Before I get back to the trip; I wanted to update you on this last week.
Bill’s funeral went very well and at the luncheon afterwards, I had the chance to sit with Stephen (the youngest son) and his wife and met their children. It is hard to believe that his children are teenagers.
On the way home, I stopped by to visit Dot Witte Furnary. I had gone to see her when she was in the nursing home near Leisure World; but she was too ill to visit. Now she is at a rehab place near Good Counsel. Bill’s wife, Joanne was also visiting her so I gave Dot the Sacrament of the Sick and Communion for them both. It was so good to see how well she has recovered.
Later, I stopped in to Knollwood and anointed Tom. He has hospice and was unresponsive; but as they told us in the seminary, you never know what they can hear – so be loud and clear!!
On Sunday, the 6th, I had the 12:30pm Mass and then went to speak with a couple who was coming to the baptismal prep meeting. I ended up giving the class as Fr. Justin hadn’t gotten the schedule, which was published last Fall. I had a ball and met lots of the people whose paperwork I’ve been working with.
On Monday, I had the 11am Mass and then met with Lisa, who is interested in coming into the church but came too late for RCIA.
She is using Joe’s book and loves it.
Then I picked up Fr. Beattie and drove with him to Margaret Morse’s wake near here. Both her husband and her son died late last year and her family has had enough sorrow.
That night, I drove to Virginia and met a couple who would like to get an anullment and were referred to me by a priest in Pittsburgh. It was a delightful meeting and I will be working with them on this.
On Tuesday, I had Margaret’s funeral at the chapel in Rock Creek Cemetary. It was well attended and Mike Jone’s acted as my server, chauffer, and aide. He also told me that Fr. Edson Wood, an Augustinian priest who taught at Good Counsel, had had a stroke and died. Please keep him in your prayers. He taught Latin. Requiescat in Pace.
That night I said Mass for all the deceased members of the Queen of Peace group of the Sodality. It was a very nice crowd. They invited me for some refreshments but I went home and went to bed.
On Wednesday, I had confessions for school children at St. Elizabeth’s; then I had the 11am Mass. Then I headed out to Philly to visit Joe, John and Terry. As I drove through the toll booth, the notice told me that my tags were invalid. I just drove on. Then I went to get gas and I realized that I would drive through three more booths before I got to Philly. I figured that at some point, the police would pull me over; so I turned around and went back through the tunnel and went home. I went to bed as I was quite shaken by all this.
On Thursday, I spent 2 hours on the phone trying to straighten this out. It turns out that on March 10th in Chicago, I used my credit card at a Walgreens and my credit union put a hold on my card. I was never informed and as I used up the money on my ezpass went down, they tried to replesh it but my credit card wouldn’t work and so my tags became invalid. I thought I would scream but I didn’t!!!! At the end, it got straightened out but it took its’ TOLL on me. I spent much of the rest of the day in bed!!
On Friday, I went to Our Lady of Victory for school confessions and then came home and met with a parishion. I spent the afternoon with Sarah to clean my room. Maggie Scott, another girl from my 6th greade class, joined her and we “caught up” on all the other students – where they are in high schools, how tall they’ve gotten, etc.!!!!
Then I had the 5:30pm Mass, and then Stations. Well attended. There was pizza afterwards. I didn’t go but someone brought me two pieces.
On Saturday, I met a young couple to help them set up their wedding in 2015. Lovely couple!!
I also prayed for Marie and Ken on this their wedding day. I wasn’t up to doing it but I greatly enjoyed them. May God bless them and their families.
Today, I had the 7:30am Mass. I did preach a short homily inviting the parishions to come to the services during Holy Week.
I didn’t read Jesus in the passion and didn’t help with Communion. I love that Spring is finally here and the flowers look great; however the pollen is terrible and my lungs keep filling up. When I finish this, I’m off to my room (and the airconditioning!!)
Know that all of you and your families will be in my prayers and services during Holy Week.