What Paddy Shot At

As I begin this message, it is Friday afternoon (November 4th), I probably will not finish it before I must go up to the 5:30PM Mass but I wanted to get started.

I last wrote on October 13th and the days have just flown by since.
On Friday, the 14th and Saturday, the 15th I had the 11AM Masses. I celebrated the Sacrament of the Sick with someone and I must have spent the rest of the time in my suite. I had the 7:30 AM Mass on Sunday and it looks like I didn’t do much until Tuesday, October 18th when I had the 11AM Mass and then went to the Manning Center for Tuesdays with Fr. Maury

I WROTE SOME MORE THAT DAY BUT I DON’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO IT. IT WENT OUT INTO THE BLACK HOLE.

….So I shall continue.

Our topic for the day was YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT RIGHT TO LIFE
We talked about a lot of things. There is a bill before the DC City council to allow “assisted suicide”. We talked a lot about that and it led to a good discussion about pain and suffering. One person made a presentation that might help us in the upcoming election. I was pleased by the “civility” of our discussion.

I had the 8AM Mass on Wednesday and then picked up Fr. T and drove him to an appointment. We got home earlier than we expected; so he was home in time for dinner and I joined the Fathers for supper at 6:10PM.

On Thursday, I had exposition and the 5:30PM Mass and I met with a lady, whose husband I buried a few weeks ago. She is doing OK.

On Friday, the 21st, I had the 11AM Mass and the evening Mass at 5:30PM. Fr. Alec is away this week to do a family wedding and then get some vacation; so I was happy to do “double duty” Afterwards I went to Sergio’s restaurant to meet the Degenhardts, the Johnsons, and Gail Battle to celebrate Fr. T’s birthday.
I was glad to get to bed early.

On Saturday, I had hoped to visit St. Michael’s for their fundraising event but I wasn’t up to going. I met someone for spiritual direction and then I had the 5:30PM Mass. I went to bed early.

On Sunday, the 23rd, I had the 10:30am Mass in the gym. I haven’t been there since April because there is a lot of movement and I got so tired. However, I had the seminarian deacon and Brian to help me. And I even gave out Communion. It went very well. Also, the Haverns (my Godchild, Kathleen Morris), her husband, David, and their three children were in town from Pittsburgh and came to the Mass. We all went to breakfast and had a ball. We sat outside, it was so warm. Later in the day, I went to Rick and Peg’s and joined them and Kate and James (celebrating their month’s anniversary of marriage!!) for crabs. They were great and again we sat outside to enjoy them. Everyone was happy UNTIL the Redskins lost their game.

On Monday morning, I went to St. Bernard’s for Margaret McKnew’s funeral Mass. Msgr. Parry presided and there were 4 priests and 2 deacons. I preached and discovered that walking up the pulpit steps could exhaust me. I came home and went and took a long nap. At 4PM, my friend, Coleen picked me up and drove us to a meeting of Separated and Divorced Catholics over in Virginia. We had a nice meal and there were about 20 people there. A good discussion was held.

On Tuesday, October 25th, I had the 8AM Mass and also met with someone for spiritual direction. Everyone was so happy that the weather was warm but not me. The air pollution was heavy and I was glad to get back to my suite and AC.

I stayed in my suite all day and just came over for the 5:30PM Mass.

On Thursday, the 27th, I had the 8AM and then drove back to St. Bernard’s for my cousin, Margaret Stoner’s funeral. I presided but the deacon met the body and I preached from the chair. (I learned something at the earlier funeral) – I need to limit my movements. It went well and I saw lots of my relatives and shared some greetings. Came right home and went to bed very early.

Had the 8AM Mass on Friday and met a friend for lunch and again was in bed early.

On Saturday, the 29th, I had a baptism in the chapel. It was the younger brother of a little girl (now 3) whom I had baptized. It was so nice to see the parents and grandparents again. I limit my movements but was ready to go back to my suite and early bed!

I had the 10:30AM in the church and they made it possible for me to help with Communion. But I went home to the AC as soon as I could.

I stayed in the rectory all of Monday, October 31st. Only 7 kids came to “trick or treat”. It was warm again and so I stayed in the AC and I missed seeing the kids’ parade, which I always enjoy!

On ALL SAINTS DAY, I had the 11AM Mass followed by Tuesdays with Fr. Maury. Our topic was “How did my family honor our dead?” It was very interesting as we have people from different countries and other parts of the States. I met with someone in the afternoon who is interested in learning more about being Catholic. I gave her Joe’s book.

On Wednesday, November 2nd, I had the 11AM Mass and then I joined my four cousins for lunch at Clyde’s at Tower Oaks, which is a fascinating place in the woods. That night, I concelebrated with Fr. Ron and Fr. Alec at 7pm for our annual Mass for all who have died in the parish during the last year. We did the Mass in English but the music was Latin and from the 16th century. We had a great choir and marvelous musicians.

On Thursday, the 3rd, I met a number of people in my office and then had the 5:30PM Mass.

On Friday, November 4th, I once again had the 11AM and the 5:30PM Masses because it was First Friday and all the priests had 2 or 3 Masses. I was glad to get to bed.

I slept in on Saturday, the 5th and had the 5:30PM Mass. I spent all day getting my presentation about Pope Francis’ exhortation, Amoris Laetitia. We are sponsoring a symposium Sunday from 2 to 5pm in the gym

On Sunday, the 6th, I went and visited a man in a hospital ward and then joined my friends at Maplewood for brunch. I returned for the symposium and it went very well. I went to bed early.

I spent the whole day, November 7th in my suite and “recovered”. I did talk on the phone to lots of people but mostly I just rested.

Today, November 8th, I went and bought a black suit coast as I had discovered that the jacket I was wearing was BLUE. Then I went to the pastoral center and concelebrated the annual Mass for the priests who died this last year. I knew a lot of them and was glad I went. We had about 60 priests and a nice luncheon afterwards. I saw lots of old friends. I decided to come here and finch Paddy.
I had the 5:30pm Mass and then I’ll come home and watch TV (and the election news!) until I fall asleep.

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