What Paddy Shot At

When last I wrote, I was getting ready to go to “cover” Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Edgewater. I had a great time. I had the 4pm confessions and the 5pm Mass. I was pleasantly surprised to meet many people who were originally from Riverdale and at the door, I met many of them.
Before I went down to OLPH, I had four baptisms. Keep Keating Grace, Graydon Robert, Lochlan Richard, Theodore Emil and their families in your prayers.
After Mass, I met Maggie, Marie, and Penny at Bingo. Didn’t win but had a good time, spent the night at Maggie’s.

On Sunday, the 17th, I had the 8:30am Mass and the 11. Mike drove Marie and Maggie to it. Also Hal and Terry McConnell came. It was great to see them. Terry was my “right hand” and secretary when I was first made pastor at St. B’s. After Mass, I the girls and I, and Kass went to a very nice German restaurant nearby. Then I drove the girls home and was in bed before dark.

On the 18th, I had the 11am Mass for Gene Kinerney and Anna Marie came to it. We were planning to go to lunch but it was so hot, we put it off. My oxygen box has not been working and the one they brought to take its place is useless. So I am “fighting” with them and spending a lot of time over in the rectory where I had the large oxygen.
Got a phone call that Joe Stout’s surgery went well but I won’t call him till the weekend.

On the 19th, I had the 11am Mass and then “Tuesdays with Fr. Maury”. Our theme was the blessed Virgin and we had a nice discussion.
Ceil Mattingly, whose is like family, since our fathers were Marshalls together, and I met for supper. We caught up on all our siblings and I learned that she is moving to Georgia to be near her son and grandbabies!
Also I missed the play reading group because of my oxygen.

On Wednesday, the 20th, I went to see Dr. Lucas and she was annoyed that I had let this oxygen thing go so long. She called the company and we’ll see what happens.

On Thursday, I saw someone for spiritual direction and I joined a Sodality group for dinner (they came and got me). The food was great but even better were the conversations. I had a great time.

On Friday, I was in St. Mary’s county. I stopped in at St. Michael’s in the morning, then picked up Patrick Mullan and we went to lunch at the Raley’s. Judy also had three of her children, their spouses, and Dane, her Grandson. It was just delightful. I enjoyed that family when I was there. I also stopped at St. Mary’s city and saw some old friends. I met Susan Cassidy for dinner. She has sold her house and is moving to Minnesota to be near her grandchildren. It seems to be the thing to do. I’m sure that like Ceil, she’ll love it.

On Saturday, the 23rd, I drove over to Oxon Hill and anointed a man, who is dying of lung cancer. Keep Ronald – and Maggie, his caregiver, in your prayers. At noon, I met with a family to supply the candle and anointings that go with Baptism. Eli Robert was born in January and had to be baptized in the hospital. He is been in and out of the hospital – with lots of surgeries but is doing well now, so anointed him, gave him a white robe and candle and welcomed him formally into our community. It was so nice.
Then I went and picked up Maggie and we went back to St. Mary’s for a graduation party for a young man who was on our trip to Alaska about 7 years ago. We saw lots of old friends and saw great pictures of him growing up. He is going to Frostburg for college. I dropped Maggie at Bingo and came home.

On Sunday, the 24th, I had the 9am Mass. Met with a couple about baptism and then joined Fr. Beattie, Fr. Hill, and Msgr. Duffy for supper.

Monday the 25th was Memorial Day. The office was closed and the rectory was empty. I met with a couple about their upcoming wedding and then I returned to watch TV in the air conditioning.

Tuesday, the 26th, I had the 6:30 and 8am Masses and then drove over and picked Fr. Trancone and took him to a doctor’s appointment in Columbia. We had lunch out. When I got back to the office, my oxygen box (the right one that I needed) was there. My doctor called them and told them to get it to me TODAY! I just feel so much better. (It weighs 4 pounds, while the one they wanted me to take weighs 16lbs!!) I’m so glad that is finally settled.

