What Paddy Shot At

Wonderful morning. Drove up to Darnestown to Our Lady of the Visitation and did a “teaching Mass” for about 50 children and their parents. The children are the ones I went out there to celebrate First Penance with a few weeks ago. Today, I showed them the vestments and explained the parts of the Mass. They were so good and then we practiced receiving Communion under both species. They knew it wasn’t Jesus but they were very devout!
Then I came back and baptized Daniel William McCoy III. It was great to see Danny and Susan. I married them and baptized their little girl, Ayla a few years ago and now little Danny. Both Susan’s and Danny’s families were here and we had a small reception afterwards in the center. I caught up on all the McCoy family news. You may remember that Beth McCoy, the matriarch was a dear friend of mine while I was at St. Michael’s and she and her family “adopted” me. What a nice day.

I just finished the 5:30pm Mass. Fr. Richard Dililio, an Oblate, who is giving our mission this week, preached. He was very good and I hope the response is good. He and I met years ago through TEAMS. I haven’t seen him in a long time. Now I’m gonna get some food and go to bed.
Fr. Ron’s mom is not doing well, so we switched Masses for tomorrow. He’ll do the 7:30am and I’ll take his 10:30. That way he can head down to Southern Maryland and spend most of the day.

After Mass, I’m going to West Virginia to visit Marlynn and Frank Cavallaro. I’m going to stay over and I may not write again till Monday night.

Don’t know what happened to Thursday.
I had 8:00am Mass and then went to visit Joan Beall, she had her teeth pulled today and so I stopped by to visit. We also had a nice visit with Mary Mudd. She gave me a new copy of the St. Camillus photo directory, which I love having.
Then I came home and had soup and grilled cheese and a nap. At 3pm, I had some more confirmandi interviews. They are all done now. I had supper with the priests and then went to my room and feel asleep. Woke a couple of times but never set the alarm and woke this morning at 9:25am. Body must still be recovering.
Today I spent the whole day at my desk trying to “catch up”. Had a nice long phone call to Betty Neary and also one to Jerry Hudder. He is out of ICU but keep him in your prayers. Talked to Joe, who is still recovering from his back surgery but is feeling better. Called Sr. Natalie, who is also recovering. She had a broken elbow and is now doing therapy. Sounds like we could all go on the good ship, Hope and recover.
I had the 5:30pm Mass, which was a special Hunger Mass. Well attended and a lady from Catholic Charities spoke and we took a collection. Afterwards, we had Stations of the Cross – also well attended. We use Fr. John Enzler’s dad’s book and it is very powerful. Then we had pizza and lots of people stayed for that in the parish center. Steve and Stephanie, whom I married three years ago were there with their 6 month old daughter, Sophia, whom I baptized sat with me and the Hagerups, a family from the Bay Retreaters, the group I went on retreat with the last two Julys – I’m going this year too.
Now I’m heading over to the house. I have a full day tomorrow.

A really busy day:
Had the 8:00am Mass and the church was full. Then I helped with the school Mass at 9:15am – again full. Had the 11:00am Mass and the church was full. Fortunately, we have lots of parisioners who are willing to help with ashes and Communion.
I went and had some soup and grilled cheese sandwiches and took a nap. Returned at 3pm and had 5 confirmandi interviews. Then I helped with the 5:30pm and the 7:00pm. I don’t know where they all came from but the place was packed. Good sign!!
As part of my Lenten program, I am trying to catch up on loose ends and calling or contacting friends that I’ve been wanting to be in touch with. Talked to Regina Housel today as it is her birthday. She is very busy being principal in Florida. I talked to Maureen, who is doing OK and looking forward to Maggie and Marie’s visit in March. I also called Carmen. He is coming along very well and actually went up to the hospital, where he is chaplain just to say hi. Total recovery is a way off. Also spoke with Jerry Hudder, who is in the hospital in Arkansas. Keep him in your prayers. tonight I will call Fr. Dan and Joe and see how they are doing. So I hope you all have a very Happy and Blessed Lent.

I slept in till about 10am and then came to the office. I feel like my old self and I’m sure it’s due to catching up on sleep.
Had the 11:00am Mass and then spent the day trying to straighten up the office. Had exposition at 3pm and then 4 Confirmandi interviews. Had the 5:30pm Mass and then headed over to DeCarlo’s for supper with the Monsignors Beattie and Duffy and Fr. John Clark. That is always so pleasant and Frs. Regis and Mike came in with Msgr. Paul Lenz, who is a graduate of St. Vincent’s and I’m known him for years. He was the head of the Indian and Black Missions Office here in DC. As we were leaving, I saw Fr. Godfrey, pastor of St. Ann’s. So it was like a priests’ meeting.

So I’m off to bed early as tomorrow will be very busy – Ash Wednesday! Have a good and holy Lent!!!

The last two days were almost like “days off”. They were “recovery days”. After spending some time Saturday at the desk; I went home and went to bed. I slept well and got up in time to go to dinner with Nabil and Libby. We went to a mid-east restaurant and I had some strange foods – but I enjoyed them! I think they would qualify as “structured” because they were meats and vegetables. We had a very pleasant evening. I was in bed by 9pm

On Sunday, I had the 7:30 Mass and preached about the paralytic whose friend put him through the roof. We sometimes get caught up in the engineering of the exercise when what is most important is the Jesus is telling us the Kingdom had arrived and sin can be forgiven. I had a good time.

