Hello, I hope you are already having a good Lent. I just got home from a few days in Baltimore, where I participated in the Mid-Atlantic Congress. It is an opportunity to hear speakers about Evangelizing in our world. There are good talks and lots of exhibitors who sell (and give away) materials to help in the process. I also had a chance to see old friends and catch up on their lives.
First, let me bring you up to date since last I wrote, which was February 1st.
First, I guess I was hacked because people keep telling me that they got emails from me that promise them money. Please ignore them and try not to even open them. My brother-in-law, Rick had the best answer when one of his sons got a request for $200. He said, “I knew it wasn’t from Uncle Maury. He would have asked for a thousand!” So please ignore them. I think it was from Facebook and I have changed whatever needed to be changed or it may have been Yahoo and I’ve changed that too. Buyer be ware!!
The weather has been very confusing and so I haven’t been out much. I even held my interviews for those to be confirmed over here in the rectory. All I had to do was stay over here after lunch and take a nap and they came over after 3pm and I rode down on my chair and we met in the dining room. I love when they tell me about their Saint Name or the Community Service or their Sponsor. They put a lot of time and thought into their choices. I must have met with about 30 of them. It went well and Confirmation is next Saturday.
In looking over my appointment book, I see that aside from Masses and Confessions, I really have not done a lot. I’m met with a number of people in my office or here in the rectory. I have a small list of people that I phone regularly but I don’t go out like I use to. I did have Mary Healey’s funeral and was it windy at the cemetery. I saw some old friends from St. B’s. Please keep Mary’s family in your prayers.
I went out shopping with the Petrone ladies and we had a great time but I still haven’t found the best way to get a “scooter”. I really do need it as I learned at the Congress. I rented one and without it, I could never have gotten around. I’ll try again next week as the weather is going to be better. I am finding more time to read and I am still working on my Christmas letter, which I can say definitively “will not be out by Lent!” I also phone and “catch up” with lots of people.
I have the 5:30pm Mass tonight and tomorrow I will baptize William James, the grandchild of Rick and Peg Jensen, my cousins who are kind and take me out to put wreathes on the graves of our ancestors and other family fun. I officiated at Kate Jensen and James Collins wedding two years ago and now the next generation of the family continues. Please keep them all in your prayers. Also continue to pray for Father Beattie and Father Trancone, Mary Mudd, and Betty Neary. So much illness this time of the year.
I think I’ll send this off. Hope you had a wonderful Ash Wednesday. We had a King Cake for Mardi Gras and then entered into the joy and sacrifice of Lent. Let us pray for each other.