What Paddy Shot At

Have been very busy since Wednesday, and don’t have much time now. I have the 5:30pm Mass tonight and afterwards, I will come down to the center and write an update.
Am off now to the see someone in the hospital, then I have a noon wedding, and a 2:30 memorial Mass. Busy, busy, busy!!

Had a busy day getting information together to have the surgery next Tuesday. There is so much paperwork. I have the 8:00am Mass tomorrow and then a 8:45 meeting with my doctor, Dr. Tiffini Lucas for blood work and some pre-op stuff. Then I go to Olney to meet with Christine, the physician’s assistant about the surgery. Then I have a wedding rehearsal at 6pm. I’m exhausted just thinking of it; so that is why I am sitting here watching TV and will go to bed early. More coming….

I had a very good conversation with Dr. David Higgins, an orthopedic specialist. His office will contact me tomorrow about an appointment to see the doctor. I will take my CD of my MRI and then we’ll look at some options besides therapy.
I continue to have pain and if it takes surgery to fix things, I’ll open to that.
I have been taking it very easy for the last couple of days. Saying Mass, sitting in the office and only seeing people that I need to, like weddings that I am committed to.
My sister, Maggie had surgery today on her thumb. She has a condition – not associated with the accident – in which her thumb just “freezes” and she can’t bend it. She tells me it went well and she is recovering by staying close to home. Maureen has an appointment for test about the lung this Thursday. Actually Marie, who was so sick is the healthiest of the O’Connell kids at the moment; but keep them all in your prayers.

Tomorrow is the feast of St. Anthony of Padua and on June 13, 1990 (a Wednesday that year) I began my ministry as pastor of St. Bernard’s parish in Riverdale. Amazing, seems like only yesterday.

Where does the time go?

On Friday morning, I went to the doctor and he gave me the results of my MRI. I have a small tear in my minicus (sp?). It could heal with therapy so we’ll see. The pill he gave me that is perscription strength Aleve does help so that the pain is a lot less. I’m doing great at getting around – even steps!

After the doctor, I drove to New Carrollton and got the train to Philly. Joe met me and we went to a movie. It’s called “Bernie” and is a true story of an mortician in Texas. It’s different but I enjoyed it. Then we met John and Terry for dinner in South Philly. It was a very good Italian restaurant called ‘Paridiso”. Then we went to another place for gelato. It was so great to be with them.

Since I had a baptism at noon, I decided to take the 10:30pm train back. I was in bed by 1am and had a good night’s sleep.

My baptism was Hunter Patton, the grandson of Brian Mulholland, a parishioner whom I have known since he was a teenager answering the phones at St. John Baptist de la Salle parish in Chillum in the 70’s. His family is very close to the Caruso family, who are my cousins and lived in Chillum. He has been a good friend since I arrived at Blessed Sacrament. Such a good friend, that since he asked me to, I wore my Monsignor robes and a surplus for the ceremony. I don’t use them much but it was good to see that I have lost enough weight that the sash needed to be pulled in a lot more!!
Afterwards, we went to Arugala, another Italian restaurent for a nice luncheon. I sat with Brian’s mom, who lives in Leisure World, and with two other sons. It was delightful.

Then I went to Knollwood, the military retirement community nearby for the 4pm Mass. The Jesuits serve there but all of them were going to be away this weekend, so they asked us to cover. I know a number of people, including the lady I went to anoint a few weeks ago and had such a nice visit with, and so I am very comfortable there.

Afterwards, I drove to Timonium, near Baltimore and visited Nick and Tara McCoy, one of Beth McCoy’s children. She had invited me for dinner and surprised me by inviting three other of the children and their spouses. Also three of the nephews were there. We had a great meal (I guess it is even more amazing that I’ve lost weight; since I seem to be having great meals all the time!). And we laughed and talked till 11pm. Two of the couples live far away in Annapolis and in St. Mary’s county and I had to return to Washington, so we called it a night but we really had a good time.

This morning I had the 7:30am Mass and since it is Corpus Christi, our parish feast day, I preached about the Eucharist. I think it went well. It really is a wonderful gift that we receive the true Body and Blood of Jesus – not just a remembrance – but the actual Body and Blood!!! We can sometimes forget that. It’s good to recall it today.

I was suppose to have the 10:30 as well but Fr. Ron has asked me to go to the talk being given by Mark Shriver at 11am in our library. Mark has written a book about his Dad, Sargent Shriver, who was the first head of the Peace Corp and an outstanding Catholic of Maryland history. I was planning to go to the talk after Mass but Father recieved some calls and emails complaining about Mark speaking here from the some of the same loonies who came and protested when Chris Matthews spoke here. I’m afraid they are planning a similar demonstration and disruption. So I and John, the seminarian – and Marine – will be there just to see everything goes alright. Now, I know this was never discussed in my seminary preparations!!

