What Paddy Shot At

On Wednesday, I went to the Vianney House and met with 9 other “older priests” for our monthly get together. We had lunch and at lunch, discovered it was msgr. Bazan’s birthday. We sang and had a cake. He would not tell his age!!

I had to stop by Mary Rose’s office and drop off a letter that I thought I had given her on Tuesday night BUT I had given her a list of people to pray for. I can get so confused!!

Then I had exposition and 8 second graders for First Communion interviews. I do so enjoy that. Then I had the 5:30pm Mass and went home early.

On Thursday, It was my “day off”, so I slept in. I had a hard time sleeping because the room was so hot even with a fan. It is almost 90 today.

Went to Cheltenham to bury Jim Clarke, then got a milk shake with Marie and Maggie and went back to Maggie’s for a nap. We had a very nice supper that Kerri made for us and then JoAnn came and we played cards. I left around 10pm and was in bed and asleep by 11:15. While I was out, the men put the air conditioner in my suite and I slept wonderfully.

On Friday, Martino told me the second graders were doing reports on biography books they read. They dress up like the person and give their report in the first person. It was delightful. Clara Barton, Chuck Yeager, Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt were just some of them. I was most impressed.

Joan W drove me up to see Msgr. Beattie. He is back at the Washington Home and seems to be doing so much better with the walking. Therapy is so hard but so necessary. He just looked better and the trip to the hospital wasn’t really necessary and he didn’t have to stay.

Afterwards, she drove me to Chevy Chase House for Mass at 1:30pm. I had a wedding rehearsal at 6pm. I am officiating at the marriage of Chrissy Shortley (from the parish) and Jeff Villani, (whose father, Joe was at St. Vincent’s with me).

Afterwards, we went to Maggiano’s for a terrific rehearsal dinner. I rode with Joe and Pat. The food was great and I met lots of their friends and family. After 9pm, I excused myself and convinced Joe not to leave and take me home. I was intending to get a cab home. I was standing on Wisconsin Ave, and one of our teachers and her daughter called out to me and offered me a ride home. God provides!!

Today is Saturday and this morning I had the 8:00am Mass and then a baptism at noon. It was the grand -daughter of Bill Bray, who was the bank representative for Chevy Chase bank to all the parishes in the Archdiocese. He helped us out many times at St. Bernard’s. He lives in the parish and his son and daughter-in-law live nearby. We had it in the chapel and it was lovely. Remember to pray for Elizabeth Ryan.

The wedding just ended and went very well. They are heading out to the reception at the University of Maryland. I’m going in a few moments. They got me a room at the hotel there, so I could go up and rest if I wanted to and then come back down for the late night stuff. We’ll see; but it is nice to have a room.

I’ll return on Sunday morning for the 10:30am Mass.

Remember how I always say that, according to Meyers/Briggs, I am an introvert and all of you laugh? Well, I realize now that as much fun as I had for the last ten days, with the people I met and talked with and laughed with, I needed last night and today ALONE to refill. I am very rested now.

Yesterday, Monday, I left South Carolina and headed NORTH. I stopped to eat in Virginia and since it was such a beautiful day, I drove all the way back to Chevy Chase. I got home around 5:30pm. I looked at my mail in the office and checked phone messages, then came to the rectory. Didn’t feel like eating but I sat at the supper table with Fr. Ron and Martino, then I came to my room. Martino was kind enough to carry my bag up and I kind of “unpacked” and went to bed.

This morning, I watched the Today show and then fell back to bed. The facilities men brought up to my office all the stuff in my trunk and I’ll “unpack” that later tonight. I have lots of laundry.

Around noon, I went to the parish center and Joan W. drove me up to the Washington Home to see Msgr. Beattie. He is out of Georgetown and is back here for rehab. We had a nice (and funny) visit and he is so much improved – although he still doesn’t have enough strength in his legs to walk alone. Keep him and the therapy in your prayers.

I’m going down to supper and then I will go out to the credit union (to cover all my gas bills) and stop and see Joan B and the Mudd’s.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, I will go to the “old priests” gathering and then I have exposition, First Communion interviews and then 5:30pm Mass. I am going to be back in the saddle again!!

Yesterday was a “different” day than I planned BUT it was great!!

