What Paddy Shot At

Today is the 1^st of June and I am spending the day in my suite. I am relaxing and avoiding the rain outside. I’ve had an interesting week and a half.. When last I wrote, it was May 21st and I had just returned from celebrating the 5:30pm Mass for Mary, the Mother of the Church and I was working on my presentation for Tuesdays with Fr. Maury. We were having a discussion about the Holy Father. He is an easy topic because almost daily we read about something he’s done or said. This week they should have questions about the new Cardinals and the Pope’s meetings with all the bishops of Chile. Some will have heard about it but wonder what it means. Others will have only heard about it in the news.  I find it easy to explain him. I had Mass for Mrs. Catherine Bullen, the mother of Fr. John Dillon. She had been one of my Communion Calls and she died last year and I was too sick to attend the funeral. I try to remember her on her anniversary. She was a lovely lady. Then I met with someone about an annulment.

On Wednesday, May 22^nd, Colleen came by to help me with the put on the humidifier I need for my machine so that my nose will not dry out and give me nose bleeds. She also helped me to at my new scooter. I haven’t gotten comfortable with it but she helps me. I then had the 11am Mass and then I came back and worked on the Christmas cards.

On Thursday, the 24^th, I had the 8am Mass and worked in the office and talked to some people and then the Ladies came and we shopped a little. Early to bed.

On Friday, I slept in and then had the 11am Mass and spent the day in my suite. Another rainy day.

On Saturday, the 26^th, I again had the 11am Mass and since the next Mass I’d have was the 5:30pm on Sunday, I came home and relaxed and wrote some more Christmas cards.

Sunday the 27^th, I met with a lady who has to get her annulment in the diocese of Arlington. I had submitted it to our tribunal but I was mistaken.  I ran off the forms for Arlington and she and I transferred the information from the DC form. I had called a priest friend of Fr. Alec, who is an Arlington priest, is going to help her to submit to their tribunal. She and I had a nice visit. In the afternoon, a lady from St. Bernard’s and her husband “picnicked in” with me while we worked on the program for the memorial Mass for her mom, which will be held here on June 16^th. Then, as they were forecasting a big rainstorm, I called Carolyn and asked her to pick me up and drive me across the street for the 5:30PM Mass. She picked me up and let me off at the sacristy and after Mass, she brought me home (in the rain) to the front door of the rectory. I am blessed in my friends and parishioners.

Monday was Memorial Day and I spent the whole day in my suite and worked on Christmas cards and tried to clear my desk.

On Tuesday, the 29^th, I had the 8am Mass and then Rose came and picked me up and we went and picked up Joan Beall. Rose drove us up to York, Pa to visit Betty Neary. We had a great time. She is in an assisted living place. She has congestive heart problems and needs help. She had to give up her apartment and that was hard. Her mind is alert and we talked about the shows and our friends and it was so good to be with her. Patty couldn’t go with us and so I told Rose that we should go right home and then she wouldn’t have to deal with all the traffic at the commuter time. I think you know that she has dialysis on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. She just started that in May and after a few problems, she done very well and is up to our travels on other days. Again, great friends.

On Wednesday, Sr. Kass picked me up around 10am and we headed off to Pittsburgh. On the trip, I discovered that my concentrator was not working the battery was losing its charge.  We stopped at a restaurant and I tried my cord and it wouldn’t work. Fortunately, I had brought with me, one of the canisters of oxygen, so I used it. That night, Keith picked us up at the hotel and I took the canister to Kerry and Ed’s house, where the Morris Clan gathered. It was a great evening because I have known them all since 1971 and baptized and married and baptized their children, some of whom are now “rising seniors” in high school. When I went to bed that night, I kept checking my Oximeter and saw that it didn’t go about 84. Then I’d take some oxygen and it would read into the 90’s. Through the night, I’d be low, take some oxygen, and then sleep a little. By 7am, I hadn’t slept much and so I went on line to see if I could get some oxygen nearby. The companies said that I needed to get a company that was partnering with my company in Maryland. I called them and they didn’t have a partner in Western Maryland. My nurse friend gave me some leads but they couldn’t help either. I called Bob Norton and said that I couldn’t come to the reunion celebrating 46 years since ordination. He was hosting a dinner for 18 at his rectory and I was sorry to miss seeing the guys. At Breakfast, I asked Kass if she was up to driving home after the long ride yesterday. She said that it was fine and so we headed home. I still had some oxygen in the canister and once I got in the car and had the air conditioning right on me, I was OK. We had to ride through some heavy rain and a big accident that slowed the traffic, but by 5:30pm, I was in my room on my big machine and breathing fine. It was hard not to see the people I thought I would visit but I learned something about this disease. I have to plan (liking taking two sets of cords and maybe two canisters) if I want to go away from the rectory – And I do and I will plan. I slept soundly on Thursday night.

Today, Friday, since I had planned to be coming home from Pittsburgh, I have stayed in my suite and worked on this Paddy and straightened out my desk. I have also worked on more Christmas cards and our IT person came and helped me with things on my computers. So I am not as “Down” as I was yesterday.

Another thing I learned was that I need to put into my computer’s calendar everything I do – especially if it was a change, like I had the last few weeks because of being ill. I forgot that a day I stayed in the rectory, a dear friend, Sharon came of visit me and we “drank in”. She also brought a tin of chocolate chip cookies. I shared them with Colleen and Monty the next day but I forgot to mention that we had a very nice visit. When things are done in the parish center, I have them listed in my appointment book but my “new” meeting people in the rectory are something I will have to learn how to record.

Well that brings you up to date. I have a family baptism tomorrow in the chapel and then 8^th grade graduation is in the Church. I’ll sit in. Tomorrow is also the wedding of Amy and Trevor down at St. Michael’s, which I wasn’t able to attend. Please keep them and their families in your prayers. Know that all of you and your intentions are in my prayers.