I have a 3:30 baptism and I will write more later.

A quiet day today:
I had the 8:00am Mass and then drove over to see about the brakes on my car. They make noise and it worried Joan Ward. But Danny looked them over and tells me they don’t need to be replaced for about 5,000 miles. So I’ll go back in a couple of months. I drive about a 1000 miles a month.

Since I was out early, I drove over to Sunrise on New Hampshire Ave to visit Mary Kennedy. She just moved into this assisted living; and I didn’t really get a chance to talk much with her at the celebration; so I just dropped in. We went for a short walk and had a nice visit.

Then I stopped at St. Camillus rectory and then dropped in on Joan Beall and had a nice visit.

Then I took a nap and then went to hear confessions. I had supper with Fr. Ron and John Williams, our seminarian. We sat and talked for awhile and now I’m upstairs and getting ready for bed.

I have to be at the doctor’s by 8:45 to get the results of the MRI. Then I’m taking the train to Philly to go to a movie with Joe and then have supper with him, John, and Terry. I’ll stay overnight and take the train back on Saturday morning in time for a baptism at noon. I probably won’t write again till Sunday.

Tuesday was a full day.
First, thanks for the concern and the prayers for Maggie. She came home Monday night. The doctors looked her over and nothing was broken. People wanted to stay overnight in the hospital but she was anxious to get home. On Tuesday, she was hurting. All over her body and joints, she had pain. She went to her doctor and had x-rays. Nothing is broken but she is mighty bruised. She was driving her SUV with just Millie, her dog for company. She was following (but a few cars behind) her daughter, AnnMarie, who was taking their camper down to the campsite. She doesn’t remember what happened except that she saw the truck in front of her and turned quickly to the side to avoid hitting it. She clipped the right fender and it turned her over. She thinks she turned over about 4 times and landed on her side. Her OnStar responded immediately and said to her, “Mrs. McLaughlin, we see that your air bags have deployed, are you OK? We have informed the police and help is on the way. We’ll stay with you till they arrive.” She said that was very consoling. Also a UPS man stopped and said he was also an EMT and he’d stay with her. It took almost an hour to get her out as the SUV was totaled and they had to cut her out. Thank God – and we all mean that – she is OK.

Maureen and Rick also went to the doctor on Tuesday to see if she might qualify for a lung transplant. She does and her doctor is looking into Emory University Hospital. Please continue to keep her in your prayers.

I had a MRI on Tuesday and will hear Friday what they found. I am getting around but still stiff in the knee. Please keep that in your prayers also.

I’m saying Mass. I’ve had either the 11 or the 5:30pm Masses and that means I can stay in bed till I feel like getting up. I haven’t been giving Communion; our EMs are very good about doing that for me. I come over and spend a good part of the day here but once I go over to the rectory, I usually just stay in my suite. It seems that going down steps is harder on my knees than coming up. I did have supper with Monsignors Beattie and Duffy last night. I would have hated to miss that.

I am staying in the center to meet with a couples whose wedding is on the 23rd. Then I’ll go to the rectory because the Home/School is having dinner then. I’ll only stay awhile as I have the 8:00am Mass tomorrow.

Hi, it is Monday night and yesterday went by quickly. I had the 10:30am Mass in the gym. It was the last Mass till after Labor Day. There was a picnic after Mass and although I didn’t go, it looked well attended.
Because they are no pews in the gym, I didn’t know if I could help with Communion; but one of the ladies took the ciborium and stood next to me, so that I could hold on to my cane and distribute and bless with the other hand. It went well and I was glad to be able to give out Communion and bless the children.

It did tire me out and so I just relaxed in the sacristy and then helped with Communion at the 12:30. Again, I used the pew to lean up against. AFterwards, I had the baptismal class. 8 couples were there. I always enjoy that and I leaned against the piano and did a good presentation. After that, I contaced two ladies who teach at Holy Cross. They were having a supper for the priests and brothers who help out at Holy Cross High School. I enjoy doing that and was looking forward to meeting some of the other men; but I was just exhausted and called and wimped out. Went to bed. My leg feels better when I am off it – better in bed than in a chair. I slept fine.

This morning, I had the 11:00am and John, the seminarian helped me. I didn’t give Communion as again my knee hurt. I worked at the desk but came over to the rectory for lunch and just stayed. I’ve been relaxing and watching TV.

Kerri, my niece called me around 2pm to tell me that Maggie had been in a car accident. OnStar had contacted her at school to let her know that they had recieved a message from the car. She said she had spoke to Maggie and that she was conscious and her sisters were already there or on the way. It happened in Virginia as they were heading down to her campsite.

