On Sunday night, I sat down to write a message, and as I did, I had a “dejavu” moment and thought to myself – I wrote about all this. I went looking for that article and could not find it anywhere. by the time I finished looking, I was so tired and confused that I just closed out and went to bed. Never did find it, so here is an update since last Thursday.
On Friday, the 11th, I went to the church at 9am to watch the kindergarten students (dressed like St. Lucia and Starboys) give a concert on Light. It was just delightful and actually did dispel the gloom and darkness of Winter.
Then I had the 11am and 5:30pm Masses. And the readings about which I preached were about “who has victory over the world but the one who believes in the Son of God”. I’ve been in bit of a “funk” and the Scriptures and the children did lift me up.
Then I went to Jiffy Lube and because I didn’t want the men to see all the paper and trash I’ve been tossing into the back seat, I clean up before I got there. Once they changed the oil, etc, they vacumed the car and I just felt better driving away.
On Saturday, I had a memorial Mass at 10am for the brother of one of the parishioners. He had been a long time 6:30am Mass attender here but about 6 months ago, his daughter took him to Florida, where she is a hospic nurse. They had a funeral in Florida but he had other family, co-workers, and friends that we had this Mass up here as well. I didn’t know him well but heard so much about him that my homily and the people who spoke after Communion seemed to capture the goodness of the man. Keep his sister, Peggy in your prayers. I’m more conscious now of how much the death of a sibling can effect the rest of the siblings.
I drove down to Leonardtown afterwards to meet with my TEAM group at a restaurant. They are good about putting us off to the side, so that we don’t frighten people when we read Scripture or pray out loud. It was great to see the couples as I’ve had to miss a number of meetings recently. We broke up around 3pm and I was home in plenty of time to preside at the 5:30pm Mass. I was glad to get into bed around 8:30pm.
On Sunday, I slept in and watch some of the Sunday Talk Shows from bed. Then I had the 10:30am Mass in the gym. The children did not have a seperate liturgy of the word, so I had the come up and sit around my chair. It was the baptism of Jesus and a number of them, I had baptized so the talk went well. They still can’t come up around the altar because of the poinsettas but maybe next time.
After Mass, I picked up Maggie and Marie at Maggie’s and we drove to St. Mary’s county to visit some of the Cullisons, who were having a little reunion because Sister Mary Rita was down from Hartford. We had a great time and (of course) great FOOD!! We left before it got dark because we had very bad fog. I was home and in bed by 9pm.
Monday, I had the 11am Mass and then a person who had not been to confession for a long time and was nervious came to see me. We had a great visit and as he said, “I’m leaving feeling like a million dollars”. God is so good. I joined the others for supper and had a good time as always and then I wasted the evening playing “Spider Solotaire”
Today, at 11am, I have a funeral for the former Ambassador to the Vatican, to Haiti, and to Chad. Should be a be one.
So now you’re up to minute!
Thanks for the update!!! 🙂