What Paddy Shot At

Hello, I just finished the 10:30am Mass in the gym and since I also have the 5:30pm Mass; I figured that I’d start a long update and keep it going most of the day. So here goes…

NEW ORLEANS: I got up at 3:30am and started packing for the trip. I left by 4:10 and was at Charlestown in Baltimore by 5:40am and met up with Sr. Kass Collins. She was representing Renew, International as an exhibitor. She travels a great deal and was more than a lot of help in getting me to N.O. I left my car at her house and we drove to a parking lot at BWI, where a very nice van driver picked up our luggage and put it and us on the van. He took us to Southwest Airlines terminal. There Kass checked us in and got me a wheelchair. (It was so against my pride but I really am out of breath if I walk 10 feet) We went through security and got to the gate so easily and then we boarded first and got seats in the first row – with lots of leg room! When we got to N.O., a wheelchair met us again and got us to baggage pickup and then a taxie to the hotel. She was just wonderful and I’m sure it was the first time I arrived at a hotel rested. We had lunch and I went and relaxed. At the airport, I met up with Denise from Deleware, who was the leader of our Middlestates evaluation a few years ago at St. Michael’s. Also talked with Patty Wietzel O’Neil, who was the superintendent of school for the Archdiocese of Washington and now is at Boston College. At lunch I talked with Kathleen Schwartz and her husband. She was on the Archdiocesan School board with me and is now the superintendent of schools in Venice, Florida. One of the things I enjoy about the convention is the chance to see and “catch up” with old friends.

I had to leave my oxygen at the airport in Baltimore as I didn’t have the correct type of machine. I didn’t really think I’d need it and I didn’t but I had taken my c-pap and that worked very well to help me to sleep and keep my oxygen level good. I used it Monday night and slept great; so that I was up around 7:00am and decided to go over to the convention center for morning prayer at 8:30am. I took a cab.

Tuesday: The opening service was enjoyable and Fr. Michael Hines, who is a Diocesan priest who teaches at Boston College, gave a great talk of encouragement to the 8,000 participants. Then we had the opening Mass and the Archbishop of N.O. gave a great homily. I met some nice teachers from Florida who sat around me. After the Mass, Fr. Dwight called my cell and he and Fr. Floyd, another priest from Whicita that I know joined me and Pat Berry, who had arrived that morning from Chicago, for lunch. We had a great time.

That night, I attended a Award dinner with most of the St. Michael’s crowd. Mary Van Rsywick, who is the kindergarten teacher was one of only twelve teachers from all over the country, who was honored as Outstanding Teacher. Her father, her sister, and her husband came as did Lila, the principal, Robin, the office manager, Caroline, the new 5th grade teacher, Donnie, who represented the Home/School, which was also honored, and Regina, the former principal and Maggie, who was the middle school Religion teacher and got married and now teaches in Georgia were joined by me and Dwight, Floyd, and Tish, who is the president of Carroll High school in Wichita at the dinner. We closed it off with a visit to the Casino!!

Wednesday: I went to the exhibit and saw Jeff, who is the saleman for Joe’s and my history book. I went to a couple of talks that I enjoyed and then met Dwight, Floyd, Pat, Tish, Kass for a great dinner at Mother’s. It was different! then we ice cream outside and went to the casino again.

On Thursday, Lila and I gave a presentation about how to deal with the problem of school cost and how to win! It went well. We had about 70 people and closed with paper bag auction!!!
Then I went to a presentation given by Kevin Shearer, who was in my first teen club and is now a teacher at Mt. St. Joe’s in Baltimore and Sister Catherine Williams, SND, who taught at St. Martin’s when I was a student there and is now the president of Trinity Prep.

Had dinner with Kass, Pat, and Lila and then went to bed early as we had to get up at 5am. We got up, packed and watched “The wedding” and caught a cab to the airport. Left around 8am and got back to Baltimore around noon. Then the stopped home before I headed off to the rehearsal at St. John’s.

And that brings you up to Friday night. I think I’ll pick up with Saturday tomorrow on May 2nd.

I arrived back yesterday afternoon from the NCEA convention in New Orleans. It was great! I’ll write about it later when I have time. I had the rehearsal for my cousin, Kelly Conrad, Friday night and we had a very good rehearsal dinner at Mrs. K’s later. I was home around 9pm and went right to bed.

I didn’t really get up till about 10:30am and then came over to the office. I talked with Fr. Jim and Fr. John and then I was off to the wedding at 2:30pm at Old St. John the Evangelist in Silver Spring. The wedding was perfect. The service, the weather, the reception, were all perfect! I just got home and wanted to, at least, write a few words. I have the 10:30am Mass tomorrow and the 5:30pm Mass, so during the day tomorrow, I should have the time and energy to write a decent update. See you in the morning.

As I begin this, it is 4:25pm. I have the 5:30pm Mass and I am just relaxing here in my office. Fr. John’s family ( only part of it – about 20) are having dinner in the rectory. He invited me but I don’t like to eat much before Mass.

