What Paddy Shot At

I am here in my suite waiting to be picked up by my niece, Mary Pearson and my sister, Maggie. They are taking me to Frank’s house in Calvert County to celebrate a Mass for members of the SDC (Separated and Divorce Catholics) group. We had a great day of recollection on March 16th that was attended by forty some men and women. We used two the the reflections written by Father Vince O’Brien, S.J. who was one of the earliest supporters of the group. Some of the same people will participate in the Home Mass and cover dish dinner. I am a little nervous about the distance and the need to take 4 or 5 of my large tubes of oxygen. But I’ll just put that in the Lord’s hands.

Last Tuesday, I participated in the funeral liturgy for JoAnn Adams. She was Maggie’s best friend and traveled with us on many of our cruises. I mentioned her about t month ago, as she had had a heart attack. She recovered and Maggie and she flew to the Dominican Republic. She wanted them to have a “special” trip to an inclusive resort and ride around on carts. They had a ball and three night after she returned, she died peacefully in a chair, where friends found her when they came to pick her up for work at the ARC center. Her funeral was a great celebration that reminded us that there is much good that can be done by one person who believes that love is what matters. Many people spoke of groups and activities that she organized for young people, those with special needs, and for many who were homeless. Maggie’s daughter, Annmarie and she family brought me down and took great care of me and the 5 tubes I had. I recovered the next couple of days.

I am not saying weekday Masses because of all it takes to get me over and back from the rectory; but I still say a weekend Mass. Last Sunday, I reminded the congregation that I was available for confessions or a visit. A number of people came to see me this week; so I still feel like I’m doing priestly things for Lent. I have some more coming next week.

I use the phone a lot and caught up with Tish Rossi, Patrick Berry, John Bohrer, Tom Kredel, Carmen, Betty Deluca, the Morris’s, Joe Stoutz, and Anna Marie , I am also keeping up with my Lenten program, which is to write a number of notes.  Brian brought my cousin, Mike Caruso over here for lunch on his birthday and I caught up with that part of the family. I wasn’t feeling up to my dinner with my 4 priests friend, so they came here. Humberto made a great meal for us and we laughed and caught up.  in the midst of all this,  I am also working on my Taxes, so the days go by quickly.

I have the 12:30pm Mass tomorrow and then I will attend the Parish Town Meeting, we are having in the gym.

Please keep JoAnn’s family in your prayers. Also for Bob Norton, who had surgery. I will try to write during Holy Week but know that you are being prayed for.

Today is actually the Feast of St. Cyril and I mean him no disrespect; but I just wanted to get a message out today.

I haven’t been writing because I have been really tired. I am trying to stay close to the rectory and the oxygen so I can keep it up to the ninety level. Just moving around and talking a lot uses up a lot of oxygen. I can refill the small tubes on my large machine but it takes 75 minutes to refill – and it often takes only about 23 minutes to use it up if I must get my numbers up into the 90’s. I can use the E tubes that the company brings me as replacements once a week but even they are only good for about 2 hours. I get 8 at a time, so I try to conserve them for Mass or a meeting. Also when I am not using the machine to refill the small tubes, I can get a steady stream of oxygen that keeps me in the 90’s. It has been quite an experience – learning the world of oxygen. Fortunately I have lots of “angels” who help me in the process.

Two Saturdays ago, two of them, Colleen and Monty came and took my large machine apart and drove me out with some tubes of oxygen to Good Counsel High School for the 31st Gala. I saw people I haven’t seen in 30 years and I was on my machine and talking easily for 4 hours. They brought me home and put the machine together and in half an hour I was asleep and breathing well. Had the 12:30pm Mass on Sunday and Barry Fitz came, he had been with me at the Gala . I also saw John and Daria (St. B’s people) afterwards and then to bed and slept in on Monday. I had a great time but I am tired – even now.

On Saturday, the 16th, we hosted a day of recollection for SDC (Separated and Divorced Catholics). I didn’t do it but I rode around in my cart. It was wonderful and about 35 came. I had the 5:30pm Mass and was able to sleep in on Sunday and stayed in my suite and celebrated St. Paddy’s Day by phone with a number of my Irish friends and family.

Tomorrow, I will concelebrate the funeral of Bill Bray, who was a vice president of Riggs Bank and was very good to me when I was a pastor. He and his wife are parishioners here and I baptized his two grand-daughters. Afterward, we will have a Tuesday with Fr. Maury to celebrate St. Joseph and then again to my suite to recover. Rest of the week, I’ll stay here and try to start work on my taxes.

Am sorry I’ve been so slow is writing but know that you are daily in my prayers for Lent.

Today Lent begins and I shall try to be faithful to Paddy during the 6 weeks.  I am well but still finding it hard to get my oxygen level consistent; but I am working on it.

Today was a full day with spiritual direction in the morning. My sister, Maggie, my niece, Sue, my cousin, Jean and two ladies from the parish came to the rectory for “picnicking in”. We had a great visit and this afternoon, a mother and her three boys stopped by to talk and Colleen and Monty came to see about a second machine.  Also talked on the phone to Sally Barrett and yesterday to Keith and Shelia Morris. I watched the Jeopardy Million Dollar competition and enjoyed it. The outside has been so cold that I have been glad to stay home. I missed the Tuesdays with Fr. Maury yesterday because – as I’ve said before – a tiredness just comes over me and I go to bed. I will spend  Thursday in my suite and will do the 5:30pm Hunger Mass on Friday and do Stations. I’ll have Saturday to recover.

Keep praying for me and know you are daily in my prayers.