I know it has been a couple of weeks since last I wrote; but between the problems with my teeth, the rain (almost constantly) and my nose bleeds, I have taken to my bed anytime I had a quiet moment.

When last I wrote, it was Cinco de Maio and I was staying in my suite. On the 6th of May, I stayed in the rectory as I had the vigil Mass on Saturday and so I asked my 10:30 appointment to come to the rectory. They have a new baby and we made arrangements for a baptism in July. Then Kathy and Brian Henning ( who were good friends at St. Camillus) came by to visit. We had a great time and they had pictures of their grandchildren. And we laughed and caught up.  Also I liked staying in the rectory all day.

Monday and Tuesday: As soon as I finished Mass, I came back to the rectory to rest.  I tried to get work done in the rectory on Wednesday. On Thursday and Friday, once I had Mass, I came back to the rectory to rest.  I knew that I would need to be rested up for Saturday.

On Saturday the 12th, we had 4 sessions of First Communion (about 120 children). I had interviewed many of them and I had told them I’d be at their Communion. I  con-celebrated from the choir stalls and the priests brought me Communion. I was tired but it was so good to see all the families and the children. Fr. Foley offered me the opportunity to preach but I just thought it would be better for them to preach. Each (Fr. Percy, Fr. Alec, and Fr. Bill) presided and preach. Fr. Bill did a second session also. The homilies were great and I was glad I had the energy to do all four. I noticed on the schedule that Fr. Bill had the 5:30pm Vigil Mass and the confessions at 4pm. I took the confessions and then I went home to an early sleep.  I also called Maggie because she and some of the family were going to come up for the 12:30pm Mass on Sunday and then we’d go to lunch. I told her that she shouldn’t come because I didn’t have the energy to go out to eat. She said, “OK” and I went to bed.

On Sunday, May 13th when I got out to the chair about twenty minutes before Mass, I look over and Maggie, her son Michael and his wife, Sue, and Maggie’s daughter, Kerry and her 8 month old child, Quinn Margaret were coming into the church. They came into the sacristy after Mass and I said, “I told you not to come” and she said, “When do I have to listen to my kid brother?” It was the 46th anniversary of my ordination and I was actually glad to be with them.  I said again, I didn’t think I could go out to eat. And they said that they read in my blog that some friends came and “picnicked in” with me; so they called Magiano’s and ordered food and went and brought it to the rectory. We sat at the dining room table for about three hours and laughed and talked. Quinn is just learning to crawl and we spent a lot of time encouraging her to move around the rug. It really was a great family day.

On Monday, the 14th, I took the 6:30am Mass, so I could get any early start. At 8am,  I returned to the dentist for my third root canal. Staff here drove me back and forth and I went right to bed when I got home. I slept fine and had no pain.

On Tuesday, I had the 8am Mass and Fr. Bill Feeney, who was my roommate at St. Vincent’s and a good friend all these years, came by. He was visiting relative in Colombia and we went to Bread and Chocolate for breakfast. I will see him again at the end of the month because Fr. Bob Norton is hosting a 46th anniversary dinner at his rectory and I am going to be there. Patty and Rose picked us up at B&C, took Bill back to his car at the church and then we did a little shopping. I needed to get some pants with a smaller waist (Did you ever think you’d hear me say that!!!)

Wednesday, the 16th, I had planned on con-celebrating the funeral of Deacon Dan Thompson. He was the deacon here when I came in 2009 and I really liked him. A few years ago, he wasn’t feeling well  and retired from service in the parish. He came to church and we often spoke. For the last couple of years, he’s been in a home up in Delaware. I wrote him and talked to him once but not lately. Please keep him and his family in your prayer.  I said had planned to go to his funeral; but when I woke up, I discovered a had a very bad nose bleed and it took me a long time to stop it.

I wasn’t scheduled for Masses on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, so I stayed in the rectory. I got some work done and some cleaning but mostly I had to deal with more nose bleeds. I found out that they were the result of the plastic tubing in my nose that caries the oxygen. It causes a sore and a scab; and when I blow my nose, the blood clot starts running. I ruined a couple of shirts.  The solution is a fixture that I can put on my big machine and it will put moisture into the tubing and not dry out my nose.  That’s the theory and I am waiting for the fixture to arrive. In the meantime, I  am putting a gel like vicks up my nose. It allows the oxygen to get through. I treat my nose very gently as I really did not like the nose bleeds.

I did have to cancel a couple of meetings because of the nose but I did have a nice visit here in the rectory on Saturday with a friend of Fr. Carmen’s in New Jersey. We had a great time. Her son lives nearby and we’ve met a few times. She always has an update on Carmen. who is going to come and visit me soon with Joyce and Tom.

On Sunday (Pentecost) I had the 9am Mass and then a friend drove me to Maplewood, a senior living place nearby. I joined four of my friends for brunch. One celebrated her 100th birthday a few months ago and another her 90th. I wasn’t able to get to either celebration so I was determined to join them for brunch. We did decide that the next time, we’d “picnic in” at my house.

When I returned, Monty and Colleen  were here and brought me a better air conditioner and took my old one out, so facilities men could take it away. It is really nice and cools both my bedroom and my office. It also has a remote and so I can turn it on and off – and higher or lower – without getting out of bed. I really am spoiled by my friends. – AND  I LIKE IT!!!

Today, I had the evening Mass. It was historic because it was the first time that the feast of Mary, Mother of the Church was celebrated throughout the Universal Church. I gave a very good homily.

Tomorrow, I will have the 11am Mass and then Tuesdays with Fr. Maury. We are going to talk about the Pope and all that he has been doing lately. I’ll enjoy hearing what people think and I’ll give them some news to chew on. I will also come to the rectory and meet someone to discuss an annulment.

