What Paddy Shot At

Had the 11:00am Mass and prayed for all the Andrews in my life and for all those who celebrate today as their patron feastday. It is also the anniversary of the death of Gail Douglas’ daughter, Linda. Please keep Gail and her family in your prayers.

I spent most of the day, listening and responding to 19 voice mails I had accumulated and answered about 15 emails. I enjoyed being in touch with so many different people and “catching up”. One of my favorite activities.

This evening I met with another member of the RCIA who missed a couple of classes. He is very excited about the retreat this Saturday and the Rite of Election which will be at the 10:30 Mass this Sunday – I just happened to be scheduled for the Mass and I too am excited.

Talked with Pat Watters after she had a last visit with her doctors. They are letting her go home to Newfoundland on Monday. I hope to get out to see her before she leaves.

Maggie just called me and the Senior Dinner is being held on Thursday night at St. Michael’s in Ridge. So I am going to meet her, Marie, JoAnn, and another friend and drive down tomorrow. It will be nice to see so many old friends.

There is a big wake going on upstairs but I won’t go now. I will concelebrate the funeral tomorrow at 11. I have the 8:00am Mass. After the funeral, I head down to Maggie’s. So now, I think I’ll head over to the rectory and relax.

The train trip to Philly was very easy and I read most of the way. John and Terry met me at the station and we drove to Joe’s. On the way, we stopped for a visit at the Miraculous Medal Shrine. I’d never been there and I enjoyed it. John is slowly showing me all the Shrines of Philly. Last trip we went to see Mother Katherine Drexel’s shrine. He knows them all!!
We picked up food and took it to Joe’s. He is getting around better but still has some pain. He had gone to the doctor’s earlier in the day and the doctor told him to stay home another week. He doesn’t want to miss more school but the doctor prevailed and he called and sent in work for the students. He isn’t sleeping well but then he won’t use the pain pills – you know me, I loved Tylenol with codine! I think he might try it at night. We had a great visit – and watched a very delightful DVD that Terry had on the Sisters of St. Joseph in Orange, California. Joe took a nap. at 6pm, Terry and John took me back to the station and I made the 7:00pm train. I read church history on the way home and got back to the rectory around 9:45 and went to bed soon after.

I had a great night’s sleep and didn’t awake till 9:00am. I came to the office and found that there was a group of students touring the church. They were from The Jewish Day School and Good Counsel. Joan asked if I could go up and answer questions. I was happy to do it and I think the kids found my being there a help. After that I had the 11:00am Mass and then (although I forgot it had been moved) we had our Tuesdays with Father Maury. November had 5 Tuedays and so that’s why I was confused. They had to call me and remind me. Our topic was the changes that occured this weekend in the liturgy and what we experienced in the changes 40 years ago. It was very interesting.
Then I took a nap.
At 5:30, Andrea came and we discussed some material from RCIA. Jim Beattie called me and invited me to join him and Tom Duffy for dinner at 6:30pm at D’Carlos’. John Clark also joined us and we had a great time. I just got home and I am ready for TV and bed.

Update:
Saturday I had the 11:00am Mass, followed by two baptisms. Hugh Francis & Madison Eileen. There were delilghtful. Then since I was”nt scheduled for anything at church; I went to my room in the rectory and cleaned. I came over to the office and met with a man whose Mom died in the morning and then I met with a lady who is undergoing cancer treatment and I heard two confessions in my office. I went back to the rectory and just lounged and watched TV.

Sunday, I had the 7:30am Mass. It was difficult to read the new Mass with feeling because some of the sentence structure is arkward at first. I made 5 mistakes. Then Regis, who teaches at CUA called and wasn’t feeling well; so I took the 9:00am Mass and only made 3 mistakes. Then I had the 12:30am Mass and I think I only had 1 mistake. So I’m sure I’ll learn to adjust.
Rick and Peg Jensen came to the 12:30 Mass. They had dropped their son, Christopher at Union station to take a bus back to school in Syracuse. They came by early enough for us to visit and after Mass the offered to drop me off at the National Theatre in DC. I was to meet Maggie, Marie, and Mary for the matinee of Jersey Boys. Their kind offer meant I didn’t have to drive or deal with parking. I got there just as the curtin rose. It was a great show. All the music of the Four Seasons and told as the story of how they got started and the dynamics of their time together. I really enjoyed it. Afterwards the ladies and a friend of theirs named Bob and I went to The Old Ebbit Grill – a Washington landmark – and had a very good (and for me, structured) meal. They drove me home and I was in bed by 8:00pm.

