I had a great day yesterday. Did lots of priestly things.
Went to the psych ward to visit a young man, who has been very depressed. We had a wonderful visit. I anointed him and gave him Communion; and we just sat and talked. He has lived in Minneapolis for a few years and he knew O’Gara bar. (Steve O’Gara is a priest in St. Paul and was in the seminary with me in Wisconsin. We’ve stayed friends and get together every couple of years. His dad was O’Gara’s bar.) It is amazing to me how for the last 40 years, I have been able to develope instant repour with someone from that area by mentioning O’Gara’s.
Then I anointed someone going into the hospital today for surgery. Please keep Annie Lou in your prayers.
Then I met a man who spent 6 years caring for his skitzofrenic (sp?)
brother until he died and now has taken in off the street a woman who seems to have the same problem. He is very kind but I think he is in over his head with this new undertaking. Pray for Richard.
The staff had a little “party” for Fr. Ron’s birthday (which is the 17th) as he will be “on tour” of Southern Maryland with 50 of the parishioners today and Wednesday is his day off. We had Halloween cupcakes!!
I had supper with the house. Fr. Lucas came home from Italy in the afternoon and it was, as always, so pleasant to have him at dinner.
Then I went to visit the home of a parishioner. They were the host couple for our pre-Cana. There was another host couple who came. I like both of those families and it was nice to see the first couples’ children. Then 4 couples who are getting married soon, made up the rest of the group. I just enjoy the process the way it is done here. The engaged couples and the hosts will meet three more times and discuss a number of topics. The last meeting, I can not attend as I’ll be in Myrtle Beach with my family; but Fr. Lucas will be there. His first time and he’ll be great.
I am going up stairs now as I have the 8:00am Mass and then I’ll head out to Pittsburgh. Will write again on Saturday when I get home.