer. Please keep Kathy and her family in your prayers.

On Friday morning, I waited till the fog lifted and I drove home. I spent the day, cleaning up my desk and getting stuff out of my car (I had been living out of it for two weeks!) Then I took a nap and went down to supper with Fr. Ron.

Today, Saturday, September 27th was busy. I had an appointment at 9AM and then at 11AM, I had a baptism. Please keep Owen James and his family in your prayers. It was in the chapel and a nice crowd of relatives and lots of little cousins and neighbors’ children. Then I had a very nice funeral service in the chapel at Noon for the uncle of Tonia Essig. Uncle Watson was a person of that “great generation” and we heard some touching and amusing stories of his life. We had good music for the Mass and after Communion, a poem, a history, and a great saxophone performance by his grandson. It was – as we Irish say – “A great sendoff”.
Now, I just finished the 5:30PM Mass. Fr. Ron kindly thought I’d be tired when I returned so he asked the deacon to preach. I was tired and didn’t process in or out and afterwards I heard some confessions and am going home. It was a good “priest day” and I feel good being home.

I’m down at Maggie’s and I just wanted to bring you up to date.

I left for my “ride around” vacation on Saturday, September 13th after the 5:30 pm Mass. I drove to Ranson, West Virginia and visited Marilyn and Frank Cavallaro, old and dear friends. We sat and laughed and caught up. Frank had a serious fall about 7 weeks ago and with therapy and Mal’s good care; he is making a great recovery. He did go to bed around 10:30PM and Mal and I stayed up talking till 3:30AM. We were always good at late night talks. Their home is on a regular street but little noise and so I slept very well.

On Sunday, the 14th, we all went to the Bavarian Inn in Shepherdstown for a brunch. Mary McGreevy, her daughter Sara, her daughter Bella, her daughter-in-law, Chrisie, her son, Roman, and daughter, Grace were all there and we had a great meal and a wonderful visit. After that, I headed to Cincinnati, Ohio. It was about 400 miles and I got there around 8 PM and checked into a motel and relaxed.

On Monday, the 15th (Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows), I drove over to Mt. Notre Dame Health Center, where Sister Ann Christine (Sister Natalie) is living. She will be 88 in November and moved out to Cincinnati last year as her health required more care. She had been in Baltimore for the last few years and I could go and take her out for a meal and had regular visits. We do talk on the phone but it was so nice to see her. The nurse I spoke to on the phone about coming said, “Father, she’s not as good as she was when last you were here; so I don’t want you to be disappointed if she isn’t sure she knows you.” I said, “I’m not coming for her, I’m coming for me. I just want to see her”. Well, I walked in and she said, “what are you doing here?” I said, “I came to see you”. Then she said to the 6 other sisters who were in the room, “I taught him in kindergarten and first grade” I ended up staying for three hours and we talked about the other kids in the classes and various assignments she has had over the years. I even joined her and the sisters for lunch. It was a great visit. I left and drove about 300 miles to Pittsburgh and had supper with Keith and Sheila Morris.

On Tuesday, the 16th, I had a very interesting day. While talking with the Morrises, I mentioned a problem I had in Ohio. My brakes didn’t work. Eventually they did and so I drove on to Pittsburgh. They felt this was “more than inconvenient, it might be serious”; so we took it to their mechanic to look at. It seems the brake cylinder was shot. It would take a day to replace it. As I was supposed to be at a 4 PM Mass in Latrobe that day. Keith and I went to see a movie, Calvary (I can recommend it because I am glad I saw it; but it is NOT a comedy!!)and then he drove me to St. Vincent’s. Bob Norton, Rich Wesolowski, and Tom Kredel sat together for the dinner and saw lots of old friends. Then Bob, Tom and I stayed the night at the hotel.

On Wednesday the 17th, after breakfast, Tom drove me to the Morrises’ house and Sheila and I went to get my car. Then I headed to Philly. I was suppose to have a fancy dinner with Terry Odien, John Bohrer and Joe Stoutzenberger to celebrate John’s and my 70th birthdays; but I called when I discovered about the brakes and said to cancel the dinner as I didn’t know when I’d be there. So they did. Then it turned out, that I was in Philly by 6 PM, so we all met out in Chestnut Hill and had supper together. It was great as always!! Then I drove to Atlantic City and had comp rooms at the Taj Mahal. I slept very well.

