What Paddy Shot At

I arrived in Pittsburgh at around 5pm on Sunday and drove to Keith and Sheila’s. Then I went to Dave Havern’s, who is engaged to my godchild, Kathleen Morris. The three of us had a very nice and long talk. They haven’t set a date yet but it migh not be till the Fall. Sheila and Keith joined us as did Dave’s dad, David for pizza, salad, and terrific desserts. Mary Jean, Dave’s mom was ill and couldn’t be there but I had a great evening.
Dave travels a lot and get points at Marriott, so he arranged for me to have two free nights at a Springhill Marriott in East Liberty. It is very convenient and about a year old. I have a very nice suite and a great big TV. I checked in around 11pm but didn’t sleep well. I had a cup of coffee, which I don’t drink but twice a year and I was awake till about 3am. I really appreciated the TV.

Got up around 7am and watched the Today show from bed. Keith came and got me around 9:30 and we headed over to – I think its called the Waterworks – to an Eat’N’Park – a great favorite watering hole from my Pittsburgh days! We met Sheila, Helena Regale – a good friend I don’t see often enough – and Eric Diskin – another great friend from my time at Vincen’t and Pittsburgh. I think we stayed about three hours and we just talked and laughed!
When he finally broke up, I returned to the hotel for a nap and then at 5pm, Sheila, Keith, Helena and I met Kristen and Gavin Rapp – K & S’s daughter and son-in-law and all four of their grandchildren at a nice Italian restaurant for dinner. Again, lots of laughs! I had baptized each of the children and it was so great to see how they are growing up. One in 4th grade, one in 2nd, one in Kindergarten, and one in pre-K. Jack, the 2nd grader is getting ready for First Penance and First Communion, so I interviewed him like we do the children at Blessed Sacrament. He did great and knew many gospel stories. At first, he thought he should get a “satisfactory” grade but once I explained the meaning of poor, satisfactory, and excellent, he concurred with my evaluation of excellent!
After dinner, S, K, and H and I took Patrick and Caroline home to their house. Their parents were out to dinner for Valentine’s Day with other couples. So we visited their house and got the tour of the children’s rooms. I had no idea that Barbie had her own trailor or that legos came in so many shapes. We also all prayed for Jake, who is their dog and who is sick. It was a communal prayer service and most impressive.
Ed and Kerri (Mom and Dad) came home and we visited and they shared their “exciting” night out to the “hood”! Then we broke up and I hit that bed in the hotel and slept till 7 this morning.
I guess I really didn’t have a long nap yesterday because I called a lot of people to wish them a Happy St. Valentine’s Day. It is a day in which you think especially of some of those whom you love and on whose love you count. So I called my sisters, Betty Neary – who said she hadn’t heard from me since Thanksgiving. She doesn’t do email or computers so I shall have to start sending her “Paddy” by snail, so we keep in touch.- I also called Dan and Stephanie Poje, Joe Stoutz, and Betty and Norman deLuca – friends from St. Anselm’s days. Oh, and Bob Norton, so I really didn’t sleep long and it was great to talk to so many friends. I really do have to get to work on my Christmas letter for 09 & 10.

I am heading over with Keith to tour Central High School. It is the Christian brothers school and although I have heard of it for years, I never went inside, until now.
Then I’m meeting Bob and the guys for dinner. It has been a rush around visit but I just love seeing even the few I could. I hope to make another trip in March.
I think I’ll leave early tomorrow as I have to be home for the 5:30pm Mass.
Time to check out. It was very nice that there were two computers here in the lobby so I could send out a message. I hope you all had a love filled St. Valentine’s Day and also a blessed Sts. Cyril and Methodist Day as well…

Sorry to be off line for so long but I thought I was catching a cold and I was having trouble breathing normally, so I did the minimum that a
senior priest has to do and went to bed much of the last three days. I feel a lot better today and am off in a few moments to preside and preach at the 10:30Mass in the church.

