What Paddy Shot At

Today is the 80th anniversary of my Mom and Dad’s wedding – November 16, 1938. I always remember it because Nellie told me that the reception was held at my grandmother’s sister’s back yard and that my parents were driven to Union Station in the back of a dump truck and then all the guest went back to the party and stayed there for three days. My mom told us that they stayed the night at the Lincoln Hotel in New York City before going the next day to Niagara Falls. While at the hotel they got a telegram wishing them a good honeymoon and saying the reception was still going strong.  See, these “treasures” need to be passed on to the next generations.

But now to update you. I last wrote on Saturday, November 3rd and told you about my plans for the 4th.

So, now on Monday, November 5th. I had the 11am Mass and then returned to the rectory. Someone came for confession in the afternoon. I am spending more time in the rectory because I don’t like using the canisters of oxygen too much.

On the 6th, I had the 11am Mass and then came back

Wednesday, the 7th was my DAY OFF, so I stayed in my suite. Anna Marie, a friend from St. Bernard’s days came to “picnic in” and we had a great time. She brought and left Snicker’s ice cream!

On Thursday, the 8th, I had the 11am Mass and then Fr. Mike Dolan came for lunch and a nice long talk. He is living in Georgia but spent much of the summer up here helping out in parishes. He is retired but in great health. I enjoyed our visit but when I returned to my suite, I realized that I was too tired to go to the SDC pot luck dinner with Carolyn and Monty. They were all very understanding and I went to bed early.

Friday, the 9th was the funeral for Fr. Joe Kleinstubber, a retired priest who had gone to St. Vincent’s before I was there. He was the chaplain at St. John’s High School and a nice guy. I was sorry not to be able to go; but it was in Southern Maryland. I had the 5:30pm Mass and Carolyn picked me up and brought me home. It’s Teen week on Jeopardy.

I wasn’t scheduled for anything on Saturday, the 10th. I did call Doug Hanratty and wish him a happy birthday.

On Sunday, the 11th I had the gym Mass and the deacon preached. I think that is my last trip to the gym Mass. It requires a lot of organizing. I will ask not to be on the schedule until the Spring. I gave the Sacrament of the Sick to someone having surgery. On my way back to the rectory, the girls called to say Fr. T wasn’t up to going out. We were going to go to a Chinese restaurant to celebrate his birthday (It was in October). I told them to go home and relax – I did the same. Today is also the 46th anniversary of Dave and Kathy Haas. I remember that weekend because I flew out to Michigan and had a great time. I just told the priests at Camillus that I’d be away as I had a family wedding in the city – I just didn’t say the city was in Michigan!!!

Monday was a holiday and everything was closed. Colleen and Monty came around 3pm. We visited and then we drove to Leisure World and met Barry and Barbara at the clubhouse restaurant. It was a great evening – with lots of laughter. I was tired and I had to set the alarm as I had early Mass the next day.

I had the 8am Mass and stayed in the parish center because I had Tuesdays with Fr. Maury at noon. We had a good topic – “the Catholic perspective on death and dying. Good discussion as well. When I came home, I watched the bishops’ meeting in Baltimore. It was very interesting and I was pleased to hear what so many of them had to contribute. Many are listening to their people.

On the 14th, Mary Alice McGreevy drove Marilyn Cavallaro and Kate Berry down from West Virginia and we “picnicked in” and talked a great deal. Actually they made me be quiet and listen, which I tried to do. It was so good to see them and “catch up”. I pushed them out after 2 hours as I wanted them to get home before dark.

On Thursday, the 15th, they had said the snow would stop around 10am; so I switched Masses with Fr. Bill. He took the 8 and I took the 11am. Around 9am, Carolyn called and said the snow is going to keep falling until noon, so she’d come and pick me up at 10:30 and drive me to church and back afterwards. It worked out well  and I had soup and went to bed. We got a lot of snow.

From the 15th to the 2oth, I was supposed to be in Myrtle Beach with Maggie but I cancelled out. Mary Ann drove them and they called me Friday night as they were arriving. Rick, my brother in law from Georgia and Shirley were to join them. I just don’t think I can get around – especially out of town – with all these oxygen canisters. My nephew, Rick and his wife, Anita just called me. They are off to do a cruise. We had a great talk and I hope to see them at Christmas.

Also a young woman, who lives in North Carolina and whose wedding was one of my first when I went to Camillus in 1972, was robbed and brutally beat in a parking lot. She is recovering – but slowly – and I ask that you remember Shirley and Denny and their families in your prayers. Also please keep in your prayers all those on my prayer list.

It’s Saturday the 17th and I’m going to hear confessions from 4 to 5 and then concelebrate the 5:30 Mass from the choir stalls. Then I don’t have to go out again tomorrow. I’ll be in touch. Pray for me as I do for you.

Yesterday, October 31st was the 104th anniversary of my Mom, Frances O’Connell Stoddard’s birth in Boston, Massachusetts. She always claimed she was born in Lynn – and that is where my grandparents lived; but according to family lore – and a recently discovered birth certificate, she was born in the Lying In hospital in Boston. It seemed my grandfather, Arthur wanted to go to a Red Soxs’ baseball game. My grandmother, Blanche kept telling him that she didn’t want to go because she was expecting her first child and she wanted to stay in Lynn. My granddad was a great sports fan and told her everything would be fine; so they went. Again, according to lore, around the 7th inning, she said, “Let’s go!” – and they did. Fortunately, there was a clinic – called the “Lying in” Hospital about a block from the stadium. It was there, that Frances Anastasia Crory was born on Halloween, 1914.

