What Paddy Shot At

Again, I got home late last night and went right to bed. So this will be a “twoffer” also.
On Monday, I had hoped to have the 6:30am Mass so that I would have the rest of the day free; but when the final schedule came, I had the 11:00am Mass. Without much problem, everyone adapted and D & S came to the Mass and afterwards we pick up Joan and headed up to Betty’s. We got there around 1:30 and had a delightful visit at Betty’s apartment for about two hours. Then we toured Shrewsbury, Pa and then we went to supper at the Mason/Dixson Diner, one of my favorite places in the town. Mary Elizabeth Falcone, Betty’s daughter and her two daughters, AnnMarie and Theresa joined us and we had great food and a nice visit. Afterwards, we went up to the Falcone’s house and had an extended visit. We left around 7:30 and I got home around 9:15. Dan and Stephanie had left their car here, so we had a nice farewell in the parking lot. They seemed to enjoy the visit – even with the heat. And I know that I and everyone they saw enjoyed them being up here. They went back to the hotel and were suppose to leave today around 10:00am. They might stop somewhere on the road so I won’t call them for a couple of days. I really enjoyed them being here.
I went to bed early and got up around 9am today. I went over to the center and had the 11:00am Mass. Today’s feast is a bishop from the earliest days of the church and because he liked to write he is often a source of information for church historians. I love him.
I tried to clear up my desk and did get down to wood on part of it. I joined Frs Ron and Percy for lunch at 12:30. I am trying to get back in the habit of eating at the table rather than out on the road. it is fun to be with them and then I take a nap.
I went back to the center around 3pm and stayed till 6. Fr. Ron has gone to his mom’s, so it was just Percy and I for supper. Humberto has returned from vacation and he made great steaks on the grill. So good, I even ate the brocolli!
Now, I am upstairs and watching Jeopardy. I’ll read for awhile and then go to bed. I have the 8:00am tomorrow and then I’m going down to Maggie’s. We are doing some work on the St. Martin’s reunion and I will stay the night as I have the 8:00am on Thursday. I might not write again till Thursday.

I just finished the 5:30pm Mass and realized that I have to make this a “twoffer” as I got home too late last night to write.
I had a baptism yesterday at 10:00am and Theodosus Telemaka was a mouthful and I think I said it differently every time except for the pouring of water. I got that right. It was a very nice ceremony with just the parents, his brother Jacopbi, and a proxiy for the Godmother. All their family is far away but I think we made him feel welcome.
Then I had the 11am Mass and then I went out to Barnesville to St. Mary’s festival. I said a Mass at 5pm and then visited with Fr. Kevin O’Reilly, his parents, some former parishioners from Holy Face and Kathy Schwartz, who is the pastoral associate at St. Elizabeth’s and a friend for over 25 years. It was so nice to catch up and laugh!!
When I got home, I stopped and picked up Dan and Stephanie from their hotel and we went to visit Mary Mudd, Joan Beall, and Ginny Beall. We had a great time and as I said, I got home rather late.
Today, I had the 9:ooam Mass and D & S came to it and then we met Marie and Danny Schmidt at IHOP. We had a great breakfast and by way of pictures, Marie bought us all up to date on Family events. She also treated and gave me a nice frame for more pictures, which I will put up in the office so people can know my family better.
We came back to Blessed Sacrament and I had a baptism at 12:15 in the chapel. Again, it was lovely and Dylan John got a nice welcome. His grandparents are from Brazil and we had a nice talk.
Then I took D & S over to show them the rectory. They were so kind when we got to the second floor (17 steps) they insisted they could find their way out and the left me to take a nap. I think they were planning to drive over and see Catholic U. Then I think, they too were planning a nap and quiet evening.
As I said, just finished Mass. I liked my homily about Jesus just so confident that God would do what was needed and so 5000 are fed!
I am hoping that we can get an early start tomorrow as Joan, D & S, and I are driving up to visit Betty Neary. Depending on how late we get started and how late we get home, I may not write till Tuesday.
Although not celebated because its Sunday, a little nod to the Jesuits on the feast of St. Ignatius, AMDG.

