Today is the day before Psalm Sunday and as I have the 5:30pm Mass on Sunday, I thought I would begin a message as I plan to spend the day in my suite.
When last I wrote, I was going to our parish town meeting. It was very good and well attended. Two people from the Archdiocesan staff spoke and answered questions. I think it will help in the healing process. On the following Tuesday at our session with the seniors, we continued the discussion because some people were not able to come to the Town Meeting. Those that did come, we able to add their impressions to our discussion. It was one of our best.
Also, it was announced this week that Archbishop Gregory of Atlanta will become our new bishop in May.He is a good guy and I’m sure he’ll help us to heal.
A lot of people took me up on the offer to come over to the rectory parlor for confession or just to talk. Also had a lot of friends stop in. I saw the Ostrye family (I married Billy, who was at GC, about 25 years ago) His oldest daughter is looking at colleges. I really am old.Mrs Casey and her daughter, Marsha and friend, John came to last week’s Mass as did, the Darias, and many others who just wanted to say they miss me at daily Mass. My cousin Jean, Doug and Kathleen Hanratty, Barry and Barbara, and Colleen and Monty (whose wedding I will have in two weeks) also came to visit. I’ve also phoned and talk to Bob Norton (whose is making a slow but steady recovery from his surgery), talked to the Munson’s in New Jersey, Jean Morere in Florida, and John Haag in Pa. Mary Lynn (whom I went to my senior prom with) and Dolores Maranacio who was a very active parishioner at St. May’s and now is at St. Anthony’s in North Beach. We had great conversations full of lots of laughter and memories. Today is also the first anniversary of the death of Father Beattie. Hard to believe, it was a year ago. Today is also Anne Lee’s birthday. She moved from Florida but I don’t have a new address yet but I saw it on Facebook and sent her a greeting. Brother Elliott, from St. Vincent is coming and stopping by on his way to Richmond.
I have alternately clean my desk and made phone calls and I am tired. I think I’ll close and take a nap. Have a very blessed Holy Week. Know that you and yours will be prayed for and have a very Happy Easter.