What Paddy Shot At

Lots of good things going on this last week. I did send a photo last Friday but I didn’t write since December 14th. It was a Wednesday, and I took the 6:30AM Mass to get me up and moving. I drove Fr. Beattie over to St. Raphael’s for the 90th birthday luncheon for Msgr. Vincent Gatto. He is part of our “retired priests” group that meets the first Wednesday of the month but his pastor, Jim Meyers ( a really good guy) invited all of us to their rectory for this luncheon. I think we were about twenty and lots of talking and laughing.  I drove Fr. Beattie home, as he had a nurse coming to see him at 2pm. Then I drove up to near Frederick and visited with the Favret’s. Today was the feast of St. John of the Cross and he is special to La and me. We had a great time together and I caught up on all the family (11 kids and lots of grandkids). Then I went to St. Mary’s in Barnesville and heard confessions. Had supper with Fathers Kevin O’Reilly, Jim Lockman, and Jack McFarland. Then we heard more confessions at 7:30pm. I was home and in bed by 10PM. Good priest day.

On Thursday, the 15th, we had school confessions in the morning and then dear Margret drove me over to a parishioners home nearby and I had a delicious lunch with the group that volunteers (and many have for over 25 years) at a soup kitchen in DC. I met a number of people whom I didn’t know and there were great stories. I was even able to use my Polish expression (only one I know) “Dajmibuziak” Give me a kiss! Then I had the 5:30pm Mass and went to bed early.

On Friday, the 16th, I had the 8AM Mass and then met with someone who is coming into Full Communion before Christmas. While we’re talking, Joe Stoutz called. We have been using his book “Introduction to the Catholic Faith”  and she loves it.

On Saturday, the 17th, we had a terrible ice storm and some terrible car accidents. As I descended in my chair, Fr. Alec met me and said he’d walk me over to the parish center – and I did need his help. I wanted to be on the altar for a funeral of a dear lady, whom I knew. I got a chance to speak with family also. The church was full. Please keep Dottie and her family in your prayers as they face Christmas without her presence. Then I went to try and get my car started. I worked on it for twenty minutes and along come Father Alec, who cleared the ice with a credit card. I drove to Leisure World for the 100th birthday of my friend, Ursula. I sat with Barb and a number of women from the community. One lady, Maureen O’Brien (Not a relative!!) was an alumna of St. Martin’s, where I went to school. I also saw, Ursula’s son, who is a graduate of GC and caught up on him and his family. His son is a freshman at Johns Hopkins. Had a great time and drove Barb home. Then I had the 5:30pm Mass. The deacon preached, so I had an easy time. I went to bed early.

On Sunday, I was suppose to be down at St. Michael’s but the ice and the cold, made me cancel out. My little friend, Jack was baptized by Fr. Alec and I was his Godfather. It was a nice service and fun to be on the other side of the font. Since I was here, I also took the 1:30 baptism. It was the great grandchild of Albert Sindall, who with his wife, Ruth, were parishioners of St. Camillus. The little girl is also the great niece of Mike Sindall, one of my St. Camillus teen club members, who is now preparing to become a permanent deacon in the church. Please keep Tierney and all her family in your prayers. I also heard a few confessions and then went home to bed early.

On Monday, the 19th, I drove down to Maggie’s and she and I went to Bingo. She won! Then we went to St. Michael’s to visit the school and then she, her son, Mike and I went to the Chesapeake Grill and had great cream of crab soup. I ended up staying longer than I planned and I didn’t get home for the parish penance Service – but the priests forgave me – it was very crowded.

On Tuesday, the 20th, Dennis and Tonya Essig and I went out to breakfast at Bread and Chocolate. They have three sons and six grandchildren and when I was at GC, they use to bring the small boys to a Mass I said for the brothers and the faculty families in the chapel. It was always delightful – and now they have children of their own – How time flies! I had the evening Mass and early to bed.

On Wednesday, the 21st, I concelebrated the school Mass at 9:15am. I foolishly forgot to turn on my oxygen and I went to the altar and helped with Communion and my legs were “crying out to me, ‘we don’t have enough oxygen down here’. I sat down afterwards and eventually got caught up. At 1:45, I had the service for Karla to welcome her into full Communion. It was lovely and three other ladies joined us in the chapel. She will let her family know (the husband and three children are Catholics) them know on Christmas. Please keep her and them in your prayers. Joan bought me a pizza from Pete’s New Haven Pizza and I had half of it for supper. She use to live in Connecticut and turned me on it last summer. I watched some of the TV shows I’ve missed lately by using Infinity.

Today, I am trying to clean up my desk. I have exposition and the 5:30 Mass.

I was on the phone a lot this week and am trying to get things together so I can work on my Christmas letter (for 2008 thru 20016) during the break between Christmas and New Year. Who knows it might work!!