So here I am today, I had exposition at 3pm and have the 5:30 Mass. Then I’m going out to Columbia to help celebrate Joey’s graduation from Mount St. Joe’s. He is the son of Bobby and Sue Chambers – great friends. Sue’s parents are here from Wisconsin and since I’ll be away this weekend, they invited me out tonight to see everybody.

I had lots of phone ministry this week. Steve Bleistine is greatly improved and is home. Had a long time with Joe, who is in a lot of pain from the surgery. Long talk with Roger in Wisconsin and “caught up” and also with Dwight. He is retiring on July 1st and will go to England, where his ancestors are from and help out in a parish for a couple of months. Both he and John Bohrer are celebrating the anniversaries of ordination today and I talked with both of them. Nice conversation with Pat Berry, keep his sister in your prayers – eye problems.

tomorrow, I have the 6:30am Mass and then will head up to Greensburg and Pittsburgh. I’ll update you in June.

On May 6th, I gave a talk on prayer to the Bible study group. They are a wonderful group that has been meeting for almost 26 years. I had a good time and according to them, so did they. i had planned to go to the retired priests gathering but instead spent most of the day waiting for someone to come about my oxygen – they didn’t come. I had the 5:30pm Mass and then went home to be on the oxygen in the rectory.

On Thursday, the 7th, I called Bob Norton as it was the 43rd anniversary of my friends’ anniversary. They are getting together in June but I’ll be on the Mississippi. I went and saw Dr Solomon, my pulmonologist, and I’m doing well. His assistant, Mike is going to see if I can get help about the oxygen. As it is my “Day Off”, I went back and spent the day in the rectory. In the evening, Rick and Peg picked me up and we went out to dinner together. It’s always great to be with them.

On Friday, the 8th, I had the 8am Mass and then I went to Casey House to visit Louise Lynch and her family. Louise worked at GC and when I directed the plays, she did the costumes. She and Jack have been friends ever since. She had a heart attack last week and went into a coma and was taken to hospice. We prayed aloud and I think she knew we were there. Then I went to see John and Antonia Bass John is ill and so we celebrated the sacrament of the sick. Antonia and I went to lunch with two nice ladies who live at Maplewood and are friends of hers. I had exposition and then Mass and went back to the rectory.

On Saturday, the 9th, I had the 8am Mass and then concelebrated the three Masses we had for First Communion. I stayed in my office and then had the 4pm Confessions. Was glad to go home and relax with the oxygen.

On Sunday, the 10th, I met with a couple at 8:30am about baptism. Then at 10 I had a baptism and another at 11am. Please keep Theodore Coleman and Delaney Kayden and their families in your prayers. I had the 12:30 Mass and then joined Ray Fecteau and his Mom and his siblings for dinner at La Ferme for Mothers’ Day. We had a great time as I enjoy his family and their sense of humor. Then I had the 5:30pm Mass. Afterwards, I drove to National and picked up Regina’s nephew, who had an interview for a joy at Bethesda Naval on Tuesday. I dropped him at his hotel and went home. Was glad to have the oxygen as it was a hot day. I slept well.

On Monday, someone came and talked to me about the oxygen and they are going to send me a replacement tomorrow, which will be nice as it is 90 degrees outside. I had the 11am Mass and then I met Gail Douglas for lunch at the Casino and we played a little I won $120, so that made up for the heat. I presided at the Filipino Mass at 7:30. It was in English but the music was Filipino and just beautiful.

On Tuesday, the 12th, I had the 6:30am Mass and then picked up Jason and drove him up to Bethesda. Then I went by and visited my cousin, Peg Caruso. She is taking treatment for lung cancer and is doing very well We just sat and laughed and “caught up”. I also got a chance to say hi to her daughter, Jackie, who came to drive her. I know that you’ll keep her and her family in your prayers.

Then I went to Our Lady of Grace for Louise’s funeral. Fr. Essex presided and I preached. It was easy to talk about her and Jack and their family. They really are so good and loving. Also saw lots of GC and St. Catherine Laboure parishioners there and visited with them after Mass. I couldn’t go to the cemetery. It was another hot, hot day.

