Today I had the 8:00am, which was a nice change. It is the feast of the Holy Innocents and I preached about the many people who suffer for their faith in Jesus. I was thinking of that little Italian nun who was murdered by Islamic fanatics because they were mad about a cartoon about Mohamed and of those people in Bagdad who were murdered by the fanatics who came into the Cathedral and killed 58 worshipers. Every year Rome publishes the names of so many Catholics who have died during the last year as martyrs – I imagine the list will be a lot longer for 2010.
After Mass, I phoned Carol and Bob Boston, who had left a message on my phone in the rectory – which I don’t check very often. They are here with their family visiting DC. Today they are going to the Smithsonian but I hope that we’ll get a chance to visit tomorrow. They were in St. Camillus and now live in Pittsburgh. We’ve stayed friends and “family” for all these years.
Today, I also spoke with my sisters, Maggie and Marie. They are at some new Harbour place hotel near the Wilson Bridge with some of their “red hat ladies”. I’m sure they’ll have a ball!
I also talked with Joe Stoutzenber up in Philly. He has lots of snow! On Monday, January 3rd, he, John Bohrer, and Terry Odien are coming down for the day. We had such a great time the last visit; so I asked Fr. Jim to give me the 6:30am Mass that day, so I’d be free all day!
Also got an email from Mary Alice McGreevy that Marilyn Cavallaro was in the hospital with pneumonia and so I called Marilyn and Frank’s home and left a message that if she has a phone, I’d like the number to call her. Early this afternoon, Marilyn called and left a message for me. She is home and has a broken arm. I’ll call her tomorrow and maybe we can talk.
A lady called who had heard me say, “I’m kind of unemployed, so I am often in my office in the parish center, just come by if you want to talk”. So she did and we had a nice long visit. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.
Mostly, I spent the day doing “phone ministry” and I caught up with a number of friends. I talked to Joan Beall, Sharon Beall, and Betty Neary as well. Actually I called Joan and Betty back this evening to be sure they were watching TV because the Kennedy Center Honors were on tonight and the show was great.
I came over this evening and had soup, which I love, and just lounged around and listen to TV. I might go to bed early as I hope to do some running around tomorrow.
How neat that you keep in with all those folks from Camillus days! I remember all that you have mentioned…..GOOD memories, too.