Another two busy weeks:
On March 7th, we did have Marie’s surprise 75th birthday on Saturday. She was surprised and kept saying that some of those people she hadn’t seen in 30 years. Her kids did a great job and had a wonderful slide presentation with lots of pictures of family and friends. We played “Family Feud”, her favorite TV show and it was very funny. I think she is now a star on Facebook. I didn’t stay overnight and was home before midnight.
On Sunday March 8th, since I was supposed to be away, I was not scheduled for Mass but I saw that Fr. Ron had three Masses and I took the 12:30. And I went home and relaxed
On Monday, the 9th, feast of St. Frances of Rome, had exposition, then began my interviews for the First Communicants. It is one of my nicest duties. They are so eager to tell you what they know and how “It really does become the Body and Blood of Jesus”. I had the 5:30pm and preached about St. Frances.
On Tuesday, the 10th, had the 8am Mass and a confession afterwards and then I called Frances Sampogna and wished her a belated feast day! I had prayed for her on the feast but just couldn’t get a phone call in. She and I have had a great affection for St. Frances since my Camillus days. It was nice to catch up and her and her family. Interviews again in the afternoon. Delightful again. Home early, ate and went to bed.
I took the 6:30am Mass on Wednesday and worked at the desk. I led the stations for the middle school students at 1:45, then had exposition at 3pm and more interviews. I also had the 5:30pm Mass and then drove to Maggie’s to spend the night.
On Thursday, the three of us went to Virginia for Claire Sheehan’s funeral. Claire was
A friend of ours, who travelled on cruises with us. She was a lovely New Englander who was such good company. Please keep her and her family in your prayers. After I dropped the girls back in Calvert County, I came home to rest.
On Friday, I had the 8 and 11am Masses and then drove down to St. Mary’s county. I checked into the Hampton Inn and took a nap. Then I drove over to Colleen and Jeff Smith’s house for dinner with them, their daughter, Allison, (who is becoming a police officer), Steve and Faith Hall and their son, Trent (who is graduating form St. Mary’s/Ryken) Jeff LeDonne ( Leslie was working) and Pat Hall (whose birthday we celebrated). It was lots of laughs and much fun; then we went to Ryken and saw Clay Hall in the musical “Into the Woods”. It was great and I think as good as the one I saw on Broadway with Msgr. Dade and Father Trancone years ago. It was raining hard and foggy, so I was glad to get into bed at the hotel.
On Saturday, the 14th, I had planned to get up early and return in time to concelebrate the 9:30am Confirmation Mass; but I was slow moving. Got home around 10AM and took some medicine and went to bed. I was afraid a cold was coming on. I slept till 1pm and felt a lot better. I concelebrated the 1:30pm Confirmation. It was Bishop Holly, and his does such a great job and it was good to see him Deacon Martino and our new permanent deacon, Angel were on and it was a wonderful ceremony. I had the 5:30pm Mass and I was ready for bed!
On Sunday, the 15th, I had a baptism during the 10:30am Mass. It was beautiful and our people are so “welcoming” when we do that. They stop over to congratulate the parents and the family. It doesn’t lengthen the Mass. We also had the dismissal of the RCIA and lots of Communions, and the Mass was over in 56 minutes! Please keep Teddy and his family in your prayers. I stopped in the baptismal prep, which had to be re-scheduled because of snow on March 1st. I just apologized again and said hi, then I went home to relax.
On Monday, the 16th, I had the 11am Mass and then met with an old friend and caught up. Then I had my interviews – a couple who had been ill did a make – up. Great as always. Then Fr. Jim picked me up at the rectory at 6:15pm and we went to nice French restaurant Mon Ami in Bethesda and joined Fr. John, Fr. Regis, and Fr. Mike (John is our former pastor, Regis and Mike teach at Catholic U and have been our weekend help for a couple of years). We try to go to supper together every three or four months. It is always a ball and confirms you in the value of priestly fraternity.
When I got home, I returned a call from Joan Rosenberger Johnson. We talked for over an hour. It’s been awhile since we got together and we use to do that a couple of times a year but illness, weather, and our scheduled have made that hard. As soon as Jerry is better, we’ll get together.
On Tuesday, THE FEAST DAY, I had the 11am Mass and I prayed for all the wonderful people God has brought into my life, who celebrate this Saint as their patron. After Mass, we had Tuesdays with Fr. Maury. We shared on St. Patrick and anything Irish. We had a large crowd but not because of me – there was a great Corn beef and cabbage lunch. I couldn’t stay because I had a dentist appointment that was “snowed out” twice before. He did work on two cavities and I came right home and slept. I did get up and go to the play reading group. We began The Crucibles”. Interesting play and good discussion. We only got through Act I and we’ll go through the rest over the next few months.
Got a message on my recorder that Kathleen and David Havern delivered a child on St. Patrick’s Day. – Their second boy. Named Charles David. That make 7 grandchildren for Keith and Sheila Morris.
To all
“Dia is Mhuire duit agus Padraig”
God, and Mary and St. Patrick be with you:
Today, Wednesday, I had the 8am and 11am Masses. I spoke of St. Cyril, whom I have a great affection for. I had Stations with the middle school at 1;45 and tonight I have “the light is on for you” (Confessions in every church in the Archdiocese) I had loved being part of it.
Please keep Fr. Jerry Trancone, Pat Watters, Jean Pizza and Ann Brown O’Connell in your thoughts and prayers. Some are in hospitals and all are ill.
And so now, you are up to date.
I thought you said this was a “light” week….well, maybe you were talking about Thursday and Friday. 🙂