What Paddy Shot At

Again, a busy week:

On Thursday, the 19th, the feast of St. Joseph. I took the day off and met Gail Douglas for lunch at RIP’s. We caught up on all the news and I learned that she is moving to a senior citizens’ apartment in near Illchester, Maryland, where the Notre Dame Sisters had their mother house. It isn’t too far and we’ll keep in touch.
Then I went to St. Luke’s to hear confessions at their Lenten Penance Service. Great as always.

Friday, the 20th I had the 11am Mass and then just worked at the desk and went home early.

On Saturday, the 21st, I drove up to the Claggett center in Buckeystown and heard confessions for the Confirmation students on retreat. They are from St. Ignatius parish, where Fran Werden is the pastoral associate.
Then I had lunch with La and Andy Favret. They live nearby and La is staying in the rehab part of their complex because of some equilibrium problems. Andy lives in their home, which is part of the complex; so they are together often. We had a great time and ate in a café that is part of the complex.
Then I came home, heard the 4pm confessions. I really do enjoy confessions!! And relaxed in my suite that evening.

On Sunday, the 22nd, I had the 10:30 Mass in the gym. They were so good to me and put out my stool, so I could give Communion and bless the children. Then I had a baptism. Please remember Georgia Catherine and her family in your prayers.
Then Rick and Peg Jensen picked me up and we went to visit Ann O’Connell. She is staying at home with the support of family and has doctors and nurses who come to visit her. She was in good spirits and we laughed and talked.
Then Rick and Peg and I went to supper at a Portuguese restaurant nearby. It was very good and we had a good time.
I talked with my cousin Jackie later that night. Please keep my cousin, Peg Caruso and her family in your prayers. She is doing tests and treatment this week.

On Monday, I went to St. Patrick’s parish for Merve O’Connor’s funeral. I’ve known her for over 30 years. She was part of that group that welcomed me to Leisure World in the early 80’s when I was at G. C. and could help out Fr. Father Farrell, the pastor of Our Lady of Grace. I had intended just to sit on the altar but Fr. Foley, the pastor and a good friend, invited me to preach. It was an honor. She was a great lady and she wouldn’t mind my saying she was 94. Buried the next day at Arlington with her husband, a Navy guy. I went with Barb Ostrye and we had lunch together afterwards – Five Guys! Good hamburgers!
I had interviews for First Communion and then the 5:30pm Mass. Ate and relaxed in the suite. Had a long phone conversation with Jerry Trancone. He is coming along with the rehab at Carroll Manor and is standing and walking on his own with a cane. Thanks for those prayers.

On Tuesday, I had the 8am Mass and then I drove down to Maggie’s and she, Marie and I went to Annapolis for Maggie’s doctor’s appointment. I went in with her and learned a lot about her foot. She will have surgery in August and it will take some time to recover but she will be able to walk again. Keep praying. As a treat, we went to a seafood place in Chesapeake Beach and then went to Bingo. I got home around midnight.

Today is the feast of the Annunciation (and also 9 months from Christmas!!). I had the 8am Mass and then went to Stone Ridge for a penance service and to hear confessions. It was great and then I came home and slept for two hours. I’ve been at the desk all afternoon and got a lot of things done – like this article!!

Tomorrow is Thursday, my day off and I will pick up Joan around 9:30am and we’re going up to see Betty Neary. We have been snowed out three time but it’s supposed to be 70 degrees tomorrow, so I know we’ll have a great time.

Another two busy weeks:

On March 7th, we did have Marie’s surprise 75th birthday on Saturday. She was surprised and kept saying that some of those people she hadn’t seen in 30 years. Her kids did a great job and had a wonderful slide presentation with lots of pictures of family and friends. We played “Family Feud”, her favorite TV show and it was very funny. I think she is now a star on Facebook. I didn’t stay overnight and was home before midnight.

On Sunday March 8th, since I was supposed to be away, I was not scheduled for Mass but I saw that Fr. Ron had three Masses and I took the 12:30. And I went home and relaxed

On Monday, the 9th, feast of St. Frances of Rome, had exposition, then began my interviews for the First Communicants. It is one of my nicest duties. They are so eager to tell you what they know and how “It really does become the Body and Blood of Jesus”. I had the 5:30pm and preached about St. Frances.

On Tuesday, the 10th, had the 8am Mass and a confession afterwards and then I called Frances Sampogna and wished her a belated feast day! I had prayed for her on the feast but just couldn’t get a phone call in. She and I have had a great affection for St. Frances since my Camillus days. It was nice to catch up and her and her family. Interviews again in the afternoon. Delightful again. Home early, ate and went to bed.

I took the 6:30am Mass on Wednesday and worked at the desk. I led the stations for the middle school students at 1:45, then had exposition at 3pm and more interviews. I also had the 5:30pm Mass and then drove to Maggie’s to spend the night.

