What Paddy Shot At

Hello, I am in hopes that above this message, you were able to see a picture of Joe Stoutz, me, John Bohrer, and Dwight Birket sitting on a bench in the 30th Street train station. If not, I’ll try it again later.

I had a great Thanksgiving. It was balmy here and so around 9:30AM, I drove to the New Carrolton Train and parked my car in a spot on the first floor and walked about a quarter of a football field to the station. I was very early so I read three America magazines that I had brought with me. At 11:37, I went up to the platform. I thought I’d be smart and I had paid the little extra to be in the “business” coach because it stops right near the elevator. Well yesterday, it was the last car and I had to walk down the platform for a ways. It was OK and as soon as I sat down, I took out the electrical cords and plugged my oxygen in. By the time I got to Philly, the battery was full again.

For the first time in about 40 years I didn’t have Mass on Thanksgiving. Always during. before and after Mass, I use to call to mind by name all the wonderful people that God has “peppered my life with” – and asked God to bless them. It was easy to do and calling to mind a person or a family, or a parish or GC, would call to mind other names. I did that all the way to Philly – about an hour and a half. I just looked out the window and the faces came to me and I said their name. I must have said about 800 names. What a special prayer of Thanksgiving.

When I got to the 30th Street station, I walked out to the “pick up” area and Joe Stoutzenberger was there. (This is in case, you don’t know) Joe is a professor of Theology at Holy Family University. He is a published author of many books and he and I wrote the Church History book that has been used in Catholic High Schools and in RCIA programs. We met at Mt. St. Paul Seminary in Waukesha, Wisconsin over 50 years ago. Joe has three children and four grandchildren. You can’t tell from the picture but he is 6 foot 5.

We drove over to Ponzio’s, a diner near Cherry Hill that we had eaten at many times. I have always liked New Jersey diners.

There we met John Bohrer and Dwight Birket. John is a priest of Camden and is pastor of Mother Teresa parish made of two former parishes in nearby Haddon Heights and Westmont. It is a great and lively parish, with a great website.

Dwight, who is a “retired” priest of Wichita, Kansas. Although I learned that day, that he is anything by retired! He covers parishes and teaches in Catholic High schools. It was so good of him to come out East to have supper together. We three met at St. Nazianz’s seminary in 1963. We’ve all stayed friends over the years.

The diner was full and although it seems to hold over 200 people, people kept going and going and we were seated early. We had a delicious turkey dinner with all the trimmings and laughed and talked. Oh, we prayed too. John had a wonderful prayer for us and we said it together. We finished eating around 4:30 and they all took me back to the train station and waited to see if I could take an earlier train. I could and so I left around 6:15. I was back in New Carrolton by 8:30 and home in the rectory by 9:15. There wasn’t much traffic and I was in bed and asleep by 10pm. It was a great way to spend Thanksgiving.

This morning I took the 6:30AM and met with my friend, Ellen’s brothers. They had called me last night to let me know that she had died peacefully on Thanksgiving. Her funeral will be next Saturday and we made some plans. Please keep her and her family in your prayers. The office is closed today so I went back to the rectory and took a nap. I am now over here because I had exposition at 3pm and will have the 5:30pm Mass. I wanted to share my day with you and to say I hope that the day was for you, full of family, friends and laughter. Know how grateful I am to call you friends and family.

I just checked and the photo worked. Praise God and in the future I shall try to add photos.

Well, here I am – not even a week, so maybe I can stay to my weekly commitment.

Last Friday, November 18th was a very full day for me. I had the 8am Mass and preached on St. Rose Philippine, one of the co-founders of the Madams of the Sacred Heart. I have always liked those sisters and the wonderful work they do in the forming of Catholic women who have made great contributions to the Church and world. I always enjoyed when I went to Stone Ridge – near by – and celebrated Mass or heard confessions or just spoke to the students about anything they wanted to talk about. I don’t go as often but I really enjoyed it.
At 1pm, I went to our school auditorium to attend the “Saints’ Museum”. All of the 4th graders were stationed around the room, dressed as saints. They had a construction paper “button” that said, “Push me”. When you did, the saint told you about themselves. I went to St. Kateri, St. George, St. Claire, St. Pope John Paul II, and St. Elizabeth of France. It was hard for me to walk and stand, so I found a chair and one of the parents saw me there and asked some of the “saints” to come to me, so I could hear their story. Again, I met the “Little Flower”, the Blessed Mother, Mother Teresa, and St. John the Baptist – who ended his presentation with “…my feast day is June 24th because that’s the day they took off my head”. I loved them all but I have to say that Dominic Savio caught my heart and a tear in my eye when he said, “On my First Communion Day, I made a promise of “Death rather than Sin”. I was led to go and learn more about him – and he is an amazing story!
At 5:15, Liz Cahill, who was an English teacher at GC when I was chaplain, picked me up and we rode to the Capitol Hilton on 16th Street to participate in the John Mulholland Foundation Gala. It was great fun, good food, and marvelous conversations. It also raised money to allow the foundation to purchase milk, fresh produce, and meat to accompany the canned goods that are collected in many parishes and Catholic high schools. As they say in their information, “We are not alleviating poverty in the pantries we serve, but we are making a large contribution to changing it”. I was tired when I got home but it was a good tired!