I had the 10:30am in the gym this morning. It was packed. I think about 100 had to sit on the floor or outside. The music was great and there were two banners (one of Jonah and the other of the Phoenix) that I used in my homily. I don’t know what I’ll do at this Mass.

I spent much of the day just relaxing. It has been rainy and although I do have to pack sometime this evening, I just laid around. I have to leave around 4am to meet Sr. Kass in Baltimore as we are flying together to New Orleans for the convention. I probably won’t write again till next weekend; so I hope you have a very pleasant and holy Easter week.
Christ is Risen, Alleluia.
Truly He is Risen, Alleluia.

I have just returned to the office after a beautiful Vigil service. Fr. John presided and Fr. Jim preached. We baptized three people and then Confirmed 10. It was very moving and Fr. Jim’s homily was a message of great hope that touched me as I’m sure it did others – especially the new Catholics and their families.

The music was bombastic when needed and soothing at other times. The readers were like your favorite teacher reading to you in first grade. The Church was in darkness till the Gloria and so I was reminded of listening to the radio stories in my bed (crib) over on Tenth Street.

Earlier today I heard a few confessions and then I drove over to Walter Reed to see Frances. She knows she might be in Paradise in the morning but I just wanted to say “until we meet again merrily in heaven”. She and Jim, her husband are friends from Ridge.

At 6pm, we had a delicious dinner brought to us by Pat, one of our parishioners, who does this every year. We look forward to it and all four of us priests and our deacon, Mark enjoyed the time together and the excellent food.

I have the ten thirty in the gym tomorrow and the 5:30pm, so I might go over to the rectory now.

Christ is Risen, Alleluia. Truly He is Risen, Alleluia

Even though it rained on and off all day, this was a good Friday.

I had a great time on Holy Thursday night. Our Mass was beautiful and after Mass, I went and picked up Joan and we drove to 10 churches. It took us going to ten to find six that were open for adoration. We were able to visit Our Lady of Vietnam, St. John the Baptist in Silver Spring, St. Catherine Laboure in Wheaton, St. Jude’s in rockville, St. Francis of Assisi in Derwood, and St. Andrew’s in Silver Spring. I will not name those who were closed but I felt the three that were, counted as a seventh.
It was so neat, I ran into old friends from Camillus and OLGC as well as Fr. Mike Mellone, who is pastor of St. Andrew’s. I am so glad that I am able to continue this wonderful custom from my childhood. Also around midnight, Dan and Stephanie Poje called me. They knew I’d be out “church hopping” and I was so glad to talk with them – although I had to hand the phone to Joan quickly as we can’t drive and use a cell phone. However, even a short word with them is delightful.

Then we met our friend, Gail Douglas and went to an all night diner and laughted and talked. I got home around 2:00am. I used the c-pap and was asleep in a matter of minutes.

This morning I came to the office around 9am to do some “tweaking” of my talk on the seven last words of Christ. I gave it at St. Anne’s Church over in Tennleytown. There might have been about 70 people there and I gave a reflection and prayer after each Word and we sang a response. We had a cantor and organist and I think it went well.
I got home just in time to hear confessions for an hour and a half. The three o’clock service had already begun when I came out of confessions, so I went and took a nap.

I came back over around 6pm and I was on the altar – but sitting in the choir stalls for the 7pm service. Fr. Jim was presider and Jeff Lewis, our deacon from TC and Spokane, Washington was the homilist. It was very good and a just the right amount of drama. After Mass, one of the ladies told Jeff and me that a small boy sitting next to her, turned to his Dad and said, “I didn’t kill Jesus, why did he say that?” I told Jeff that I would refer such questions to him and I came back to the sacristy.

I also talked with Gerry Hudder today and his leg has improved enough to fly back tomorrow to Arkansas. He spent most of this week in the hospital and I could tell he wants to get home.

I have made arrangements for a few confessions tomorrow, so I am heading over to go to bed.

Had a good nights sleep, actually had breakfast and was over here in the office by 9:00am.
We had practice for tonight’s service at 10:00am. I am presiding and preaching and transferring the Blessed Sacrament to the chapel after Mass. I am not able to wash feet, so the other three priests will do that. It is a lovely ritual and as I sat there tonight, I remembered so many of the faces of those who were willing over the years to allow me to wash their feet.
God has so generiously “spiced” up my life with so many people who have blessed me with their friendship. I will take all of them and their intentions with me this evening as I go to visit the seven churches with my friend, Joan Beall.

I heard some confessions today and I took Communion to a Mrs. Vieth. She had 16 children and has lived in Washington all her lilfe. We knew lots of the same people and laughed and “remembered when”. I had interviews his grand-daughter, Mollie just the other day as one of my first Communicants.

What a excellent way to spend Holy Thursday.

Know that you, my family and friends will also be prayed for at each of the seven churches.

Slept well again. Maybe this c-pap is what I have needed!

