Sunday was very nice. I had the 10:30 Mass in the church and we enrolled our Candidates and Catechumens because next Sunday they will go to the Shrine and meet with the Cardinal. We have three catechumens and 8 candidates. I just read that 150000 people will enter the church this Easter in the U.S. God’s grace is so amazing.
After Mass, I drove out to Ranson, West Virginia and visited Marlynn and Frank Cavallaro. The moved there about two years ago. Frank has been working on a book about violent crime in the DC area since 1994. He shared some of his research with me and it was interesting but sad. After that discussion, Mary Alice McGreevy and her daughter, Sarah and her daughter, Isabelle, joined us and we all went out to supper at an Italian restaurant. We had a great visit and meal.
Afterwards, Mal, Frank and I went to their house and visited some more. Frank went to bed around 8pm and Mal and I began watching The Oscars. It was a good show and I think it ended around 11:30pm. Then, fortified by hot chocolate, Marlynn and I sat up and talked till 5:15am. We really “caught up” and had a great time. We decided that it was time for bed – and I think I was asleep in 5 minutes. I woke up around 9:30am and came out and Mal was already up and at the table. Frank had gone out around 7 as he had some doctor appointment. He came home around 9:30 and Mal made breakfast for the three of us and again we talked.
Around 11am, I left and headed home. It was such a beautiful day that I called Sister Natalie in Baltimore and invited her to lunch. I got there at Villa Julie around 12:30 and we went to the Peppermill restaurant and had a delightful (and healthy) lunch. She broke her elbow a few days before Christmas – although she didn’t go to the doctor till sometime in January. She was put in a cast and although that is now off, she had to do therapy and can’t lift her right arm up very high. She was very upset because she didn’t get any Christmas cards out last year.
I find that very amusing as I am still working on my Christmas letter for 2008 thru 2011.
I came home and took a nap and just finished attending the first night of our mission. Fr. DeLillio was very good and I got some good stuff to reflect on for Lent.
Now I’m gonna get something to eat and go to bed.
Hope you are having a good Lent
You DID have beautiful weather for your travels. Sounds like a delightful visiting couple of days!