Today, I am spending the day in my suite “recovering” from my Saturday trip to St. Michael’s in Ridge for the 5pm Mass celebrating the 100th anniversary of the school. It was great and the weather was a typical blue sky St. Mary’s county kind of day. I spent most of Friday night and Saturday morning “getting ready”. Whenever I am away from my “comfort zone”, I have to anticipate what I might need. I got all 4 of my small canisters of oxygen filled and Fr. Alec made sure that three of them were taken down to the lobby. I had a large canister down there as well. I had a bag with my alb and cincture ready to be able to concelebrate. My red cart was over in the parish center and poor Patty had to lift it up into the van as I couldn’t get it to close up. As she loves to say, “Don’t worry, strong woman can pull the plow” Once we had the van filled, the ladies and I headed south. Lots of traffic as everyone was enjoying the sun! It took us about 2 hours and 15 minutes to get down to Ridge but we got there a half hour before the Mass was to start. As we pulled up, Colleen and Jeff Smith came up to the car. They are dear friends whom I have not seen in a while and they were just driving home from vacation and came by to say hello. I was so glad to see them and it was the beginning of a great “coming home” day. They and two other couples have met me for lunch a few times and we set up for a “picnicking in” day soon.
Once I got inside the sacristy, one of the young servers said hello and I asked her last name – she looked familiar. When she said, “Muir”, I said, “Oh Rachel”. She said, “No, that’s my sister and she got married last month. I am the youngest. You baptized me just before you left the parish. I am 11 now.” Oh, I really am getting old!! The room was filled with old friends. Fr. Lee Fangmeyer, who was pastor after me, and Fr Peter, the pastor now, concelebrated. The main celebrant and homilist was Bishop Mike Fisher, our newest auxiliary bishop. I didn’t go up into the sanctuary; I stayed in my cart and they brought me Communion. It was so good to see many familiar faces and after Mass, many came to say hello. The music was great and I told them how much I enjoyed hearing the parts of the Mass sung in tunes I always liked. I will not mention everyone but let me say how nice it was to see many of Sister Mary Rita Cullison’s siblings and one lady, who made an alb for me when I was at St. Michael’s. She told me then that she chose the material very carefully because she knew I often through it in the back of my car and this material would not let it looked crumbled. I told her that the sacristan at Blessed Sacrament use to tell me how she could see why I liked one alb especially because it never showed the wrinkles. Thanks, Ann!! There was a dinner afterwards; but I didn’t go over. It took me (and my angels) some time to get all my accouterments into the van and I wanted to be home by dark. When I got home, Fr. Bill and Fr. Alec met me and I told them all about the day. I was “wound up” like Liza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady” – I could have danced all night!! I finally let the priest go to bed and so did I. I slept well!
When last I wrote, it was September 14th, and I had the 11am Mass on Saturday, the 15th – because of the rain, Carolyn drove me over and back. On Sunday, the 16th, she came and brought me over to the sacristy for me to get my cart and go over to the gym for the 10:30am Mass. It was great to be there again. I think the last time may have been in May.
After Mass, I met in my office with the mother and the sister of a 21 year old who had taken his life on Saturday. I taught him in 6th grade religion and have kept in touch with him. He came to see me in August. He had some psychological problem in high school and was being helped. He seemed to be happy as he was going to Maryland University in the fall; but we never know what’s going on inside. Please remember Seamus and his family in your prayers.
In the afternoon, I rode back for the parish “town meeting”. About 250 people came and it was a good session. We had a facilitator and a panel of psychiatrists and lawyers and one man who worked for years at the Bishops’ Conference. There were some emailed questions and then people could speak from the floor. There is a lot of hurt and anger, and it was shared. People were very respectful and listened. After an hour and a half, we planned to end but people asked to continue and we went for another 40 minutes. It might happen again but I think some healing and understanding occurred. I was glad to go to bed.
Monday, it rained, so I got a ride over and back for the evening Mass.
