What Paddy Shot At

Today is Fr. John Bohrer’s birthday.

When last I wrote it was September 13th. And this week was busy.

On Wednesday the 14th, I had the 8AM Mass and then went to represent the rest of the priests at the Bible study group (Bread, Book, and Brethren). They have been together for over thirty years. I just say on behalf of the other priests, “Welcome back from the summer” and give them encouragement in their gathering. I really like them and they always had good insights and sharing. They are using a video series and then have their discussions. I’ll be interesting in how that goes. Then I met with the wife of the man I went to see at the home. We talked about death and the funeral. Then I met someone for spiritual direction. I went to bed early.

On Thursday, I slept in and then had a confession. I had exposition at 3 and the evening Mass.

On Friday, the 16th, I had the 8AM Mass and the deacon and his wife from Bob Norton’s parish stopped by. Their son, who is stationed in Hawaii with the Air Force was visiting DC, so they came down from Pittsburgh. We went to Bread and Chocolate for breakfast. In the afternoon, I went over to Colombia and stayed in a motel.

On Saturday, the 17th, I went with Sr. Kass to the Jubilee anniversary of 16 of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur at Our Lady of Victory parish in Catonsville. I knew a number of the jubilarians and saw lots of old friends. This was Kass’ band and so she was invited to be in the Offertory procession. Sister Maureen White, who was a teacher at Camillus and now is on the general council in Rome, was in the same band and was celebrating their 50th. Sister Marcella Missar, who was the religious education leader at Camillus was celebrating her 70th. I can’t even tell you all the “girls” I saw. It just so uplifting and fun!! Ah, how good is the good God! I had the 5:30pm Mass but the deacon preached. After Mass, Deacon Gary, his wife Diane and their son, Stephen and his friend, Krista, came into the sacristy to visit. It was a very good day.

On Sunday, the 18th, I had a baptism that I just attended at 11:30. Fr. Regis did it and he “welcomed me in”. It was the newest baby of a couple I married and had baptized their first child, who now is three. When they contacted me, I told them I wasn’t doing baptisms because of my health but I would certainly come if I was OK. This weekend, the weather was so good. Low temperatures and low humidity that I didn’t use the oxygen all the time.
I had the 12:30pm Mass and Sheila and Keith Morris came to it. They were in town for a wedding on Saturday. We went and picked up Joan Beall and drove to RIPS in Bowie, where we met Kass for lunch. Had lots of laughs and good food! I was ready for bed at 8PM

On Monday, I went to Leisure World and presided at the funeral of Mary Haire Healy, widow of Joseph Healy. They were a lovely couple (a widow and a widower) who met cleaning up the chapel and I married them in 1984). Joe’s grandson was a student at GC and I was on retreat with his parents. It’s a wonderfully complex story. She was 98 years old and just the sweetest! Barb Ostrye and Jack Lynch (GC people) were there as well. Barb rode out to the cemetery with me and afterwards, we stopped at the tomb of a boy who died in his junior year and said a prayer for his family. I came home and took a nap.
At 6PM, Fr. Jim Boccabella, Msgr. John Enzler, Fr. Regis, Fr. Mike (teachers at Catholic U) and I went to dinner. We try to go out together every 4 months or so. We laugh and solve the problems of the Church and have a great meal. I all ways enjoy it!!!

On Tuesday, the 20th, I had the 8AM Mass and at 11:30, we had our first “Tuesdays with Fr. Maury” gathering over in the apartment building. They celebrated my birthday and gave me a nice gift and great food. Out topic was “What I did on my summer vacation” and we had lots of good stories.
At 4:15, I picked up Jerry Trancone and we went to the Pastoral center for the 5PM Mass of Farewell for Bishop Holley, who was our auxiliary bishop and now will become the Bishop of Memphis in October. We had a great dinner and it was great to see so many priests. He is well liked here and will be missed.

Today is the funeral of Alex Dumlao, a member of my Teams of Our Lady. He died in August but the funeral was delayed. I knew I couldn’t go when the weather was so bad; but it turned out that I couldn’t got today. His wife, Maricel had died a few years ago. Now they are together again. They were a very loving couple.
The wife of the man I went to see at the home, came by to make arrangements. He died this morning. And so I ask you to keep Alex and Nabil and their families in your prayers.
I had called John for his birthday; so he called and I caught up on him and his family and parish.
I had exposition at 3PM and will have Mass at 5:30PM. Then I’ll try to “catch up” with the new TV shows that began again this week. I like that we have infinity – it means I can pull up anything I missed and watch it. I do like the 21st century!
God bless you all. Keep me in your prayers.

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