It is around 5:15pm and I am just “byding my time” here in the office before I go and pick up Dan & Steph for our 7pm dinner date with Kass in Laurel.
I was looking at the last week’s messages and I do need to go down to Structure House (which I am doing with my Maggie from Aug 7th to Aug 21st). I have got to learn that I can meet friends without having a meal. I have eaten out a lot lately!! – and it won’t change much this week.
I had the 8:00am Mass this morning and I woke refreshed by my air-conditioned bedroom!! Today is the feast of St. Martha and one of my special Communion calls at St. Camillus was Martha. She had a special dress and altar as part of my monthy visit. She didn’t want me to come on First Friday because she said I’d have to rush away; so I went on Tuesday afternoon and visited for an hour. She was a great prayer for me but one time I said, “Martha, I want you to pray for this couple….” and she interrupted and said, “I’m not praying for you any more. You never tell me what happened”. I changed that and she kept praying!!
I also prayed for a couple of women friends who identified with Martha rather than Mary because they always ended up doing the work, while some others got to talk about the project.
At 11:20, I went to Sergio’s (again) and met Mary Healy and her daughter, Peg for lunch. We have been trying to arrange this for over six months and it was worth the wait. Of course good food; but Mary is from Scranton and a great story teller. We laughed too much for the lunch crowd. but we had a great time. I got home with enough time to nap. And now I will head out and make this a draft. I will finish it off when I get home tonight.
10:30pm – Just got home. We had a great meal and lots of laughs. Kass remembered that she had visited Dan and Steph at their home when she worked at NCEA. We recounted many stories of our travels together much to Stephanie amazement that we are willing to travel together at all any more. They were vey funny stories.
I talked to Joe Stoutz and he isn’t able to come down as he got a cortizone shot today and he has to see how much it helps his hip. I am off to bed as I have a baptism at 10:00am and the 11:00am Mass.

I am sitting in my office and about to go out and meet Dan and Stephanie for drinks but I thought I’d start a message. I have had a full day. Slept in this morning as I had Mass at 5:30pm. I went over to a restaurant around 11am and met Ray Wadas and Bill Hines. Two of my classmates in the ordination class of 1972. We just don’t get together enough and I always enjoy being with them; so when Ray suggested it, I changed other plans to be there. We had a good time and great food. Both are pastors and of big and busy places -but they seemed happy for me and my situation. We spent about three hours and lots of laughs (some at the expense of the hierarchy). They also told me that the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Pietro Sambi died. I was sorry to hear that as I always enjoyed him speaking at things like the NCEA convention. He was very personable.
When I got home, I found that the men had put in a window air -conditioner in my bedroom. How cool!!!!!!
I went to the center and did some work and then had Mass. Then Patrick Mullan came by and we had dinner together. We went to Clyde’s and who should be there but Dan and Stephanie. Their hotel is about two blocks away. We didn’t eat together as Patrick and I haven’t had a chance to catch up – which we did. He had an appointment around 8:30 so we seperated and I went to the hotel and had a drink with Dan & Steph. It was fun and now they need some rest before they go sightseeing on Friday.
I have the 8:ooam Mass tomorrow, so I’m going to go to bed and enjoy my air-conditioned room.