Please keep Jack and Frances Ann Cullison in your prayers. And Fr. Beattie is also in the hospital – I don’t know the details but will keep you posted. The home of one of my team members burned to the ground this week. No one hurt but prayers are needed there also. I heard from Pat Sinclair Langlois that Diane Leach Flanagan is home from the hospital and is having dialyzes three days a week.

I have the 6PM Mass on Christmas Eve and will concelebrate the Midnight and have the 10:30AM on Christmas. Then to bed with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and watch a marathon Leave it to Beaver series on TV. Got a lovely wool Irish blanket from Anne Lee. Shall use it to wrap up as I watch TV.

Shall be thinking of you and your families and your needs at the Midnight Mass. Have a Merry Christmas and blessed New Year.

I don’t know how he did it; but Fr. Alec was able to put this photo of

Laura Fetters, one of our great grade school teachers and me on the

feast of St. Nicholas in our gym before our service. I had a great time

and gave out 500 “gold” coins. Just wanted to share this. Be back in

touch next week.

I know that this is “soon” but I wanted to try to do something before the last week of Advent.
It seems so long ago that I wrote but it is only a week – but a full week. On Thursday, December 8th, I had the Holy Day Mass at 11am. There were lots of people there. It was also the anniversary of Mom and Bill’s wedding in 1984. We have a custom here at Blessed Sacrament of having an evening Mass that is “by candlelight”. So I concelebrated it. It is very popular and lots of the Sodality Ladies come. I offered it for Mom and Bill and their families.

Friday, the 9th is the feast of St. Juan Diego, to whom Mary appeared and filled his poncho with flowers on which the wonderful image of Our Lady of Guadeloupe appeared. I saw it in Mexico and it is as vibrant and beautiful as it was over 500 years ago. I have a vestment that the people of St. Bernard’s gave to me and so I placed it in front of the altar so people could come and see it and touch it. I think my homily on St. Juan was good and told his story of faith well.

On Saturday, the 10th, we had two sessions of First Reconciliation – about 60 students and many adults went to confession. There were 4 priests and it was delightful. I went to bed early.

On Sunday, the 11th, I had the 7:30am Mass and Rick and Peg came. Then we headed out to the cemeteries to lay wreaths. We went to Ft. Lincoln and put a wreath on Marie’s grave and prayed for her, Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa Crory, and Aunt Babe and Uncle Charlie. Then we went to Mt. Olivet and put wreaths on Uncle Willie and Aunt Josie (Rick’s grandparents), Nellie, my grandma and grandpa O’Connell (where I will be buried). We also visited and prayed at our cousins’ graves. Then we headed to Arlington and put wreaths on Rick’s parents grave and Peg’s parents’ grave. We also put a wreath on Peg’s sister in law’s columbarium. We prayed for them and all those who are buried at Arlington. Then we went to Gate of Heaven to visit Ann and Dwayne Treadway, Ann and Ed O’Connell, and Ann’s family – the Brown’s. I know so many people at Gate of Heaven that I also lifted up a prayer for them and their families.
We ended our pilgrimage with a delightful stop at Crisfield’s in Silver Spring for great seafood!! Was home before the Redskins’ game was over and early to bed.

Monday, the 12th, I slept in but Fr. Alec used the vestment for the two Masses he had that day. It is so beautiful and people loved seeing and feeling it. I rested most of the day because that night, Fr. Jim Bocabella picked me up and we went to Classics for dinner with our three priests buddies. It was so good to be with them. We laughed.

On Tuesday, the 13th, I slept in. Had the 11am Mass and then we had our staff luncheon at noon and I just relaxed.

Today, I took the 6:30am Mass as I am picking up Fr. Beattie at 11today and we are going to the 90th birthday of one of our retired priests. He lives at St. Raphael’s and the pastor invited us all to lunch. After I take Fr. back to his place, I’ll go up to Barnesville for confessions. I hope to get by and see La and Andy Favret.

Been on the phone a lot this week – catching up on friends. I also learned that Jack Cullison, a good friend from Ridge is in the hospital. Please keep him, his wife Frances Ann, and all his family in your prayers.

Today is an “easy day”. I didn’t get out of bed till noon. I’ve been relaxing here in my office and I have the 3pm Exposition and the 5:30pm Mass. I signed in for supper; so I thought I’d try to get Paddy out today.

When last I wrote, it was November 25th – the day after Thanksgiving. You might remember my photo with Joe, John, and Dwight? What a great day that was.
On Saturday, the 26th, I presided at Joe and Pat Healy’ 50th wedding anniversary celebration. We held it in the chapel and then went to Magiano’s for a “family meal”. There were 12 of us, their kids and grandkids, and a couple who are long time friends. The kids had taken photos from their wedding and “blown them up” and put them around the private dining room. They had a small wedding cake. There were lots of stories and lots of laughter. It was a good time. I had to leave early as I had the 4pm confessions. The family were kind enough to bring me some more food (Magiano’s has an “order a meal and you get a second one to take home”) so they brought that and some wedding cake!

