As I mentioned last time, there are lots of intentions that I want to bring to you for your prayers.
The first is the death of Helen Horan Francinie. She died last week at age 97. The family were a big part of St. Bernard’s parish and have been friends of mine for almost 60 years. There will be a memorial Mass on June 19th at Our Lady of Mercy. I cannot attend as the girls and I will be cruising down the Mississippi; but please keep all the Horan family and friends in your prayers.
Sister Kass’ dad, Ed Collins who is also in his late nineties, had to have his leg amputated this week due to diabetes. Please keep him and Kass in your prayers.
Fr. John Kinter, a priest of our Archdiocese who I have known since 1971 died this week. No plans are made for his funeral but please keep him and his family in your prayers.
My cousin, Peg is doing well with her treatments and although she got run down and needed an overnight in the hospital, she is continuing with the treatments. Please keep her and all her family, who are the caregivers, in your prayers.
My friend, Steve, who was in the seminary with me, 50 years ago, is out of the hospital and home. He and his family have lots of therapy to work on but I talked with him and his spirits are good. Please keep him, his wife Carol and their son, Stevie in your prayers.
I also talked with Pat Watters in Newfoundland and she assures me that she is doing very well and will be South for her nephew’s wedding in June. Keep her in your prayers as well.
Father Ron’s grandmother, Catherine Potts, who was 102 died at the end of last week. He will have her funeral in Baltimore on Wednesday. Do keep all of her family in your prayers.
As you will now see, I didn’t run around too much this week, so I used the phone and email to catch up with people.
When last I wrote, I was waiting to go to lunch with Brian and Michael for Michael’s birthday that was April 1st. Because his mom was in the hospital, Michael couldn’t join us but Brian and I went to Chef Geoff’s. It was very nice and we had a good time.
On Friday, the 17th, I had the 11am Mass and then rode with some of the office people to the old Shoreham hotel for the Don Bosco/Cristo Rey luncheon. The parish had bought a table. It was very nice and the school does great work with “a risk students”. Then I had exposition and the 5:30pm Mass and drove out to Gaithersburg to have dinner with Eileen Lee Baughan, who was attending a workshop there. We had a great time.
On Saturday, the 18th, I met a parishioner early and then had two baptisms. Please keep Colin James and Isabella Cecilia and their families in your prayers. Then Patty Daly and her daughter Kathy (from St. Mary’s county) and I went to Clyde’s for a meal and a visit. Then I had the 5:30pm Mass, although the deacon preached and I just relaxed. Also, and I think this was the most important thing I did – I defrosted my refrigerator! I felt so accomplished when I went to bed.
On Sunday, I had the 9am Mass and again the deacon preached. At 10:30, I met with three people who will be confirmed on Pentecost and taught a session on the Sacraments. Then I had a baptism so keep Mary Louise and her family in your prayers. She is the great grandchild of Al Sindall, from St. Camillus.
On Monday, my dentist called and cancelled – I was so glad! I relaxed and had the evening Mass. Fr. Lucas, who use to live with us is here for his comps at CUA and he concelebrated the 5:30 Mass and joined us for supper.
Today, I had the 11am Mass and then “Tuesdays with Maury”. We discussed the 75th anniversary of the Archdiocese and we talked about the Eastern rites of the church. There are two talks being done in the next week on those topics, so we wanted to get some background. Tonight I will go up to our play reading group. We are studying “The Crucibles”. Then to bed early
Thanks for the prayers! The Occupational Therapist came today for the first lesson in how to adjust to a center of gravity when you have no legs. I met with the head of Assisted Living at Charlestown and he told me Pop can return to his apartment when he gets used to transferring on his own. This will be a learning curve for both of us.
Maury is the Steve you mentioned Steve Bleinstein?