(I THINK I’LL POST THIS AND CONTINUE LATER)

I spent most of Monday, September 8th recovering and although I said the 11am Mass (feast of the Nativity of our Lady) I stayed in the air-conditioning and worked at my desk the rest of the day.

On Tuesday, September 9th, (the feast of St. Peter Claver), I had my first meeting of “Tuesday with Fr. Maury”. We had about 20 people. We had a brief sharing on what “we did on our summer vacation”. One lady who is 87 went kayaking and had a ball. We also talked a little about Pope Francis. He is on the cover of Fortune magazine and a great story about the changes he has already made to the structures in the Vatican. Then we had a great lunch. I had the exposition and the 5:30 Mass where I talked about Peter Claver, who called himself “the slave to the slaves” in Columbia, South America. I prayed at his tomb in Cartagena

On Wednesday, I went up and said a thank you and a prayer for our group, Bread, Book, and Brethren, who have been meeting for over 25 years. I had a great time. Then I had the 11am Mass and spent the rest of the day in my suite cleaning out stuff.

Thursday, the 11th was a day to celebrate Family as we remembered 9/11. I watched a lot of stuff on TV in the morning and then I went to lunch with my friend, Brian Mulholland and his good friend (and my cousin) Michael Caruso. We went to Clyde’s and had a great time – with lots of stories and laughs (including Michael’s 8th grade school picture – which he gave to me 42 years ago). Then I took a nap and drove over to pick up my cousin, Ann Brown O’Connell and we went to Shanghai Kitchen for supper. We met our cousins Jean Denny and Sue Denny Rogus. We just relaxed and got updates on members of the family. It was a lot of fun. Ann brought her umbrella and so of course, all the terrible thunderstorms that they were warning us about, didn’t happen!! I did some more cleaning in my suite.

Today is Friday, of the 23rd week in ordinary time and I had the 11am Mass. Spent the rest of the morning, packing. Marty, the head of facilities came and carry down a lot of things to my car. I have clothes for two weeks. I had exposition a few moments ago and I have the 5:30pm Mass Supper with the guys and a good nights sleep. I have an appointment on Saturday and will help our new deacon, David Cruz, from Spokane, Washington and a student at TC with baptisms in the chapel at 11am. Then I will leave tomorrow after the 5:30pm Mass and head out to West Virginia. I will spend the night with Marilyn and Frank Cavallaro. On Sunday, after brunch with some family and friends nearby; I will head out to Cincinnati, Ohio. I may stop at a motel, depending on how long I feel like driving. On Monday, I will visit Sister Ann Christine, my kindergarten and first grade teacher. She is a Sister of Notre Dame de Namur and is living in their assisted living place. Then I will head out to Pittsburgh and stay somewhere that night. On Tuesday, I’m going to participate in a Mass at St. Vincent’s at 4pm to honor Bishop Winter of Pittsburgh. On Wednesday, I’ll drive to Philadelphia and have dinner with Joe, Terry and John. I’ll spend the night in Atlantic City. Thursday, I hope to see Carmen and some of our friends. By Saturday, I’ll head to Albany and see Sister Mary Xavier, a friend and a Daughter of Charity who use to be my pastoral associate at St. Bernard’s. Then I may go into Canada (depending how I feel) and go to Madonna House for a priests gathering. I will be back here in the parish on Friday night, September 25th.

Shall be praying for you at all the churches and chapels I visit. I will take my IPAD but don’t know if I’ll get a chance to write. Keep me in your prayers.

.

On Monday, September 1st, Labor Day, I met with someone at 9AM for spiritual direction and then drove to the Parkway Diner to have brunch with Fr. Mike Dolan. He is leaving soon for Texas to be a high school chaplain and I wanted to assure him that he will love it. Then I went to the annual priests’ cookout at Little Flower in Bethesda. I think that they have been hosting it for about 29 years and I try to go because it gives me a chance to see old friends and to meet the younger priests. I went over early (around 5pm) so that I could get a parking space near the hall and wouldn’t have to take the oxygen. It worked out well as I got a table near the door and was waited upon by priests and lay people. I really enjoyed the laughter and fellowship but I left around 8 to get home and read. I finished both books and went to bed late.