Got up around 7am and decided to come to the office and work again on those marriage papers. Then around 8:30 I drove over to St. James and got my cell phone.
I had the 11:00am Mass, which was moved to the chapel as the Sodality ladies were cleaning the whole church like a military exercise and let me say “it sparkles”. I happened to open the tabernacle in the chapel after the readings and there were only three host in it, so we sat and waited while some more unconsecrated hosts could be found so Mass could continue. Our seminarian, Patrick Mullan stopped by and joined us for Mass. He is helping out at his home parish, St. Jude’s for Holy Week.
After Mass, I drove out to Leisure World. Picked up Barb Ostrye and Ursula Lemanski and the three of us went to lunch. We went to a nice Italian place in Olney. As I was walking out to get the car, who do I see but Richard and Debbie Werden and their youngest daughter. What a pleasant surprise. Richard was the little boy who put his foot in the first birthday cake we used at our children’s Christmas liturgy. His mom, Fran just moved the icing around and no one knew; but we have teased him for years.
On the way home, I stopped to see Nancy Clark, whom I met over the winter. She was a pupil of Sister Victoria’s. I brought her Communion.
I had three first communicants for the interview and then I took a nap.
I am preaching at the penance service tonight and then we’ll be available for confessions till 8:30pm.
I may drive down to Maggie’s tonight as I still have the albs that we borrowed from her parish for the kids to wear while serving the wedding Mass. We’ll see how tired I am but I’ll close now as I have to go up to the church and get ready.

The c-pap seemed to do very well last night and I got up very refreshed. Went over to the office and worked most of the day on paperwork for four weddings I’m associated with in the next two months. I really don’t do well with paperwork but I think I got at least two of them up to speed and mailed the license for Kerri and Tim to the county and also sent the notification to the church of her baptism.

I also contacted the travel agency about a cruise from Baltimore on November 3, 2011. In addition to my family, a few others are interested in the nine day round trip to the Caribbean. It will be a good time to go and I like that it is out of Baltimore. I not too hot on air travel – even though on Monday, I will fly to New Orleans to attend the NCEA convention.

I had a very nice first communicant for an interview and then I had the 5:30pm Mass. The Gospel was about Judas leaving the Last Supper and I remember reading something by Fulton Sheen about how the scriptures say that Judas left the table and went out into the darkness. He said that it is always that way, when one leaves Jesus and His light, one goes into the darkness. The new translation say. “It was night” but I think I prefer Sheen’s interpretation.

Afterwards, John, Jim, and I sat in my office and worked on the Mass schedule for May. We also just had a good time together with lots of laughs and teasing. I am blessed to live with them.

Now I am just relaxing and watching some TV and going on line with my genealogy stuff. I may go to bed early as I didn’t get over to pick up my phone at the parish, although I did call and talk with the pastor. So I may try to go early as I have 11:00am Mass.

I had a very wonderful morning. I drove to St. James Church and got there around 10:15am. Once I was inside, I realized that many times as a child, I had visited this church on Holy Thursday, when we use to visit 7 churches and pray at the Altar of Repose, where the Blessed Sacrament was placed. The altars were always beautifully decorated and sometimes I would pray that someday, I would be able to say Mass in that church. Today I did.

It was the funeral for Mrs. Edith Wilson, who worked with my Mom at Catholic University. Her daughter, who went to high school with my sisters, was also the principal at St. Camillus when I got there in 1972. She has three brothers and lots of nieces and nephews. Mrs. Wilson lived to 99, which she reached about three weeks ago. Ann gave a great talk about her Mom and her Dad. We went out to Mt. Olivet cemetery and the grave is in the next section to where I am going to be buried with my grandparents.

I left my cell phone in the sacristy and also I dropped the wine cruet and the handles broke so by the time we finished at Mt. Olivet, I decided I needed to come home and rest. So I did that and then this evening I gave the talk on Death, Judgement, Heaven and Hell (The last four things) for RCIA. It went well and I was able to use a great poem that Kass sent me as my closing. It is called “In the hands of the Master”.
I’m going over to the rectory and have spagetti and watch TV and go to bed. See you tomorrow.

I slept great last night with the c-pap and was over feeling refreshed for the 7:30am Mass. We started in the lobby and then I walked around and bless palms and by the time we got to the altar, I was tired. After the Gospel, which was the Passion, I sat down and preached from the chair. By the end, I was really tired but we had confessions for the School of Religion and so after that I came to the office and relaxed. I used the oxgyen and was fine.

Since I had the 12:30 Mass and a repeat of the service, I put the oxgyen out by the chair and used it during the readings. It seemed to be enough. The Mass went well.

Afterwards, I had the baptismal class at 1:45 and had 14 couples. I really enjoy doing this class where we describe the ritual, which many are too nervous to enjoy the day of the baptism.

I came over to the rectory, ate and then spent the last 8 hours relaxing on the computer and watching TV. I was glad not to have to do anything.
I did send out some information about the cruise from Baltimore that I hope to organize for November.

Tomorrow, I switched Masses with Fr. Jim. I will take his 8:00am and he will take my 11:00am. I have the funeral for Mrs. Edith Wilson at St. James’ parish in Mt. Ranier and tomorrow night I am giving the presentation to the RCIA. I will try to write tomorrow.