Yesterday, I anticipated this feast by taking off the afternoon and evening and spent that time reading, watching TV, and sleeping. It was a very needed “desert” experience. I am very rested and ready to face the day.
It is now 10:00am and I have my “Tuesdays with Fr. Maury” to prepare for and go to at 11:45am. At 1:45pm, I have to be at the Pastoral Center ready to have my photo taken for the new Priest Directory. Pictures were taken at the convocation in November but I was on the cruise, so now I am going to attend one of the “make up” sessions. Then I have exposition at 3pm and the 5:30pm Mass. Afterwards, I will join Frs. Beattie, Sileo, and Duffy at DiCarlo’s for supper.
I just realized that I didn’t tell you about Sunday and Monday.
Sunday, I had the 7:30am Mass and I preached about how nice Ordinary Time is. Then I helped with Communion at the 9 and presided at the 10:30 in the gym. I haven’t had it for a few months. I couldn’t find the prayers in the book, so I made them up. When it came time for the children to be around the altar, I discovered that the new sacramentary doesn’t have Masses for children, so again I had to “wing it”. I think I’ll have to cut and paste up my own sacramentary. I wonder if that is allowed????
Then I headed out to Southern Maryland. I had the 2pm baptism of Kyle Joseph at Our Lady’s Church at Medley’s Neck. His mom is the kindergarten teacher at St. Michael’s. It was so nice to see all the family and many friends from St. Michael’s. Kyle’s grandmother is the receptionist at Fr. Andrew White School in Leonardtown and so the principal, Linda Maloney was there also. She and I use to ride “up the road” to educational meetings. It was great to see her.
As you would expect there was a big meal at her house with lots of food. I tried to limit myself as after that , I went to meet my TEAM. It was nice to see them and catch up on all they and their families have been doing. I drove home the Connoleys to Lusby and then stopped in to visit my sisters. Marie is staying with Maggie while she has this heart monitor on her. I got home around 11pm and was ready for bed.
On Monday, Dr. King’s birthday, the office was closed. I came over around 10 because I had the 11:00am Mass and then at noon, a funeral in the chapel. The funeral was for Alice Rose, whose brother I buried a little over a month ago. It’s a big Irish family and I like them a lot. Alice had suffered with schizophrenia since age 30 and had been in institutions much of her life. Her brother in law spoke beautifully about that “cross”. It really is important that we say words that encourage not discourage people. There was a nice funerial luncheon across from the chapel and I stopped in but didn’t eat anything. Then I went home, had lunch and “entered the desert”.
So now you’re up to date.
Thanks for bringing us up to date. I’m having my “desert” day today since my car is at the dealership for routine maintenance all day!