On Tuesday, the 2nd, I had the 11am Mass and then returned to the suite. It was hot and muggy outside.

On Wednesday, the 3rd, I went to the retired priests gathering. There were about 20 of us and we had a good time sharing stories of the past and the colorful priests we knew. It seems that we are now those characters! I had exposition at 3 and stayed in the office working on the baptisms and then I had the 5:30pm Mass and went to supper with the guys and relaxed in my suite.

On Thursday, the 4th, which is my DAY OFF, I stayed in my sweat clothes all day in my suite and defrosted my refrigerator. I had lunch there but came down for supper. In addition to the frig, I also went through some of my shelves and threw away “stuff”. Besides keeping cool all day, I had a real sense of accomplishment when I went to bed.

On Friday, the 5th, I had a funeral at 11AM. I didn’t know him because he’s been living up at the beach for 20 years but I talked with his family and between my homily and his nephew who spoke after Communion, I think (as the Irish say) we gave him “a good send off”. I rode out to the cemetery with the hearse. It was hot and humid and I was glad to get back. I had the exposition at 3PM and the 5:30PM Mass. I went to bed early.

Saturday, the 6th, I met up with Pat Watters, my friend who lives in Newfoundland and was down here for medical tests. She did that on Thursday and Friday and on Saturday, we tried to do a “movie marathon”, which we use to do every so often when she lived down this way. We e able to do 5, with breaks for food; but this time we only got two. We saw “November Man” and “the dawn of the planet of the Apes”. Both were very enjoyable and then we met Eileen (Lee) and Jay Baughan for supper.

On Sunday, the 7th, I had the 7:30AM Mass and then I joined Antonia and John Bass, Monsignor Don Essig, and some other people who live in Maplewood, where the Basses live for brunch. It was delightful and very relaxing. Then I picked up Joan Beall and we went and met Pat and then went to pick up Barb Ostrye and we all went to supper together. Again it was great to be together but the heat and humidity were terrible. We took Barbara home and then returned Pat’s car rental so she could just use the hotel shuttle to go to the train station the next morning. Then I took Joan home and went home myself. I was asleep in about ten minutes.

( I WILL PUBLISH THIS AND HOPEFULLY BRING YOU UP TO DATE TOMORROW)

Friday, the 22nd. I had the 11am Mass, Exposition at 3pm and the 5:30pm Mass. I also had a nice surprise. Mary Ellen Safchick Black, who went to school with me at St. Bernard’s, stopped by to visit. She lives on the Eastern shore but was here in DC for a funeral and she and a friend, whose brother is in the parish, came by to see me. We took a trip down memory lane and it was fun!

Saturday, the 23 is the feast of St. Rose of Lima and also was my 70th birthday. I concelebrated the 8AM Mass and offered it for my parents (a long standing custom). Fr. Percy announced it was my birthday and the congregation was kind enough to sing, “Happy birthday” to me. Then I had a baptism, please keep Sophia Ashley and Olivia Ashley and their family in your prayers. Then I drove my niece, Mary’s house where I had Mass for the Separated and Divorced Catholic group. It was very nice about 28 people and we had a pot luck supper. I got home around 10pm. Then I went on line to Facebook and read all the greetings that I got for my birthday. There were a lot – and many from people I haven’t been in touch with for a while. That was delightful. It was a very peaceful and relaxing birthday.

On Sunday, the 24th, I got up early and went to the center and read my birthday cards. Again, they were from lots of different people and many were very funny. I enjoyed being up early and laughing. I had a baptism of two sisters at the 10:30am Mass in the church. Their parents are deaf and so the Mass and ceremony were signed. They had a group of deaf friends who came as well. So please keep Claire Emma and Sophie Bryn and their family in your prayers.
Then I went to Our Lady of Lourdes and said the Spanish Mass at 1:30pm. It was well attended and the music was great. I preached in English but the rest was in Spanish and I think I did well. At 4pm, I picked up Joan Beall and she and I went down and met Maggie, Marie, JoAnn, Tim and Kerri for supper at Stoney’s. We had a great time but I was glad to get home and go to bed.

