Today is Mary Mudd’s birthday. I sent her an ecard but will call her later to be sure it got there. I’m not great with this computer stuff.
The office is closed today but I am over here because Cardinal McCarrick’s secretary called yesterday and asked if her could come and say Mass. I told him we only have two Masses on the holidays – 8:00am and 11:00am. He chose the 11 and since the sacristan is off, I came over to be sure everything is ready. Also I probably will concelebrate since I just love the Cardinal. Also my cousins, Rick and Peg Jensen are coming to the Mass and afterwards, we’re going to a movie. It will be great fun to be with them. Tonight, I’ll probably watch the concert on the capitol on PBS. I’ll sleep in tomorrow as I have the 11am Mass on Friday.
I was very busy this last week. When last I wrote, I was looking forward to a full Saturday. I had the 11am Mass, a 1:30 baptism and a wedding at 4:30 in the chapel. What I didn’t realize was that our sacristan, Grace, was on vacation. She always takes such good care of things but I had to do a lot of it and I am not as organized. Also we had 5 baptisms and three weddings, so it was like a merry-go-round. All mine were fine, keep Thomas Clayton and his family in your prayers and remember also, Bill and Pam and their families on their wedding day.
Sunday was going to be my day of recovery since I only had the 5:30pm Mass; but I got a phone call from Gregory Richards. He is the youngest of the three Richards children and I’ve been a family friend since GC days. He lives in Georgia but was coming up to Frederick to pick up his two children and drive them to North Carolina to spend time with their grandparents and him. I told him to call me when he was leaving Frederick and I’d meet him at Macaroni Grill in Gaithersburg for lunch. I loved his children. Ben is 11 and Michaela just turned 10. They live with their Mom but Greg is a very devoted Dad and it is so obvious how much they love him. We had a great time and then they headed South. I came home and took a nap. I had the 5:30pm Mass and then I met with a young man until about 9pm. Then I went home and slept.
On Monday, I drove over to Little Sisters and picked up Msgr. Tom Duffy and brought him to the parish. We concelebrated the 11am Mass and then we were suppose to go to the senior cookout. But it rained and rained. So we had lunch with the guys in the rectory. They were glad to see Monsignor as was Humberto, the cook. I took him home and then I had the 5:30pm Mass. Father Lucas has gone on vacation and so until the new priest arrives on July 9th, we may have to double up on weekday Masses.
On Tuesday, the cookout was rescheduled and we had a great time. It was over in Hillandale, near St. Camillus and Armelle Munoz was there – a TEAM member from St. Camillus. It was nice to see her. I drove Charlie, who lives at Chevy Chase House, where we have Mass on Fridays and so I dropped him off and then I had the 5:30pm Mass.
On Wednesday, I had the 8:00am Mass and spent most of the day working on genealogy. Then I had the 5:30pm. We had had some electrical problems and the elevator was out; so I had to walk up to the first floor to go to the church. I had a rough time at Mass and it took till after Mass and I returned to the office and put on the oxygen till I felt OK. The elevator is working again. Last night, Dan and Stephanie called to tell me about their trip to Ireland. They had a great time. Dan’s two brothers and their wives went also. It was their first trip and Dan was the organizer and did a superb job. They were there for 10 days and stayed for a while at (I think)Kildare House, an old estate. Dan has relatives and they arranged a dinner with 17 of them and it sounds like it was a great Irish gathering. I hope to hear more and see pictures when I go visit them this fall.
So now Paddy is up to date and I have to get ready to say hi to the Cardinal.
Happy 4th to you! I am having a quiet holiday since most of my invitations were for outdoor activities and I can’t take the humidity. Joining Pop and “friends” for lunch in the Refectory, will watch the Orioles beat (hopefully!) Chicago and then the concert and fireworks from DC on TV.