I slept in on Saturday and spent the day relaxing in my suite.

On Sunday, the 20th, I picked up Fr. Beattie around 11:30 and then we went to Little Sisters and picked up Fr. Duffy and drove out to Cheverly to meet Fr. Hill and have lunch. We had a great time as we always do. After I dropped Frs. Beattie and Duffy off, I had the 5:30 Mass and I spoke on the closing of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. I quoted Pope Francis as he closed the Holy Door in Rome, “The Holy Door is closed but the Mercy of God never closes or tires”. A lot of people who have been “away” came home through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and that is the “Good News”.

On Monday, I took the 6:30AM Mass as Fr. Alec had three and it was my DAY OFF. I was glad to get up and have an early start. I had someone come to see me and then I went to the credit union. I met a dear friend for lunch at the Red Lobster in Annapolis. She is a retired school teacher and we’ve been trying to get together for a few years. It was so much fun with lots of hilarious and serious stories.
At 4:30 Coleen picked me up and she drove us to Virginia for a meeting and Thanksgiving dinner with the SDC group. I got a chance to talk with a lot of people and will be able to help them with annulments. We also called Sister Agnes in New Jersey and put her on speaker. Everyone misses her and it was great to hear her voice and laugh with her. I feel for those people who have to travel by car every day during rush hours. I am so grateful that my “commute” is “across the street”. I slept well that night. I was tired.

On Tuesday, the 22, I had the evening Mass and preach on St. Cecilia and reminded everyone of the death of President Kennedy. Our cable has been in and out for the last few days. It is annoying because I like to go to sleep with the TV on. After a few days of missing my favorite shows, I discovered that I could go to “On demand” and watch the shows I missed. I caught up with Sunday night (Madame Secretary) and Scorpion from Monday. Ah, the simple joys!

Today, I had the 11AM Mass and preached on Pope St. Clement I. His story is interesting and just another example of the “Hand of God” leading our church.
I’m going over to the rectory in a few moments and will not be able to write anything from over there. Don’t know why but I can’t get Paddy on line in my room. So let me say…
Tomorrow, I will drive to New Carrolton and leave my car. Walk over to the train station and take the elevator up to the platform and ride to Philly. Joe will pick me up at 30th Street and we’ll drive to Ponzio’s diner to meet John and Dwight. Around 6, Joe will drop me at the train. I’ll catch a train and be home and in bed by 11pm. On the train, I’ll be going thought all the names of you people for whom I am thankful God peppered my life with. Have a blessed and Holy Thanksgiving.

Today is Thursday and I am way behind the “new schedule” I made for myself earlier this month. I really do have to be more consistent in my writing. I will try.

I want to write weekly because I forget things if they are not listed in my appointment book – like I did on October 30th. It said I had the 10:30AM in the church – and I did. I wrote that I gave out Communion and then returned to the air-conditioning. Well, I did a lot more than that. I hosted a pizza party in the rectory for some of the former teen club people from St. Camillus. I had a great time but when I was writing in early November, I forgot to tell you. So..
On Sunday, October 30th, Joan and Sharon Beall came, as did Doug Lee, his sister, Eileen and her husband, Jay Baughan. and Mike Sindall and his wife, Liza. We laughed and told stories and saw pictures of new babies and 19 year old triplets. We caught up on families from St. Camillus and just had a very pleasant time. I did go to bed early as I did miss my AC but I’m sorry that I didn’t think to let you know about the gathering – as any time I see them or talk to them, my mind is flooded with memories of those great days.

Back to November
I fell asleep watching the results of the election and I was amazed to see when I woke up, that Donald Trump was our new president.

November 9th, I had the 11AM Mass and then was picked up by a parishioner and taken to visit a dear friend, Ellen, who has fought the good fight for over 6 years and is now in hospice. She is an amazing person and all through her treatments has continued to travel all around the world. She works for a government agency that helps women in developing countries to start businesses. Please keep her and her siblings and friends in your prayers.

