What Paddy Shot At

Had a busy and enjoyable week.

On Monday, the 22nd, I went out to Leisure World and brought Communion to a 96 year old lady, whose parents I use to bring Communion to at St. Camillus. I buried then and then lost touch with her and her daughters. Fr. Martino went to see her at Christmas time and she asked if he knew me. He sent me and email and I’ve been trying to get out to see her since – the snow and my health put it off for much too long. Her daughters live nearby and so I spent three hours with them. They had photo and we just laughed and talked – oh, and prayed. Her parent use to play card with my Uncle Will and Aunt Josie (my grand dad’s brother and sister in law). Washington really was a small town in those days and everyone – especially the Catholics – knew everyone else. I had a great time; but I had to move my doctor’s appointment to Friday. That night, we began our parish mission at 7pm. Fr. Regis spoke and he was just wonderful on the topic of “Mercy” as found in the writings of the Popes. I was in bed early.

On Tuesday, I spent the day at my desk trying to organize the baptismal information to hand that over to Michelle. It is a slow process. Supper with the Fr. Andy, who had gone to the Lenten Day with the Priests, I wasn’t up to it but he said the two priests who spoke were very good. The mission again that night and again he spoke on Mercy as found in Augustine and other church Fathers. He is so smart and yet humble. I had a good time.

On Wednesday, I had the 11am Mass and then met with a young man from the middle school who wants to become a Catholic. Then I had lunch and took a nap. I am reading the most interesting book called “Army of Spies”. It is about the “behind the scene” work of Pope Pius XII in working with German Catholics who wanted to remove Hitler as head of government during Would War II. It is fascinating and full of footnotes. It is an easy read. I got a quick supper and then went to the church to hear confessions. It was Wednesday, and in every church in the Archdiocese of Washington, Baltimore, and Arlington, there is priest in the confessions from 6:30 to 8pm. I’m happy to do it and I can tell you lots of people have come home to the church through it. We had terrible storm (with tornadoes in Virginia and Southern Maryland) but a lot of people came to the Mission. I kept my door open so I could hear Fr. Regis but I still had some confessions. I was ready for bed because I had the early Mass the next day.

On Thursday, I had the 6:30AM Mass and then drove over to the O’Boyle residence and picked up Fr. Trancone. We drove out to Darnestown for the funeral of Paul Fecteau, who is Ray Fecteau’s father. He was 94 and the most kind gentleman I know. A few other priests were there as were deacons, sisters, and a lot of the laity. I know Ray’s family well and often have meals with them. His mom, Cecile is a doll. Ray preached well; but we didn’t go to the cemetery. Instead we had some refreshments downstairs and saw of lot of old friends – especially from the Mary knights, which is the auxiliary of the Knight of Columbus and I know a lot of them. I took Jerry home. I went to Confession, and then I went to St. Luke’s for a penance service. Afterwards, I stopped at Joan Beall’s and “bummed” supper off her. We had a nice visit. When I got home I stayed up very late finishing the book. I recommend it, if you like history.

On Friday, I had the 11am Mass, met someone in my office and then took a nap. At 3pm, I went and anointed a lady who use to come to the parish before I came. She was a professor at George Washington University. Some of my friends from the parish asked me to go. She had been in a coma but her eyes were open and she seemed to follow the prayers. Her sister, in California joined us by phone for the anointing. It was very moving. Afterwards, I went and saw my pulmonary doctor and we had a great talk. I came home for supper and found that my friend, Brian had gotten me a copy of a new book written by two priest of the Archdiocese. I began to read it (286)pages and finished it at 4AM. I enjoyed it and it was an “easy read”.

This morning I got up around 9:30am and went to the basketball game for the special Olympics in the gym. I just went to support it but I was asked to say a prayer. I was glad to do it and I cheered the young people who played and for the cheerleaders. There about 40 Olympians, twenty cheerleader, another “huggers” and three hundred spectators. Then went to the cafeteria for pizza but I came to write to you. I am going to Maggie’s around 2pm and I have a home Mass for Separated and Divorced Catholics near Maggie’s. there is pot luck afterward and then I’ll come home. I have the 7:30Am on Sunday but the deacon will preach. A couple I married a few years ago will come by to let me meet their son, Walter and then I’ll meet the parents of the young boy who wants to become a Catholic. Then I’ll go home and early to bed.
Monday is my DAY OFF and I plan to stay in my suite and write letters and cards. Hope you are having good Lent.