AnnMarie called and said that they were at the hospital. That Maggie didn’t seem to have any broken bones and that Kerri was taking her home to Maggie’s. I called there a few moments ago and there is no answer but they may have stopped to get something to eat. The truck rolled over and they had to “cut” Maggie out. I would drive down tonight but I have a doctor’s appointment at 9:30am tomorrow; so I’ll wait till that is done and then go down. Marie just called me. She is in Atlantic City and got a message, so she wanted to know what I knew. I told her I didn’t know much but that Maggie was OK. Please keep her in your prayers and I’ll let you know how everything is – probably tomorrow.

I slept very well and until 9:30am. I think my knee likes it when it is prone!!
I came over and called Josephine Merenda, a dear friend from Forbes Road, where I taught CCD as a seminarian. I had just been talking about her to Tish Rossi and she called me. Her son, Christian was the very first baby I baptized 41 years ago when I was a deacon. I love her and her family.
At noon, I went up for graduation. It was just wonderful. I cried a lot as I thought about the students heading off to various high schools. Fr. Ron and the principal, Mr. Kelly gave very good talks. I think I knew almost every graduate, which was also very nice. Some of my former students recieved awards but I was proud of each of them. I saw a few afterwards.
I have missed giving out Communion, so I asked Fr. Ron if I could do it on the side, then I could lean up against a pew. It worked very well and so I did it again at the 5:30pm Mass at which I presided. I had taken a nice long (almost 3 hours) nap after graduation and felt much better.

I did contact some of the graduates’ families because they had been kind enough to invite me by this evening; but I let them know I wasn’t up to it. Now that the evening Mass and Confessions are over, I see I wouldn’t have had the energy to go out. When I finish this, I’ll get something to eat and head upstairs.

I have the 10:30am in the gym tomorrow. I’ll have to figure out how I can do Communion. There are no pews in the gym. I am praying to the Holy Trinity for inspiration.

40 years ago today, I drove up to the rectory at St. Camillus parish in Silver Spring to begin my assignment as associate pastor. It seems like only yesterday. (Too many memories are rolling around in my head and my heart)
Last night, after I wrote that I was going to bed; I talked with Jeff Healander. He and Beth were up here visiting friends. They were kind enough to invite out to the gathering and I had a great time. Three other former students from Good Counsel were there. It was so good to see them and hear about their lives. I met their wives, who didn’t seem to mind our going down memory lane about GC.
The couple who were hosting the party turned out to be “almost” relatives. First, her maiden name is O’Connell. She knew Sister Catherina, who was my 8th grade teacher and he is from Lynn, Mass. where my Mom was born. They have a daughter, Isabella and a son, Vincent whom I am thinking of adopting. I met Jeff and Beth’s three daughters, whom I am adding to my little family as well. Now I just have to find a house! It was a great evening.

This morning, I get two phone calls. One from Tish Rossi, whom I taught CCD with in Greenburgh and whom I haven’t seen in 15 years. She and Joanne, her sister were visiting in Rockville. We couldn’t get together but will do so when they come again in the Fall.
The other call was from Brother bonaventure, a Xavierian brother who was principal at GC and got Cardinal Baum to send me there as chaplain. We had a great talk.

Then I had the 11am Mass and went to Surburban Hospital to visit Larry Pendergraph, an old friend from St. Camillus who was in cardiac care. He is getting better and I had a chance to see his wife, Mary and his brother in law, Matt Carroll, who is the father of Deacon Matt, a Dominican who did his seminary ministry here at Blessed Sacrament the first year I was here. Such a small world in the church, why can’t we agree and change the face of the earth???

Today in honor of my anniversary at St. Camillus, I went and visited Joan Beall. I wanted to see Mary Mudd too but she had a doctor’s appointment. The two of them were my mentors about so many things in my years as a young priest, but most especially about the teen club. The made me a very good moderator and our club was the best in the Archdiocese. Ah, the memories!!!!

We had terrible storms here all afternoon and evening; but I missed them because I drove down to Maggie’s and took a nap. Kerri and Tim, Maggie, Marie and I played cards and had a nice visit. Around 11pm, as the weather had improved, I decided to drive home and sleep in my own bed. We have 8th grade graduation at noon tomorrow and then I have the 5:30pm Mass. My leg is still slowing me down and so I hope to sleep in and have an easy day.

I had a great day. I think I have all my cards done and mailed. I had the 11am Mass. It is the Feast of the Visitation, so we all prayed for the parish in Darnestown and its founding pastor, Fr. Ray Fecteau.
I went out for a ride and gots some projects done. It was a lovely day to be outside.

When I got back, I worked at the desk all day and now (its about 6:30pm), I’m heading over to the rectory, get a bite to eat, and then relax upstairs.
I have the 11 tomorrow and then I’m going down to Maggie’s and spend the night. We have graduation on Saturday at noon and I have the 5:30pm Mass. It’s an easy weekend.
I did call and move my doctor’s appointment up to Tuesday. I think I need a MRI to answer my concerns. We’ll see! The leg gets stiff if I sit too long.