I had the 11am Mass on Monday, July 25th and immediately after that I headed towards Latrobe, Pa for the 65th annual Priests Day at St. Vincent’ s Seminary. It was a great day to drive and although I drove through two rainstorms, I didn’t mind because I knew it meant that I was heading towards a cooler place than DC has been. I got there about 4pm and Bob Norton and Tom Kredel were already at the hotel. I checked in and the three of us drove around Latrobe looking for restaurants. They all seemed to be closed on Monday so we ended up at the Italian Restaurant at the airport. The food was great and we sat through a few more rainstorms and by the time we got out, it was too cool for them – Not for me – Great breezes!!!
We watched the President and the Speaker of the House on TV. Then since I think my airconditioning was at 67, they headed to their room. I read some more of my newest book, Mrs. Mattingly’s Miracle. It is a fascinating account of the cure of the mayor of Washington, DC’s sister in 1824. I had heard of the miracle but I am enjoying the book and all the work that went into it. It is a 2010 book. I watched some TV and then fell asleep.
On Tuesday, we all had breakfast together as part of the reservation and then we went over to the Abbey church for the 11am Mass. I would think there were about 60 or 70 of concelebrating. The presider and homilist was the new Bishop of Altoona/Johnstown. I think his name was Mark. He had been a spiritual director at the seminary in Erie for 20 years. He was very good and I am thinking of writing something about his homily. I prayed for our seminarian, Ryan and all his fellow seminarians as a thanks for his going through my car and finding under the seat, the parish beeper, which I had and lost!! I was really feeling badly but St. Anthony did come through.
After Mass, we went to the Roger’s center for drinks and a great luncheon. I sat with Bob and Tom and Rich Wesolowski. Brothers Ben and Elliot sat with us as did Bob Ahlen and Jim Gaston, priests of Greensburg. I saw Fr. Vernon, who tells me he’d be talking to Fr. Luke Callahan soon, so I asked him to send my greeting. He was a great help to me when I was a seminarian. Of course, we all talked to Archabbot Douglas, our classmate, who told us he would like to host the dinner for our 40th anniversary next May. That would be great as coming back to St. Vincent’s is always like coming home.
I spent the afternoon taking a nap back at the hotel and around 5pm, Keith Morris came and he and I went out to supper. Sheila was babysitting so it was just us guys. We had a great time and a good talk because I had three Margueritas and was very loquacious!!. Also I slept very soundly that night.
Today, I got up around 9 and stopped to buy some lottery tickets and then headed home. I just finished the 5:30pm Mass and am waiting for a couple to pick me up and drive me to one of the parishioners’ home for the fourth session of pre-Cana. I did the first one earlier this months and the two lead couples have been meeting with our four engaged couples and tonight is the last session. I really enjoyed the first one and know this will be a nice closing. I think I’ll send this in and write again tomorrow.

Another unbelievably HOT DAY!
I was planning to sleep in but at 9:00am a loud knock on my door woke me up. It was a locksmith who wanted to make a key for the door to my suite. I had suggested that the other day when we had a fire in the air conditioning and three trucks came and people pounded on my door and I didn’t hear a thing. It turned out to be some rubber burning around the motor in the basement but smoke came upstairs and the Ryan, the seminarian called 911. I slept through it all. So now there is a key atop my door so people can get in. Makes sense!
I went over to say the 11am Mass. Walking out the door of the rectory was like stepping into a furnance. After Mass, someone came to visit me and we celebrated the Sacrament of the Sick. I stayed over in the office; it is nice and cool there until lunch time. I wasn’t hungry, one of the small blessings of the heat – but I sat at the table with Fathers Ron and Percy. Then i came up here and worked on the computer and called Joan Beall and Marie and then took a nap.
At 6:30pm, Fr. John was knocking on my door (I hadn’t told them all about the key) and I woke up and he said, “Shep is here to go to supper”. I had forgotten to write it in my book. I rushed and got dressed and we went to a very nice Italian restaurant about four blocks away. They had men to park your car and to bring it back afterwards, so I was only in the heat for a few minutes. The food was great and Shep Abel is a wonderful man. He is a knight of Malta and he encouraged me to go to Lourdes in May of 2012, which I had been invited to participate in. I may do that! We had a great talk about the church and it was a very relaxing evening.
I’m home now and talked to Maggie, who is back at home again and like me, staying in!!
Have a very full day tomorrow. It starts with Mass at 8:00am so I think i’ll turn in.

