What Paddy Shot At

I had the 8:30am Mass today and was vvery surprised that almost 80 people came. A number spoke to me after Mass to say how much they have enjoyed my homilies. “You always say something that is thoughtful in such a short space”. That was very sweet.

I just finished listening to two lectures: One of the Italian campaign in WWII and the other by Gerald Raffe, who is a political cartoonist from Great Britian but appears in the New Yorker as well. He was very entertaining and glib. I found the lecture on WWII. I learned a lot about the bombing of Monte Cassino, a Benedictine Monastery.

I can not believe that I forgot to tell this story yesterday. Many of you know that I give up Snickers for Lent. It may not seem like much but I really enjoy them and often I might have 4 or 5 in a week. I do other things for Lent but that is a “biggie”. Yesterday, Easter Sunday afternoon, I was lying on my bed reading and Patrick said, ” Oh, good I see you have some water near you. It will help you to wash down your Easter gift.” Then he took out a Snickers; broke off a small part for himself and handed me the rest. It was soooooo gooood. The best part was I had looked in the ship store and they didn’t have any Snickers, so I asked Patrick, “How did you find that?” He said, “Oh, I brought it from Chicago. I knew you would enjoy it for Easter!!!” And I did! What a good and thoughtful friend.

Yesterday, I had the Vigil Mass at 5:30pm. We started by lighting one candle as an Easter Candle. We did, The Light of Christ and they responded in song, Thanks be to God. I just used the creation account, the crossing of the Red Sea, – then we said the Gloria and I lit the altar candles. Then, the Epistle, and the Gospel. I preached BRIEFLY, I blessed water, which I placed on the altar for people to come and bless themselves after Mass as they had come to venerate the Cross. We are in the theatre and it’s about 30 steps down and I figured that once down for Communion was enough. We repeated our Baptismal vows. Then the Mass continued. I had three Eucharistic Ministers and we had over 100 people. I sang the dismissal Alleluia and they repeated it. So I think it was as good and proper as the Pope’s Mass in Rome.
This morning, Mass was at 8:30am and again, we had over a 100. We had flowers that a couple had arranged for. It turned out that the husband, Bill ended up in the infimary and so his wife, Mary, took Communion to him and one of the flower arrangements.
We did the Mass of Easter Sunday and even recited the Sequence. A lady had gotten some copies made of Jesus Christ is Risen Today run off and we shared them and sang verses 1 and 2 as openers and 1 and 3 as a closing. It really was nice and we even took up a collection for the seamen’s fund.
At 1pm, I went and had an acupunture session. I hurt my foot in Bangkok and thought it might help. It didn’t but I enjoyed the massage and the needles didn’t hurt at all. Afterwards, I joined Pat in the sauna, hot tub, and the pool. He joined the club when we first got on board and has enjoyed it. I enjoyed it too.
Finished my second book and rested all afternoon. Supper was formal, so we had a drink before dinner.

Afterwards, I went to the crews’ section and said Mass for about 70 of them. It was very similar to the 8 this morning except they sing the parts and a couple of hymns. I walked among them to sprinkle them with holy water after we repeated our baptismal vows and they spontaneously sang. It was just lovely.

Now I’m off to bed. At sea tomorrow, so Mass is at 8:30am and I need to find a new book.

Hope you all had a very special and blessed Easter.You and all your intentions were in my prayers.
This is the Day the Lord has made, let us rejoice in it!!

This was the most unusual Good Friday I have ever had.
Our service was at 8:30am because we are “at sea”.
I brought 60 consecrated hosts from the safe in my room and placed them in four ciboria and lit a candle. Then we started with the liturgy of the word. John read both the readings and led the responsorial Psalm. Then I read an abridged version of the Passion according to John and preached. Then Patsy (who was an O’Connell before she married) read out the General Intentions, we prayed silently and then I said the prayer aloud. It went well.
Then I had covered the medal crucifix we had on the altar and as I took off parts of the cloths, I sang, “Behold….” and they say, “Come let us worship”. Then I placed the cross at the edge of the altar with the candles lit and told them that they could come down and touch it when they come to Communion or at the end of Mass. I then did the Our Father and three eucharistic ministers came and helped me to distribute Communion. I told them to break each host in half as we had close to 100 people there. We had two full host and three halves when we were done. Then I said the prayer over the people and dismissed them. It took 28 minutes!!!
A few more came down to reverence the crucifix. I think that Fr. Germain who taught us Liturgy, would have approved of what was created.

Tomorrow we are in India and so the Mass will be around 5pm. I’ll do a Vigil Mass and as we are at sea on Sunday, we’ll have another Easter Mass at 8:30am. Then I’ll say Mass around 10:30pm for the crew. About a 28 hour Sunday.
Hope you all had a very good Good Friday.