On Tuesday, I had the 11am Mass and then we had our first “Tuesdays with Fr. Maury” session. It rained on and off but I got to the Manning center without getting wet. Our topic was “What I did on my summer vacation” and lots of people contributed. Some traveled and some had family events and others – like me – hid inside from the heat and the rain. Afterwards, I came to the rectory (and Peter took the cart back for me) and we had about 1`2 priests and deacons meeting in the fireplace room. It was good to see old friends as I don’t usually go to the deanery meeting but as it was in our house, I joined in. We talked about this mess of the church and what many parishes were doing – like our town meeting. I’m glad I went.
Wednesday was my day off and Colleen and Monty came for a visit and then I took a nap. In the evening Carolyn got me and I rode my cart into the church for Seamus’ wake. Fr. Bill did the prayers and then there was a slide show of wonderful pictured of Seamus and his family and friends. Lots of the parish family came and many of his classmates – one flew in from Demark, where is spending a semester – shared great stories of their time together. I was glad to be in bed.
Thursday was the funeral. Fr. Bill and Fr. Rob Maro, who use to be out faith formation person before he went to the seminary, concelebrated with me. Deacon Pat Mullan came and was a great help in making it possible for me to greet and bless the coffin, get me up to the chair and altar and get me back to accompany the coffin out of the church. The music was beautiful and we said the Irish blessing – which was on his holy card – before we left. Deacon Patrick went to the cemetery for us. I went home and went to bed.
On Friday, Joan brought me the cart at 7:30am, and I had the 8am Mass and then returned to my suite. It rained again and so I stayed in my suite Saturday morning. I met someone from Separated and Divorced down in the parlor. At 4:30pm, Carolyn picked me up and took me to the sacristy. I had the 5:30pm Mass and then she brought me home. The rain is so annoying.
On Sunday, the 23rd, I walked over to the parish center as it was not raining. I was having trouble even though I had on a small canister. I got my cart and soon was breathing OK. I had left another full canister in the sacristy; so between the two I got through the 9AM Mass. I forget how I got back because I stayed for a while after Mass and talked with Fr. Regis and some friends. In the afternoon, Rose and Patty came and we picnicked in.
On Monday, the 24th, I had the 11AM Mass and came back here. Around 2PM, Deacon Gary and his wife Diane came and we visited in the parlor. They are members of Fr. Bob Norton’s parish in Pittsburgh and have a son who lives nearby. They will visit him for a few days. We met last summer on another visit and I enjoyed seeing them and “catching up”.
On Tuesday, in the morning, I met a lady in the parlor and in the afternoon, Fr. Mike Dolan came and we had a great visit. He is retired but lives in Georgia and helps out in a parish there. We laughed and talked. Around 4:45, Carolyn picked me up and drove me over for the 5:30PM Mass. Afterwards, the young man whom Fr. Regis confirmed here last Spring before he graduated from Catholic U, came to visit me in the parlor. Fr. Alec was going over to lock the church and I invite him to come back and join us, which he did. Billy works in a startup coming that helps you with apps and he and Father really talked about stuff that I didn’t understand at all. But all three of us had a great time.
Wednesday was my DAY OFF and I just stayed in my suite (and tried to straighten up). They brought me two large tubes of oxygen and took away the ones I had used.
On Thursday, the 27th, I was scheduled for the 11AM Mass but it was a funeral and Fr. Alec took it, so I was in my suite all day. I was able to watch the hearings of the Judiciary committee. I cried through both Dr. Ford and Judge Kavanaugh. Nothing more to say; I am just praying more.
On Friday, the 29th, I had the 5:30PM Mass. It was the feast of St. Lawrence Ruiz, the first martyr of the Philippines. I had a good homily on him and then Carolyn drove me home. I spent the evening getting things ready for the trip to St. Michael’s on Saturday.
So now you are up to date and it is 4:15PM, Carolyn will pick me up in a few moments and I will have the 5:30pm Mass. I think we’ll pick up some supper and picnic in. I will be glad to get to bed as it took a long time to write this. Hope you enjoy.