It was planned to have a gathering of some of the St. Camillus young people ( who now are grandparents!!) but the snow that has blanketed DC has made it necessary to delay the gathering till next Sunday, January 20th. Same time and in the rectory here at Blessed Sacrament.
I had the 5:30pm Vigil Mass last night and the church was filled as I think everyone hoped to get to church before the heavy snow that was forecast. I was driven back to the rectory and have spent last night and all day today, writing Christmas cards and trying to clear my desk. I got a lot done and since I have the evening Mass on Monday, the 14th, I can sleep in tomorrow and so I decided that I would start to update Paddy and maybe get it out by tomorrow.
I last wrote on Sunday, December 16th. I had the 7:30am Mass (a rarity for me) but Carolyn came and drove me over from the rectory and after Mass, she made breakfast (eggs and bacon) for us and we had a nice visit. I spent the rest of the day working on Christmas cards.
On the 17th, Colleen came and cut my hair. I had let it go out for St. Nicholas but I looked shaggy. We had a nice visit and then Patrick Mullan came by to pick up the ornaments for the teachers and staff at St. Michael’s. He just began semester break from CUA and was going to St. Mary’s for a visit. As it was raining, Carolyn came and drove me over for the 5:30pm Mass. She brought me back and I am really tired of the rain.
Tuesday, the 18th, I went over to hear confessions at 10am and stayed till noon. Then I went to the senior center for Tuesdays with Fr. Maury. We talked about Advent. I rode the cart (between the raindrops) to the rectory. We were having our Christmas staff luncheon. It was good food and nice to spend time with the staff. I went and took a nap and then was driven over for the parish penance service at 7pm. I was tired and glad to get to bed.
As Wednesday is my DAY OFF, I slept in till around 11am. Then Fr. Terry Odien, who is retired and lives in the Camden diocese came by to visit. We had a great time and “caught up”. He is enjoying being retired as he was the personnel director of priests and worked 7 days a week. He was the deacon at my first Mass and it was so nice to see him relaxing.
On the 20th, I had the 8am Mass and relaxed and met someone for spiritual direction in the rectory. At 1pm, Colleen drove me over to St. Luke’s for confessions at the Advent Penance Service. I do so enjoy that. Around 5pm, Patty and Philip came and got me and brought me back to the rectory, where we met Fr. T and Rose for Pizza and cookie decorating. Fun but I was ready for bed.
On the 21st, I concelebrated the funeral at 11 and then came back to the rectory. Heard a confession and went to my suite.
On the 22nd, I had the 11am Mass and then the Girls came by. They had done some junk food shopping for me and I was now ready to face more rain keeping me in my suite.
On Sunday, the 23rd, Carolyn drove me over to the parish center. I concelebrated the 10:30am Mass and then had a baptism in the chapel at 11:30. It was so nice to see the family again. I had baptized an older child two years ago and it was great to a sibling. At 1:30, Colleen and Monty came and took apart my oxygen machine and took it and me to my nephew, Ronnie’s home in Dunkirk. They are EMTs and put it back together, got me settled in and I had no problems with breathing. Then Maggie and about 35 of the nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephew, and one great grand nieces came in – with enough food to fill an army. We had such a good time and got time to listen to what is going on in their lives. My friends got me home and put the machine together and I was peacefully in bed by 8:30pm. What a great day. There was a very good picture on Facebook and if Fr. Alec has time, he will see if I can add it to Paddy.
The 24th was Christmas Eve and I had the 6pm Mass; then I concelebrated the Midnight, and I had the 9am Mass on Christmas Day. They were all great and well attended.
On Christmas afternoon, a family had offered to picnic in with me at 2pm. The wife was ill that day but the husband, Jim, and an adult son, James (who did all the cooking and baking!) came and we had a great time. All three of us being native Washingtonians and all good talkers.
On the 26th, the office was closed but I went to the chapel for a baptism at 3pm.
On Thursday, the 27th, I had the 8am Mass and the 11 and then a baptism at 11:30 and at 1pm. They were members of families from the parish who lived in Texas and Peru, so we arrange everything for while they were visiting for Christmas. It all went very well.
On the 28th, and 29th, I had the 5:30pm Masses. Carolyn came and drove me over and back because it was raining.
On Sunday, the 30th, I had the 10:30 Mass and it was still raining.
On Monday, New Years Eve, I had the 5:30pm Mass and I was in bed by 8pm and woke up around 11:45 and watched the ball fall in NYC and then back to sleep.
I didn’t have Mass on Tuesday or Wednesday.
On Thursday, the 3rd, I had the 5:30pm Mass and on Friday, the 4th, I had the 8am and 5:30pm. The pastor is away and all of us priests have extra Masses for nursing home, etc. It’s not bad.
On Saturday, the 5th, I had the confessions from 4 to 5pm.
I had the 9am Mass on Sunday, the 6th but I didn’t feel well afterwards, so I cancelled a trip down to Maggie’s to see the grandkids in a play. It was a good decision as I was ill much of the night.
On Monday, the 7th, I had the 11am and came right back to my suite.
I felt better by Tuesday, the 8th, when I had the 8am Mass and the 11. Then I went to the seniors for a very good discussion on difference and how to deal with them.
On Wednesday, the 9th, my cousin rick took me to my barber in Wheaton and I had my haircut and my beard trimmed. I felt very good but another cousin, Jean was to join us for lunch but she was ill and so I sent Rick home and went to bed myself. It was cold outside.
On Thursday, the 10th, I had the 11am and the 5:30. My tooth began to bother me and so Joan called and got an appointment for Friday morning at 11.
On Friday, I said the 8am Mass and Monty came and took me to the dentist. Colleen was ill and he stayed with me and brought me back to the rectory before noon. My dentist called and got me a 2pm appointment for a foot canal. The office ladies drove me and Joan stayed with me. It didn’t hurt but he gave me something to help me sleep and I did.
On Saturday, the 12th, we had a big funeral for Bill Mullan, 95 years old and a great parishioner. the funeral was well attended and the music was tremendous. Hi grandson, Rev. Mr. Patrick Mullan (who was my seminarian at St. Michael’s in Ridge years ago) preached and it was excellent. Pat will be ordained a priest of Washington on June 16, 2019. I came home for awhile and took a nap. I had the 5:30pm Mass. Carolyn came and drove me as the snow was supposed to be heavy by then. It wasn’t, but when she drove me home at 6:15, it was beginning to stick to the road.
I wrote to the 25 people who were coming for the “reunion” and told them, we’d try again next Sunday. And I spent today, finishing up – almost – my Christmas cards and phoning some friends I knew would – like me – be inside.
And that’s brings us up to date. Keep me in your prayers and know that I do the same for you and yours. Let’s recommit ourselves to our Baptismal promises and ask God’s blessing on all the baptized – especially the new ones.