I know that I have talked to lots of people these last few weeks but to be honest, the teeth and the nose bleeds have distracted me a great deal. However, know that you are in my daily prayers.

Yesterday, May 4th, they put my window air conditioner back in my suite. It was 93 degrees on the 3rd, so I asked that it be brought back. I had asked for it to be removed in January as our weather had been so cold and windy, and it poured in around the machine. I had a dentist appointment early in the morning and Colleen came and took me. We returned in time for me to say the 11am Mass (the Mass was for Isabelle Gallagher for her birthday – she worked in the office but broke her hip and had to go to Philly to recover. She is living with her sister and I stopped to see them a couple of years ago on one of my “ride-a-rounds. We miss her greatly. After Mass, we came to the rectory. Monty joined us and we had a nice lunch with Joan W and then worked on my new scooter. It arrived last week but I just wasn’t up to learning about it. It is very neat and called “The Transformer” because it has a remote and folds down into a small package that only weighs about 40 lbs. and can be put into the trunk of a car. I’ll report on it as I try it out. I, then came to my suite (nice and cool) and was asleep by 9pm. Today, I am staying in my suite and trying to organize my desk. Already filled a bag of trash and caught up on bills and mail. I will go over around 4:30 as I am presiding at the 5:30pm Mass. The deacon is preaching and I’ll come right home, eat and try to get some more cleaning done. Don’t have Mass tomorrow but an appointment at 10:30am and a couple from St Camillus, whom I haven’t seen in years will come by around 2pm. Otherwise, I shall stay in the suite and organize. Now as to the last few weeks:

On Wednesday, April 18th, I last wrote. It had been so cold and Fr. Beattie’s wake and funeral took a lot of energy from me,  and so I just stayed in my suite.

On Thursday, the 19th, I had the 8am and the 11am Masses. Worked at my desk in between and then came back to the rectory and went to bed early.

I lounged around on Friday as I was taking the 5:30pm Mass for Fr Bill and I knew the next day could be rough on me.

On Saturday, the 21st, the girls came and drove me to St Michael’s in Ridge to do a baptism. Please keep Mason  and his family in your prayers. It was so good to see some many old friends and parishioners. They wanted me to come back to the house for food but I really wasn’t up to it. We rode over to the house and they brought out “curb service”. I had it for supper that night and it (especially the chicken salad) was delicious. They are a family that I use to play card with and ate some great meals there. I was sorry not to be able to visit longer. After the baptism, we took a lot of photos and once in the car, I realized that I did the baptism in my blue clerical shirt. I forgot to put my alb on. I was very nervous as I don’t usually go out for sacramental things (even funerals) because I am “comfortable” here in the chapel and this has convinced me that I have to turn down request to do things away from Blessed Sacrament.

On Sunday, the 22nd, I had the 10:30am Mass and afterwards, Bob and Carol Boston came to the rectory for breakfast, prepared and served by Brian. We had a great visit and caught up on the family. They were in St. Camillus in the early 70’s and one of their sons, Patrick is my Godchild. They live in Pittsburgh but we’ve kept in touch. I loved the visit but was in bed early.

My teeth bothered me all day Monday and so I made an appointment to see the dentist. I had the 11am Mass and the 5:30pm.

On Tuesday, the 24th, I went to see the dentist and he told me I had to have two more teeth taken out. I went home, and said the 11am Mass, then we had Tuesdays with Fr. Maury. We talked about Earth Day and it was very interesting. I went to bed early.

I spent MY DAY OFF just preparing for the dentist on Thursday. He took out two lower teeth on the left and the rest of the day, I suffered. Took pain pills but it didn’t help and I didn’t get to sleep till Midnight.

The other priests were very good to me and covered stuff on Friday.

On Saturday, the 28th, I did the 8am Mass and then had a baptism at 12:30. I met with a lovely lady with three boys who is having problems with the marriage. Please keep all of them in your prayers. I heard confessions at 4pm and then – because Fr. Percy had offered to do my 5:30pm Mass on Sunday – I attended the 5:30pm on Saturday night (I am a Catholic and wanted to go to Mass for Sunday). I hadn’t heard Fr. Alec preach and he is very good. I took a pill and went to bed.

I spent most of Monday arranging to see anther dentist on Tuesday. I had the evening Mass and my teeth didn’t hurt as much. I, also learned to Agnes Zane, a wonderful parishioner from St. B’s died in upper state New York. Her funeral will be Saturday up there. Please keep her and her family in your prayers. There will be a memorial Mass here at Blessed Sacrament in June.

On Tuesday, May 1st Rosalie drove me and Joan W to the new dentist. I don’t know if I just misunderstood but he did two root canals, which I wasn’t prepared for.  Fortunately the priests covered my Masses. I called Gail Douglas to wish her a Happy Birthday. I hope we’ll get together soon.

On Wednesday, the 2nd, I had planned to go to the priests’ anniversary celebration but I stayed home and said the 5:30pm Mass.

On Thursday, the 3rd (Kass Collin’s birthday) I said the 11am Mass for her parents and I finished up a request for an annulment for a friend.

On Friday, the 4th, Colleen took me to see the dentist who had extracted the two teeth last week and two in January. He tells me I’m doing fine. I’m not sure!!

Oh, I just realized that I already told you this; so I think I will close.

Please keep Betty Neary and Fathers T and Kane in your prayers. Know you are in my prayers.

There has been a lot going on over the last two weeks and I want to bring you up to date.

When last I wrote, it was Tuesday, April 3rd and I was waiting for the delivery of the oxygen. Well it didn’t come and so on Wednesday, the 4th, I used my DAY OFF to watch for the delivery. It didn’t come that day either but it came on Thursday, the 5th and the man who brought it explained to me (and actually to Fr. Alec, who seemed to understand and asked good questions) and I started to use it in conjunction with the concentrator. To me, it just means more plastic tubing and electrical cords to trip over but we shall see.

