What Paddy Shot At

Monday, Dec 22nd was a very relaxing day. I went to the post office to mail three packages that I just hadn’t gotten to. I stood in a line for over an hour and when I was waited on, it took three minutes. I used the time in the line to pray for my prayer list. I also looked around at all the other people and lifted them up in prayer. As I said, a relaxing day!

Tuesday, the 23rd, Fr. Trancone came for a funeral at noon and afterwards, he and I went to the diner and had a nice visit. I had exposition and the 5:30pm Mass. Another relaxing day.

****Not true!! I got an email from Anna Elise, the daughter of a parishioner, whom I met last year. I went to re-inter his wife at
Gate of Heaven and bless her new tomb stone. While I was there, I found out that her husband is Terry Gribbin, from St. Camillus. His family lived at the bottom of the rectory driveway and I was so glad to see him and re-connect. The Father, Bill has been trying to get us together for dinner for almost a year.
In the email, she wrote that the family was going to La Ferme, a nice French restaurant nearby and although it’s short notice could I join them. I wrote back that I had the 5:30pm Mass but would come for desert; but she wrote they’d be there around 6pm, so please come.
It was Bill, Anna Elise, Terry, and Susanne (Bill’s care-giver). We had a great time and laughed and told stories and I caught up on all the Gribbin family news. I can’t believe that I didn’t write about that when I published this today but it wasn’t in my appointment book! God is very good to me in all the wonderful people I know.

Wednesday, Christmas Eve Day, I had the 8am Mass. I loved preaching because it was the end of the story of John the Baptist’s conception and birth. It gets you ready for the birth of Jesus.
We had confessions from noon to 1pm, which was lovely and not rushed. Then I took a nap – well I was going to take a nap but I saw the Pope’s Mass from Rome and had to listen to his homily – and “stole” some of it for my homily.
I had the 6pm Mass. It was packed and people standing. I think Communion took 15 minutes and we had 6 stations!
Then I did take a nap and got up for the Midnight Mass, which I concelebrated. During the Mass and especially Communion time, which I didn’t do; I mentioned each of you to the Lord and thanked him for the gift of your friendship and love.
Went to sleep around 3am.

This morning I had the 9am Mass, which was not full but a good crowd of families. I used my material from the Pope in my homily but I also pointed out that during the Mass prayers, there are a number of times when the priest, speaking in the name of the congregation proclaims that “we” are all ministers and grateful to God for His calling us to minister at His altar. I love that idea and I wanted to remind everyone that the liturgy calls us to participate not attend. Having offered this Mass together, we will now go out to serve those in need. Isn’t that why Jesus came? To teach us how to do that!
I did give out Communion on the side with the help of a stool and two great servers, James and Jack (his 1st time). They’re so good to me.
A change of my usual routine on holidays. It’s usually a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, milk, and off to bed; but Terry Odien, John Bohrer, and Joe Stoutz said I should come to Philadelphia so we could have dinner together. I decided they had a good idea. So, now, I am going to drive to New Carrollton, Md and get the train to Philly. I should get there around 2:20 and Joe will pick me up and will go to a restaurant near Rittenhouse Square at 3:30 for supper together. They’ll take me back to the station to catch a train around 9pm and I’ll be home and in bed by Midnight.

**** It’s 10:20pm and I just got home. The train trip was great. Took an hour and 45 minutes and Joe was at the station when I got in. We drove to the restaurant and (thanks to St. Martin de Porres) got a space on the street right next to the restaurant (Free – because it was Christmas). Terry and John arrived about 20 minutes later and we had a delicious meal with lots of laughs. Afterwards, Joe took me to the station. It was 6:45 and I changed my 9pm ticket for one at 7:30pm. Got to New Carrollton around 9:15 and got my car (No charge for parking – it’s Christmas!) and got here to the rectory around 10pm. Now off to bed!!
I can sleep in tomorrow.
Hope you are with family and/or friends on this most Holy Day! Merry Christmas.

Well, I’m back to continue to update you

On Tuesday, December 16th; although I was not scheduled for Mass, I took the 5:30 and had supper with the guys at the rectory. Then I came at 7pm to the library for our play reading group. We did, “The Long Christmas Dinner” by Thurber. It is one of my favorites. It takes place at the dinner table of the new home of the family and over a period of about 60 years, family member are born and join the table and others died. Some of the actors put on white wigs as they age (we don’t do that) but it traces this family’s history (and you know how I love family histories and stories). We had a very good discussion afterwards as some people found it dull and repetitive and others thought it lovely. I had a great time.