I preached last night about Cardinal McCarrick’s talk on Thursday about Jesus. He said, at one point, “You know they tell us that ‘Jesus wept’ and that ‘he was angry’ but they never say he smiled. I think that is not because he didn’t smile but because he smiled regularly and they didn’t think to mention it”. Most of you know how much I love Hook’s paintings of Jesus smiling and Jesus with the children. I think he always looked like that. So today’s gospel in which he says that you have heard “Do not kill” but I say “Don’t let hatred grow in you”. He said smilingly not sternly. Think about it.

After Mass I will drive up to Pittsburgh and visit some close friends I haven’t seen for awhile. I will be back Wednesday in time for the 5:30pm Mass but I may have the use of a computer while there, so I may be able to write before I get back.

I had both the 6:30am & 8:00am Masses today. Fr. Jim will be back from retreat tonight and actually I was glad to have a reason to get up early. I preached about the wonderful stain glass window that I sat across from in the choir stalls at the Abbey Church at St. Vincent’s for six years. It showed St. Scholastica at her yearly meeting with her twin brother, Benedict in the valley between their two monasteries. She had wanted him to stay longer but he insisted that he must return to his monastery. The window shows the curtins on the window being blown and a rain storm outside. He says to her, “Sister, what have you done?” and she replied, “I asked my brother for something and he said ‘No’; so I asked our Father and He said, ‘Yes’. So they stayed all night in prayer and reflection. Two weeks later, Scholastica died. I love the story and the window.

I went to my doctor today and she said I’m doing very well and she ordered a CAT skan, so I can see how things are. She said that if I thought any cold I had was serious, to call her and get an antibiotic. For now she thought the Airbourne seemed to do the job of catching the cold early.
Tonight, Cardinal McCarrick came to the house for dinner at 6pm and then gave a “Theology on Tap” type of talk and questions in the gym, which was made up like a tavern with great finger foods and beer, wine, and sodas. He spoke on Jesus and was great!!! He had a young seminarian who drove him. His name was Brian and he is a member of the Institute of the Incarnate Wood. Since his retirement, the Cardinal has been living in one of three houses they have that surround St. John Baptist de la salle church. The former rectory is their seminary and they staff the parish. They are an institute founded in the 1980’s in Argentina and there are about 45 in their seminary here in DC. Brian is from Wichita, Kansas and in 2nd theology. They were both great dinner companions.
I will be doing the nursing home Mass tomorrow at 10:00am and Fr. John is hoping to see me at exercises at 7:15am, so I better go to bed.

I was planning to get up this morning and “work out” but I just didn’t want to get out of the warm bed. It was very cold outside last night and it was great to sleep in a cold room; it was just to hard to leave my bed. I got up around 9am and headed over to the center. I had the 11:00am Mass and although I am feeling better, my voice sounded very raspy and I don’t like preaching for very long when I sound like that.
Fr. Charlie Parry returned my call from yesterday about my wedding confusion. He has a wedding himself but he will leave a message for his assistant, Fr. John, who is on retreat this week. I hope I can find someone to help Amy and David.

Although I make jokes about the tradition that you get like your first pastor, I think I am more like Msgr. Eckert every day. I realized today that my Team’s next meeting is this Sunday. You may remember that I missed last month’s meeting because of terrible traffic on the beltway; well, this Sunday, I will be in Pittsburgh. For a senior priest, I seem to have great periods of “nothing to do” and lots of double bookings.

This afternoon I took over for Fr. John, his RCIA group as he had meetings. It was very enjoyable. There were four women and one man and our topic was the Sacraments of Healing. I think I did a decent job as both of them are sacraments I enjoy celebrating. I hope I was able to remove any fear of confession that they might have had from their non-Catholic background.
I spent the last two hours, working on my family genealogy. I got a program a few years ago and I think I have about 400 people listed. It is called Ancestry.net and when you put someone in, often there is a lead to some other information. I find it very relaxing and also just fun to think about my relatives.
I have the 6:30am and the 8:00am Masses tomorrow, so I think I’ll head to bed.

One of the nice side effects of the Liturgy of the Hours is you get to know saints about whom you knew little – St. Jerome is one such saint. He founded a community of religious who educated and cared for orphans and the poor in the beginning of the 16th century in Italy. Especially as we have learned of the abuse that happened in the Church in the 20th century, I am happy to remember the thousands of dedicated religious men and women who took such loving care of those who were abandoned or in need. We give thanks for their good example.