Let’s see what’s happened since I last wrote on October 21st.

On Monday, the 22nd, Joan brought the cart over around 9:15am and I went to the office and met some people for spiritual direction. Then I had the 11am Mass.  I also had the 5:30pm Mass so I stayed in the office and did paper work. Carolyn drove me to the rectory after Mass and I was in bed during Jeopardy.

The 23rd I had the 11am Mass and offered it for Ellen Curro’s parent on their 69th wedding anniversary. They are old friends from Resurrection parish and Ellen is one of my Madonna House buddies. Once I got home, and knew that Wednesday I would stay in my suite, I worked on my presentations and the details of the Day of Recollection.

On the 25th, I had the 11am Mass and on the 26th, I offered Mass for Bill Berry here in the house. His funeral was in West Virginia that morning but I wasn’t able to go.  I had the evening Mass, which was for Seamus. It took a lot of energy to get the Day of Recollection worked on and I was just so tired and I took a lot of naps over those two days.

God bless her, Carolyn picked me up in the car and drove me from the rectory to the parish center at 8:15am. I wanted to get settled in my cart and see that everything was organized. Some people came in around 9;15am and we just sat and “caught up” or met new people. Eventually 41 people and everything went so well. I gave three presentations and then three of the group continued the theme with personal experience or reflections. We had three small groups where people could share. Out lunch was catered by Word of Mouth and it was great. A lot of people got to know each other during lunch. We broke up around 3pm. I was thinking I might have to ask the 82 year old retired priest to cover the 5:30pm Mass if I was exhausted BUT I was exhilarated and said and preached at Mass. I was in bed by 7pm.

On Sunday, October 28th, once again, Carolyn picked me up. She took me to the parish center and I got my cart and dressed for the 10:30 gym Mass. My godchild, Kathleen Morris Havern, her husband Dave, and their sons, Jimmy and Charlie were down for the weekend for a cousin’s birthday and they stopped to visit me. I looked for them but the traffic was a mess in the parking lot, so I hadn’t seen them come in. I have the children up around the altar for the Consecration and during the sign of Peace, I’m telling what Jesus said when he came the disciples on Easter, when I see Jimmy and Charlie. I lost my place and just began to share the sign of peace with all the children. It was a special moment for me. After Mass, we went to the rectory, where Carolyn had a made breakfast of eggs and bacon and some sweet rolls. The priests joined us and we had a great time. As they left around 2pm, Dave said, “Thanks, they’ll be asleep by the beltway.” Family is so great.

On Monday, the 29th, I had the 11am Mass and then went to the senior center for a Halloween luncheon with the seniors and some preschoolers. It started to rain, so Peter got me home. I think I fell asleep during Jeopardy.

On Tuesday, the 30, I had the 11am Mass and then retired to my suite until the 11am Mass on Thursday, November the first, when I began this message. I said Mass in my room on Wednesday as Judy Raley’s funeral was that day at St. Michael’s and I just couldn’t go there. I was too tired to go to the healing Mass at 7pm but I heard it was nice. I called Fr. Bill afterwards and asked him to bring me a large oxygen from the lobby – I still don’t think to gauge my needs upstairs. I worked fine.

On Friday, November 2nd, the feast of all souls, my cousin Jean came and we had a great long talk in the parlor. I enjoy her s much. Colleen and Monty came by and I went over for the 5:30pm Mass and stayed for our annual All Souls Mass at 7pm. We have an orchestra and a great choir.The Mass is the Requiem by Faure and it’s beautiful. We read out the names of all members of the parish who died this last year and we also include in the program the names of anyone we wish to have remembered. I love that custom.  I was in bed by 9pm and asleep by 9:05.

Today, which is Saturday, November 3rd.I had two Baptisms in the chapel. they were cousin- one from New Jersey and one from here. I really enjoyed the family and everything went well. They are somewhere in the high 800’s in my computer program and I’ll input them tomorrow. I just finished the 5:30pm Mass and am ready for bed.

Tomorrow, I don’t have a morning Mass, so I will not set the alarm, (which I just turned back as its the end of daylight saving time). On Sunday, the 4th, I will meet some parents here in the rectory as they would like to have their babies baptized on December 1st but our next clergy led session is not till the 2nd. They’ll have a mini course with me. Then Carolyn will come and get me and I have the 5:30pm Mass. Then it is for sure to bed and rest.

Although I spent a lot of time in the rectory, I did call a lot of people. I spoke with Betty Woodbrun, Marian Ann Blair, Brenda Ridgel, and Lila,about Judy Raley. My cousin Ray Jensen, Pat Berry, John Bohrer, Kate Berry, Mary Alice McGreevy, Marilyn Cavallaro, Mary, my niece, Father T, the Petrones, Joan Beall, Barbara Ostrye, Kass, and my sister Maggie. Keep all of them in your payers as well as Judy and Bill and Mary Ann Brothers (who was a nurse at Good counsel) and Tom Marmet ( a 22 year old) shot in his car as he was driving back from serving the poor in Washington. All of these deaths and the massacre at the temple in Pittsburgh need to be lifted up in our prayer. God bless you all.