On Wednesday, I took the 6:30am Mass, so as to get started for the day. I heard confessions and then was driven out to visit a parishioner in a nursing home. It was a “priestly day”.

On the 18th, after the 8am Mass, I drove out to visit Loretta and Andy Favret, dear friends from St. Camillus days. They live up near Frederick in a senior community. We had a nice long talk and “caught up” on them and their 12 children. They knew about each of them and each grandchild. They now have their first great grandchild, a girl!!
Then I went to hear confessions and afterwards, I picked up Joan Beall and we went to the Golden Bull for dinner. Joan always buys my new replacement for my appointment book. We use to go to the Mayflower with Nellie after a stop at Scribner’s Stationary; but now it’s bought on the computer but we still try to make a meal with it. I love the Bull, we use to go to it when I was at Camillus. The food was great and not expensive. We sat and laughed and talked. Then I stopped in and her house and tried a few of Ginny’s cookies – I’m going to get more later! I didn’t get a chance to see the Mudd’s – that’s later also.

On Friday, the 19th, I had the 8am Mass and then went to Jiffy Lube. I also went to Manor Care and visited my cousin, Ann O’Connell. I brought her three of Joe’s books, for her and some friends. She hopes to go home Saturday.
I had supper at the rectory. It’s was our “Last supper” as Humberto will be off for two weeks. It was fun, Fr. Hughes, from Camden was our dinner guest. I was in bed early.

Saturday, the 20th, I was supposed to have the 8am Mass but I changed with Fr. Percy for the 5:30pm Mass. As the 8 was for Joan Mullan, Patrick’s grandma, I came and concelebrated. Many of the family came and joined Bill. They invited me to breakfast with them, but I had a baptism later in the day, so I couldn’t go. It was great to see them all.
Had the baptism, please keep Beau Edward and his family in your prayers. His grandparents are parishioner of Blessed Sacrament and St. Michael’s, Ridge.
I had the 5:30pm Mass and I enjoyed preaching about Mary on this 4th Sunday of Advent. Early to bed.

On Sunday, I woke very early and drove down to Maggie’s. I had left the leg part of her wheelchair in the back of my car since Monday. She is trying to be more faithful to using the chair, so I wanted to get it back to her. She was at Mass, so I just put it inside the living room. Then I drove by Joan’s to drop off my Christmas stocking, which she is always kind enough to have Santa fill it! My cousin, Phil Ballenger was visiting, so I stopped in and visited with him and “caught up” on his family. I also ate some more cookies!
Got home with plenty of time to be ready for the 12:30pm Mass. I was supposed to go anoint someone but she had died during the night. Please keep Lenora and her family in your prayers. I worked on Paddy, which I published last Monday. Again, early to bed.

I’m going to publish this and will send out something about this week before Christmas.

Sunday, Dec 7th was Fr. Percy D’Silva’s 50th anniversary of ordination celebration. I concelebrated the 12:30pm with ten other priests and then they had a dinner at the rectory. I didn’t go to that as I had the baptismal prep session, then I had a baptism. Please keep Barbara Rose and her family in your prayers. Then I had the 5:30pm Mass and went to bed early.

Monday, the 8th. I had the 8:40am Mass at the Wood’s Academy for the holyday. It was very nice and the children had gathered donations for the mothers and children at St. Ann’s Home. I had a driver over and back (to the door), which was very nice for me. I did go to Alice Johnson’s wake because I wouldn’t be able to go to the funeral the next day. I saw a lot of St. Bernard’s people and some of the Irish club.
I then went out to Rip’s to join Maggie, her son and daughter-in-law and her mother, who was visiting from Wichita. We joined Marie and two of her sons and their wives and her daughter Mary. We wanted to prepare Marie for her doctor appointment of Wednesday. The doctor was going to explain that while her surgery went very well, he did see two spots that he thought were cancer on her liver. We wanted her to have time to formulate some questions for her meeting. I think it went OK.

On the 9th, Joan drove me to the eye doctor. He examined my eyes and gave me a prescription for a bi-focal. I am really having a hard time reading the prayers at the altar. Then I had the 11AM Mass. Then we had Tuesdays with Fr. Maury and our topic was Our Lady of Guadalupe. I took my vestment over and they loved it. That night, Fr. Jim picked me up and we drove to Ruth Chris’ and met Fr. Regis, Fr. Mike, and Fr. Enzler for supper. We had a great time, good food, and lots of laughs.