On Friday, the 6th, I had the 8 AM Mass and then a parishioner drove me to Stone Ridge, where I gave a talk on Pope Francis to the alumnae of schools run by the Madams of the Sacred Heart. I’ve given a couple of talks and they are an audience who have good questions and comments. I then said Mass. I was sorry to have to tell them that I wouldn’t be able to come anymore. My doctor told me that I need to go on oxygen more of the time – especially if I am going to move about. I will have to learn how to do that. It means more “equipment” to carry around. The Petrones came and picked me up and I got a new pair of pants and some food shopping done.

On Saturday, the 7th, I had the baptism of William George, who parents I married and whose old brother I had baptized. They were willing to do it in the chapel, where I could remain seated and they would bring the baby up to me. It went without a hitch and I was so glad to see their large family together again. At 4pm, I had confessions and came home to an early bedtime.

On the 8th, I had the 7:30 am Mass and stayed over in the parish center to con-celebrate the 10:30 am Mass, where a young man I met through Fr. Regis was being confirmed. It was beautiful and Billy, who was confirmed last year was his sponsor this year. Both will graduate from CUA next month and give me great hope for the church. Please add Cameron to your prayers.  I had planned to visit with some friends at Maplewood but the weekend tuckered me out and I had to call and say I was too tired. I went to bed.

On Monday, the 9th, I slept in until I went over for the 11 am Mass. It is so cold that I returned and stayed in the suite the rest of the day.

Tuesday, the 10th, I had the 8 am Mass and then the 11 am Mass was a funeral for Marty Lagoy, who was our facilities director for 15 years. He developed cancer and went through treatment for the last three years. He had a wonderful family and there were 6 priests on the altar. Keep his family in your prayers.  I went over to the Manning center around 12:30 because there were 14 people who came over for Tuesdays with Fr. Maury. We had a good discussion about the Pope and we had some good food. I was ready for bed early.

Wednesday is my DAY OFF and I asked to have someone come and explain about the oxygen. They did, and I feel a little more confident of it.

Thursday, I had the 8 and 11 Masses again and it was rainy so I came back to the suite.

On Friday, a parishioner, Frank picked me up at 11am and drove me to Annapolis, where we had lunch with his brother and sister-in-law. The Vita family were long time Bernard’s parishioners and he brother is Msgr. Al Schwartz, who is now Venerable and on his way to Sainthood. He was ordained here in Washington and spent his priestly life with the orphans of Korea, the Philippines, and other places in Asia. He developed ALS (know as Lou Generic’s disease) and is a real inspiration. I used his autobiography, “Killing me Softly” as my Lenten spiritual reading. I was recommend him to your prayers. Also I learned today the Msgr. James Beattie died peacefully in his rooms at Our Lady of Lourdes rectory in Bethesda. More about that later.

On Saturday, the 14th, I had a baptism of twins. I had brought their mom into the Church 6 years ago and then officiated at the wedding. Baptize their son, three years ago and now the twins. Please keep William Charles and Eleanor Mary and their family in your prayers.  They sent me a photo from afterwards and if the young priest can figure out how I can do it; I will enclose a picture.

On Sunday, the 15th, I had the 7:30 am Mass and then at 11:30, I brought a woman into full Communion and baptized her two children. We had a nice crowd and at some point I will give the son, First communion. Please keep all of them in your prayers.  In the afternoon, Rose, Patty and I went out to lunch and to do a little food shopping. We went to a Roy Rodgers and had great friend chicken. I didn’t even know they still existed.

On Monday, the 16th, I had the 11am Mass and then took a nap. I ate supper early (around 4:30pm) and then Brian drove me over to our Lady of Lourdes for Father Beattie’s wake and Mass.  I preached and I was very grateful to Brian for getting me around and to be able to sit on a stool and preach. Lots of former parishioners and priests came and I saw and talked to lots of people I hadn’t seen in years. One of them was a little boy whose family I knew well and he will be ordained a Benedictine deacon in a few months. My life has been blessed with so many wonderful people of faith as was Father Beattie’s.

On Tuesday, the 17th, It was cold but once I sat down in the church, I used the oxygen and it brought my breathing into a good rhythm and I just stayed there through the service. The church was filled to standing room and another 60 priests were there. The Cardinal presided and Msgr. Filardi, the pastor of Lourdes preached. He was excellent and captured the man of faith and hope that Fr. Beattie was. I was broguth right home and they made me eat lunch and then I went to bed and slept for 5 hours.

Today is my DAY OFF and I slept in and am in old clothes and working on straightening up my desk and catching up on emails and phone calls.

So now you are up to date. Keep me in your prayers and know that you are in mine

It is Tuesday and I will try to get a message today. I am tired and I think I have the “sniffles”, so I’ll stay over here in the rectory until I go over for the 5:30pm Mass. They are supposed to bring me oxygen today. I have discovered that the concentrators do not give me sufficient air. We’ll see how this works.

I last wrote on the feast of St. Joseph (March 19th) and my cousins from New York City were picking me up and we were going to supper at LaFerme, a nice French restaurant about two blocks away. There was Lauren and her sister Sharon, her wife, Amy, and their son Alex, who is nine. Sharon and Lauren are the children of my Mom’s first cousin. We’ve all been close since childhood and I knew I’d have a great time – and I did. Caught up on that branch of the family tree.

On Tuesday, the 20th, I had the 11am Mass and then went back to the rectory.

On Wednesday, it snowed!! I had planned to go and see my doctor.  He called me and we are going to increase my oxygen but it might take a week or two.

Thursday, the 21st, Brian picked me up after the 11am Mass and took me to Arugula (a nice Italian place within two blocks. It was an “early” birthday celebration for my cousin, Michael Caruso. His birthday is April 1st but this year that is Easter so we got together early. Brian is so good about our get ting together.  I came home and went to bed as I seem to have the “sniffles” again.

