Today is my day off and I only have one thing to do. I am going out to supper with Shep, who is a very nice parishioner and we try to get together two or three times a year for a meal and to talk about the church. He keeps up and is well read, so our discussions are always thought provoking. I’m looking forward to it.
I don’t really know why I haven’t written for two weeks. I’ll have to re-read this once I write it and then I’ll know what I’ve been doing.
On Sunday night, August 10th, I did have dinner with Barbara and Barry. We went to Mama Lucia and had a great meal. We sat and talked and laughed for three hours. I slept great!!
On Monday, the 11th, I had the 11am Mass and the rest of the day, I worked at my desk.
On Tuesday, the 12th, the feast of St. Clare, I had exposition and the 5:30pm Mass. I gave a good homily on Clare and the virtue of poverty, which she loved.
On Wednesday, the 13th, I had the 8:00am Mass and at 11, Brian picked me up and we drove down to Assumption parish in Southeast. They got a large donation and they have renovated their former convent as an “outreach” building. It is named for Pope Francis and has their pantry, clothes shop, library, chapel, and rooms to have discussions and small meetings. It is lovely and we had Mass with Cardinal Wuerl and about 14 priests and a congregation of about 100. Afterwards, there was a reception in the center. I didn’t go but sat outside with Fr. Jim Bocabella and Brian and had a chance to speak with lots of old friends. Brian put a photo of him, Cardinal Wuerl and me on Facebook and I got lots of comments! Brian took very good care of me and saw that I didn’t have to walk much. I had a great time but went to bed early that night.
On Thursday, I took the 6:30am Mass so that I could go to Ascension church in Bowie and concelebrate Ernie Bergeron’s funeral Mass. I was glad I went and had a chance to visit his wife and family and to see lots of former parishioners from St. B’s. Ernie was on my finance committee at St. B’s and was a great help in getting things done there. Fr. Rob Walsh, who is chaplain at Maryland University was the presider and did a great job. I didn’t stay for the luncheon but I spoke to a lot of people outside the church. I was tired and stopped off at Joan Beall’s for water and cookies. I heard confessions from 2 to 5pm. Then I drove out to Leisure World and picked up Ginger Burch. She and I joined Pete Killeen at Tanya and Dennis Essig’s for supper. I met Tanya’s uncle, who is living with them and then we enjoyed about four hours of sitting on their veranda, drinking, laughing, talking, and enjoying a meal that was not cooked. (I don’t think I said what I wanted to say.) It was not a hot meal, everything was refreshingly cool as was the nice breeze we had. (I hope you understood that!!). I got home around 10pm and went quickly to bed.
On Friday, the 15 (Feast of the Assumption), I had the 8am Mass and there were lots of people. I talked about how old this feast is; although it didn’t become dogma till 1954, while it has been a holyday in the US since the 1850’s. Afterwards, I met with a parishioner. I was planning to go to Fred Tana’s funeral at St. Catherine Laboure but another person came in to talk and I didn’t get to it. He was another GC friend. Please keep his wife, Lucy in your prayers. They were married a long time.
On Saturday, the 16th, I went over to see Jerry Trancone at Holy Cross hospital. He was in Coronary Care. They don’t know what is wrong with him but they’re checking his heart. He didn’t want visitors but I’m glad I went. Keep him in your prayers. I had confessions at 4pm and the rest of the day, I spent in my suite – cleaning and organizing.
On Sunday, the 17th, I had the 7:30am Mass and the 12:30pm. I think I might have “shaken them up” by my homily. I told them that I don’t believe that Jesus knew that he was God. He knew and was convinced that he was the Messiah. I told them why I believe that and how the gospel of the day (the pagan woman, who said to Him, “even the dogs eats the scraps that fall from the table” when she wanted him to cure her daughter) and how he grew in knowledge that he was to help non-Jews as well. Some very interesting comments at the doors of the church. All positive!
On Monday, the 18th, I had the 8am Mass and then, a former student, who wanted to do community service, came and went through all the papers on my desk and helped me to throw things away. Two trash cans were full. He is off to a boarding school in New England, so keep Seamus in your prayers. I did the exposition for Fr Justin and he, Fr. Percy and I had supper together. Went to bed early.
On Tuesday, the 19th, I did a prayer service in the chapel for all the teachers. I had a chance to catch up with Sisters Mary Ann and Marita and many of the staff. Sister Mary Ann had planned the service and it was very reflective. I gave a little talk and there was a beautiful blessing that sister wrote and I gave at the end. Then I went and picked up Fr. Beattie to go have lunch with Fathers Duffy and Hill. I got there at Our Lady of Lourdes at 11:20 and was supposed to be there at 12:30. Since we had the time, we stopped in to see Fr. Trancone, who was home from the hospital and back at the Deaf Center. We also met a lot of staff. Jerry looks exhausted and has to wait for three weeks to have some heart test. I hope he just lays around and rest!
We did go to Fratelli’s for lunch and then after I dropped Fathers Duffy and Beattie off, I had the 5:30pm Mass. A very light supper with the guys and then to bed.
On Wednesday, the 20th (feast of St. Bernard), I met with a seminarian early in the day and then had the 11am Mass, where I told them a lot about the saint!. Then I went to get a haircut and have my beard trimmed. Came back and took a nap. The humidity was bad. I had dinner with the guys and went upstairs to relax. Late to bed after a lot of spider solitaire.
As I look this over, it doesn’t seem I did a lot of running around so what was I doing? I was on the phone a lot – trying to get a hold of lots of friends having birthdays. And I know I worked on the baptism program but aside from being able to get around my room easier because I got rid of stuff and being able to see the wood on my desk, I don’t know where the last two weeks went. BUT at least you are up to date now!
The lyrics “funny how time slips away” came to mind as I read this post. I think it is better than having time drag along….
I gave a similar “reflection” on the Aug. 17 Gospel. Don’t know if I shocked anyone…they are used to my thinking by now. 🙂 Our Matthew bible study has helped folks (and ME) to understand Jesus’ mindset in light of the OT prophesies.
Hope Jerry is feeling better. Scary stuff!