Today I had the 6:30am Mass – I love Advent and the “quieting” time I calls us to. I am taking my rental car back and getting my car. Then I head to Union Station, where I will take the 10:10 train to Philly. John will meet me and we and Terry are going to have a meal at Joe’s. He is still recovering from his surgery so I think we’re bring the meal to him. It will be nice to see how he is doing. I will return around 7pm and should be in bed by 10. So now you are up to date!!!

For almost thirty years, since I was at the High School, I have followed a custom on Thanksgiving.

I try to spend the whole day mentioning living people who have been gifts to me. If possible, I say the name aloud; if not possible, I say the name “sotto voce”. I do it all day long. I don’t keep a count but I know that I say at least 600 names. I thank God first for sending them into my life and then I ask God to bless them. It is a wonderful way to spend the day.

Certain people come right to mind – especially if I am at Mass. (there isn’t a lot of quiet time in Mass; but I use the meditation time.). I had lots of time during the Mass at 8:00am as I was concelebrating with Fr. Ron and sat for the Offertory. At the 10:00am Mass, at which I presided; I told them of this practice and suggested that in place of a homily, we’d all sit and take some time to bring to mind the names of those for whom we are grateful. At St. Bernard’s and St. Michael’s, I would ask the people to share on what they were grateful to God for from the last year. It was very moving but I wasn’t sure that I could do that here, since I am not the pastor. However, the quiet time to reflect seems to have been acceptable to the congregation.

For me, it is neat that sometimes a name will come to me and then I remember their parents or another friend I came to know through them. Sometimes, I’ll see something on TV or hear it on the radio and it will call to mind another name or two.

Even as the day was ending, I thought of some people that I worked on a sunrise service years ago and that brought to mind and to my lips another 25 people. I enjoyed this Thanksgiving almost as much as the family gathering (74 of us) last Thanksgiving at the fire house. Next year for the fun of it, I might try to keep count of whom and how many; for now, I just trust it to God if there is anyone whose name I failed to mention – because all of you are blessings for which I am most grateful.

I had the two Masses and afterwards, I went to the rectory and had my traditional Thanksgiving peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. I got in bed and saw the rest of the parade ( I had seen the beginning on the Today Show). There were a couple of marathons on TV (no! not running!) You know, like Lucy or Rosanne or James Bond. I kept dozing off but I got the gist of each of them!

Around 5pm, I had two Structure House sandwiches of Turkey and Cranberries with Skin Milk and a Jell-O desert. I went to bed for good around 10:30 (and missed the end of the Mentalist!)

All in all, a great day to spend with all my family and friends as I thanked God for peppering my life with them.

Last night I could not get this computer in my room to work. I had composed a nice message but the machine just wouldn’t go along with anything I tried. So I think I will just wait till I am over in the center and will write Thursday’s message.

Today, I went over to the center around 9am because I got a message yesterday on the beeper that a man had died and I told them to come to the office on Friday and I’d help them. She came around 9:30 and I think the funeral will be in two weekends (around December 10th!). It will take some arranging and the family is a little disorganized.
Then someone came and tapped on the window to see if they could get the lectors’ book and prepare for Sunday. The old book ran out this week.
Then someone came to bring a lot of clean clothing for men because her dad died. That funeral is next weekend but they are already clearing out the apartment because she lives in St. Louis and is going home and will return for the funeral.
Then I had the 11:00am Mass. I think there were about 40 people there – much smaller than usual. I will be glad to finish reading Daniel – He is so long and rambling!
Then a couple from RCIA came to see me. He is Coptic Orthodox and will only have to make a profession of Faith and he can begin to receive the Eucharist. He has been married to a Roman Catholic for thirty years but wasn’t sure he wanted to come over. He was born in Egypt and has great memories of the church there. We had a nice talk and he will think about it and maybe come in around Christmas.
I had a great phone conversation with Gerry Hudder in Arkansas. He is doing well but living in a hospic type place. His daughters came and visited before Thanksgiving. I am trying to figure out a way to go and visit him.
Since the office is closed today; I decided to come back to the rectory and just relax – and that’s what I’ve been doing. Will write tomorrow about yesterday.