It is 11pm and I will go to bed soon. Today was another HOT DAY!! I went downstairs around noon and sat at the table with the others. They ate lunch but I had cereal. Then I went to the office and worked at my desk. I had the 5:30pm Mass and heard a few confessions; then I came over to the rectory. We had supper and Ron told wonderful stories of some of the “character” pastors of gone by days. He was so funny.
Then I came upstairs. Drank lots of water; watched TV; read; and now I am off to bed. Life is slow for senior priests when its HOT!

It was so hot last night and I had gone to my room too early, so that by midnight I was wide awake. Read, watched TV, and worked on genealogy. I had set my alarm for 9am but decided just to let it be off as the first thing I had was 5:30pm Mass. Ron, I thought had asked me to switch with him; but actually he was asking me to cover the 5:30 Mass and keep the 11:00am Mass. When no one showed up to do Mass, it caused a lot of concern that they might find me “gone” in bed. God bless him, Fr. Percy took the Mass. I’ll be more careful in the future.
So I am here at my desk. After Mass, I might go out (as hot as it is) and use a Border’s gift card that I have. I heard on the radio that they are closing their stores Friday. Shall write again tomorrow.

I had the 11am Mass yesterday and my cousins and I drove down and took some pictures of the house on North Capitol where our great grandparent’s lived. We also went looking for a place on D street that is now the Teamster’s building. We had a great lunch at The Dubliner and then it was just too hot to continue.
I came back and took a nap. Then I did the prayers for Joseph, a 34 young man who took his life. The room was full of people in their 20’s and 30’s who worked on the hill with him. He had a great smile and I led the group in telling stories. His father, sister and brother were there from out of state. He came here to go to GW and stayed. It was a celebration of his life but still difficult for everyone.
Today, I had the 8:00am Mass and we continued with the crossing of the Red Sea, one of my favorite Biblical stories. I worked at my desk and then went to have lunch with Anne Sheridan, a lady from the parish whom I got to know through my cousin, Lauren Werner. As soon as I returned, I came here to my room and have been sitting in front of the fan. It is uncomfortable outside. I hope I can sleep tonight. I had a nice phone conversation with Joe Stoutz and wrote to let the Morris’ and Bob Norton know that I’ll be up in Latrobe next Monday and Tuesday for the seminary reunion. Well back to the fans!

I just got home from dinner down in St. Mary’s at Brenda and Heavy’s. Christy and Rick were there as were Tom and Sheila (Brenda’s brother and sister in law from Frederickburg), Jack and Fran Cullison, and Sister Mary Rita Cullison. She has been spending some of the summer down there and I was invited for dinner. It was a sumptious meal of fish, crabcakes, ham, and all the trimmings. We had a great time and Susan, Bobby (Brenda’s sister and brother) and Sarah, who has grown up so much since her First Communion and is now 10 came by to visit also. I know now why I don’t go back much, driving home I realized that I miss living down there. But this is where God wants me and so I want it too.
I had the 10:30am Mass today and saw and talked with parishioners I am close to. My homily was about not judging and a number of people were happy to hear it.
Yesterday, I had a baptism at noon and then stayed in the office till 4, when I had confessions and then the 5:30pm Mass. That’s when I tested out my homily and although it was OK, it was better this morning. In both cases, I finished the Mass in about 42 minutes. The organist commented on it and I said, I didn’t mean to rush and she said, “You didn’t!!” Although I think we ended up having 5 stations for Communion. There were lots of people at each Mass.
Today is also the 91st birthday of Nora “Mother” Rosenberger. I called and spoke with her husband. When the weather is not so hot, Jerry Trancone and I will meet him for lunch.
I spoke to Gerry Hudder today. His treatment for cancer is going well but they are also trying to get him to work on cataracts at the same time. I think that is a problem, when you are already so full of medicine. We had a good talk and he hopes to come out East later in the summer.
Tomorrow, I have the 11am Mass, and then my cousins, Jean Givens Denny, Ann Brown O’Connell, and Sue Denny (don’t know her married name) are all going to ride downtown and try to take pictures of the places our great grand parents lived. We also hope to go by St. Al’s and check out the windows. It is not suppose to be as hot tomorrow; but we’ll see. We plan to lunch at the Dubliner!