What Paddy Shot At

I am in the parish office today.  I came in last Saturday and started a message but after that, I had the 8am Mass and at 10:30am had a Baptism in the chapel and then went home to the rectory. I stayed there most of Saturday evening and also all day Sunday. I had the 5:30pm Mass and then was in bed by 8pm. Also today, I went out with Rose and Patty. We went to Baltimore, so that I might look again for a scooter. I got a lot more information and will work in earnest on getting on before Advent. I will have the 5:30pm Mass later and go home for soup and early to bed.

Tomorrow, I will take an Uber to St. Jane de Chantal parish for the 11am funeral of Jeannette Williams. She is Mary Mudd’s sister and died last week. Please keep her, her husband, Don and Mary and her family in your prayers.

My last message was written and published on Monday, November 13th. I had the 11am Mass. Had soup and went to bed early.

On Tuesday, the 14th, I had the 11am Mass and then we held our Tuesdays with Fr. Maury. Our topic was what to do for Advent. Good discussions and a really delicious tomato basil soup. I also met with someone for spiritual direction.  Also, I discovered this morning that I have a “flare up” of shingles.  I had the shot about 4 years ago and last night, I developed red blotches on my stomach. They itch but I just ignore them. I have a doctor’s appointment on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the 15th, Ellen picked me up and we drove to Madonna House and went to lunch with the three ladies who live there. It was so great to be with them – even though I kept ignoring the itch.

I JUST FOUND THIS MESSAGE, WHICH I BEGAN TO WRITE THREE WEEKS AGO. IT IS A STORY WORTH REPEATING!

On Thursday, the 16th I also remembered my parent and grandparents on this day, 79 years ago when they got married. I remember Mom saying that she and Dad and the two sets of parents went to Union Station from the reception in a dump truck. My parents were taking the train to NYC, staying overnight, and then taking a train to Niagara Falls. They spent the night in a hotel called the Lincoln. After a number of renovations, it opened again as the Milford Plaza, which is the hotel we use to stay in when we took the NYC trips from St. Bernard’s. While there, my parents received a telegram saying, ” Hope the trip up was relaxing. Have a good time in NYC and Niagara. Reception is still going strong!”.

I saw the doctor and she gave me some strong steroids and I hope that will take care of the flare up.

On Friday, the 17th, I said the 11am Mass, then met with a dear friend who is studying to become a deacon for Baltimore and then I went to my room Locked the door, took off all my clothes and just stayed inside waiting for the medicine to work. It hurt just to have the sheet touch me.

I was suppose to do a baptism on Saturday but as shingles is like chickenpox, I asked Fr. Alec to do the baptism. He did a great job.

On Sunday, I felt 1000% better and did the 12:30 Mass – with clothes!

Stayed home on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. I am still on the medicine but feeling OK.

Thursday, the 23rd, was Thanksgiving. I concelebrated the 10am Mass and re tired to my suite. A very nice lady brought me turkey, potatoes, gravy and dressing and at 4pm, I nuked it and had a lovely meal. Spent the whole day, saying aloud the names of my blessing as I called to my voice names of family, friends, and parishioners. It was a long and memorable list!

On Friday, I had the 11am Mass and then met someone for spiritual direction. Then my cousins, Rick and Peg took me to Ledo’s for lunch, where we met the Petrones.

On Saturday, the 25th, I had the privilege of baptizing Natalie Michelle. Good friends and a very happy event. Please keep all of them in your prayers.

On Sunday, I had the 5:30pm Mass. It was Christ the King and my homily was good! Today is Sister Ann Christine’s 90th birthday. I sent her flowers from all her students and friends out East.

Fr. Trancone is in the hospital and they are giving him transfusions as he is anemic.  Keep him in your prayers. I am going to close this and publish it and I’ll try not to get so far behind in the future.

This is really part II of yesterday’s message.