On Sunday, I had the 7:30am Mass and then went to St. Bernard’s to attend their annual Mass for all the parishioners buried from there in the last year. Maggie and Mike, Danny and Mary, Mary Frances and Steve also came – Oh yes, Jimmy and Trevor came too but I didn’t see them because they were in the “cry room”. It was a very nice Mass. They lit candles for each person and they were on the altar rail through the Mass and then family took them home. I had a chance to see lots of old friends. Then we went to Marie’s house – that Mary has purchased and is having it renovated. It looks great and the rest of the family met us there. Erica had cooked a turkey on the newly renovated kitchen stove. Others brought side dishes and tables and chairs and we had a great time with lots of memories and laughter.

On Monday, I drove to St. Elizabeth’s to hear school children’s confessions and that evening, I picked up Barb and we met Barry for supper out at Mamma Lucia’s. Again, great food and lots of laughs.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, the 29th and 30th, I had the 11am Mass and just relaxed most of the day. I did call Andy Favret and Andrew Gibbons to wish them “happy feast day” I was relaxing because I knew that the weekend would be busy.

On Thursday, December 1st, I had the exposition and evening Mass. The ushers came to the rectory for a dinner but I went to my room and early to bed.

On the 2nd, Fr. Rob, Patrice, and Tina, (who all work at Annunciation church) came and we went to the Parkside Deli for lunch. It was good food and lots of fun. I had the evening Mass and Carolyn kindly drove me to for Ellen’s wake. I met the rest of her family and many of her friends and co-workers. They had great photos of her and (although I felt sad), I think being there was a great help and the reason that Catholics have wakes.

On Saturday, the 3rd, I met with a couple and then I had four baptisms in the chapel. Our parish seminarian, James came over from Catholic U to help me. I know I could not have done it without his help. Then he came on for Ellen’s funeral and was a great help – making it possible for me to receive the gifts and to incense her body at the end. Those require going up and down stairs and lately I haven’t been able to do that – and I wanted to for Ellen. The eulogy done by her cousin was tremendous and I learn that she had travelled to 68 countries – many of them while she was undergoing treatment. Her brothers gave me some great photos – one is of us sitting in the garden the Saturday before she died and we both look peaceful. It’s on my window. I had the 5:30pm Mass and I was happy to preach about Advent – a quieting time!

On Sunday, the 4th, I had the 10:30am Mass in church and not only preached but gave out Communion and processed to the front door and greeted people. I was on the oxygen but I really enjoyed the Mass.
Rick and Peg surprised me and we went to breakfast and had a great visit and looked “on line” pictures of the wedding. Around 4:30, I drove over and picked up Jerry and we went to the Petrone’s for mostaccioli – one of my favorite pastas. Afterwards, we decorated Christmas cookies. This has been our custom for a couple of years and it is always such fun – and some laughter too!

I stayed in my suite most of the 5th because I didn’t go to bed till 11:30pm on Sunday.

December 6th (the feast of St. Nicholas) was a full day for me. I dressed in my miter and red chasuble and went to the gym to bless the Advent wreaths and to have a prayer service about St. Nicholas. I gave out about 500 “gold covered” chocolate coins. Then I went to Holy Redeemer school and gave out about 150 coins and had a wonderful service in which the children sang songs about St. Nicholas. Then I had the 11am Mass and preached. Then I went to “Tuesdays with Fr. Maury”, where we seniors were joined by pre-school children from the nearby Episcopal church. We ate macaroni and cheese and chicken fingers and listened to a story about St. Nicholas. They got coins and then went and decorated cookies. While that was going on, they had put their shoes outside and St. Nick came with some candy and toys. Then I went to the church to hear the 5th graders do a choral presentation of Salvation History with readings and hymns. It was so edifying and really put me back into Advent mindset. I had supper with Fr. Ron and then went to the play reading group. We read Thornton’s The Long Christmas Dinner. It was delightful. The group, which has been together for many years, may stop meeting. It is a lot of work for the people, John and Ellen, who organize it and they need to step back. I understand but shall miss it.
But I didn’t get to bed till 11pm because it was a busy day.

Today is Wednesday, the 7th and I slept in till Noon! Fr. Beattie and I were planning to go to the Morning of Recollection at the seminary but he called yesterday. His leg was bothering him and he had to see the doctor. I took that as a sign that I could sleep in. I heated up some of the mostaccioli for lunch and then I came to the desk around 1pm. I just did exposition and I have the 5:30pm Mass. I read a lot about St. Ambrose and will preach on him.
So now you are up to date. I know that we took some pictures but I don’t know yet how to add them like Fr. Alec did for Thanksgiving. I will keep trying to learn.
Happy Patronal Feast Day tomorrow. It is the 170 anniversary of Mary becoming our country’s patroness. Shall be praying for all of you and our country at the 11am Mass on December 8th.