On Friday, I had some confessions and then the 11am Mass. I came home and went to bed for a couple of hours. Colleen and Monti picked me up and then to went to Barb Ostrye’s. She made a nice light meal for us and then we went to Good Counsel for their Spring musical. They have a new million dollar Fine Arts building, which I’ve been hearing about and was glad to finally see it. They took a wheelchair for me to get from the car into the building. It made things so easy. The show was great and even though I didn’t know the students, I felt like I use to feel when we put on a show and a quiet kid would get on the stage and “come alive”. I am so grateful for all the help people give me to make it possible for me to go places. It was cold and windy but I had a great time.

On Saturday, the 24th, I had the 8am Mass and afterwards two college students came to visit me. I was confirmed here last year and the other will be confirmed on April 8th. They are students of Father Regis at Catholic. We had a great visit and I will be at the confirmation.

After they left, my stuffed head got worse and I took some medicine and went to bed. I had to call my niece, Mary, who was driving me to a Mass and gathering of the SDC group and “wimp out”. I was asleep in ten minutes.

On Palm Sunday, I presided at the 9am Mass. I had a lot of help and the deacon read the Gospel in place of me. I just didn’t have the energy or air to do much. I went home and went to bed.

I slept late on Monday, the 26th. I rode my cart to the church and watched the 8th grader do a Passion Play. It is one of those customs that kids have done for years. I really enjoyed it. Then I went to the office and stayed there till the 5:30pm Mass.

On Tuesday, I said the 11am Mass and then the other priests heard confessions. I didn’t as I went to the senior citizens group and said Mass in the apartment. I think there were about 30 of us. Again, I nice custom – a Tuesday of Holy Week Mass and luncheon with the Tuesdays with Fr. Maury group.

I tried to stay in or around my bed on Wednesday and even took a little “hot toddy” in hopes of chasing away this sniffle.

On Holy Thursday, I stayed in the rectory but saw a number of people and heard confessions. We had a very nice lunch to celebrate Priests’ Day and then I took a nap. I preached at the service that night. I con-celebrated from a chair but I went to the pulpit and sitting on a stool, I gave what I think was a reflective homily for the feast. I am told that I was running out of air towards the end but they understood me. While Communion was being distributed, I left and rode my cart to the chapel for Exposition. then I went home and quickly went to bed.

I went over to the church by cart for the 3pm service. I sat in the pew. It was very nice and then I came home. It was cold outside and rainy.

On Saturday morning, Maggie, Mike and Sue came up to get me and we went to Maggie’s. We got food from the Chesapeake Grill and it was good. I  went to bed early and woke up around 3am and discovered that my concentrator was no giving me sufficient air. I laid there and kept taking a reading of my blood oxygen and couldn’t get it over 85. Finally around 7am, I called Rose to see if Patty was picking up her daughter from her hotel job in downtown DC and would she go to the parish and pick up my second concentrator? I then called Fr. Alec and asked him to take my grey concentrator to the sacristy so the ladies could get it. I had planned to ask someone to meet them for a hand off but they graciously insisted on bring it to me. It made all the difference. I used them both and my reading was 94.

Sue and Mike drove Maggie and me to Our Lady of Perpetual Help church in Edgewater – near Annapolis for me to preside at the Bi-lingual Noon Mass for Easter. Some of Marie’s children and grandchildren came and we all had a great time. Sr. Kass drove Maggie and me home and Sue prepared and served a very good ham supper. As I hadn’t slept much the night before, I was in bed by 7pm and asleep by 7:10.  Having two concentrators was like at home.

On Monday, April 2nd, Sue drove Maggie and me to Beall’s Funeral Home in Bowie. I presided at Diane Leach Flanagan’s funeral service. Di and I have been friends since 4th grade and have kept in touch even though she was living in Florida for years.  Maggie was her CYO coach. Di has recently been living up near Frederick, Maryland but I couldn’t get up to see her. Her family asked me to preach and I was glad to do it. Saw many friends whom I’ve talked to by phone but haven’t seen in years. Sue took Maggie home before we went to the cemetery and Colleen, my good friend called me and offered to come down and go to the cemetery with me and then drive me home. I was so grateful and she (with her EMT training) knows just how to handle me. We had a great visit on the way home. She helped me get all my stuff (there are so many cords and plugs with the machines) back to my suite. I was in bed in half an hour and slept till it was dark.

Today, I have the 5:30pm Mass. I just came up from lunch and will just sit around until about 3:30, when Joan will bring my cart over and I’ll wait for the oxygen delivery. Another adjustment that I will learn to do.

I hope all of you have had a wonderful Holy Week and Easter and although I couldn’t go visiting churches on Thursday, I did pray for all of you whom I use to take on my pilgrimage. Christ is risen, Truly He is risen, Alleluia.

I have started at least three messages and then got distracted and I lost them some how. Today, I am staying here in the parish center as I have some interviews for First Communion around 4pm and then the 5:30pm and then my cousins from New York are going to pick me up and we’ll go out to dinner.

But since last I wrote on March 7th, I have been busy. I did hear confession that night and was busy but I loved it. I came home and went right to bed as I had the 8am Mass on Thursday and I have discovered that I need to get up at 6am to be ready for getting dressed and over to the parish center so I am breathing normally by the 8am Mass. After Mass, I worked in the office because Joe Stoutz and his new wife, Mary were coming by to pick me up for lunch. It turned out that Fr. John Bohrer came down with them; and Joe’s son, Tim (who lives here in DC) joined us at Clyde’s for lunch. We has a great time and John (in honor of my sister Marie) picked up the tab. That’s a story I told at her funeral Mass. I had a few more interviews and again I went to bed early.