I did drive up to Holy Trinity and prayed at the graves of Fathers Peter and Austin and Brothers Alexis and Robert as well as many others whom I have known over the years. I also stopped into the house to see the chapel and the local superior, Dennis Berry greeted me. I have not seen him in about 15 years and it was a gift from God to see him. He also told me that they were having a funeral on Monday. Fr. John Ford died suddenly on Easter. Another great Tinitarian.

I also rode over to the sisters’ place. All of the place is just “holy ground”.

As I was driving North, I saw that I would be driving through Phenix City, Alabama and I remembered that the Salvatorians had a parish there. I couldn’t find it, so I stopped at St. Patrick’s church and thought they could direct me. As it turns out, the pastor, Fr. Tom Weise, is in charge of Mother Mary, because the Slavatorians have left there. Fr. Tom, is a priest of Birmingham and went to the seminary in Baltimore with Frs. Hank Slevin, Jack Wintermeyer, and Joaquin Bazan. He and I had a great visit and I got off schedule. I didn’t get to Rick Thompson’s till 6pm. He had made supper. Bill and Shirley, great friends of his, whom I know and another Shirley, who use to live in Werner Robins joined us for supper. Shirley and Rick have been “keeping company” and I was glad to meet her. She has beautiful eyes and likes my humor. We played cards (I lost!!) and we watched the basketball tournament. I stayed the night.

I went to Sunday school and was warmly welcomed by many who knew Maureen well. I enjoyed the teaching at the school and then we went to the 10:30 service. Beautiful music (Lori sang) and a very good sermon by the pastor. It all ended around noon and then, Rick,Mark and Lori, Rachel and Sarah and I all went to a nice Mexican place for lunch. We ‘caught up’ – which I love. Rick had to go to a meeting but I followed the rest to their home, which I had not seen. We talked about church history, which I’m sure you know, I didn’t mind. The girls have learned a lot about it in school and I was very impressed.

Then I headed North and since it was much later than I had planned, I decided to spend the night in South Carolina and hopefully will start out early tomorrow and be home by night.

It will be nice to sleep in my own bed BUT I have had a wonderful trip.

It was such a beautiful day yesterday that after I dropped Patrick at the airport, I just kept driving. I went through the rest of Texas, through Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and into Florida on RT 10. I think it was over 400 miles. I did get out every two hours and walk around and my legs felt fine. I decided, as it got dark, to stop at a hotel and to be honest, I was too tired to write last night and I went right to bed. Slept great!!

On the trip, I stopped in Pascagoula, Mississippi. 49 years ago, my Dad died there while on a vacation trip with my Mom and Maggie and Maureen. The restaurant is gone but I stopped at the hospital, which is greatly enlarged but where he was taken. Said a prayer.

I also stopped at St. Michael’s church in Biloxi, Mississippi. The church was devastated by the hurricane in 2005 and the parishioners of St. Michael’s, Ridge took up a couple of collections to help them rebuild. I took some pictures and again said a prayer for both communities.

I just finished a little breakfast and am heading out.

I plan to stop in Holy Trinity, Alabama and pray at the graves of Fr. Austin, Fr. Peter, and other Trinitarians whom I know and are buried in the motherhouse cemetery.

I plan to get to Rick Thompson’s this afternoon and spend some time with him and his family. Will spend the night and go to church and then continue North.

I am having a great time and very relaxed.

Went to see the presentation done by the kindergarten and 3rd grade teachers from St. Michael’s. It was excellent and very well attended. Then I met Dwight and Tish for lunch as they were leaving this afternoon. It was great to see them and we made plans to meet again in Pittsburgh in 2014.
I also spent a few hours having a wonderful talk with a priest friend of Stephanie’s who is stationed in Houston. Then the St. Michael’s group left and Patrick and I are just relaxing here in our room.

We’ll go to the airport around 8am. Pat’s plane is at 11am; but I’ll just let him off and then head for RT 10 and go towards Alabama, where I might spend the night.

I talked with Joan Beall and learned that Marie’s surgery yesterday went well and she was up to going to Bingo tonight.

Also Kerri is back in the hospital again. Please keep her in your prayers. Msgr. Beattie is out of intensive care but still in the hospital.
I will be glad to get home and see everyone.

Good night, Y’all

Busy day. Used our “executive dining room” for breakfast and ran into Dan Curtin. Dan is the superintendent of Arlington, Va but has held many positions over the years in education in DC. He is a long standing friend and I enjoyed visiting with him.

