Today, I am catching up. I was suppose to have Mass out at Ray’s this morning but his assistant called and said I wasn’t needed so I’ve spent the morning here at the desk in the parish center and have cleaned up a lot of things and cleared my cell phone and the desk phone of all messages. I also met with a man, whose daughter is a 9th grader who didn’t get confirmed because they were out of the country so I and the seminarian will try to “bring her up to speed” so she can be confirmed this year.
I have the 12:30pm Mass and then I will head over to the Baltimore cathedral and baptize Matt and Annie Werden’s third son. It will be great to see Fran and all the family.
But let me bring you up to date since I last wrote on Monday night.
Tuesday I had the 8:00am Mass and was on the road to Pittsburgh. I got there around 3pm. It was a beautiful day for the ride and the trees – especially on RT 68 were a colorful picture! I relaxed at Bob Norton’s house and watched the debate. I fell asleep during it but I slept through the night till 9:00am.
On Wednesday, Bob came over around 11 and he (and Annie, his boxer) just hang around and relaxed. His place is perfect for that. However, I went out and met Mary Benke for lunch at the Olive Garden. Mary is Cardinal Baum’s cousin and she and I have been communicating for the last couple of years by phone and email on genealogy. We just talked and laughed and ended up going to an Office Depot and I copied some of her papers. She is just lovely and we had a great time.
Afterwards, I went back to Bob’s and eventually we went to supper with Bill Feeney and Tom Kredel. We, as we always do, had a great time and caught up. Richard couldn’t join us but next Wednesday is Alumni Day at St. Vincent’s and we’ll all be together again at the seminary.
Since they were forecasting rain on Thursday evening and Friday morning, I decided to drive home in the good weather. I was glad I did. It was again a great day for a ride. I was glad to sleep in my own bed and to just wake up when I did.
In the morning of Friday, I called the Little Sisters of the Poor Home and asked if I might come by and visit Cardinal Baum. I went over around 2pm and we talked and visited until after 4:30. It was so nice to be with him. He is a cousin of my sister, Maggie’s husband, Mac. We met at their wedding in 1968 and have kept in touch ever since. In 1973, he came to Washington as the Archbishop and was my boss. He is going to be 86 in November and although he kept saying how forgetful he is; he remembered many of the funny events and experiences that we have shared – especially when I was at St. Camillus. I just felt so good being in his presence and reliving some of those moments. As I left, I asked for his blessing, which he was happy to give me and then he asked for mine. I left walking on a cloud.
I stopped at the Shrine to buy a medal of St. Jude for a parishioner and I also drove over Ryan, our seminarian from last summer. We had a nice visit and hope to get to a movie together soon.
Then I drove over to the deaf center and had a delicious spaghetti dinner with Jerry, Patty Petrone and her children, Philip and Molly, and “Aunt Rose” Petrone, who really made the meal for us. I skipped dessert to have a third helping. It was so good!!!! And the perfect way to finish up a really perfect day.
Oh, it time for Mass. I’ll write about Saturday later tonight.
I guess Cardinal Baum gave up his wonderful apartment overlooking the Vatican. I’ve will never forget that experience. He has a wonderful sense of humor. Glad you are back to your traveling schedule.