On Friday, March 9th (the feast of St. Frances of Rome) I preached about her at the 8am and at the 5:30pm Mass. She was my Mom’s patron saint. I went out to lunch with the Petrones and we had a lot of laughs.

On Saturday, the 10th, Fr. Matthew Carroll, O.P. came to visit me at the rectory. He was assigned here in 2009, while a seminarian to help with RCIA. He was delightful and I found out that he was the nephew of Mary Carroll Pendergraph Smith, a dear friend from St. Camillus days. He was in town for the deaconate ordinations at the Shrine and came by around 3pm. He is now stationed in New York at a high school. We had a wonderful “catch up” time together.  I went to bed early because this was the night we lose an hour.

I woke up on Sunday and it was still dark at 7am. They tell me that it will change. I had the 10:30am Mass in the gym. I don’t think I told you that the Cardinal asked all the priests of the diocese to preach on Amoris Laetitia, Pope Francis’ exhortation after the synods that were held in 2014 and 2015. He asked us to use the A year readings and I have to admit they fit well with my homilies at the  5:30pm Masses on Saturday, March 3rd and Sunday, March 4th. It was the woman at the well – one of my favorite Gospels. At the gym Mass, the reading was the man born blind and again, it fit well with my homily about the Pope’s letter to encourage priests, bishops, and laity to “accompany” families that may be experiencing problems. It is a wonderful letter and very “readable”.

I slept in on Monday because it was soooo cold. I came over for the 5 :30pm Mass and then returned home quickly and went to bed.

I had a funeral on Tuesday. Please keep Sissi and her family in your prayers. She lived in the parish all her life and went to the school. Then she lived a very exciting life (which I heard about from her sister’s reflection) in Disney World and the city government. She had a home in Delaware and that is where she died. But she wanted to come home to SBS. There must have been 300 people here. I didn’t feel up to going out so I missed the funereal luncheon but I hear it was great.  I met with someone for confessions and then heard the School of Religion confessions.

Although Wednesday, the 14th was mi Dia de libre, I did come over at 8:30 and heard school confessions till 11:30. Then the ladies and I went out. When I came home, I ate and went to bed. I had planned to hear the evening confessions but it was so cold outside that all I wanted to do was get in a warm bed and sleep.

Thursday, I had the 8am Mass and then we heard more school confessions for a couple of hours. I met someone in my office. and then had some interviews. I went home and worked on the Christmas cards and went to bed early.

I’ve been having such a hard time getting my breathing back to normal; I asked Joan to bring me the cart to the rectory and I rode over; said the 11am Mass and rode back to the rectory.

On Saturday, I wasn’t scheduled for anything and I stayed in the suite all morning. It was NOT my usual St. Patrick’s Day celebration. I was planning to attend a retreat for special needs families but Fr. Bill was doing it and he also had confessions; so I took the confessions. My favorite thing to do. You meet people as they are trying to do better.

Sunday, the 18th, I had the 7:30am Mass and the 12:30PM Mass. The Gospel was Lazarus. Again, it was so appropriate to Amoris Laetitia. I hope lots of people will read it. Fr. Bill told me and I told them, that we’d have nice copies for them after Easter. Again it was  cold and I was glad to get home. I made macaroni and cheese.

Today, I had the 11am Mass and I will have the 5:30pm. I love St. Joseph and I prayed for all the wonderful Josephs that God has put in my life. After Mass, I went to the senior group for a combined St. Patrick and St. Joseph celebration. I wasn’t feeling well so I came home early. I had a very nice boy, Jack to interview and as my second had to cancel, I am finishing up this message before I go up for the 5:30pm Mass. I’m looking forward to being with my cousins. I’ll write about that next time.

Since I’ve been staying in because of the cold, I have used the phone a lot. I was glad to “catch up” on family and friends. Please keep Fr. Beattie and Betty Neary in your prayers. Also, by chance I called Maggie and it’s good I did she left this morning with JoAnn to spend 5 days in Puerto Rico. She gets it from my mother!

Don’t give up on the Christmas Cards. They should be there around Easter. Keep me in your prayers and know that you are in mine.

Hello again,

Since last I wrote, a lot has gone on. On Wednesday, Feb 21st, after I met with Lila, she dropped me off at O’Boyle and I visited with Tom Kane and other old friends there. Then Tim drove T and me to Annapolis, where we met the Petrones for Italian food. I had a great time and was ready for bed.

On Thursday, the 22nd, I had the 8 and the 11AM masses; I came over for lunch and then I called Regina Housel. She wasn’t home but I left a message. It was her birthday. Then I took a nap as Wednesday was a busy day. Had supper and went to bed.

Slept in on Friday and had the 11am Mass. I went to bed because it was cold.

Saturday, we had Confirmation. Bishop Dorsonville did it and was good. I joined them for lunch and didn’t go to the second service. I was really tired.

Sunday, the 25th, I had the 7:30AM Mass and then met a young boy for his First Communion interview. His family couldn’t get him to the up-coming interviews because we stop at 5pm. He was great and is ready. Pray for Max. Then at 2:30, I met part of the McGreevy clan, who had come for Baptisms. I was able to stay in my scooter and they all moved around. Please remember in your prayers: Ethan, Roman, Grace, and Victoria. We had a little party afterwards in our big room and it was great to “catch up” on all the family.  I went to bed early.

I stayed in my suite till the afternoon on Monday. I only had the 5:30pm Mass. I’ve been working on my Christmas cards (NO, they are from 2017) but it has been fun to re-read the letters people sent to me and updated me on their families. I love that!!

On Tuesday, the 27th, I slept in and then I had the 11am Mass and a priest came to visit me. I stayed in the rectory the rest of the day,  had supper and then to bed.

On Wednesday, Fr. Foley dropped me at the seminary and I attended a morning of recollection for the priests. John Enzler gave it and it was excellent and just what I needed. The Petrones picked me up and took me to Wheaton and I got my hair cut and beard trimmed. We went to lunch and they brought me home. I worked on my cards.