I thought I might be catching a cold yesterday as I kept sneezing and had a “runny nose”. Someone suggested I try something called “Airborn” and I did and it certainly worked. It is like an Alka selzer and you put it in a glass of water and it bubbles and makes a very pleasant lemon/lime drink. I also stayed in bed for about 10 hours. I have to worry about getting a cold and having it turn into pnumonia. I feel so much better today.

I didn’t come to the center till about 1pm and as I have adoration at 3pm and Mass at 5:30pm, I’ll just stay here and keep trying to clean this desk. I must be getting something done as the re-cycle bin is full each night.

I took some time out to listen to a 23 minute talk by the new bishop of Dodge City. It was on Whispers in the Loggia, which is one of my favorite blogs. He gave an unusual and very informative reflection on his role as a bishop. That will be Fr. Dwight’s bishop until he returns to Wichita. I hope to see Dwight in New Orlean’s for the NCEA convention in April.

I had the Mass and preached about the great work the church has done and is still doing for orphans and the needy. It was cold in the church but I wore layered cloths.

I just finished a meeting with Claire and David, whose wedding I will witness in North Carolina in June. I hope to drive down and swing by and see friends in the Middle South after the wedding.
I don’t have Mass tomorrow till 11am, so I will take some more of that medicine. I feel so much better and so quickly.

Yesterday was great and I ended up the evening by having a very relaxing dinner with Sr. Kass over in Baltimore. By the time I got home, I went right to bed as I had the 7:30am Mass this morning.

First, the non – verbal celebration was vey nice and a “learning experience” for all of us. We had four young people who are in different stages of communication skills. We did some very nice things with incense and pictures and some small objects that the children could have a tactil experience. We used the same tune throughout the service. It was Jesus in the morning, Jesus in the mid day, and Jesus when the sun goes down. We learned signs for the song and we changed the first word to “Alleluia”, “Jesus” “Amen” and spaced that throughout the parts of the Mass. Everyone seemed comfortable with that. At the end, I blessed each person individually with the painting of the Smiling Jesus, that had been on a podium throughout the Mass. Afterwards, we had food and drink in our social hall and we had a chance to evaluate the service. We hope to do it again soon.

Afterwards, I took a nap and then I had confessions at 4pm and helped with Communion at the 5:30pm. Then I drove over to Catonville and met Kass at a very nice Greek restaurant. We spent about three hours talking and “catching up”. I really enjoyed it.

This morning I had the 7:30Mass and I preached about Franz Jagerstattter, a courageous martyr from Austria during World War II. I thought it fit in well with the Gospel, where the disciples of Jesus (and us 2000 years later) were called to be lights to the world. Franz was certainly that and more.
Then I had the 10:30 in the gym. I do love that crowd. There are many families with 4 and 5 little children. I have them up around the altar and they are so enthusiastic and reverent. Also the music is so happy and well participated in by the congregation.
I had an appointment with a young couple from my St. Bernard’s days who were interested in my officiating at their wedding. I had said yes, but I was confused. I already have a wedding that day – in North Carolina. I don’t know how I could have gotten those dates mixed up. I am hoping to be able to find a priest who will do a good job for them in June.
At 2pm I had a baptism. The couple, Liz and Philip are the parents of 5 other children and I just love to see them all at Mass. They were at the 7:30am Mass earlier today and I said to them, “Boy, this is going to be a long day in church!” but the kids seem to love being here also. The new baby, Sarah Kimberly was so laid back during the ceremony. They had lots of family there. I think Liz is one of 11 children. She and Philip are part of our pre-cana speakers program and I have been with them. Phil’s dad who died this year was one of the 6:30am Mass group that were so welcoming to me when I came last year.
So I had a great pastoral day and I just finished watching the Steelers lose to Green Bay. I had divided loyalties because of my two seminaries. Have the 11am Mass tomorrow, so I can sleep in, which I also love to do.

Today was a “to do” day. I got up around 7am and went over to the parish center and separated my Christmas cards from all the mail I’ve been throwing into boxes. I also paid a lot of bills that I had overlooked.

