I know it has been a couple of weeks since last I wrote; but between the problems with my teeth, the rain (almost constantly) and my nose bleeds, I have taken to my bed anytime I had a quiet moment.
When last I wrote, it was Cinco de Maio and I was staying in my suite. On the 6th of May, I stayed in the rectory as I had the vigil Mass on Saturday and so I asked my 10:30 appointment to come to the rectory. They have a new baby and we made arrangements for a baptism in July. Then Kathy and Brian Henning ( who were good friends at St. Camillus) came by to visit. We had a great time and they had pictures of their grandchildren. And we laughed and caught up. Also I liked staying in the rectory all day.
Monday and Tuesday: As soon as I finished Mass, I came back to the rectory to rest. I tried to get work done in the rectory on Wednesday. On Thursday and Friday, once I had Mass, I came back to the rectory to rest. I knew that I would need to be rested up for Saturday.
On Saturday the 12th, we had 4 sessions of First Communion (about 120 children). I had interviewed many of them and I had told them I’d be at their Communion. I con-celebrated from the choir stalls and the priests brought me Communion. I was tired but it was so good to see all the families and the children. Fr. Foley offered me the opportunity to preach but I just thought it would be better for them to preach. Each (Fr. Percy, Fr. Alec, and Fr. Bill) presided and preach. Fr. Bill did a second session also. The homilies were great and I was glad I had the energy to do all four. I noticed on the schedule that Fr. Bill had the 5:30pm Vigil Mass and the confessions at 4pm. I took the confessions and then I went home to an early sleep. I also called Maggie because she and some of the family were going to come up for the 12:30pm Mass on Sunday and then we’d go to lunch. I told her that she shouldn’t come because I didn’t have the energy to go out to eat. She said, “OK” and I went to bed.
On Sunday, May 13th when I got out to the chair about twenty minutes before Mass, I look over and Maggie, her son Michael and his wife, Sue, and Maggie’s daughter, Kerry and her 8 month old child, Quinn Margaret were coming into the church. They came into the sacristy after Mass and I said, “I told you not to come” and she said, “When do I have to listen to my kid brother?” It was the 46th anniversary of my ordination and I was actually glad to be with them. I said again, I didn’t think I could go out to eat. And they said that they read in my blog that some friends came and “picnicked in” with me; so they called Magiano’s and ordered food and went and brought it to the rectory. We sat at the dining room table for about three hours and laughed and talked. Quinn is just learning to crawl and we spent a lot of time encouraging her to move around the rug. It really was a great family day.
On Monday, the 14th, I took the 6:30am Mass, so I could get any early start. At 8am, I returned to the dentist for my third root canal. Staff here drove me back and forth and I went right to bed when I got home. I slept fine and had no pain.
On Tuesday, I had the 8am Mass and Fr. Bill Feeney, who was my roommate at St. Vincent’s and a good friend all these years, came by. He was visiting relative in Colombia and we went to Bread and Chocolate for breakfast. I will see him again at the end of the month because Fr. Bob Norton is hosting a 46th anniversary dinner at his rectory and I am going to be there. Patty and Rose picked us up at B&C, took Bill back to his car at the church and then we did a little shopping. I needed to get some pants with a smaller waist (Did you ever think you’d hear me say that!!!)
Wednesday, the 16th, I had planned on con-celebrating the funeral of Deacon Dan Thompson. He was the deacon here when I came in 2009 and I really liked him. A few years ago, he wasn’t feeling well and retired from service in the parish. He came to church and we often spoke. For the last couple of years, he’s been in a home up in Delaware. I wrote him and talked to him once but not lately. Please keep him and his family in your prayer. I said had planned to go to his funeral; but when I woke up, I discovered a had a very bad nose bleed and it took me a long time to stop it.
I wasn’t scheduled for Masses on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, so I stayed in the rectory. I got some work done and some cleaning but mostly I had to deal with more nose bleeds. I found out that they were the result of the plastic tubing in my nose that caries the oxygen. It causes a sore and a scab; and when I blow my nose, the blood clot starts running. I ruined a couple of shirts. The solution is a fixture that I can put on my big machine and it will put moisture into the tubing and not dry out my nose. That’s the theory and I am waiting for the fixture to arrive. In the meantime, I am putting a gel like vicks up my nose. It allows the oxygen to get through. I treat my nose very gently as I really did not like the nose bleeds.
I did have to cancel a couple of meetings because of the nose but I did have a nice visit here in the rectory on Saturday with a friend of Fr. Carmen’s in New Jersey. We had a great time. Her son lives nearby and we’ve met a few times. She always has an update on Carmen. who is going to come and visit me soon with Joyce and Tom.
On Sunday (Pentecost) I had the 9am Mass and then a friend drove me to Maplewood, a senior living place nearby. I joined four of my friends for brunch. One celebrated her 100th birthday a few months ago and another her 90th. I wasn’t able to get to either celebration so I was determined to join them for brunch. We did decide that the next time, we’d “picnic in” at my house.
When I returned, Monty and Colleen were here and brought me a better air conditioner and took my old one out, so facilities men could take it away. It is really nice and cools both my bedroom and my office. It also has a remote and so I can turn it on and off – and higher or lower – without getting out of bed. I really am spoiled by my friends. – AND I LIKE IT!!!
Today, I had the evening Mass. It was historic because it was the first time that the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church was celebrated throughout the Universal Church. I gave a very good homily.
Tomorrow, I will have the 11am Mass and then Tuesdays with Fr. Maury. We are going to talk about the Pope and all that he has been doing lately. I’ll enjoy hearing what people think and I’ll give them some news to chew on. I will also come to the rectory and meet someone to discuss an annulment.
I know that I have talked to lots of people these last few weeks but to be honest, the teeth and the nose bleeds have distracted me a great deal. However, know that you are in my daily prayers.