Yesterday, October 31st was the 104th anniversary of my Mom, Frances O’Connell Stoddard’s birth in Boston, Massachusetts. She always claimed she was born in Lynn – and that is where my grandparents lived; but according to family lore – and a recently discovered birth certificate, she was born in the Lying In hospital in Boston. It seemed my grandfather, Arthur wanted to go to a Red Soxs’ baseball game. My grandmother, Blanche kept telling him that she didn’t want to go because she was expecting her first child and she wanted to stay in Lynn. My granddad was a great sports fan and told her everything would be fine; so they went. Again, according to lore, around the 7th inning, she said, “Let’s go!” – and they did. Fortunately, there was a clinic – called the “Lying in” Hospital about a block from the stadium. It was there, that Frances Anastasia Crory was born on Halloween, 1914.
Let’s see what’s happened since I last wrote on October 21st.
On Monday, the 22nd, Joan brought the cart over around 9:15am and I went to the office and met some people for spiritual direction. Then I had the 11am Mass. I also had the 5:30pm Mass so I stayed in the office and did paper work. Carolyn drove me to the rectory after Mass and I was in bed during Jeopardy.
The 23rd I had the 11am Mass and offered it for Ellen Curro’s parent on their 69th wedding anniversary. They are old friends from Resurrection parish and Ellen is one of my Madonna House buddies. Once I got home, and knew that Wednesday I would stay in my suite, I worked on my presentations and the details of the Day of Recollection.
On the 25th, I had the 11am Mass and on the 26th, I offered Mass for Bill Berry here in the house. His funeral was in West Virginia that morning but I wasn’t able to go. I had the evening Mass, which was for Seamus. It took a lot of energy to get the Day of Recollection worked on and I was just so tired and I took a lot of naps over those two days.
God bless her, Carolyn picked me up in the car and drove me from the rectory to the parish center at 8:15am. I wanted to get settled in my cart and see that everything was organized. Some people came in around 9;15am and we just sat and “caught up” or met new people. Eventually 41 people and everything went so well. I gave three presentations and then three of the group continued the theme with personal experience or reflections. We had three small groups where people could share. Out lunch was catered by Word of Mouth and it was great. A lot of people got to know each other during lunch. We broke up around 3pm. I was thinking I might have to ask the 82 year old retired priest to cover the 5:30pm Mass if I was exhausted BUT I was exhilarated and said and preached at Mass. I was in bed by 7pm.
On Sunday, October 28th, once again, Carolyn picked me up. She took me to the parish center and I got my cart and dressed for the 10:30 gym Mass. My godchild, Kathleen Morris Havern, her husband Dave, and their sons, Jimmy and Charlie were down for the weekend for a cousin’s birthday and they stopped to visit me. I looked for them but the traffic was a mess in the parking lot, so I hadn’t seen them come in. I have the children up around the altar for the Consecration and during the sign of Peace, I’m telling what Jesus said when he came the disciples on Easter, when I see Jimmy and Charlie. I lost my place and just began to share the sign of peace with all the children. It was a special moment for me. After Mass, we went to the rectory, where Carolyn had a made breakfast of eggs and bacon and some sweet rolls. The priests joined us and we had a great time. As they left around 2pm, Dave said, “Thanks, they’ll be asleep by the beltway.” Family is so great.
On Monday, the 29th, I had the 11am Mass and then went to the senior center for a Halloween luncheon with the seniors and some preschoolers. It started to rain, so Peter got me home. I think I fell asleep during Jeopardy.
On Tuesday, the 30, I had the 11am Mass and then retired to my suite until the 11am Mass on Thursday, November the first, when I began this message. I said Mass in my room on Wednesday as Judy Raley’s funeral was that day at St. Michael’s and I just couldn’t go there. I was too tired to go to the healing Mass at 7pm but I heard it was nice. I called Fr. Bill afterwards and asked him to bring me a large oxygen from the lobby – I still don’t think to gauge my needs upstairs. I worked fine.
On Friday, November 2nd, the feast of all souls, my cousin Jean came and we had a great long talk in the parlor. I enjoy her s much. Colleen and Monty came by and I went over for the 5:30pm Mass and stayed for our annual All Souls Mass at 7pm. We have an orchestra and a great choir.The Mass is the Requiem by Faure and it’s beautiful. We read out the names of all members of the parish who died this last year and we also include in the program the names of anyone we wish to have remembered. I love that custom. I was in bed by 9pm and asleep by 9:05.
Today, which is Saturday, November 3rd.I had two Baptisms in the chapel. they were cousin- one from New Jersey and one from here. I really enjoyed the family and everything went well. They are somewhere in the high 800’s in my computer program and I’ll input them tomorrow. I just finished the 5:30pm Mass and am ready for bed.
Tomorrow, I don’t have a morning Mass, so I will not set the alarm, (which I just turned back as its the end of daylight saving time). On Sunday, the 4th, I will meet some parents here in the rectory as they would like to have their babies baptized on December 1st but our next clergy led session is not till the 2nd. They’ll have a mini course with me. Then Carolyn will come and get me and I have the 5:30pm Mass. Then it is for sure to bed and rest.
Although I spent a lot of time in the rectory, I did call a lot of people. I spoke with Betty Woodbrun, Marian Ann Blair, Brenda Ridgel, and Lila,about Judy Raley. My cousin Ray Jensen, Pat Berry, John Bohrer, Kate Berry, Mary Alice McGreevy, Marilyn Cavallaro, Mary, my niece, Father T, the Petrones, Joan Beall, Barbara Ostrye, Kass, and my sister Maggie. Keep all of them in your payers as well as Judy and Bill and Mary Ann Brothers (who was a nurse at Good counsel) and Tom Marmet ( a 22 year old) shot in his car as he was driving back from serving the poor in Washington. All of these deaths and the massacre at the temple in Pittsburgh need to be lifted up in our prayer. God bless you all.