Today is Fr. Terry Odien’s birthday.
In looking at my appointment book, it seems that from Wednesday, Sept 21 to Saturday, the 24th, I just said Mass and returned to my air-conditioning. The weather was hot and humid. One thing I did do was ask Fr. Alec to drive me down to Knollwood, where a priest I know is living. I gave him the Sacrament of the Sick. He is not well and I didn’t stay too long. He has round the clock care.
On Saturday, I went to hear confessions at 4pm and by the time, I walked back to the confessional, I was out of breath. I didn’t take my oxygen with me – which was dumb! A young man I know came in and I said, “Before we do this, would you mind going and seeing the sacristan and ask her for some cold water?” He said, “You’re breathing very heavy. Where is your oxygen?” I said, “It’s in the rectory” and he offered to go and get it. I said, “If you just get me some water and I sit here quietly, when you come back I’ll be breathing normally”. So he went and came back with the water, and I was fine the rest of the time. I am making a serious effort to use the oxygen all the time and to remember to take it with me all the time.
On Sunday, the 25th, I had the 7:30am Mass and I went and picked up Joan Beall and we drove to Prince Frederick and met Marie and Maggie’s families, Sister Kass, Joanne, Joan Clark, and my cousins, Rick, Kate and James for crabs. It was a fun time and we spent about 4 hours. I had intended to pay for everything but my niece Mary insisted on paying with money Marie had left. So Marie treated us – as she often tried to do while she was with us. We all had a great time.
On Monday, the 26th, I picked up Fr. Beattie and we went to visit Fr. David Mudd. David was a high school student from the St. Camillus days. He eventually went into the Navy as a chaplain and just retired last year. He is only in his early 60’s but had received a diagnosis of “early” Alzheimer’s. it was hard for Fr. Beattie to see him and afterwards we went to IHOP to relax. I went to bed early as it was a difficult day.
On Tuesday, the 27th, I turned in my tax forms!!! And now I am finally done. I went and gave the Sacrament of the Sick to a dear friend who is having surgery later this week.
On Wednesday, the 28th, I had the 8AM Mass and in the afternoon, I picked up Jerry Trancone and we picked up a pizza and ate it in his room.
Thursday and Friday, I had the 11am Masses, which I liked since I had a few intentions I wanted to offer Mass for. Thursday night, we had another meeting about the Symposium of Pope Francis’ exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, which will be held in November.
On Saturday, October 1st, I was ill and stayed in bed until the evening. I did concelebrate the 5:30pm Mass as it was the Ruppert liturgy, which is to celebrate special needs parishioners. I always like it and afterward I attended the Pizza party. Mary Horan was there and we laughed and talked. I also had a chance to catch up with Delores Wilson. I sent flowers to St. Natalie for the feast of St. Therese.
On the 2nd, I had the 9AM Mass and had a good homily. I walked to the back of the church and it was so nice to greet the people. Then I went to Maplewood and had brunch with Antonia, Susan, and Bunny. Jim was in Ireland but I got to see pictures of their grandson. I just relaxed that evening and caught up on TV shows.
Had a very pleasant surprise. Carol and Bob Boston called me Sunday night and we arranged to meet at 10AM on Monday, the 3rd. They picked me up and we went to Bread and Chocolate and laughed and talked till past noon.
On Tuesday, the 4th, I had the 11AM Mass and then our second meeting of “Tuesdays with Fr. Maury”. We discussed St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast it was. People had great stories about their experiences of him and we also talked about Pope Francis and how much like St. Francis he is.
On Wednesday, the 5th, I picked up Fr. Beattie and we went to St. John Vianney House for the retired priests’ gathering. It was nice and there 17 of us, so I saw lots of old friends. I had Exposition and the 5:30Mass. Dan and Stephanie came to the Mass (they were visiting DC during her school’s fall break) and afterwards Brian treated them, me and Rowena to supper nearby. It was delicious and fun. (I think it made Facebook)
Thursday, I had the 6:30AM Mass. I had asked for it, so that we could go and visit Betty Neary. BUT she had been in the hospital and just got out on Wednesday. She is OK but had a rapid heartbeat. Dan and Stephanie went to the Capitol and went sight-seeing. I called Joe Stoutz as it was his birthday. I took a nap as I didn’t feel well. At 6pm, I went to St. Camillus church for Fr. David Mudd’s wake. I preached and Fr. Eddie Tolentino presided.
