Today is also the feasts of St. Margaret of Scotland and St. Gertrude. I had the 8am Mass and will have the 5:30pm Mass also. I preached on both these wonderful and spirit-filled ladies.
I also remembered my parent and grandparents on this day, 79 years ago when they got married. I remember Mom saying that she and Dad and the two sets of parents went to Union Station from the reception in a dump truck. My parents were taking the train to NYC, staying overnight, and then taking a train to Niagara Falls. They spent the night in a hotel called the Lincoln. After a number of renovations, it opened again as the Milford Plaza, which is the hotel we use to stay in when we took the NYC trips from St. Bernard’s. While there, my parents received a telegram saying, ” Hope the trip up was relaxing. Have a good time in NYC and Niagara. Reception is still going strong!”.
I don’t know where the time goes. I last wrote on October 28th. I had the evening Mass and so was able to spend all day Sunday relaxing in my suite. The weather keeps changing and so I am really tired. I did say the 11am Mass on Monday but was too tired to go over to the apartment and see the kids for the Halloween party. On Tuesday, I had the 8am Mass and I went for Tuesdays with Fr. Maury to the apartment. I rode over on my scooter and on the way back I stayed out on the parking lot to watch the children process around in their costumes.
On November 1st, I did the 8am Mass and then an Uber to Wheaton to get my haircut and my beard trimmed. Then I Ubered to the St. John Vianney House for the first Wednesday meeting of the retired priests. Had a good time and then I Ubered home. And took a nap.
On November 2nd, I had the 11am Mass and then concelebrated a special Mass we have at 7pm, where we remember by name all those who have been buried from the church over the last year. The choir does a beautiful Latin Mass and we have a small orchestra as well. It is one of my favorite things we do here.
On Friday, the 3rd, I had the 8am Mass, then I Ubered to Stone Ridge for a Mass and a talk on liturgical language for the Children of Mary. Then my friend, Pat drove me to the parking lot of St. Jane de Chantel; Carlo Mancuso, who drove up from Reston, VA picked me up and we went to Kathleen and Doug Hanratty’s and then rode to West Virginia. Frank Cavallaro’s funeral was at 3pm. The pastor and the staff were very nice and helped me get around the altar. I preached and it was easy because he was a really nice man, policeman, soldier, husband, father, and coach. We went to the cemetery, which was 25miles away. We had a police escort and people pulled over and even took off their hats. It was just like down in St. Mary’s county. I was very tired and while many went back to the parish for a great meal; we headed home. Fortunately, the first thing I had on Saturday was confessions at 4pm, so I just slept in and relaxed.
I think I’ll publish this and work on some more tomorrow.