What Paddy Shot At

Today is Fr. John Bohrer’s birthday.

When last I wrote it was September 13th. And this week was busy.

On Wednesday the 14th, I had the 8AM Mass and then went to represent the rest of the priests at the Bible study group (Bread, Book, and Brethren). They have been together for over thirty years. I just say on behalf of the other priests, “Welcome back from the summer” and give them encouragement in their gathering. I really like them and they always had good insights and sharing. They are using a video series and then have their discussions. I’ll be interesting in how that goes. Then I met with the wife of the man I went to see at the home. We talked about death and the funeral. Then I met someone for spiritual direction. I went to bed early.

On Thursday, I slept in and then had a confession. I had exposition at 3 and the evening Mass.

On Friday, the 16th, I had the 8AM Mass and the deacon and his wife from Bob Norton’s parish stopped by. Their son, who is stationed in Hawaii with the Air Force was visiting DC, so they came down from Pittsburgh. We went to Bread and Chocolate for breakfast. In the afternoon, I went over to Colombia and stayed in a motel.

On Saturday, the 17th, I went with Sr. Kass to the Jubilee anniversary of 16 of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur at Our Lady of Victory parish in Catonsville. I knew a number of the jubilarians and saw lots of old friends. This was Kass’ band and so she was invited to be in the Offertory procession. Sister Maureen White, who was a teacher at Camillus and now is on the general council in Rome, was in the same band and was celebrating their 50th. Sister Marcella Missar, who was the religious education leader at Camillus was celebrating her 70th. I can’t even tell you all the “girls” I saw. It just so uplifting and fun!! Ah, how good is the good God! I had the 5:30pm Mass but the deacon preached. After Mass, Deacon Gary, his wife Diane and their son, Stephen and his friend, Krista, came into the sacristy to visit. It was a very good day.

On Sunday, the 18th, I had a baptism that I just attended at 11:30. Fr. Regis did it and he “welcomed me in”. It was the newest baby of a couple I married and had baptized their first child, who now is three. When they contacted me, I told them I wasn’t doing baptisms because of my health but I would certainly come if I was OK. This weekend, the weather was so good. Low temperatures and low humidity that I didn’t use the oxygen all the time.
I had the 12:30pm Mass and Sheila and Keith Morris came to it. They were in town for a wedding on Saturday. We went and picked up Joan Beall and drove to RIPS in Bowie, where we met Kass for lunch. Had lots of laughs and good food! I was ready for bed at 8PM

On Monday, I went to Leisure World and presided at the funeral of Mary Haire Healy, widow of Joseph Healy. They were a lovely couple (a widow and a widower) who met cleaning up the chapel and I married them in 1984). Joe’s grandson was a student at GC and I was on retreat with his parents. It’s a wonderfully complex story. She was 98 years old and just the sweetest! Barb Ostrye and Jack Lynch (GC people) were there as well. Barb rode out to the cemetery with me and afterwards, we stopped at the tomb of a boy who died in his junior year and said a prayer for his family. I came home and took a nap.
At 6PM, Fr. Jim Boccabella, Msgr. John Enzler, Fr. Regis, Fr. Mike (teachers at Catholic U) and I went to dinner. We try to go out together every 4 months or so. We laugh and solve the problems of the Church and have a great meal. I all ways enjoy it!!!

On Tuesday, the 20th, I had the 8AM Mass and at 11:30, we had our first “Tuesdays with Fr. Maury” gathering over in the apartment building. They celebrated my birthday and gave me a nice gift and great food. Out topic was “What I did on my summer vacation” and we had lots of good stories.
At 4:15, I picked up Jerry Trancone and we went to the Pastoral center for the 5PM Mass of Farewell for Bishop Holley, who was our auxiliary bishop and now will become the Bishop of Memphis in October. We had a great dinner and it was great to see so many priests. He is well liked here and will be missed.

Today is the funeral of Alex Dumlao, a member of my Teams of Our Lady. He died in August but the funeral was delayed. I knew I couldn’t go when the weather was so bad; but it turned out that I couldn’t got today. His wife, Maricel had died a few years ago. Now they are together again. They were a very loving couple.
The wife of the man I went to see at the home, came by to make arrangements. He died this morning. And so I ask you to keep Alex and Nabil and their families in your prayers.
I had called John for his birthday; so he called and I caught up on him and his family and parish.
I had exposition at 3PM and will have Mass at 5:30PM. Then I’ll try to “catch up” with the new TV shows that began again this week. I like that we have infinity – it means I can pull up anything I missed and watch it. I do like the 21st century!
God bless you all. Keep me in your prayers.

