I just finished the 7:30am Mass and I have a baptism at the 10:30am Mass in the gym; so I thought I’d use this time to update you since I last wrote.
On the 4th, I had the 11:00am Mass and I did something I don’t usually do. I rushed!! I finished Mass at 11:22 and so I decided to rush to the train station. in hopes that I might be able to change my 1:02pm ticket for a 12:02 ticket. I didn’t get there in enough time but also I left my cell phone on the vesting case in the sacristy. I wasn’t able to call Joe and tell him that I would be on the 2:58 train and when I got to Philly, I discovered that I don’t know how to use a pay phone. I have become dependent on my cell phone. It took almost 2 hours for me to get Joe’s phone number from my rectory and when I called him, he told me that Terry and John would pick me up. We went to dinner and Joe joined us for desert. I went to bed early and slept till about 9:00am. Joe had to go to school and proctor an exam. I took a cab to the Chesnut Hill train station and took it to the 30th Street Amtrack Station, when John picked me up and took me to a movie theatre. I saw “Of gods and Men”. It is the story of 8 Trappist monks who lived in Algeria in the early 90’s and we murdered. It is in French with English subtitles (but it is so easy to watch). I recommend it highly!!
Then I went with Joe and John to a nice Italian restaurant. I didn’t eat much as I knew I was going to another Italian restaurant after the wedding rehearsal. Joe drove me up to the rehearsal and after dinner, Regina drove me to the Septa (like our metro) and I got to the 30th Street and caught the 10:30 train to DC. I got home to t he rectory around 1:20 and was asleep almost immediately.
On Friday, I got up around 10:00. I didn’t get to the funeral that I had hoped to attend of the husband of a good friend of my siters and myself from our St. Martin’s days.
I did have the 11:00am Mass and then I dropped off the paper work from my cousin’s wedding at St. John’s and then headed over to Arlington Cemetery for the burial of Anne Kehoe. We had her funeral in January but as she was a dependent and not active duty, May was the earlist day we could have the interrment. I love Jim Kehoe, her dad, and all of her siblings and their families, so I was happy to accept an invite to come to Jim’s house for some food and fellowship. Between the cemetery and the gathering, I stopped at the barber in Eastpines and got my haircut and my beard trimmed. Both we very long overdue.
I was in bed by 7:30pm and slept till about 7:30am on Saturday. I presided at the 9:30am First Communion and Fr. John preached. Fr. Bill George, SJ joined Fr. Testfaye and Fr. Jim in concelebrating. At the 11:00am, I concelebrated with Fr. Testfaye and John presided and preached. Jim had a burial.
As soon as Mass ended, I add a very brief but lovely meeting with Matt and Kathy Monahan, old friends whose niece received her First Communion at the 11:00 Mass. I have been a guest at their home many times and they’re good friends. I REMEMBERED my cell phone and caught the 1:01 train again. Joe picked me up and we went to a nice diner that we like and then he took me to the wedding.
The wedding was great and the rain held off – although there was a beautiful rainbow outside of the reception hall afterwards! I stayed long enough to pray and eat and then again Regina drove me to the Metro and I left the train station at 10:30 for DC. I got in around 1:00am and was asleep immediately.
This morning I got up at 6:15am and came over for the 7:30am Mass. I had the congregation sit and listen as I read the long Gospel about the two disciples on the way to Emmaus. I reminded them that Jesus wants to “walk with us” and take away our doubts or hurts and that we meet him in the breaking of the Word and the breaking of Bread. That’s why we come to church.
I am almost ready for the 10:30 Mass and the baptism, so I will close because as soon as Mass is over; I am going to the rectory, eating some breakfast, taking Tylinol PM and going to bed. I’ll get back on schedule tomorrow.
I’m exhausted just READING the events you lived!! Hope you have a lite schedule on Monday. You ARE a senior priest, remember. 🙂