Thursday, November 10th was another day that many people were thrilled with because the temperature was in the 70’s. I stayed in the AC

Friday, November 11th – Veterans’ Day was a holiday and the office was closed.
Two good friends and parishioners asked if they could drive me to visit a confrere of theirs who is gravely ill. We went and I just can’t do justice to the wonderful “moment of Grace” it was for all of us. I talked with her – she doesn’t have enough air to speak loudly but her daughter held a small mike near her mouth and had a speaker next to her ear, so she could pass on to us, her mom’s comments. We celebrated the Anointing of the Sick and prayed together. Please keep Susan and all of her family and friends in your prayers. Even in retirement, God gives such gifts to us. I had the 5:30pm Mass.

I got up early on Saturday, the 12th and drove down to Jesus, the Good Shepherd, which is Maggie’s parish. They just opened up a cemetery and I went there to inter the ashes of Paul, the grandson of two long time friends and parishioners of St. Bernard’s. He died too young and to suddenly. While I was there I found out that I had given him, his First Communion, while I was pastor at St. B’s. Please keep him and all of his family in your prayers.

Sunday, the 13th, I had the 9AM Mass and the deacon preached, so it was very relaxing. At 11:30 someone came to see me as I am helping her work on her annulment papers. We spent three hours but I think we did a lot and will send it off to the tribunal soon. At 5:30PM, Fr. Alec, Fr. Keith, Fr. Rob, and I went to the Portuguese restaurant near by to celebrate Fr. Ron’s birthday. It was October 17th but we couldn’t find a time to get together. We had a great meal and lots of laughter.

I spent all morning on Monday, the 14th just relaxing. I was picked up at 2:30 by my good friend, Ellen, who drove me to Madonna House in DC. There we joined Cynthia and Bev, who staff the house. We had Mass together and it was lovely. Then we went to an Italian (Is anyone surprised???) restaurant near by and had a most relaxing evening of sharing. I must have done much of the talking as I took almost my whole pasta home with me; but it was so much fun to be together.

On the 15th, we had our “Tuesdays with Fr. Maury” gathering. Our topic was “How we celebrate Advent?” In addition to the wreaths and putting straw in the stable, we had some ethnic customs and a good discussion. I had exposition and the 5:30PM Mass and ate all my pasta!

On the 16th, – my Mom and Dad’s 78th anniversary of marriage – I met for a couple of hours with a lady who is thinking of joining the church. When first we met, I gave her Joe’s book and she came back today with questions she’d written in the margins. We had a great discussion. I had the 5:30PM Mass and joined the guys for supper.

Today is Thursday, the 17th and I spent the day so far on the phone, catching up with lots of people and getting ready for the 5:30PM Mass. I have worked at my desk and with email for the last two weeks and have gotten a lot of loose ends cleared up. I spoke with Diane Leach in Florida and she seems to be getting better. I also talked with Anne Lee, who is also in Florida and fighting a lot of back troubles. Talked to Dan and Stephanie because I sent them some of the famous Ricki’s cookies, which they have sent to me and had some ready for Marie, Maggie and Me when we stopped in Memphis before our paddle wheel trip down the Mississippi. I also sent some cookies this week to Bishop Martin Holley, who was our auxiliary and is now the Bishop of Memphis. I thought that would be a nice welcome. I have the 5:30pm Mass and tomorrow will have the 8AM. Tomorrow night is the Gala for the John Mulholland Foundation, which supports the pantries at three of our poorest inner city parishes. I am on their board and our parish bought a table. Liz Cahill, who taught English at GC when I was there is driving us down. It will be great to see her again and visit.

Well, I will try to write every week because – even now – I know other things happened that I should have remembered – the mind is a terrible thing to waste.

As I begin this message, it is Friday afternoon (November 4th), I probably will not finish it before I must go up to the 5:30PM Mass but I wanted to get started.

I last wrote on October 13th and the days have just flown by since.
On Friday, the 14th and Saturday, the 15th I had the 11AM Masses. I celebrated the Sacrament of the Sick with someone and I must have spent the rest of the time in my suite. I had the 7:30 AM Mass on Sunday and it looks like I didn’t do much until Tuesday, October 18th when I had the 11AM Mass and then went to the Manning Center for Tuesdays with Fr. Maury

I WROTE SOME MORE THAT DAY BUT I DON’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO IT. IT WENT OUT INTO THE BLACK HOLE.

….So I shall continue.

Our topic for the day was YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT RIGHT TO LIFE
We talked about a lot of things. There is a bill before the DC City council to allow “assisted suicide”. We talked a lot about that and it led to a good discussion about pain and suffering. One person made a presentation that might help us in the upcoming election. I was pleased by the “civility” of our discussion.

I had the 8AM Mass on Wednesday and then picked up Fr. T and drove him to an appointment. We got home earlier than we expected; so he was home in time for dinner and I joined the Fathers for supper at 6:10PM.

On Thursday, I had exposition and the 5:30PM Mass and I met with a lady, whose husband I buried a few weeks ago. She is doing OK.