Then I drove over to the Cardinal O’Boyle residence and drove Jerry Trancone and Fr. Tom Kane to the annual priests’ anniversary Mass and dinner. I always enjoy seeing all the priests and talking with them. I was glad to be home and went to bed by 9pm

On Wednesday, the 13th, I had the 11am Mass. It was the 43rd anniversary of my ordination and I enjoyed the quiet day. I still don’t have my oxygen and I just ignored it and went down to Maggie’s. We had a nice quiet dinner and I went to bed early.

On Thursday, the 14th, I drove Marie over to see the oncologist and we had a great visit. The doctor is pleased with Marie’s attitude and says the liver cancer is not growing quickly. Maggie didn’t go with us because she can drive (only in Calvert County) and drove to a doctor’s appointment herself. We all met for dinner and then we went to Bingo and met JoAnn. Maggie and JoAnn won and Marie and I showed up. I drove home and was in bed by 11:30pm

Today, I had the 8am Mass and now am trying to “catch up” on work at the desk. I have a baptism tonight at 5pm and two tomorrow. Then I’ll drive to Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Edgewater for confessions at 4pm and then the 5pm Mass. I’ll spend the night at Maggie’s because I have the 8:30am Mass and the 11. This is the parish where Sister Kass is pastoral associate and her pastor is away for the weekend. I’ve been there before and it is a great community.

Now you are up to date!

Hi there,

Another very busy two weeks.

When last I wrote, it was April 21st. On the next day, I had the 11am Mass. At 3pm, Colleen picked me up and we drove to the Dominican Retreat House in Virginia. We attended a dinner and meeting of the SDC. It was very enjoyable and edifying. I also met two religious sisters – Sister Charlotte and Sister Loretta. They were from Big Bend, Kansas and they knew Fr. Dwight from Wichita. I’m always saying, “If we Catholics could agree on something, we could change the world because we all know each other”.

On Thursday, April 23rd, I picked up Fr. Beattie and we went to breakfast at IHOP. We had to go to two of them, they were so busy and filled up. We ended up in Rockville.

On Friday, the 24th, I met a lovely man whose family is in Qatar and coming here in the summer for a visit. We are going to baptize his grandchildren. They cannot do that at home.
Then I went and got my haircut and beard trimmed. Went to Jiffy Lube. Did exposition and the 5:30pm Mass and had a First Communion interview.

On Saturday, the 25th, I had someone in for an appointment and had the 11am Mass. After Mass, a man and his two sisters came to see me in the chapel and we had a blessing of the ashes of their mother. It was a very lovely time together. Please keep Frances and her children in your prayers. I then had a baptism, keep John Calix and his family in your prayers. I had confessions at 4pm and then Brian and Rowena picked me up and took me to the Wardman hotel for the Catholic Charities Dinner. I really was too tired to go but they insisted and I’m glad they did. I had a great time, learned more about CC and met and talked with a number of nice people.

I slept in on Sunday till 9am and then had the 10:30 Mass in the gym. It was so nice to be back with the families and the children. I used my stool and gave out Communion and blessed the kids.
I used the afternoon, to catch up by phone with Maggie, Dan and Stephanie, Joe Stoutz, Gail Douglas, and others. It was very relaxing and I went to bed early and slept well.

Monday, the 27th was a full day with appointments, and 11am Mass and supper with the guys – but it was fun and relaxing.

Tuesday, the 28th was another full day with lots of laughter and good memories. I started off by attending the funeral of Mary Claire Daly at Our Lady of Lourdes. She is the aunt of Fr. Tim Daly and I’ve known her for years. She was 93 years of age and lived a wonderful and full life of faith. She was also the aunt of Chris Daly, the husband of Denise Embry Daly, whom I knew at St. Camillus and at St. Bernard’s. They live in Frederick and I haven’t seen them in over 20 years. I know this because their son, John, whom I’ve never seen is 21 years old. Their daughter, Colleen, who was a student at St. B’s and went on to become an Opera singer was there and sang the “Ave Maria”. It was magnificent. She also has an adorable little sixth month old boy named “Christian Michael”. Chris and Denise’s first grandchild!!
It was not a sad funeral; it was a celebration of life, faith, and family!