On Thursday, the three of us went to Virginia for Claire Sheehan’s funeral. Claire was
A friend of ours, who travelled on cruises with us. She was a lovely New Englander who was such good company. Please keep her and her family in your prayers. After I dropped the girls back in Calvert County, I came home to rest.

On Friday, I had the 8 and 11am Masses and then drove down to St. Mary’s county. I checked into the Hampton Inn and took a nap. Then I drove over to Colleen and Jeff Smith’s house for dinner with them, their daughter, Allison, (who is becoming a police officer), Steve and Faith Hall and their son, Trent (who is graduating form St. Mary’s/Ryken) Jeff LeDonne ( Leslie was working) and Pat Hall (whose birthday we celebrated). It was lots of laughs and much fun; then we went to Ryken and saw Clay Hall in the musical “Into the Woods”. It was great and I think as good as the one I saw on Broadway with Msgr. Dade and Father Trancone years ago. It was raining hard and foggy, so I was glad to get into bed at the hotel.

On Saturday, the 14th, I had planned to get up early and return in time to concelebrate the 9:30am Confirmation Mass; but I was slow moving. Got home around 10AM and took some medicine and went to bed. I was afraid a cold was coming on. I slept till 1pm and felt a lot better. I concelebrated the 1:30pm Confirmation. It was Bishop Holly, and his does such a great job and it was good to see him Deacon Martino and our new permanent deacon, Angel were on and it was a wonderful ceremony. I had the 5:30pm Mass and I was ready for bed!

On Sunday, the 15th, I had a baptism during the 10:30am Mass. It was beautiful and our people are so “welcoming” when we do that. They stop over to congratulate the parents and the family. It doesn’t lengthen the Mass. We also had the dismissal of the RCIA and lots of Communions, and the Mass was over in 56 minutes! Please keep Teddy and his family in your prayers. I stopped in the baptismal prep, which had to be re-scheduled because of snow on March 1st. I just apologized again and said hi, then I went home to relax.

On Monday, the 16th, I had the 11am Mass and then met with an old friend and caught up. Then I had my interviews – a couple who had been ill did a make – up. Great as always. Then Fr. Jim picked me up at the rectory at 6:15pm and we went to nice French restaurant Mon Ami in Bethesda and joined Fr. John, Fr. Regis, and Fr. Mike (John is our former pastor, Regis and Mike teach at Catholic U and have been our weekend help for a couple of years). We try to go to supper together every three or four months. It is always a ball and confirms you in the value of priestly fraternity.
When I got home, I returned a call from Joan Rosenberger Johnson. We talked for over an hour. It’s been awhile since we got together and we use to do that a couple of times a year but illness, weather, and our scheduled have made that hard. As soon as Jerry is better, we’ll get together.

On Tuesday, THE FEAST DAY, I had the 11am Mass and I prayed for all the wonderful people God has brought into my life, who celebrate this Saint as their patron. After Mass, we had Tuesdays with Fr. Maury. We shared on St. Patrick and anything Irish. We had a large crowd but not because of me – there was a great Corn beef and cabbage lunch. I couldn’t stay because I had a dentist appointment that was “snowed out” twice before. He did work on two cavities and I came right home and slept. I did get up and go to the play reading group. We began The Crucibles”. Interesting play and good discussion. We only got through Act I and we’ll go through the rest over the next few months.
Got a message on my recorder that Kathleen and David Havern delivered a child on St. Patrick’s Day. – Their second boy. Named Charles David. That make 7 grandchildren for Keith and Sheila Morris.
To all
“Dia is Mhuire duit agus Padraig”

God, and Mary and St. Patrick be with you:

Today, Wednesday, I had the 8am and 11am Masses. I spoke of St. Cyril, whom I have a great affection for. I had Stations with the middle school at 1;45 and tonight I have “the light is on for you” (Confessions in every church in the Archdiocese) I had loved being part of it.

Please keep Fr. Jerry Trancone, Pat Watters, Jean Pizza and Ann Brown O’Connell in your thoughts and prayers. Some are in hospitals and all are ill.
And so now, you are up to date.

It has been an unusual two weeks.

On Monday, the 23rd of February after the 11am Mass, I drove down to Maggie’s and spent the night. She, Marie and I went through boxes of photos that Marie’s children had brought down from her house. We found some old “treasure” and some we had no idea who they were. We worked hard and for a treat, Maggie made us “Polish pancakes”, comfort food that our Mom use to make for us on the Fridays of Lent.

On Tuesday, the 24th, we went to Maggie’s doctor appointment in Annapolis. It was a sunny day but bitter cold. We went to BINGO at the beach that night. Gerry Size, a dear friend from St. Bernard’s was there. She was surprised by our coming and we caught up on her family. She and Marie were roommates in the hospital forty some years ago when each was having a child. I think it was Ricky (US Army retired) and Vickie (grandmother). Also Al Size was the priests’ barber. He came to the rectory to cut our hair. He was a DC fireman. Gerry says he is “slipping a little” so keep them both in your prayers. None of us won BINGO.

