Friday was a slow day. I had the 1:30pm Mass at Chevy Chase House. Afterwards, I drove over and visited my cousin, Ann O’Connell. She gave me some material on Virginia Mary Merrick. She was a young girl when she fell from the window of her home and was paralyed from then on. She founded the Christ Child Society, which works to improve the life of young girls, especially young mothers. I intend to use information on her for the service that we are having on Saturday for the disability committee.
I spent the evening playing spider solitaire.
On Saturday, I had the 11am Mass and I worked on the presentation for the service. Emma had made a lovely display of a number of saints with diabilities. The service was at 1pm and I think it went well. One of the young people read aloud about the difference saints and I expained what challenge they had – and how they used the challenges to become saints. I described how “Miss Mary” who lived in our parish was brought down one of our main roads in a reclliner with wheels. Her case is now in Rome for possible canonization. After the service, we had cookies and apple sauce and visited. It was so nice.
I had the confessions at 4pm and was busy the whole time. I didn’t come out till 5:25, but it was great to be doing that again. I was on the phone many times. Talked with Sister Natalie and Maggie (today was her birthday – but she didn’t seem to be celebrating it), also Brenda Ridgell, whose family was heading off to the beach with the firefighter’s convention. Talked to Joan Beall and Bob Norton. Also emails and the ever continuing taxes!
At 7pm, I met with a young couple I will marry in November. Just wanted to get started on the paperwork.
I went to bed around 10pm and was asleep by 10:04pm
This morning I helped with Communion at 7:30 Mass. I really have missed doing that; and so I am willing to use the oxygen so I can participate more in church things. Then I had the 9am Mass. My server was Liam and he was so helpful with the oxygen. I think I’m getting the hang of how to use it regularly. I think my homily was good. I talked about the difference between the Pharisees and the followers of Jesu in terms of law versus loving service.
Then I drove out to Good Counsel and baptized the grand daughter of Maureen and Art Raimo. She is the daughter of Annie, whom I baptized at the old GC 29 years ago. So keep Annie and Shawn, and little Olivia Helen in your prayers. It was the first time I’d had Mass at the new GC and it was an honor. I enjoyed seeing the Raimo family and meeting Shawn’s family. GC has a special place in my heart.
Now I’m just sitting in the office watching Jessica Fletcher solve murders. It’s a mystery marathon. I have the 5:30pm and I’ll be glad to get to bed. Tom Favret called and we are going to try to get together this weekend. He is back in the country from Belgium to get some training before his next assignment. He is in our foreign service and I’m very proud of him
I’m going to drive Fr. Beattie up to the Mount tomorrow. He is going to participate in a retreat that Bishop Harry Flynn is giving. I’ll come right back as I have a busy week coming up.
Thanks for the update!