Again, I don’t know what happened to yesterday.
I did get up early and Joan and I spent the morning taking my car to the service center and trying to rent a car. It took a long time and I wasn’t back in time to celebrate the 11:00am Mass. I called and, God love him, Fr. Percy took it for me. I took the exposition at 3pm and the Mass at 5:30pm but the hassle of the morning got me down and I went to bed early and didn’t even think about writing.

Today I had the 6:30am Mass and the 8:00am Mass. I spent the rest of the day doing ministry by phone to a number of people. Went and picked up a prescription. Met with the daughter of a lovely military man from Knollwood, who died yesterday. I had gone to visit him last week and we are making arrangements for the funeral, which won’t be till next Saturday, December 3rd. We call him Mac; please keep him and his family – who will miss him this Thanksgiving.
Our office was suppose to be closed today but Joan came in anyway. It will be closed tomorrow and Friday. We have two Masses tomorrow – one at 8am and one at 10am. I will probably concelebrate the 8 and preside at the 10. I wanted all of you who read this to know that, as St. Paul says in the second reading ” I give thanks to my God always on your account”. I will be lifting up you and your families and your needs as I recall – by name – you wonderful gifts that God has given me and for whom I give thanks – not only tomorrow but daily. Have a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving.

Yesterday after hearing confessions and helping with communion at the 9:00am Mass; I headed out to Pittsburgh. I listened to 4 disks of the latest book about Jacqueline Kennedy that also includes copies of the tapes. I really enjoyed them and it made the trip go by quickly. I got to Sheila and Keith Morris’ around 2:30pm. We went to dinner with Kathleen (my Godchild) and her fiance, Dave. Kerry and Ed joined us with their two children, Patrick and Caroline. Then we went to Dave’s house where Kristen and Gavin and their two sons, Kieran and Jack met us for cake for Keith, Kristin, and Gavin’s birthdays. Later I had a chance to talk over the details of the wedding in January and then I headed over to Bob Norton’s. He was going to see if we might get together with Bill, Rich, and Tom. It would have to be in the morning as I had the 5:30pm back at Blessed Sacrament on Monday. Well, we couldn’t work it out that early and so I called Bob and said that since it was only 10:00pm, I wouldn’t spend the night at his place. I headed home (listened to 4 more discs) and was home by 2:00am.

Slept in till 9am and then this morning I went over to the office and tried to arrange for getting my car serviced. I will take it tomorrow and rent a car for the week. Didn’t get much done today as our phones kept going in and out. Only was able to speak by phone with a few people. The phones seemed to get straightened out around 4pm.

Had the 5:30pm Mass and then gave a presentation on prayer for the RCIA. They are cleaning the rugs in the church; so I just locked up the church and am now watching TV. I think I’ll go to bed.

Yesterday was very full. At 9:00am I came over and “tried” to striaghten up my desk. How it got so messy in less than a week; I don’t understand. At 10:00am I had a baptism, Bennett Andrew. At 11:00am, I baptized Grady James. Then at noon I had a memorial Mass for Charles Kenneth. He was an elderly veteran at the Old Soldiers’ Home and donated his body to science but he use to come to this church and loved it. His Godchild, Sherri is a friend of my sister, Maggie and called to see if we could do this – and of course, we could.
At 1:00pm, I baptized Luke Alexander. I married his parent last year. The groom was from Good Counsel and the bride from Moldavia ( I think it use to be part of Yugoslavia). They come to church here and it was nice to see his parents and her father, who is visiting from Moldavia. I went to the reception afterwards, which I don’t usually do. The Godfather is also a GC student and I recognized him even though he now has a “man’s face” and two children.
Then I took a nap.
I had the 5:30pm Mass and I always enjoy the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year. My cousin, Ann Brown O’Connell, came to Mass and then she and I drove over to Kate Jensen’s housewarming party. Hard to believe, I got lost. Somehow crossing the Potomac just puts my map skills into a spin. We called them and they led us through the directions. She has a lovely house (although I didn’t go upstairs or downstairs) and is justly proud of it. In addition to her parents; her brother Christopher was there as he is home for Thanksgiving. There were lots of people there, the food was great and Ann and I had a great time. We got home in half the time it took us to get there!!