On Wednesday, the 25th, we left Maggie’s at 6:30AM to drive over to Virginia for Marie’s appointment with her oncologist. Dr. Ann Favret is the 11th child of a family I was very close to in St. Camillus. I was so glad to see her and catch up on her husband and three children. She explained things very clearly to Marie and I. Marie has cancer in her liver and it is not treatable. At her age, it will be slow acting and as Marie had very bad reactions to chemo-therapy seven years ago; she doesn’t want to take treatment again. She feels very good now and is almost completely recovered from the surgery last November. We’ll just monitor things and as the doctor said, “Mrs. Walburn keep active and do things”. Marie said, “Oh, my going on a cruise to Alaska in June” We had a good visit.
On the way home, we stopped to visit our cousin, Ann Brown O’Connell in Bethesda. Please keep her in your prayers as well. She has been ill for years with cancer but has kept herself very active. She is now stopping treatment and getting care at home. Her family is staying with her. Her niece, Judy was there when we stopped in – and of course- as she and Maggie talked they discovered that Maggie’s neighbor in Dunkirk is an aunt of Judy’s on her Dad side. Small world!
We stopped for lunch at RIP’s and had a good meal. It began to snow!

On Thursday, we had to cancel Maggie’s doctor’s appointment because of the snow. She did make cream chipped beef on toast for breakfast – another treat from our Mother! Then I decided I should head home and I had exposition and the 5:30pm Mass. I went to bed early.

On Friday, we had a delayed opening because of the ice. I had exposition, the 5:30pm Mass, and Stations. There was pizza afterwards and then I was driven back to the rectory.

On Saturday, the 28th, I saw someone for spiritual direction and then had the 11am Mass After Mass, I went to a Dollar store and bought some Sudoku books for Marie and then I went to Doctors’ hospital to see Father Jerry Trancone. He has been struggling with a –fib in his heart and lately has been falling at night. He has little strength in his legs and may have to go to re-hab. Please keep him in your prayers. Then I drove down to
Maggie’s. Mary, Ronnie and Debbie, Jimmy and Camille (Some of Marie’s children and spouses) and Sonny and Trevor (grandchildren) all came over and we had pizza and talked (and laughed!) We had a great time.

On Sunday, March 1st, I drove over to Our Lady of Perpetual Help to do the 8:30 and 11am Masses. I loved it. The liturgy was participative and I think my homily was OK. The pastor was away doing a family baptism and Sister Kass Collins is the pastoral associate and had invited me. The people were very welcoming and I had lots of help with my oxygen and giving our Communion. I’d go again, if they invite me.
NOW, there was a little problem in that around 9am, it began to sleet and it continued all day. I got home OK but there were lots of cars (and trucks) spinning out of control on the beltway. It took about 2 hours and I was glad to see Connecticut Ave. I took a nap and then Fr. Ron escorted me across the street and I had the 5:30pm Mass. I was amazed that about 300 people were there! I was driven back to the rectory.

On Monday, the 2nd, the schools were closed. I had the 11am, exposition, and the 5:30pm Masses. Some of the snow melted but it froze that night.

On Tuesday the 3rd, I had the 11am Mass and they closed school early. After Mass, I did meet some of the seniors and we talked about Lent. Many didn’t come because the weather was supposed to get bad. It didn’t! but it was cold.

On Wednesday, the 4th, I had the 8am Mass and was going to go to the Retired Priests meeting but instead I went and got Marie and Maggie and we went to Bowie to pick up a package. Then we went back to Maggie’s after a stop at McDonald’s! Today is Marie’s 75th birthday and so she had phone calls and emails all day. That night even with the rain, we went to BINGO. Mary joined us and so I headed home as the rain was supposed to change to snow around 2am. Mary took the ladies home after Bingo. None of them won but they had a good time. I was in bed by 11pm.

I stayed in my pj’s all day Thursday. It snowed all day. I had soup in my frig and so I just ate and relaxed, napped and watch TV. It was a real DAY OFF!

On Friday, March 6th, the facilities guys cleared a path for me to walk easily and safely to the parish center. I had Mass at 11am, exposition at 3pm and the 5:30pm Mass. Afterwards, we had Stations and then pizza. I spent the whole day in my office working on Baptisms. We had 24 scheduled in the next three months.

Today, I had the 8am Mass and will have a Baptism at Noon. Please keep Jeffrey Christian and his family in your prayers.
This afternoon, there is a surprise birthday party for Marie. Our cousin from Florida, our nephew from Georgia, lots of her classmates from grade school and high school and our family (about 80 of us) will be at the fire house in Dunkirk. I may stay the night and will be home on Sunday. I’ll report on the party next time.

I’ve been on the phone a lot during the storms and caught up with family and friends. As part of my Lenten practice I am trying to be more in touch with old friends – as well as not eating Snickers – Keep my intentions in your prayers and know that I am praying you have a holy and productive Lent.