On Friday, the 21st, I had the 11AM Mass and the evening Mass at 5:30PM. Fr. Alec is away this week to do a family wedding and then get some vacation; so I was happy to do “double duty” Afterwards I went to Sergio’s restaurant to meet the Degenhardts, the Johnsons, and Gail Battle to celebrate Fr. T’s birthday.
I was glad to get to bed early.

On Saturday, I had hoped to visit St. Michael’s for their fundraising event but I wasn’t up to going. I met someone for spiritual direction and then I had the 5:30PM Mass. I went to bed early.

On Sunday, the 23rd, I had the 10:30am Mass in the gym. I haven’t been there since April because there is a lot of movement and I got so tired. However, I had the seminarian deacon and Brian to help me. And I even gave out Communion. It went very well. Also, the Haverns (my Godchild, Kathleen Morris), her husband, David, and their three children were in town from Pittsburgh and came to the Mass. We all went to breakfast and had a ball. We sat outside, it was so warm. Later in the day, I went to Rick and Peg’s and joined them and Kate and James (celebrating their month’s anniversary of marriage!!) for crabs. They were great and again we sat outside to enjoy them. Everyone was happy UNTIL the Redskins lost their game.

On Monday morning, I went to St. Bernard’s for Margaret McKnew’s funeral Mass. Msgr. Parry presided and there were 4 priests and 2 deacons. I preached and discovered that walking up the pulpit steps could exhaust me. I came home and went and took a long nap. At 4PM, my friend, Coleen picked me up and drove us to a meeting of Separated and Divorced Catholics over in Virginia. We had a nice meal and there were about 20 people there. A good discussion was held.

On Tuesday, October 25th, I had the 8AM Mass and also met with someone for spiritual direction. Everyone was so happy that the weather was warm but not me. The air pollution was heavy and I was glad to get back to my suite and AC.

I stayed in my suite all day and just came over for the 5:30PM Mass.

On Thursday, the 27th, I had the 8AM and then drove back to St. Bernard’s for my cousin, Margaret Stoner’s funeral. I presided but the deacon met the body and I preached from the chair. (I learned something at the earlier funeral) – I need to limit my movements. It went well and I saw lots of my relatives and shared some greetings. Came right home and went to bed very early.

Had the 8AM Mass on Friday and met a friend for lunch and again was in bed early.

On Saturday, the 29th, I had a baptism in the chapel. It was the younger brother of a little girl (now 3) whom I had baptized. It was so nice to see the parents and grandparents again. I limit my movements but was ready to go back to my suite and early bed!

I had the 10:30AM in the church and they made it possible for me to help with Communion. But I went home to the AC as soon as I could.

I stayed in the rectory all of Monday, October 31st. Only 7 kids came to “trick or treat”. It was warm again and so I stayed in the AC and I missed seeing the kids’ parade, which I always enjoy!

On ALL SAINTS DAY, I had the 11AM Mass followed by Tuesdays with Fr. Maury. Our topic was “How did my family honor our dead?” It was very interesting as we have people from different countries and other parts of the States. I met with someone in the afternoon who is interested in learning more about being Catholic. I gave her Joe’s book.

On Wednesday, November 2nd, I had the 11AM Mass and then I joined my four cousins for lunch at Clyde’s at Tower Oaks, which is a fascinating place in the woods. That night, I concelebrated with Fr. Ron and Fr. Alec at 7pm for our annual Mass for all who have died in the parish during the last year. We did the Mass in English but the music was Latin and from the 16th century. We had a great choir and marvelous musicians.

On Thursday, the 3rd, I met a number of people in my office and then had the 5:30PM Mass.

On Friday, November 4th, I once again had the 11AM and the 5:30PM Masses because it was First Friday and all the priests had 2 or 3 Masses. I was glad to get to bed.

I slept in on Saturday, the 5th and had the 5:30PM Mass. I spent all day getting my presentation about Pope Francis’ exhortation, Amoris Laetitia. We are sponsoring a symposium Sunday from 2 to 5pm in the gym

On Sunday, the 6th, I went and visited a man in a hospital ward and then joined my friends at Maplewood for brunch. I returned for the symposium and it went very well. I went to bed early.

I spent the whole day, November 7th in my suite and “recovered”. I did talk on the phone to lots of people but mostly I just rested.

Today, November 8th, I went and bought a black suit coast as I had discovered that the jacket I was wearing was BLUE. Then I went to the pastoral center and concelebrated the annual Mass for the priests who died this last year. I knew a lot of them and was glad I went. We had about 60 priests and a nice luncheon afterwards. I saw lots of old friends. I decided to come here and finch Paddy.
I had the 5:30pm Mass and then I’ll come home and watch TV (and the election news!) until I fall asleep.