Went to the exhibitors area and got a chance to see and talk with Jeff, who is the saleman for our book. We’re going to get together for a drink tomorrow and catch up.

At 4:15, we (Pat, lila, Robin, and I) took a bus out to the George Ranch near Gavelston. We went to a rodeo and ate bar-b-que and met lots of other antendees and laughed and talked.

Came home around 9pm, and the four of us went for a drink and now I am ready for bed. I am having a great time.

First, I want to say how sorry I am that I forgot to mention that yesterday was my cousin, Mike Caruso’s birthday. Hope it was happy!!

I got Patrick and we went to the convention, where we ran into Dwight and Tish in the lobby. We sat together for a fine talk by Fr. Robert Barron and then Fr. Dan, from Victoria, Texas came and took Pat and me to a very interesting Vietnamese restaurant. Dan came just to see us and I think he drove 2 hours to get here. It was great to see him.
We checked into the hotel. Dear Brian, from Blessed Sacrament had arranged for us to get a room, when the companies all told us “nothing was available”. Well he got us onto the “Executive ” floor and it is more than great. I took a very nice nap.

At 5pm, Pat and I took a shuttle to the new cathedral for vespers. It was lovely and the cathedral (4 years old) is magnificent as was the organ and choir. When we got back, we met up with Dwight and went for pizza.

There is a tremendous storm outside (with hail) but we are safe and secure.
Ran into a nice nun in the elevator. She works at NCEA in Washington and lives in Silver Spring. She knows Kass Collins and send her greetings. Her name is Sister Dale???

Am ready for TV and bed and I’ve chosen a couple of good talks to go to tomorrow.

I got up early this morning and drove (a long way) to Houston. I got here around 3pm and checked into a hotel near the airport. I am going to pick up Pat Berry there tomorrow and then we’ll go to the Hilton (which is connected to the convention center) and spend three nights there. It will be so nice that I can just go back to my room when I get tired.

I drove over to the Hilton tonight and had supper with lila and Robin (principal and secretary of St. Michael’s in Ridge). It was so nice just to talk and catch up. They picked up Pat’s and my registration info. There are some very interesting presentaions and I am looking forward to the convention.

Now to bed as I will pick up Pat at 9:30am tomorrow.
Weather is beautiful. 80 degrees and a breeze.

On Saturday, I drove from Knoxsville to Memphis. I arrived at Dan and Stephanie’s around 4pm ( I had forgotten I would change time zones and so I arrived earlier than I expected). We just sat and talked and then went to supper at a nice Italian restaurant nearby and then we went to the local theatre and saw a great production of “A Chorus Line” We really enjoyed it and then we just sat up and talked (and drank Drambuie) till 2am (1am their time). It is something we haven’t had a chance to do in years (when they came to visit me at Ridge!) and we had a ball. I slept like a baby and almost as soon as I hit the bed.

We got up around 8 and had a lite breakfast and then went to the Cathedral, which is their parish, for the 10:00am Mass. They know lots of people and we stayed and talked to just some of their friends. The rector presided and it was nice to see him after all these years. Then we went to a brunch with some long time friends and I learned a lot about life in Memphis. Also we went riding around and saw Dan’s high school and college and a massive Episcopal property that has about 15 buildings, where Stephanie teaches. AND lots of beautiful old homes. I do need to come back and enjoy more of the cultural life of the city.

I left there around 3pm and got here in Baton Rouge by 7pm. I’ll just relax and get up tomorrow in enough time to drive to Houston for a 3pm check-in. The trip has not been hard in terms of driving but I will be glad to finally go to a hotel where I’ll stay for a few nights.

Prayed for all of you at Mass today. Hope you had a very happy Easter Sunday.

I left the parish at 6:15AM and it was an easy ride. The sun shone all day until I crossed over into Tennesee. I am now at a hotel near Knoxsville and ready for bed. I stopped in Roanoak and visited Madonna House. What a gift that was for Good Friday. I knew all three of the ladies there and a deacon stopped by. I had met him about 5 years ago at the Blessing of the Fleet near Leonardtown. A small world!
As you can see, I don’t know how to correct the spelling that (at least on my view) are underlined in red. Sorry.

Will go to Stephanie and Dan’s in Memphis on Saturday afternoon and spend the night with them. Looking forward to that visit.

Will write on Easter.