Don’t know where I got the idea it was the 33rd week; I must have turned too many pages in my breviary. Anyway, it is the 32nd week and I am going to be say Mass at 8:30am starting tomorrow and through Friday. It was so rough coming down that many people were sick (not me!) and it was hard to walk and be steady. I didn’t try to say Mass but on Saturday I went to the office to see if I might get a room to celebrate Mass for our group on Sunday. The office was thrilled to know they was a priest on board and asked if I’d say Mass for the ship on Sunday. I said, sure and so we had it in the bulletin and they annouced at the show that we’d have Mass at 8:30am on Sunday in the Starlight Lounge. There were over 200 people there. I got three other Eucharistic Ministers and three different voices (Bill from West Virginia, Rick from Georgia, and Deacon Charlie from New York) to read the Scriptures. I told the people I’d preach so they’d hear a real Tidewater accent in addition to those “foreigners”! It went very well and we were out by 9:05am (No collection or announcements!)
Late Sunday night, the cruise director called to see if I’d be willing to say a daily Mass, I told him we couldn’t find a room; he put me on hold and then said, “how about the lounge at 8:30 starting Tuesday. So we begin tomorrow.
We are all having a good time. I don’t get off the ship but many in our group do. I stay around and read or go to the pool or NAP!
Today we were in St. Thomas and are now heading to the Dominican Republic. We’ve been playing card – Maureen seems to enjoy that and she can hook up her oxygen and breathing is not a problem.
Food is wonderful and I will have to get real structured on my return.
Heard from Pat Watters today and she is still undergoing test. Keep her in your prayers.
Now that folks on the ship know about you, your Christmas card list will grow once again! 🙂