What Paddy Shot At

I had planned to write this yesterday on the feast, which of course, is the patronal feast of this parish but I went to bed. So, it is Monday morning, June 27th and I am leaving for Pittsburgh within the hour but I thought I’d report on last week.

Maggie, Marie, and I had a great time in AC and then on Thursday, they headed out to Canada and I haven’t gotten the report on that yet.
On Thursday, I headed to North Carolina. It was a very relaxing trip and I turned in early to a Hampton Inn in Elizabeth City. I used some of my points and it cost $16 in taxes. I went to a Golden Corral for supper and read my book. Went to bed and got up early. I didn’t know how far I was from the Outer Banks. It was about 30 miles and I got into Kitty Hawk by 11:00am. My room, is a beautiful hotel on the shore wasn’t ready yet, so I read about 9 magazines that I had brought and then when I got in my room. I took a nap.
The rehearsal was at Corolla Chapel, which is about 20 miles up the coast. It’s a two lane road and it was packed so I was glad I had left an hour before I planned to be there. The wedding co-ordinator, whom I called “B” was superb and the rehearsal took about an hour and was run like a military exercise. I got lost going to the dinner but arrived during cocktails, which I don’t like anyway. I sat with some of the aunts and uncles and had a ball. They are old Washington people and went to school with relatives of mine and knew lots of priests I know. I stayed for the toasts and learned a lot. On the road, I called my cousin Ann Brown O’Connell and I checked on some of the people I was meeting as she knew them also.
As a “senior priest” I was allowed to leave early and went back and read for awhile. I had a balcony, where I could sit and listen to the ocean. Relaxing night.
Saturday, I just relaxed till I left for the wedding. It was at 3pm and actually started at 3. “B” is very organized. All went well and the Mass and the couple were beautiful. The reception was at the Duck Woods Country Club and was just magnificient. Again, I sat with family and enjoyed meeting their children and grandchildren. One couple came up to me and said, “Didn’t we see you last week in Darnestown?” I said, “Yes, one of the nice side effects of being a senior priest is, No one knows where you are and its hard to hit a moving target!” I also learned that a cousin of mine use to babysit the bride. Small world in those “Catholic circles”.
On Sunday, I went to the church to see the pastor and give him some papers. I thought I’d go to Mass at 9:30 but the Mass was at 9. So I went and got breakfast and returned to talk to Fr. Bill. He is an Oblate and of course, we knew people in common.
I decided to head back to DC. It was about 300 miles based on the trip on Thursday so I also decided that I’d stop off and sleep at SBS. I got home around 4pm and Fr. Jim. and I talked. I didn’t have the energy to preside but he let me concelebrate because as a Catholic I still had to go to Mass. It was nice to hear him preach about the Body and Blood of Jesus on our feast. I worked a little at my desk and then read some more of my book and went to bed. Although the beds in hotels are comfortable, there’s nothing like your own bed.

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