On the 10th, I took the 6:30AM Mass, so I could get on the road early. I met Marie and some of her children when she met with the surgeon. He was excellent and although she had a little infection and he couldn’t take out her staples; he explained things very well to her and us. She will have to see on Oncologist to decide if she wants to take treatments. Keep her and her family in your prayers. I stopped by the John Vianney house and had lunch with the retired priests’ group. Then I went to Jerry Trancone’s and took a nap. Then he and I went to the Petrone’s for a nice Italian dinner. Then we decorated cookies. It’s a Christmas tradition and always lifts my spirits and fills me with good food.

Thursday, the 11th, I had a quick but pleasant visit with Patrick Mullan and then said the 11am Mass. Then I joined Ann for lunch. Then I took the rest of the DAY OFF.

On Friday, the 12th, I had the 11am Mass and went to On Our Own in Prince Frederick where I gave a talk on Southern Maryland and Our Lady of Guadalupe. It seemed to go well. Maggie and I went home and some of her grandkids went and got pizza for us and we had a relaxing evening. I stayed the night.

On Saturday, the 13th, we drove to Jesus the Good Shepherd and left my car and went on a bus trip with 35 of her fellow parishioners to NYC. The trip was delightful and it was a sunny day. We got there and went to Radio City Music Hall and saw the show. It was great and put us in a Christmas mood. When we came out, we had a hard time getting a cab and with Maggie in a wheelchair, it took a while. But we got home, I took a hot shower and went to bed.

Fr. Paul said Mass for us at 8am in the hotel on Sunday, the 14th. We had a nice breakfast buffet and lounged around all day. It 5pm, we took a cab up to our cousins, Sharon, Amy, and Alexander in their home up on 175 street. We had a delicious supper and just visited and talked. In the past, we met at restaurants but it was nice to see their home and just talk. Sharon is a real New Yorker and hailed us a taxi and we were at our hotel in 2o minutes.

On Monday, the 15th, we once again had the buffet and got on the bus at noon. Great ride and sunny day. We were back in Dunkirk around 5pm. I took Maggie home and then came back to the parish. It was nice to sleep in my own room!

Well, it isn’t Monday night. I don’t why I said that in the last message; but it isn’t over a week, so that’s an improvement.

Last Sunday, I did drive to Maggie’s and we all had a great time. My nephew, Mark (Maureen’s oldest) was up for a couple of days to do National Guard stuff and he came to Maggie’s. All of Maggie’s kids came over, three of Marie’s, and Marie herself so we had lots of laughs and stories. I spent the night.

On Monday, the 1st, I drove back and had the 11am Mass. Then I went back to bed. I find I still had the residue of that cold and I love being in bed with a nice blanket. I got up around 5pm and went and had dinner with Mark near his hotel. We had a great time and talked about Scripture and Religion, which I loved sharing. I gave him Joe’s book and he shared a very difficult and scholarly scripture book that he is reading. We both enjoyed the evening.

I stayed in bed and only came over on Tuesday for exposition and the 5:30pm Mass. Caught up on my emails.

On Wednesday, the feast of St. Francis Xavier, I went to the seminary and participated in the Priests’ day of recollection. It was great to see all the priests and “catch up”. I sat at lunch with 5 Capuchins, among them Bob McCreary, an old friend I’ve known since Camillus. Fr. Billy Burns gave it and his talk was just what I needed. I got a chance to go to confession and although I had to leave early because I had exposition; it was a good way to get ready for Advent. Early to bed.

Thursday, the 4th. MY DAY OFF. I heard school confessions in the morning and then went to bed for a couple of hours. I woke refreshed and went to Virginia to meet a couple for dinner. We had a great time.

On Friday, I got up very early and put together the gold covered chocolate coins for our school children to celebrate St. Nicholas. I wasn’t up to dressing like him but I sent the coins to a prayer service. I also sent some to Holy Redeemer school but wasn’t up to being “St. Nick” for them either. I actually went to bed, took some medicine and slept for 4 hours. I got up, came to the office and got paperwork done. Had exposition and the 5:30 Mass. Supper with the guys and went to bed early.

Today, I came over and had spiritual direction with someone at 9am, then had the 11AM Mass, where I gave out “coins” for the feast. Had a baptism at 1pm. Please keep Eva Marie and her family in your prayers. Since I don’t have anything scheduled until the evening Mass on Sunday, I am going over to the rectory, work on my homily, eat and relax. I’m sure it will be early to bed.

During the week, I was on the phone a lot. I learned that Ann O’Connell, my cousin and the widow of my Godfather, Ed, was at Suburban Hospital and we talked a number of times. I didn’t want to visit because she doesn’t need my germs. But do keep her in your prayers. Also I just learned that Alice Johnson, a great friend from St. Bernard’s died at 95 years of age. Please keep her family in your prayers.