We pick up on November 3rd. It is the feast of St. Martin de Porres and has been special to me since the seminary. I share that affection for him with Frances Sampogna and for years have called and prayed for her on “our “feast”. With the funeral and the trip to West Virginia, it slipped by me. On the 4th, I called her in the afternoon and apologized. She understood but did wonder what happened. Then I had 4pm confessions.  I phoned Marilyn to see how she was doing and went to bed early.

On Sunday, the 5th, I had the 12:30pm and the deacon preached. I relaxed and packed for my trip. Jerry called and said he wasn’t up to going. I understand as he is still in a lot of pain and will continue with the therapy this coming week.

On Monday, the 6th, I had the 11am Mass and then “the girls” picked me up at noon. We drove across the bridge and went to visit Marie Smith, a dear St. Bernard’s friend. We went out to lunch at a lovely little seafood place and talked and laughed. After we took Marie home, we stopped in Easton, Maryland to pick up a scooter that I had rented. Great young man who dis-assembled it and put it in the van. Then we drove to Cambridge, Maryland – about twenty more miles. Again, a nice young man assembled the scooter and I drove in to register and get settled. We were at the Hyatt Chesapeake Hotel. I was attending the Priests’ Convocation. There were about 270 priest of the Archdiocese. This was the 8th of these. They are every two years. I have tried to always attend as it is great to see old friends and – through the goodness of young priests whom I have lived with, I also know a lot of the younger guys. The ladies got me unpacked and then we had a nice dinner. They headed home – and texted me later when they arrived. I went to my room and took a nap, made some phone calls and then watched TV.

Slept well and around 5pm, most of the other guys had arrived and so we had evening prayer together and then a nice supper. I sat with Ray Fecteau, Kevin O’Reilly, Frank Early and Jim Boccabella -old friends and some guys I knew by name but not by face. It was a good meal and enjoyable company. The Cardinal held a brief Q&A and I stayed for it. He was excellent and it was interesting to hear priests comments. I made some phone calls and watched TV. Slept well.

I am getting better on the scooter and we had a Mass for all the priests who died this last year. I knew quite a few and I always like this Mass. The Cardinal preached and was excellent. After Mass, we went and listened to Bishop Robert Barron, the auxiliary of Los Angeles. He spoke on Pope Frances’ view of the priesthood. I really enjoyed it. He is very well know but I had not read any of his books or seen any of his DVDs. I will have to do that. Lunch was “on your own” and I joined Jim Boccabella and Saverio Vitturino to eat and visit. There were workshops but I took a nap. Supper, was again very nice and I just relaxed with friends. Sometimes durint the convocation, I’d see guys and we’d sit and “catch up”. those were great times. I talked with Jim Holloway and Mike Kelly, whom I really like and wanted to see and visit. Brief talks with Peter Sweeney, Mark Smith, and others just filled up the time with laughter. More phone calls and to bed early.

Bishop Barron preached at the closing Mass and gave us a good example of preaching. I sat in the lobby and said good byes to a lot of guys. The ladies came at 12:30. Again, a nice kid got the scooter in the van and we returned it to Easton and then headed across the bridge. I wanted to get over before “rush hour”; so we stopped at Double T diner and had a good meal. Then they dropped me at home and I took a nap. – I know I take a lot but I love them.

On Friday, Nov 10th, I had the 8am Mass and since the office was closed for Veterans’ Day, I stayed in my suite most of the day. Dan Poje, from Memphis, flew up this morning and was at a hotel nearby. I Ubered to him and then we went to the John S. Mulholland Gala at the Capital Hilton at 6pm. It was beautiful and there lots of people I know who attended. Dan and I sat at a table with two of the priests from here and Fr. Bill’s sister. Laura Fetters and her husband, Matt, Margaret Lawless, Pat Kavanaugh and her husband filled out our crowd. Music and food were great. Nice presentations and I think it raised a lot for the ministry. We support and supply five pantries in some of the poorest parishes in the city. Dan and I had some difficulties getting home and weren’t home till after 11.