It was very nice and lots of people were there. It was great to see them all – especially David’s family. Please keep them in your prayers.
On Friday, Ron took my Mass and I went to St. Camillus for the funeral. There were many priests there from the diocese and from the military. Cardinal Wuerl presided and a bishop from the military concelebrated. Fr. Beattie preached and he was very good. We went to Gate of Heaven and he and I did the committal. There was a luncheon at the Knights afterwards and I went after and took a nap.
I picked up Dan and Stephanie at 6:30 and we went to a seafood place for a birthday supper for Stephanie. We had a good time. They flew out on Saturday and they had a good break and enjoyed each other – and rested, they tell me!!
On Saturday, I came over to celebrate the 11AM Mass and found a visiting priest who was having a memorial Mass, so I headed back to bed. Around 2pm, I drove to Edgewater to Our Lady of Perpetual Help and heard confessions and had the 5PM Mass. Kass and I went out to supper and she dropped me at the rectory, where I read and went to sleep.
On Sunday, the 9th, I had the 8:30AM Mass and Maggie, Mike and Sue, and Kerry came and we got a chance to visit afterwards. It was Kerri’s birthday. Then I had the 11AM Mass and left right afterwards for a 1PM Memorial service at Laurel Racetrack. It was for the youngest son of the Traber family from St. Bernard’s. There were about 300 people there and it was a great remembrance of Kevin and his life. Please keep Lynn, his wife and all his family in your prayers. Jerry Trancone and I concelebrated and there were about 50 families with St. B’s connections and even some of my own relatives. When I got home, I went to bed and put a sign on my door that read, “Monday is my day off, please do not disturb”
I stayed in my pj’s all day until I got a phone call from my cousin, Jean Denney. She offered to pick me up and we’d go to Clyde for supper. So I did and we had a great time.
I slept in on Tuesday, the 11th and had the 11AM Mass. It was the feast of Saint Pope John XXIII and I gave them a homily on him. It was also the 54the anniversary of the opening of Vatican II. I felt happy to be a Catholic. I did exposition at 3PM and then I headed out to meet Barbara. She and I met Barry Fitz at Mamma Lucia’s for supper. We had a great time and told stories and laughed for hours.
On Wednesday, the 12th, I had the 8AM Mass and then headed to St. Mary’s county. I arrived in time to attend the Memorial Service for Marilyn Triantos. She is a member of my TEAMS OF OUR LADY marriage group. I couldn’t get to the service on Sunday but I was glad to get to the Wednesday Mass. I saw lots of old friends. There was a reception but I couldn’t stay. Please keep David, her husband and her children and grandchildren in your prayers.
I then drove over to Edgewater and returned a thurifer I had borrowed for the memorial service on Sunday. Then I drove to Arnold to see my cousin, Margaret Stoner. She is living with her daughter and has hospice care. We had a great time. She is conscious and is aware of things. I gave her the Sacrament of the Sick and she and I prayed together. Please keep her and family in your prayers. Then I drove home. I had driven over 300 miles. AND I FELT IT.
Today, I slept in and came to the office late. I attended a talk at 1:30 in the Church. It was part of Hispanic Heritage Month in the school and the lady who spoke had left Cuba as an 11 year old. Her talk on that Cuba and the Cuba today was very interesting. I’m glad I went. I had exposition at 3PM and will have the 5:30PM Mass soon. I think I will be going to bed early.
So that’s my life for the last three weeks. It’s been full but my health has been good and so I’ve felt good enough to be “up and around”. Also the weather has been good for me. I’ve had some great “phone visits” with people – and that is always so much fun! Well I have to get ready for Mass. Know that I love and pray for all of you.
Now that summer is over you won’t have to spend as much time in your “igloo”….hooray!