Today is the day, 55 years ago when Fr. Aquinas asked Terry to read at Mass. He said that it was most appropriate that he read since St. John was called “Golden Mouth” because of his eloquence! It still is today!

I have returned from my trip and will try to bring you up to date since I last wrote on September 4th, the day of Mother Teresa’s canonization. I watched it all on TV and it was very impressive.

You might remember that I was suppose to go to Brunch on the 4th but didn’t feel well enough to go out in that heat.

On Monday, the 5th, again, it was so hot I didn’t go to the priests’ cookout and just stayed in my suite.

On Tuesday, the 6th, I had the 8AM Mass and then I stayed in the rectory all day. It was hot out.

On Wednesday, the 7th, I went to the doctor because I was in a lot of pain. I was afraid that it was diverticulosis!
It wasn’t. It seems to be a muscle spasm, so I got Prednisone – which I don’t usually like to take. I did Exposition and the 5:30PM Mass and went to bed early.

On Thursday, the 8th, I was suppose to be at Maggie’s but I wanted to sleep in my room. I offered to do the 11AM Mass and then returned to the rectory.

On Friday, the 9th, Maggie and Maggie’s son Mike and his wife Sue picked me up at the rectory at 9:30AM and he drove us to Cincinnati, Ohio. It is an long drive but we stopped occasionally. We got there around 9PM.

On Saturday, the 10th, we had a good breakfast at the Hampton Inn and toured around the city. It is beautiful and has lots of interesting architecture. We had a nice supper because there was a huge rainstorm that caused a lot of electricity to be knocked out. Fortunately, not ours.

On Sunday, September 11th – which is the sixteenth anniversary of Jim Neary’s death and the second anniversary of Maureen’s death as well as the 15th anniversary of the bombing attacks, we went to Mount Notre Dame. It is the health center for the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and my kindergarten and first grade teacher, Sister Anne Christine (Sister Natalie Scibilia) lives there. I’ve stayed friends with her all these years and two years ago, I drove out to see her. They had warned me that she doesn’t remember everything but when I walked into the room, she said, “What are you doing here? I said, I came to see you. Then she turned to the other sisters and said, “I taught him in Kindergarten and first grade.” We had the most delightful time talking about the “old days” and I stayed for about 4 hours.
This time, I’m not sure she understood who we were even though I had brought photos of her in her old habit and lots of pictures from over the years. I even brought a small statue of St. Therese, that she had given me in 3rd grade. But we had a great time and Sue took pictures and video, which Sue will send to me.
As Sister Dorothy is showing me out, a sister said, “Who is he?” and she said, “Father O’Connell from Washington.”
She says, “Maury O’Connell? Come give me a kiss”. Which of course, I did. She was Sister Marie Veronica (Marie Scatterwood), who knew Sister Kathleen O’Brien, my pastoral sister at St. Bernard’s. I tell you “If we Catholics could agree on something, we could change the world because we all know each other!!”
The ride home was short and I was home in bed by 10PM.

On Monday, the 12th, I wasn’t expected home, so I slept in and met someone for confession at 10. Then I went to a 90th birthday party and luncheon with the senior citizens for Msgr. Tom Duffy. And then Joan drove me up to the Washington Home to pray with the family of a dying man. I took a nap and then had supper with the guys.

Today, I had a dentist appointment. I think I told you that his sister was Fr. Bill Feeney’ secretary in Little Washington. Joan drove me up and back. I had exposition at 3 and will have the 5:30PM Mass. Then supper again with the Fathers. I’ve been on the phone a lot today and am looking forward to an early bedtime

I was just looking over my last message on Aug 24th and realized I never said anything about my birthday on August 23rd. I passed over it because the wedding was what I wanted to write about.