Thursday and Friday, I just said Mass and stayed near the rectory.

On Saturday, March, I had the 5:30pm Mass. I was suppose to have a baptism but the storm delayed the planes and the grandparents couldn’t get her from Florida. It was cold in the afternoon, but Fr. Foley drove me over to see Fr. Beattie. He is at Our Lady of Lourdes’ rectory. He was in intensive care at Georgetown Hospital but he wanted to come home. I was very grateful to get to see him. He is in no pain but his heart can not be repaired. He was able to talk and told many funny stories of our days together. As we left, Fr. Foley, “Nothing wrong with that mind”.  We prayed with him and he gave us his blessing.  It was very windy but the church was full for the evening Mass.  I came home and went to bed because the 4th is Marie’s birthday.

On Sunday, I was picked up and taken to Ft. Lincoln where I met 5 of Marie’s children, two of her grandchildren, Maggie and Jo Ann and two of her daughters-in-law. They had had a marker made and installed and we blessed it and prayed (and sent off some balloons). Then we went to the Alamo (Mexican restaurant in Riverdale) and had a great meal. Lots of laughs and stories. Then I had the 5:30pm Mass. And watched the Oscars but fell asleep.

On Monday, we began the interviews for First Communions and I had 8 of them. They were great. I also had the 8am and the 5:30pm Masses. then I Ubered out to Leisure World and picked up Barbara. Then we Urbered to Mama Lucia’s to meet Barry Fitz for supper. Kevin Shearer, who was a grade school boy at Camillus, then a student at GC and is now a teacher at Mt. St. Joe’s. He has  been ill and it was great to see him so improved. We all had a great time.

Yesterday I had the 11am Mass and then my first Tuesdays with Maury in over a month. We talked about Lent and had a great time. I had some appointments in the office and then three interviews. Had supper with the guys and went to bed early.

Today is mi dia de libre (my DAY OFF). I was planning to go to the meeting and lunch for retired priests, but the weather is cold and damp and I decided just to stay in my suite, try to get this written, do some more Christmas cards, have supper and then do to the church for the Light is On for You (Lenten confessions). I’ll probably go to bed early as I have the 8am Mass on Thursday.

Hope you are having a good Lent, I am.

Today is mi dia de libre. (my DAY OFF) and I am spending it upstairs in my suite this morning. I thought I’d write a message.

Barbara and Peter stopped by with supper for me on Saturday and we talked about her sister’s funeral in Washington state. She had a copy of the reflection she gave and it was delightful. She is my old friend from St. Michael’s, Beth McCoy’s niece and lives in the parish. I’ve had some great times with them. They introduce me to “new things” like supper, which was a Southeastern stew (not too picante as we Irish don’t eat spicy foods). It was very good and we had a nice visit.

We had a decent size snow storm on Saturday after I wrote and my friend, Carolyn drove over and picked me up to take me to the church for the 5:30 pm Mass. She also dropped me back at the rectory. I went to bed quickly

I slept in on Sunday and although the slush had mostly gone away, Carolyn brought me over to the parish center and helped me get ready for the baptism. It was lovely and quite a crowd. He was perfect and his grandmother had a picture of his father when he was his age (3 months) and he is the spitting image. It was nice to see relatives and other friends. I had not intended to go to the luncheon because I don’t do well even walking about ten feet; but Rick and Peg said, “O come, we’ll make it work” and they did. I had a great time with lots of laughs. I was glad to know that with Monday, a holiday, I could sleep in – and I did.

Stayed in my suite and worked on my Christmas cards.

Yesterday, I was scheduled for the 8am Mass but I was asked to take the 11 instead and I was again, glad to sleep in. I stayed in my office till lunch and then I returned to the rectory. God bless, Joan, she followed me over when I rode the scooter and then took it back to be recharged. I was suppose to go to a SDC gathering but I “Wimped out”. They were understanding, as they always are. I just hung around and made some phone calls. I was in bed by 7pm.

Today, Lila, the principal from St. Michael’s is stopping by to visit as she has a meeting at the Pastoral Center. After our visit, she will dropped me off at O’Boyle. I hope to visit Fr. Tom Kane. Fr. Tim Daley is up from Florida and he will drive Fr. T and me to Annapolis to have dinner with the Petrones. The ladies will bring me home. I have the 8am Mass tomorrow.

Please keep all the sick in your prayers and know that you are in mine.

Hello, I hope you are already having a good Lent. I just got home from a few days in Baltimore, where I participated in the Mid-Atlantic Congress. It is an opportunity to hear speakers about Evangelizing in our world. There are good talks and lots of exhibitors who sell (and give away) materials to help in the process.  I also had a chance to see old friends and catch up on their lives.

First, let me bring you up to date since last I wrote, which was February 1st.

First, I guess I was hacked because people keep telling me that they got emails from me that promise them money.  Please ignore them and try not to even open them. My brother-in-law, Rick had the best answer when one of his sons got a request for $200. He said, “I knew it wasn’t from Uncle Maury. He would have asked for a thousand!” So please ignore them. I think it was from Facebook and I have changed whatever needed to be changed or it may have  been Yahoo and I’ve changed that too. Buyer be ware!!

The weather has been very confusing and so I haven’t been out much. I even held my interviews for those to be confirmed over here in the rectory.  All I had to do was stay over here after lunch and take a nap and they came over after 3pm and I rode down on my chair and we met in the dining room. I love when they tell me about their Saint Name or the Community Service or their Sponsor. They put a lot of time and thought into their choices. I must have met with about 30 of them. It went well and Confirmation is next Saturday.