On Monday, the 25th, I offered the 11am Mass for my Dad. It was the 51st anniversary of his death. Then I met some for spiritual direction. Had exposition at 3pm and the 5:30pm Mass. It was very hot and humid, so I stayed indoors near the air-conditioning.
I wanted to go to the wake of Sister Rita Cullison’s brother-in-law; but it was in Baltimore and to far to go in this heat. Please keep Harry, his wife “Tink” and all their family in your prayers.
Tuesday, the 26th, the heat continued so after the 11AM Mass and a conference in my office; I went back and stayed in my suite the rest of the day. I only came down for meals.

On Wednesday, the 27th, I ventured out in the heat to be on the altar for Art McKnew’s funeral at St. Bernard’s. I limited my movements on the altar but I was exhausted when it was over. I saw lots of old friends but I left right afterwards. It was well attended and no wonder; Art and his wife, Margaret were examples of a great Catholic family. He will be missed by his family, the parish, and his many admirers. Keep them all in your prayers, please. Since I was out, I joined Jerry Trancone for lunch at the Diner in Greenbelt. I came home and had exposition and the 5:30pm. After supper, I stayed in my suite and enjoyed the AC.

Thursday, the 28th was my DAY OFF and so I slept in and didn’t come to the office. I met Ray Fecteau for lunch and then went to hear confessions from 2 to 5pm. Then I drove down to Southern Maryland and went to BINGO with Marie and Maggie. I didn’t win but I enjoyed the company. I spent the night at Maggie’s

On Friday, the 29th, I went shopping at Kmart. I hate shopping but I needed some things and to be honest, the prices are good. Then I went across the bridge to St. Mary’s county. I checked into the Hampton Inn in Lexington Park and took a nap. I went to supper with a friend and then I came home and READ till about 3AM. I got a lot of my two books read.

On Saturday the 30th, I went to Jiffy Lube around 11am. Around noon, I ate lunch and then returned to the AC and read and napped. It was very relaxing. At 6pm, I went to Muffin and John Padukiewicz’s house. I thought it was just supper but it was a big spread with lots of family and friends and we celebrated my birthday. It was so great to see some of the McCoy family and have a chance to talk with them and catch up especially the young adult – whom I saw at the party and wedding but didn’t get a chance to talk with. I came home around 11pm and once again, READ till 3AM.

On Sunday, the 31st, I went and sat in the sacristy at St. Michael’s during the 10:30AM Mass. As people came out, I saw lots of old friends and families. The altar servers was Clair, whom I baptized. She told me she was in 5th grade but I had to doubt her; she couldn’t be old enough. I asked her if she “skipped” some grades but assured me, she didn’t. Two families invited me to join them at the college brunch. I did and we had enough time to laugh, talk, and catch up. Then, I went to the Spelz’s house. The reason I planned to come down here was to see Judy Spelz and Carl, her fiancé. She was a young woman from the area who had gone to St. Michael’s grade school and then went to St. Vincent’s college in Latrobe, where I went. I use to send her mail (before email) and kept up with her when she graduated. Now she and Carl will be married away but she wanted her family and friends to meet him. He is very nice and they are so in love!!! Being there, gave me the chance to see her family as well. It was a great day – a little hot! I drove home and had the 5:30pm Mass. I read some more and stayed up late as the 1st is Labor Day and I don’t have Mass.

(I THINK I’LL PUBLISH THIS AND DO SOME MORE LATER!!)

Hello,
I wrote the following short snippet on Thursday, September 4th and then once again, my life took off and I didn’t get back to it till today. I have “Tuesdays with Fr. Maury” at 11:45 and then exposition at 3pm and the 5:30pm Mass. During the rest of today, I will finish up this snippet and bring you up to tonight and then I will post it. I am sorry if my absence has made you worry but I am doing very well and just get behind very easily. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

THURSDAY OF THE 22nd WEEK OF THE YEAR IN ORDINARY TIME
It is hard to believe that two weeks have passed since last I wrote. Time does fly by. Let me see what has been going on.

Thursday, August 21: DAY OFF. I did have supper with Shep. We had a great meal and a great time. Also he told me about a book he had been reading and he offered to let me borrow it. It is called “The Little Way of Ruthie Leming. I am also reading a book called “Wonder” about a boy whose face is disfigured and who is about to stop being home-schooled; and going to Middle School. I will move between the two.

Friday, the 22nd.(As far as I got) Will be back later today.