I had the 8AM Mass on the 23rd, and offered it for my Mom and Dad, and for Maureen and Marie. At the end, Brian came to the pulpit and said, “Our closing song is not in the hymn book; but I think we all know it”. And they all sang, “Happy Birthday”. I was very touched. I got lots of cards and phone messages and emails. Also about 120 Facebook messages. I took the rest of the day off and stayed in my suite – where I opened every card and read them; where I looked at every Facebook and email and read them; and where I listened to every voice mail. It took most of the day but it was so good to be in touch with so many friends and family. I was tired when I went to bed!!

On the 24th, I drove out to St. John Neumann for Bill Cannon’s funeral Mass. I just sat on the side and concelebrated. He was a wonderful and talented man, who was brought to Mass here on Sundays by his daughters. He was a tall and striking gentleman who sat in the back pew but was insistent that I not bring Communion to him in the pew. He wanted to walk down that long aisle. He has been in a home lately and I did go to see him; but the dementia got worse and I think he just didn’t eat and slowly his body gave out. His family were so good with him and so I wanted to get to the funeral. The pastor gave a great homily and one of the daughters gave a very good eulogy. I also saw and talked with Mike and Cindy Gribbin because Bill was Terry Gribbin’s father-in-law. Also Mr. Gus Gribbin whom I haven’t seen in 30 years was there. It was just another sign of how wonderful St. Camillus continues to be grace for me. I had the 5:30PM Mass and went to bed early.

On Thursday, the 25th, I had the 8AM Mass and then Brian picked me up and we joined my cousin, Mike Caruso for a birthday luncheon at La Ferme, the restaurant nearby. We had a great time with lots of laughs.

Friday, the 26th, I had the 8AM Mass again and then returned to my suite to spend the day in the cool air.

On Saturday, the 27th, I drove down to Mary Ann’s house for a Mass for Divorced and Separated Catholics. It was nice to see so many old friends and it was actually cool enough to have the Mass outside. It was followed by a cover dish meal and good fellowship. I drove home and the heat had returned.

I slept in on Sunday and then made a nice breakfast of eggs, bacon, and toast. It was so good and then I stayed in my suite till I came over for the 5:30PM Mass

Monday, the 29th was my DAY OFF and I stayed in my suite all day and relaxed.

On Tuesday, I had the 8AM Mass and then met with some people. In the evening, I picked up Barbara Ostrye and we went to Mama Lucia’s for supper. They make very good Spaghetti Carbonara and we both had it. It was nice to talk and catch up.

On Wednesday, the 31st, I again had the 8AM Mass and stayed in my suite as the weather is bad again. I did talk with Anna Marie and this was the 53rd anniversary of her marriage. Gene died two years ago. they were parishioners of St. B’s but friend of long duration.

On Thursday, September 1st, I stayed in the suite and only came over for the exposition and 5:30PM Mass.

On Friday, the 2nd I had the 11AM Mass and worked in the office to try to clean up my desk.

On Saturday, the 3rd, I stayed in my suite till I came over for the 5:30PM Mass. I had a good homily and walked out to the front door after Mass. It was nice to see and visit the people. Weather was great and cool.

Today, I had the 9AM Mass and again went to the door afterwards. So nice to see people and get hugs.

Although I stayed inside most of the last two weeks because of the heat, I did talk on the phone to lots of people. I spoke with Tom DuBusky, Joe Stoutz, John Bohrer, Carmen, Pat Sinclair Langlois, Gail Douglas, and Pat Powell in Nevada. Pat’s husband, Dave was my deacon at St. Bernard’s and they have been friends for many years. He died last week and we had a great and lengthy talk. She is doing OK but keep her in your prayers. Also another good friend, called and asked for prayers for her niece, Samantha. Also I talked with Marie Mader, another good friend whose brother is dying. Pat Langlois and I have been talking because Diane Leach Flanagan has been ill in Florida. Please keep her in your prayers.
Also the father of a young priest died and two of our retired priests, Don and Carl died. I just wasn’t up to going to the funerals but I ask you to join me in prayer for them and their families.

Although I had two good Masses over the weekend, I’m not feeling very well today and so I cancelled out on a brunch today and I don’t think I’ll go to the priests’ cookout that is on Labor Day – and that I’ve attended yearly and always enjoy seeing the guys. I’ll decide tomorrow if I’ll go.

And this brings you up to date. I will write again before next weekend.