In looking over my appointment book, I see that aside from Masses and Confessions, I really have not done a lot. I’m met with a number of people in my office or here in the rectory. I have a small list of people that I phone regularly but I don’t go out like I use to. I did have Mary Healey’s funeral and was it windy at the cemetery. I saw some old friends from St. B’s. Please keep Mary’s family in your prayers.

I went out shopping with the Petrone ladies and we had a great time but I still haven’t found the best way to get a “scooter”. I really do need it as I learned at the Congress. I rented one and without it, I could never have gotten around. I’ll try again next week as the weather is going to be better.  I am finding more time to read and I am still working on my Christmas letter, which I  can say definitively “will not be out by Lent!” I also phone and “catch up” with lots of people.

I have the 5:30pm Mass tonight and tomorrow I will baptize William James, the grandchild of Rick and Peg Jensen, my cousins who are kind and take me out to put wreathes on the graves of our ancestors and other family fun.  I officiated at Kate Jensen and James Collins wedding two years ago and now the next generation of the family continues. Please keep them all in your prayers. Also continue to pray for Father Beattie and Father Trancone, Mary Mudd, and Betty Neary. So much illness this time of the year.

I think I’ll send this off. Hope you had a wonderful Ash Wednesday. We had a King Cake for Mardi Gras and then entered into the joy and sacrifice of Lent. Let us pray for each other.

Hello again.

I want to bring you up to date since I only wrote that brief message last Sunday and have not sent a real message since December. I had a good Advent and heard lots of confessions, which is one of the things I really enjoy. People can come to my office and we just talk. Once I am seated, my breathing gets settled down and I can go for a long time. Also, we had a parish penance service with two or three other priests joining us and a lot of people to advantage of the opportunity to prepare for Christmas. We also had a number of dinners and celebrations here in the rectory for various groups, teachers and ushers and members of committees. I stop by but come up to my suite and go to bed early. I find that I am often in bed before Jeopardy finishes. I do sleep through the night and wake refreshed.

I don’t go out much – although I did get a ride to Riderwood for Judge Bob Wallace’s’ funeral. I preached and con-celebrated with two priest friends. It was nice to see so many old friends from St. Camillus and TEAMS.  I came home and stayed in my suite for a couple of days. The weather has been so changeable that I don’t know what to do. I had lots of offers for Thanksgiving but I con celebrated the 10AM Mass and then came over here and relaxed.  I did a few Baptisms because family was in town for the holiday. I was glad to do them.

I have discovered when I went to visit the doctor that although I have air in my lungs from my machine; when I get up to move that air goes into my blood stream to go to my feet and my hands. The machine doesn’t replenish it at the same rate and so that is why I am panting often. If I sit for awhile, it goes back to normal breathing; but it means I need to go up to church about 20 minutes before Mass, get settled in the priest’s chair and stay there till the Offertory, when I am helped to my stool behind the altar.  It is all part of “diminishment” that Fr. Peter and I often talked about because of his illness. I pray that I can accept it as graciously as he did. Keep that in your prayers.

Christmas was lovely and I con-celebrated 4 Masses. My cousins, part of the Gibbon’s clan came and we had a great visit after one of them. Lots of good food (and too many cookies!) filled our kitchen. On New Year’s Eve, Maggie, Mike and Sue, and Sue’s Mom, Janice (from Kansas) and I went to a great Brazilian restaurant for lots of meat. Then I went to their house and spent the night. On January 1st, we went to BINGO (too hard to explain why we did but it was fun).  On Tuesday, the 2nd, Maggie and I were driven to the Port of Baltimore and we went on a nine day cruise down the coast to the Bahamas. We joined Pat Berry, his brother Bill and his wife Kate, Sister Kass and two parishioners from her parish. a dear friend, Anna-Marie from St. Bernard’s and two of my cousins from the Denny family. When we left Baltimore, it was 8 degrees. We traveled through a snow storm coming up the coast and when we got to Charleston, they had two inches of snow and ice (first time in 35 years!). When we stopped in Port Canaveral, it was 60 degrees and finally when we got to the Island, it was in the 80’s. I didn’t mind as I had a scooter that took me around the ship and I was breathing normally when I got to where I was going. I slept a lot and read two books (which I love to do). On the way home, the engine broke and we had to go back to Florida for repairs. A lot of people were ill and some got off and flew home from Orlando. We ended up being on the cruise for 11 days and didn’t get home till Saturday. Our young priest, Fr. Alec told me not to worry that he and his priest friends would cover everything – and they did. He sent me to bed and I did the 10:30am Mass in the gym on Sunday. Everyone said I looked very rested – and I guess I did.

I forgot to say that one of my teeth cracked and on Monday, I went to the dentist. That Friday, two of my teeth were extracted. My good friend, Colleen took me and stayed with me. They couldn’t put me out because of the oxygen but I was loaded with Novocaine and my mouth felt like Mt. Rushmore. All that is over with now and I am working on my Christmas cards and letter. Hope to be out before Lent. Had a very pleasant surprise this week as Mary Lynne and Frankie Costanza (who were great friends during my high school days). They and David Northrop (Mary’s husband) came to visit me when the Northrop’s came up from North Carolina to visit family. It was like we’d been together a month ago.

Lots of people need prayers – especially those dealing with the flue. Also Fr. Beattie and Mary Mudd were in hospitals. Both are home but please keep them in your prayers. Father T is undergoing lots of test for his eye sight. A dear friend from St. B’s died this week and I will do her service on Friday. Please keep Mary Healy and her family in your prayers. Also Susie Ford died out on the west coast. She is the cousin of the McCoy family. Please keep her and her family in your prayers. Also please keep Rose and Patty Petrone in your prayers. They are so good to Fr. T and me.

That kind of brings you up to date. I know I forgot so many nice events and people I have seen or talked to but they know how much I enjoyed that.

Now that I know my password again; I will try to be more faithful. Know that you are in my prayers and thoughts daily.