Monday, Dec 22nd was a very relaxing day. I went to the post office to mail three packages that I just hadn’t gotten to. I stood in a line for over an hour and when I was waited on, it took three minutes. I used the time in the line to pray for my prayer list. I also looked around at all the other people and lifted them up in prayer. As I said, a relaxing day!
Tuesday, the 23rd, Fr. Trancone came for a funeral at noon and afterwards, he and I went to the diner and had a nice visit. I had exposition and the 5:30pm Mass. Another relaxing day.
****Not true!! I got an email from Anna Elise, the daughter of a parishioner, whom I met last year. I went to re-inter his wife at
Gate of Heaven and bless her new tomb stone. While I was there, I found out that her husband is Terry Gribbin, from St. Camillus. His family lived at the bottom of the rectory driveway and I was so glad to see him and re-connect. The Father, Bill has been trying to get us together for dinner for almost a year.
In the email, she wrote that the family was going to La Ferme, a nice French restaurant nearby and although it’s short notice could I join them. I wrote back that I had the 5:30pm Mass but would come for desert; but she wrote they’d be there around 6pm, so please come.
It was Bill, Anna Elise, Terry, and Susanne (Bill’s care-giver). We had a great time and laughed and told stories and I caught up on all the Gribbin family news. I can’t believe that I didn’t write about that when I published this today but it wasn’t in my appointment book! God is very good to me in all the wonderful people I know.
Wednesday, Christmas Eve Day, I had the 8am Mass. I loved preaching because it was the end of the story of John the Baptist’s conception and birth. It gets you ready for the birth of Jesus.
We had confessions from noon to 1pm, which was lovely and not rushed. Then I took a nap – well I was going to take a nap but I saw the Pope’s Mass from Rome and had to listen to his homily – and “stole” some of it for my homily.
I had the 6pm Mass. It was packed and people standing. I think Communion took 15 minutes and we had 6 stations!
Then I did take a nap and got up for the Midnight Mass, which I concelebrated. During the Mass and especially Communion time, which I didn’t do; I mentioned each of you to the Lord and thanked him for the gift of your friendship and love.
Went to sleep around 3am.
This morning I had the 9am Mass, which was not full but a good crowd of families. I used my material from the Pope in my homily but I also pointed out that during the Mass prayers, there are a number of times when the priest, speaking in the name of the congregation proclaims that “we” are all ministers and grateful to God for His calling us to minister at His altar. I love that idea and I wanted to remind everyone that the liturgy calls us to participate not attend. Having offered this Mass together, we will now go out to serve those in need. Isn’t that why Jesus came? To teach us how to do that!
I did give out Communion on the side with the help of a stool and two great servers, James and Jack (his 1st time). They’re so good to me.
A change of my usual routine on holidays. It’s usually a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, milk, and off to bed; but Terry Odien, John Bohrer, and Joe Stoutz said I should come to Philadelphia so we could have dinner together. I decided they had a good idea. So, now, I am going to drive to New Carrollton, Md and get the train to Philly. I should get there around 2:20 and Joe will pick me up and will go to a restaurant near Rittenhouse Square at 3:30 for supper together. They’ll take me back to the station to catch a train around 9pm and I’ll be home and in bed by Midnight.
**** It’s 10:20pm and I just got home. The train trip was great. Took an hour and 45 minutes and Joe was at the station when I got in. We drove to the restaurant and (thanks to St. Martin de Porres) got a space on the street right next to the restaurant (Free – because it was Christmas). Terry and John arrived about 20 minutes later and we had a delicious meal with lots of laughs. Afterwards, Joe took me to the station. It was 6:45 and I changed my 9pm ticket for one at 7:30pm. Got to New Carrollton around 9:15 and got my car (No charge for parking – it’s Christmas!) and got here to the rectory around 10pm. Now off to bed!!
I can sleep in tomorrow.
Hope you are with family and/or friends on this most Holy Day! Merry Christmas.
While PB & J is good I’m sure dinner with Terry, John and Joe was better. Hope all your travels went well.
It is my pleasure to serve at Mass and aid you when needed.
I enjoyed your reading of John’s Gospel at the 9AM Mass. It really is like poetry and your reading was awesome! And your homily was great as well (no surprise there)
Merry Christmas, Fr. O!