Because the schedule is set by the ship, we had Mass at 8:30am this morning. I used the readings of the Chrism Mass and preached on the Eucharist and the Priesthood. There were almost 50 people there, so I consecrated over 100 Hosts; so that I’d have an equal number for the service on Good Friday. I have the Blessed Sacrament in the safe in my room (but do not have a candle burning – not allowed)
I had explained to the staff that we don’t have Mass on Good Friday and that the service that I knew had to be at 8:30 would be “A Good Friday Service”. So the program comes out and it say, “Good Friday Mass”. The people will understand.
Also because it is a long standing custom of mine to visit 7 churches on Holy Thursday; this afternoon, I went on line and make a “virtual” visit to:
St. Matthew’s Cathedral, where I was ordained
St. Anthony’s, where I was baptized
St. Martin’s, where I went to k thru 3rd grade
Immaculate Conception, where my parents were married
St. Camillus, my first parish
St. Michael’s in Ridge, my second and last pastorate
Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, where I live now

I went to each of their web sites and looked at scenes inside the church and I prayed in each of them for all my family and friends. It took 57 minutes (still less than my usual time to drive) but it was worth it.
So know that all of you and your intentions were lifted up while I was on pilgrimage

We are off the coast of Thailand. There is an island here with very nice beaches; but I am staying on board as you have to use “tenders” – little boats to go back and forth. I am reading a very good book by Pat Conroy, who wrote Conrack, Prince of Tides, and the Great Santini. It is an easy read.
I had Mass yesterday at 8:30am with about 38 people. Today is the Mass is at 5:15pm just before we leave for India. I didn’t get a visa for India, so I can’t get off but that is OK.
Tomorrow is Holy Thursday and I did ask if we might have Mass in the evening but I think it will be at 8:30am. I’m sure the Lord will understand. I will consecrate extra Hosts to distribute on Good Friday. Heaven knows what time that service will occur. The congregation seems to be able to go with the flow; so I’m sure that the Passion, Death, and Resurrection will be celebrated.
More later.

Am just leaving Singapore. I was here 30 years ago with Monsignor Dade. It has changed so much. When we were here, the port was about a five minute taxi ride to the Raffell’s hotel. We docked at a container dock about 5 miles away and the skyline is filled with skyscrapers. The hotel is the same. It is where I had a singapore sling so long ago.

Yesterday was Palm Sunday. I had Mass on Saturday night for about 40 of the crew, which was very nice. Most were Phillapinos and they sang beautifully. I gave out crosses of Palm that I had brought from home. I did the same at the 8:30am Mass on Sunday. Had about 60 at that Mass.

Today, we didn’t have Mass scheduled. I don’t think it is a priority for the cruise line but a number of the “regulars” asked about it. I told them I just follow the daily schedule sheet. I did see we have Mass scheduled for tomorrow, while we are at sea. It is 8:30am.

I get confused about the date because as I write “Monday”; it is still Sunday for you people at home. Also the date and time on the computer is never the same as what I think. It seems like I am a day ahead of you and about 12 hours difference. We are heading towards an island that belongs to Thailand. I won’t get off as the heat here is terrible. I have lots to read – in the airconditioned ship.

I can’t tell if I wrote about going to Bangkok but it was very interesting and again, much different than it was 30 years ago. Last night the movie was called Anna and the King and starred Jody Foster. It was probably more historical than ‘The King and I’, the musical but it was very entertaining.

I will close for now.

Today we were in Vietnam. I got off the boat and visited some craft sellers at the pier but I didn’t want to tour. What I saw as we travelled the river and went past the Mekong delta was beautiful. It is lush with trees that grow right out of the river. There is no coastline. It is very hot. It was 97 degrees with 87 percent humidity. You can imagine how I liked that. Didn’t spend a half hour and then I was back in the airconditioning. I had Mass at 5:15pm. There were 30 people there. I have to be done in half and hour, which is easy for me. I give a homily and Communion is just the Host and someone helps me. I have a reader and the people are very helpful and grateful for Mass. When we are at sea, Mass is at 8:30am. I don’t know if things will be different for Holy Week.
Pat and I are eating at the late seating, which is 8:30pm. We wanted a table for just two and all were filled at the 6:00pm seating. It is working fine for us and I just didn’t want to sit with other people. I have too large a Christmas card list!!
I use the oxygen at night and it helps with sleeping but during the day, I’m fine – even though I walk the length of two football fields just to go to meals (and that’s twice a day).
I also am doing email and am keeping up with people. It is very relaxing. There are talks and I have been to two. There was a great stage show last night and tonight the magician was very good. Well, according to my watch, it is now 11:40pm and I am going to my room, read, and go to bed. More tomorrow!

I am still having trouble with Internet but just wanted to say hi. Will arrive in Vietnam tomorrow and will get off ship but not take a tour – too many bad association with the war. I will get off in Thailand. Will write again soon.

Have had some very interesting events over the last four days. We left Chicago at 1:15pm on Saturday and flew for 14 hours. Arrived in Hong Kong on Sunday, the 25th at 5:30pm. Stayed in a hotel and went to the ship on Monday, March 26th. As I write this, it is Tuesday and we are on the sea going to Vietnam. Lots of little problems but it all looks OK now. Had Mass this morning, a nice group of about 40 from all over the world. I didn’t sleep well last night (nervious that I’d over sleep) so I am going to take a nap. I will update later.

I am in Chicago and waiting for our limo to the airport. Our flight leaves O’Hare at 1pm;then a 15 hour flight to Hong Kong. We cross the dateline, so we’ll arrive there on Sunday at around 5pm. We’ll stay at a hotel and then go to the ship on Monday around noon. I will be glad to get settled on the ship and be able to use the Internet cafe on the ship. It has a keyboard and it takes a long time to write with just one finger as I have to do on the I-Pad. Just wanted you all to know I am OK, I was very busy before I left and I’ll tell you about that later.