I had to rush back because I had the 11am Mass and then Fr. Beattie and I went to Little Sisters’ and had lunch with Msgr. Bazan, Msgr. Duffy, and Cardinal Baum. What a great two hours that was!!
Then when I got home. Pat McGrath, one of my favorite students from GC had come by to visit and we sat and “caught up” for another hour. Then Joan told me I had another visitor. It was Nera Brown Lersch. She was the year ahead of me at St. Bernard’s and we’ve stayed friends all that time. She lives in Illinois but was here to visit family and stopped by. Again, we laughed and “caught up”.
That evening, I finally caught up with my sisters (who had been at the Shore!) and I caught up on them and their families. I was ready for bed.

On Wednesday, I drove over to Wheaton and had lunch with Joe Hickson and his daughter, Colleen. Joe and his family were a big part of GC and so I was glad to visit him. He is going to be 90 in June and we celebrated the Anointing of the Sick and had a great time talking about the past. I had the 5:30pm Mass and was in bed before 8.

On Thursday, the 30th, I led a day of prayer with lots of old friends at St. Camillus. I had a great time and I think they did too.

On Friday, May 1st, I had the 6:30am Mass and afterwards said the opening prayer at the Christ in the Marketplace gathering that is held after the 6:30 Mass on the first Friday of the month. It’s just men and a speaker. Today’s was Andreas, who was a member of the Swiss Guard for Pope John Paul II. His talk was marvelous and really touched many of the men – including me!
Then the second day of prayer at Camillus. It was so like going home and I loved it and the gang who came.
Did have an appointment about Baptism with a lovely couple when I got home and again, I was in bed by 8pm

On Saturday, the 2nd, I picked up Jerry and Fr. Kane at the O’Boyle residence and we went to St. Thomas More parish in Southeast for the funeral of Father John Kinter. He was the chaplain at Greater Southeast Hospital for about 35 years. He was the assistant at St. Teresa’s on Minnesota Ave, where I did my Deacon Summer in 1971. We’ve stayed friends ever since. He died of cancer at 72. The church was full and there were about 25 priests there. Msgr. Pope preached and he was great.
We three went to lunch at RIP’s and then I drove the guys’ home. Early to bed.

On Sunday, I slept in and then went to Maplewood and joined Jim, Susan, and Bunny for the brunch. We had a great time. Antonia and John could not join us, as John is in the hospital. Keep him and her in your prayers.
I stopped in to meet some of the couples that I email with about baptism. They were here for the parent – led session.
I had the 5:30pm Mass

Today, I had the 11am Mass and spent all day at my desk getting things organized. There is a dinner for RCIA tonight but I might slip away and go to bed early.

That’s what has been happening from day to day.
Here’s some updates:
Steve Bleistine was back in the hospital after a short time at home because of pneumonia.
Sister Kass’ dad, Ed did have his foot taken off and is back at Charlestown for recovery. Her birthday was on Sunday.
Had a nice long talk with Betty DeLuca and while she misses Norm a lot, work and the boys keep her going.
Loretta Favret is doing well (although bored) in her assisted living situation. Andy is recovered from his surgery and after some time at rehab, he is back at their cottage. Hope to see them soon.
Sister Natalie (Ann Christine) is quite content in Cincinnati at Mt. Notre Dame Health Center. I’ve called her but she doesn’t seem to stay in her room much. I pass messages through the staff and she sends her love.
Joe Stoutz is having hip surgery on the 18th, keep him in your prayers.
My oxygen concentrator’s battery went and so I hope to have another tomorrow. I have a large machine in the rectory and can use that at night.