I am beginning this at 3:30pm on Wednesday, the 24th as I am in the parish center because I have the 5:30PM Mass. I will finish it up tomorrow when I have the 8AM Mass and I will publish it then.
I last wrote on August 11th but I mentioned what I’d be doing for the following days. I did drive Fr. Beattie to the funeral in Southern Maryland – and it was as hot as they forecasted. I’m glad we went and we saw lots of old friend. It was a good turn out as he had been pastor there for over thirty years. RIP
That evening I went to Gaithersburg and had a great time and supper with former GC students and their spouses and children and their Moms. Two former teachers came and we laughed and talked and teased for hours. I didn’t even notice the heat outside on my return.
Spent all day Saturday in my suite. And on Sunday, the missionary preached and after 9AM Mass, I was picked up by Joe and Pat Villani and we had lunch. It was so enjoyable to hear about some of their travels and just fun to be with old friends. Later in the day, My nephew, Michael came and got the tickets and I went to bed early. I had the 11AM Mass on the Assumption but it wasn’t very crowded because it was not a Holy Day of Obligation. I stayed in my suite as it was over a 100 degrees.
On Wednesday, the 17th, I had the evening Mass and afterwards, Brian took me and the Vittones out to supper with him at a nearby Italian restaurant. We had a great time. They are wonderful parishioners; but I have known them since their sons were at GC. We got home just before a terrible storm came. I was sure we’d lose power so I kept my lantern nearby but it just made noise and rained a lot.
On Thursday, I had the 8AM Mass and then drove Jerry to the doctor’s. We stopped in Queenstown to eat at a place called “Atlantic Seafood”. It was very good. I went to bed early and didn’t set the alarm as I didn’t have Mass on Friday.
On the 19th, I drove to Rick and Peg’s and left my car there. They drove me to the hotel in Alexandria and I took a nap. At 5:30, they got me and we went to St. Mary’s for the wedding rehearsal. There was a young priest there who could not have been nicer and he helped so that everything went well. We went to Joe Theisman’s for dinner and I had a great time seeing all my cousins and meeting James’s parents. I returned to my room around 10pm and slept well.
On Saturday, I worked on my homily and tried to relaxed. I was still nervous about getting around the old fashioned altar area with my oxygen. Around 6, Rick and Peg picked me up and we went to the church. The wedding was at 7pm and the young priest had gotten three altar servers who helped me get around. I preached from a chair – and fortunately there is a great sound system there – so I could be heard. James and Kate smiled through the whole service. Aunt Debbie and Kristin gave out Communion and that worked out well. We went to the Torpedo Factory for the reception and there was a great breeze coming from the Potomac. Maggie and Kerri sat with me, Rick and Peg, James’s parents Jim and Lucy and the best man and his wife and a neighbor. We all had a wonderful time. Music and food were great and lots of people up dancing – not me!
We took a lovely shuttle back to the hotel. Maggie and Kerri shared my room and we laughed and talked for hours.
In the morning, they dropped me off at Rick and Peg’s. They can’t be out of Southern Maryland for very long!!!
We had a nice brunch out under a tent (It was not hot!) and again I got a chance to see and “catch up” with relatives. I left around Noon and went right home and to bed!
On Monday, the 22nd, I did a homily during a prayer service for the faculty of our school. It was great to see them all again. I had the 5:30PM Mass and it was very nice that all four of us priests were at supper together again. It’s been while.
As you can tell – even though the weather was rough, I still had a great time. The dinner with the GC crowd and the wedding of my cousins were especially delightful. God is so good to me.
It’s getting close to time for Mass, so I’ll close and write another message in a day or two.