Again, two days just flew by. I can remember my Grandmother Crory saying one time that time goes by very quickly as you age; so I guess I’ve reached “aged”!!
Saturday was a very pleasant day. First, it didn’t rain! It was very humid but I was just glad to see the sun staying. I had a Baptism at 11:00am in the chapel. It was a lovely young woman, who called me months ago. She was pregnant and not married. She had contacted her parish but the priest told her, he couldn’t baptize the baby because she wasn’t active in the parish. She had been to a baptism here and asked if I would help her. I told her to come see me and we had a great visit. Her son was born in August and her parents came from Spain to be with her. She’s from a big extended family and I think there were about 60 people in the chapel. Her Mom read in Spanish and I did the actual baptism in Spanish and the blessing at the end. I’m sorry that I haven’t kept up using my Spanish but I was able to welcome her Mom and Dad. Padre Mauricio had a good time.
I wasn’t on duty but I noticed there was a message on the beeper, so I called. It was a man whose wife is dying of a brain tumor. I went to their house and anointed her and gave them Communion. She isn’t able to speak much but we had a nice visit. It turns out she had been the art teacher here at our school. Her daughter, who was a student here, then went off to Good Counsel for high school. She is now studying nursing in New Jersey.
I had confessions at 4pm and it was a steady stream. I always enjoy a crowd. I came down to the office to wait to help with Communion at the 5:30; but Fr. Percy came by and said that he’d take Communion. So I went over to the rectory, ate some dinner and went up to watch TV. I really enjoy watching Gordon Peterson’s Washington, which is a roundtable with local newsperson. I especially like Mark Shields, who is one of our ushers and has such a great wit. He is an old fashion Irish political pundint! Went to bed early.
Sunday, I helped with Communion at the 9:00am and then I concelebrated the 10:30 with Fr. Ron and Cardinal Wuerl. The Cardinal came to install Ron as pastor. I had never been to an installation and I was very impressed. The Cardinal spoke very well about the role of a pastor and at the end of Mass, said some very thoughtful comments about the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The church was filled. There was a reception afterwards and also a brunch over in the rectory but I skipped them both because I had the 12:30 Mass. A lady stopped me after the 10:30 to ask me if we had changed the readings for the anniversary. I assured her that they were the readings for the 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time and I said, “Often, God has a way of getting His message to us”. They were all about forgiveness. In my homily, I mentioned that there is a TV show that is being advertised as starting in late September, it is called “Revenge” and it is about a woman whose father was killed and she is out for revenge. I said it just isn’t something I want to watch. Jesus says “seven times seventy”. As he left church, Mark said to me, “I don’t know, maybe six times but more doesn’t seem Irish. We hold on to our booze and our injuries!!” He just makes my days!!!!
Sunday afternoon, I wrote a review of the book, “Mrs. Mattingly’s Miracle” for the Washington Catholic Historical Society magazine. I sent it to Joe Stoutz, my editor for him to “tweak it”. Then I drove down to Wildwood in Southern Maryland and met with some of the couples from Teams for supper. We had a nice visit. Bob and Jane could not join us but we kept them in our prayers and thoughts. We also had lots of laughs. I got home around 8pm. The editor had done a great job and so I emailed the completed review off to the magazine.
I am at my desk and have the 11:00am Mass. Then I’ll go by and visit the family of Jack Holloway, whose funeral I have on Wednesday to plan the readings. This evening I am suppose to meet Kevin Potter and his friend, Peggy for dinner here in Bethesda. I’ll stop in RCIA and meet the new people and then go to bed. I think that brings you up to date.
Thanks for the update!! I’m back from Amarillo….all went well.