Then I had the 10:30am Mass in the church during which I baptized Liv Lotta. It weent well and the people were very supportive and stopped by to congratulate her family. Then I went shopping and ate out. Around 5, I went to bed and slept on and off till 7am this morning. It was like being a beach bum!

I had the 8:00am Mass and preached on Raphael’s painting, “The Transfiguration”. and what is at the bottom of the painting. It went well. Then I met a couple for doing FOCUS, a pre-marriage inventory instrument. They just finished and I’ll mail it out tomorrow for evaluation. Just finished talking with Ann Brown O’Connell, my cousin who was to ill to join us last week. She feels a lot better and we “caught up” on the family.

At 1:30, a young man who is in RCIA will come and we’ll go over three topics he missed and then I have exposition at 3pm and the Mass at 5:30. Then home to get a bite and then early to bed.

Yesterday was almost a “day off”. I had slept very well and had the 8:ooam Mass. Then I met with a parishioner who is having treatment for cancer. She is doing well and will get some results of the treatment next Thursday. I had a very nice phone talk with both Dan, whom I missed the other night, and Terry, whom I hope to see in early March with John and Joe.
Then I joined Ann for lunch and had a steak salad. Very good and satisfying – and structured. Then I went to get my hair cut and beard trimmed. Then I came home and relaxed in my suite and went to bed early. I feel 100% well. A very relaxing day!

Today, I had the 8:00am Mass and I worked on my homily for Sunday. After I finished typing this, I’ll return to my room and relaxing and nap. I have a dinner date with Nabil and Libby at 6:30pm. He is the man from Egypt whom I brought into the church two weeks ago. Another relaxing day as I recover. I am feeling so much better.

I slept very well last night. Don’t think I coughed much at all. I went to bed around 10pm when I had returned from the Pre-Cana meeting and although I set the TV to go off around midnight. I didn’t see the end of “Unforgetable”, which is a neat show about a woman who remembered everything she ever saw.

I came over to the office around 9 because I had a 10am appointment but he wrote that he didn’t feel well and cancelled.
At 11am I had a funeral for a woman who was born in 1919 in Hungary. She lived through two world wars and the Communist takeover. She left in 1958 by pretending that she and her daughters were attending the World’s Fair in Brussel. She came to this country and raised her daughter. She has grandchildren and great grandchildren. I was impressed by her strength and faith and talked about that at her Mass. A neighbor also spoke and told more about her faith. She was cremated and we went to Rock Creek Cemetery for the burial. It was raining and seemed most appropriate that even creation would be saddened by her death.
When I came home, I took a short nap and then had three Confirmation interviews – all students that I had taught in their 6th grade. It was nice to see how grownup they are. All are awaiting the letters that will be mailed out next Thursday telling them by what Catholic High School they have been accepted. They are excited.

I had a couple that were suppose to come and see me tonight but I called and told them not to come. I spoke with the deacon from their parish and he met with them last night and went over what I would have talked about. I figured that with all they have to do, they didn’t need one more meeting about stuff that they already knew. I will say the Mass at the Cathedral on March 17th but the deacon will preach and officiate at the vows; so he has done all the work.

Instead, I’m off to supper at the rectory, watch a little TV, take my magic elixer and hopefully sleep through the night.

Another busy day!
I had the 8:00am Mass and in the first reading, it suggest that we should not let anger (or frustration) find a home in our heart because then we’ll act out of that reservoir. I think I may have been letting my illness do that. So after Mass, I spent the rest of the morning trying to get all my prescriptions correct and filled.
I had a funeral at 11am of a lovely lady (89 years of age) whom I met and anointed at Sibley about a month ago. I kept in touch with her daughter as they took her home to allow her to die there. It was a very nice funeral and I did the last prayers in Spanish.

Then I took some of the “magic” elixer that allows me to sleep at night and took two drops and went to bed. Had a good three hour nap and then returned to four interviews for Confirmation.

Now, I am waiting to go to a parishioner’s home for Pre-Cana. A new session starts tonight at 7:30pm and goes for four Wednesays. I’ll be there today and for the closing session on March 7th.

Then home to bed, a little elixer and I don’t have to be over here again till 10:00am

I try to mention them all in my homily – I think it works!!

Today was another very busy day. It started with a prayer service with the lower school in the gym. I blessed all the valentines as messages and messengers of Love. It was very nice.
Then I met with a lady going through a divorce.
Then the daughter of the lady I will bury on Thursday
Exposition
5 Confirmandi interviews
Phone conversation with the family, whose mother I will bury tomorrow.
5:30pm Mass
and in between trying to get my prescriptions straightened out.
I have something that should keep me asleep through the night
I hope I get up in time for the 8:00am Mass tomorrow
So, I’m off to the rectory and some food and early to bed with my medicine.
May St. Valentine (and Cyril & Methodius) bless all of you with tokens of the Love you richly deserve – and this from one who is blessed by your friendship and love.

Just came in from dinner with Frs. Beattie and Duffy. We met at 6:15pm at DeCarlo’s. The spagetti was great, as always; and the company was great too.

I had a quiet day. Mass at 11. Interviews from 3:30 to 5pm. Went to pick up my prescriptions but the doctor’s office hadn’t called back and so they weren’t ready. Another night without sleep help – maybe three swigs of Nightquil – I think it’s 16% alcohol???