On Saturday, I slept in and Ginny (Joan’s daughter) picked me and Dan up and drove us to Shady Grove Rehab to visit Joan. She is doing very well and although 84, she does about 7 hours of therapy daily. She is determined to get home and walk again. Her leg break was serious but they all are hopeful. Her daughters have been great about visiting and doing things for her. Keep all of them in your prayers. I had the 5:30pm Mass and the deacon preached. Dan attended and sat with Carolyn, my friend. She drove us to supper and then Dan back to the hotel and me to the rectory. He had an 8am flight. I was so grateful that Stephanie and he decided he should come. Stephanie had to work but she told him to go!!

On Sunday, I had the 10:30 in the gym. I rode my scooter over and they all helped me to get around and help with Communion. I was so glad to be there and able to do things. I had taken my name off the list since September because I thought it was too much work for all the helpers – but I am back on the list now. I lounged in my suite, watched TV, phoned a lot of people and took naps. A Good day!!

Monday, Nov 13th was the 23rd anniversary of Msgr. Dade’s death. It doesn’t seem that long because I love to quote him and still use so much of his wisdom and advice.

I  don’t know why I didn’t finish this and today is November 21st, so I’m going to publish and try to get it up to date in the next few days and try to publish it by Thanksgiving.

Today is also the feasts of St. Margaret of Scotland and St. Gertrude. I had the 8am Mass and will have the 5:30pm Mass also. I preached on both these wonderful and spirit-filled ladies.

I also remembered my parent and grandparents on this day, 79 years ago when they got married. I remember Mom saying that she and Dad and the two sets of parents went to Union Station from the reception in a dump truck. My parents were taking the train to NYC, staying overnight, and then taking a train to Niagara Falls. They spent the night in a hotel called the Lincoln. After a number of renovations, it opened again as the Milford Plaza, which is the hotel we use to stay in when we took the NYC trips from St. Bernard’s. While there, my parents received a telegram saying, ” Hope the trip up was relaxing. Have a good time in NYC and Niagara. Reception is still going strong!”.

I don’t know where the time goes. I last wrote on October 28th. I had the evening Mass and so was able to spend all day Sunday relaxing in my suite. The weather keeps changing and so I am really tired. I did say the 11am Mass on Monday but was too tired to go over to the apartment and see the kids for the Halloween party. On Tuesday, I had the 8am Mass and I went for Tuesdays with Fr. Maury to the apartment. I rode over on my scooter and on the way back I stayed out on the parking lot to watch the children process around in their costumes.

On November 1st, I did the 8am Mass and then an Uber to Wheaton to get my haircut and my beard trimmed. Then I Ubered to the St. John Vianney House for the first Wednesday meeting of the retired priests. Had a good time and then I Ubered home. And took a nap.

On November 2nd, I had the 11am Mass and then concelebrated a special Mass we have at 7pm, where we remember by name all those who have been buried from the church over the last year. The choir does a beautiful Latin Mass and we have a small orchestra as well. It is one of my favorite things we do here.

On Friday, the 3rd, I had the 8am Mass, then I Ubered to Stone Ridge for a Mass and a talk on liturgical language for the Children of Mary. Then my friend, Pat drove me to the parking lot of St. Jane de Chantel; Carlo Mancuso, who drove up from Reston, VA picked me up and we went to Kathleen and Doug Hanratty’s and then rode to West Virginia. Frank Cavallaro’s funeral was at 3pm. The pastor and the staff were very nice and helped me get around the altar. I preached and it was easy because he was a really nice man, policeman, soldier, husband, father, and coach. We went to the cemetery, which was 25miles away. We had a police escort and people pulled over and even took off their hats. It was just like down in St. Mary’s county. I was very tired and while many went back to the parish for a great meal; we headed home. Fortunately, the first thing I had on Saturday was confessions at 4pm, so I just slept in and relaxed.

I think I’ll publish this and work on some more tomorrow.