Sorry for the long delay in writing. I’ve been busy with Lent. I am trying (for Lent) to write letters or cards (5 a week) to friends and family – No emails! and it takes a lot of time to think of what to write and to make it legible. I have enjoyed doing it.

Today, I had the 9AM Mass and I had a good homily. My friend, Brian (whom I met over forty years ago when he was the “phone boy” at St. John’s in Chillum) came to Mass and “encouraged” me to wear a chasuble and to process in and out of church, to give Communion, and to preach from the chair. I usually only wear a stole and don’t process in or give Communion. I run out of ‘steam’ and it means a lot of people have to do things and move things – and me around to make it possible for those other activities. Well, of course he was right and I enjoyed the Mass and especially being able to give Communion again. Just have to let go of this Irish pride!!!
After Mass, my cousins, Rick and Peg Jensen and their daughter, Kate, went out to Clyde’s for brunch. We had a great time. I will officiate at Kate and James’s wedding in August in Alexandria so they brought me up to date on dresses, cake tasting, etc.

The last few weeks have flown by because each afternoon I interviewed students who were being confirmed yesterday. It was so great to meet this young people, some of whom I’ve know since I interviewed them for First Communion and others are servers at Mass. To hear them talk about the reasons they chose a saint, or the work they did as part of community service, or why they chose a particular person to be their sponsor, was so edifying and gives me hope for the future of the church.
Yesterday we had two sessions for confirmation and because Bishop Holley, who was suppose to confirm had to go to Florida for a funeral, the other two auxiliary bishops each took one of the sessions. I concelebrated but sat in the choir stalls. I had the confessions at 4pm and was ready for bed.

As I said the time has flown by, I had two doctor appointments and a stress test. Good news is that my heart is healthy and strong. My internal problems seems to be back on track. I have another doctor appointment tomorrow about the pulmonary stuff but that is going well too.

I got my haircut and my beard trimmed – which was about four weeks overdue! I feel so much better.

I drove Fr. Beattie to the retired priests’ meeting and luncheon. He is still having trouble with his foot and since he can’t drive, he feels “trapped” in the rectory. Keep him in your prayers.

Fr. Ray Fecteau’s father, Paul died this week. He was 94 and such a gentleman. Please keep his wife, Cecilia and the family in your prayers.
I’m sure there is much more I should write about but I want to get this out today.
Please also keep Fr. Dan Morales of Texas in your prayers. He has stopped treatment. We spoke and he asked for prayers for his parent.

I will try to do better. Have a Holy Lent

I am so sorry that I haven’t written. I have not been feeling well and after visits to a couple doctors; I was trying to eat “normally” for two weeks and then I would report to the gastroenterologist how things were going. I go back to see him tomorrow and based on the latest information, he’ll decide about the colonoscopy. I hope that will bring all this upset to an end. Do keep me in your prayers.

Because I wasn’t feeling good, I’ve been sticking close to the rectory. I did go to the Mid-Atlantic Congress in Baltimore last weekend. It gave me a chance to see old fiends – especially a woman I had not seen since 1973. She and I worked together at Camp St. Vincent de Paul in 1964 and 65 with the wonderful counselors and cooks that spent the summer in Annapolis. She is married and lives in Pennsylvania but it was great fun to talk and re-connect.

On Sunday, Patty Petrone, Meg Woodbridge, Father T and I met Rose Petrone and Patty’s children at a nice Italian Restaurant in Gaithersburg to celebrate Rose’s birthday. We had a great time and many laughs.

On Monday, the 8th, I joined Fathers Jim Boccabella, Regis Armstrong, Mike Witzack, and John Enzler for dinner at a nice restaurant in Silver Spring, Classics. We had a great meal and lots of laughs. We try to get together every four months or so. It is medicine for me

Today, I have the 5:30pm Mass and from the great numbers who came to the other three Masses, I expect that we will have a lot of people at the 5:30pm. I just watched online the Pope’s Mass in Rome. He leaves in two days for Mexico. He will stop in Cuba and meet with the Patriarch of Russia. Please keep them and their meeting in your prayers. And let us give him over to the care of Nuestra Senora de Guadeloupe as he (the Pope) travels throughout Mexico.

I am doing interviews with the 8th graders who will be confirmed on February 20th. I enjoy this so much, especially to hear them describe their community service projects. Please keep them in your prayers as well.

It is very cold here and I have not been driving around much. I will write more about my activities next time. Have a good Lent