I went right to bed as I had the 7:30am Mass on Sunday. I just finished it and thought I’d try to get something out before we go and hear confessions for the CCD children at 8:45am. I have Communion help at the 9:00am Mass, so will cut out around 9:30. Then I head to Pittsburgh and an evening with Kathleen Morris and David Havern, whom I will marry in January. Hope to spend the night at Bob’s and then have a meal with Tom, Richard, and Bill. Then right home, as I have the 5:30pm Mass and the RCIA presentation on Monday night. Shall write again when I have time – either Monday or Tuesday.

Today, I got up early and went over to the office to meet with someone who wanted to talk about the church. It was interesting and helped me to understand what some people in the pew are feeling about the changes.
Then I had the 11:00am funeral for Mr. Wieldhen. He was the man who died in Cape Cod and was buried there but we had a memorial Mass today. There were a couple hundred people there and one of his co-workers gave a wonderful eulogy. There was a reception afterwards but I went down to George Washington Hospital to visit a parishioner. His wife was an “O’Connell” but no relative of mine. I think he will be Ok and be home soon. His daughter, Maureen is in charge of the folk group at the 5:30pm Mass on Sundays – one of my favorite people and Masses!
I took a nap and met Patrick at 4:45pm and went to the 5:15pm show at the Avalon. It was “J. Edgar”. Very different but both of us enjoyed it. I just finished dinner and will go to bed early as I have a full pastoral day tomorrow. I’ll try to write tomorrow night.

It is almost 8pm and I am getting ready for bed. I had a wonderful but busy day.

I got up around 7:30am and by 8 was on the road. I went to Sibley Hospital and anointed and gave Communion to a lovely lady who comes to the 11:00am Mass. She is from Colombia and we spoke in Spanish and had a great visit.
Then I went to Knollwood, which is a military retirement community in the parish. The Jesuits say Mass every Saturday night and sometimes when they are unable, we cover. Many of the people also come here for daily Mass. One of them, Mac had to move from his apartment to the Terrace, which is care. He was in charge of the Saturday Mass and is having a hard time with the move. I anointed him and brought him Communion. His daughter will come to visit from St. Louis this weekend and maybe in a wheelchair, he’ll be able to go to Mass.
Then I went to Holy Cross hospital but the patient I was going to see, was discharged yesterday. So I’ll call her and go by in a day or so.
Fr. Duffy had a funeral at 11:00 so I concelebrated. He was glad for the company. The Lady who was buried, Alice was married in our Church on November 17, 1934. (77 years ago – she died at 99.
Then I met with the family of the funeral I have tomorrow. He died up in Cape Cod and was buried there but we will have a memorial Mass tomorrow at 11:00am. I know the family because they have a home here but spend much of the summer in Mass. It is hard to go through two funerals.
Then I met with a mother and her three children. They are all baptized but have moved many times as the father is in foreign service. It just kept happening that when they got to a new place, Communion was held off till 4th grade and then they’d move again and Communion had been in second grade. They’ve been in our CCD for almost two years. The older boy is in 8th grade and should be confirmed in the Spring, the girl is in 6th grade and the younger boy is in 3rd grade and has made Penance because one day he just did it. They were delightful and told me all kinds of Jesus stories and each knew all about the Last Supper and what Communion is – So, they’ll be receiving Communion soon.
Ron and I were both in for supper, so we had a nice visit. He had to go over to the school for a meeting but now that Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune are over, I’ll be going to bed.
I did get a phone message from John and Terry that Joe’s surgery went well and I’ll keep you informed.
Also had a nice talk with Pat Watters and she is coming along and going slowly through all the test. she may stay here till December so I hope to see her again.
And now to bed.