At 10:00am I went out to Jiffy Lub in Rockville and got my car taken care of. I also cleaned out the back seat and the stuff that had accumulated under the seats.
Among those treasures was a ticket that I recived on Tuesday when I was driving back from reading at St. Michael’s. I forgot to mention that. A very nice trooper stopped me as I was going – as he said “appreciably faster” than the limit. Fortunately, I was dressed in clerics and he must have decided to be forgiving and he only gave me a warning. I was sufficiently chastized so that I stayed close to the limit all the way home.

After Jiffy Lub, I came home for a nap and got up in time to put out the Blessed Sacrament for adoration at 3pm. Then back to the desk. I think I may have gotten a good hint from Walt Madigosky about how to do my Christmas letter. We’ll see if I can.

I worked on my homily and then had the 5:30pm Mass. I used the line from the first reading about some have “entertained angels unknowlingly”. I use to love seeing “Touched by an Angel” when it was on TV weekly. It had great theology.

After Mass, I came right to the rectory because we were hosting the eight Christian Brothers who live in two houses in the parish and some staff St. John’s High School nearby. Fr. John is a graduate and has been friends with many of them – even was taught by Brother Malachy. I met the principal of St. John’s who grew up in St. Anselm’s parish in Pittsburgh, where I was a deacon. Also a number of them are graduates of Central Catholic in Pittsburgh, where Keith Morris and his sons-in-law all went to high school.
We had a great time, good food, and lots of church stories and laughter.

Tomorrow, I have the 8:00am Mass and then at 11, I am “presiding” at a non verbal Eucharist. Most of the children are non verbal and I was asked by the committee that works with disabilities and accomodations to give this a try. I am a little nervious but am sure that God and Grace will be present and things will go well. Being lifted up in prayer would be nice also.

I have confessions at 4:00pm. Help with Communion at 5:30pm and hope to meet Sister Kass for dinner. Sounds like a full day so I am off to bed early tonight.

Had a hard time sleeping last night. I kept coughing and didn’t want to get out of bed when the alarm went off. However, we three priests were going to be at the school at 8:15am when they gather in the gym for prayer so that we could bless throats. I went and it just happened that I started with the pre-K. They are so adorable and wide eyed – even early in the morning. I think everyone of them said, “Thank you, Father” when I finished the prayer over them and put my hand on their heads. Fathers John and Jim then went up to the classrooms for the middle school and I went over to help Father Tesfaye with those who were at the 8:00am Mass. Then I went back to the rectory, ate some cereal and went back to bed. I was surprised to find that I slept easily for about three hours. I rose refreshed.

I spent the afternoon here at my desk and worked on my computer. I really did miss having it here. I also opened some of my Christmas mail and I am planning my letter.

I had the 5:30pm Mass and the intention was for Sargeant Shriver. I spoke about a very poingant scene that Maria Shriver, his daughter spoke about him. She said that he had altzeimer’s for the last four years but if you began the “Hail Mary” he would said it faultlessly. However he didn’t know who she was – his own daughter. I mentioned that in my homily and how throat blessings, holy water, prayers, and other sacramentals should be so much a part of us that they are always in our hearts and minds. I also mentioned the wonderful role he played in the Peace Corp. He was a good man.

Am finishing up here at the desk, with “Jeopardy” on and I think I’ll go home and I might work on that Christmas letter. Would like to have it out before Lent.

Through the intercession of St. Blaise, may you be protected from all illnesses of the throat and other maladies throughout this coming year….

I have been beset by devils! As I was typing last night, the computer froze up on me and wouldn’t let me type.

I was saying that the deacon said that there was much dislike of Hook’s painting of the “laughing Jesus”. He later did one called Jesus with the children and again Jesus is smiling. The deacon told of the conflict so that we would know that Sally loved the smiling Jesus and smiled just like him to all those she met. I think that is a great thing to be said about you.

In that message that I hadn’t been able to get out, I also talked about the 5:30pm Mass on Saturday, which was about the Beatitudes. I was blessed to meet in the first few months I came here to SBS, a lovely lady who had just learned she had inoperable cancer. I came to see her a couple of times a week and we had great talks – and laughs! January 29, 2011 was the first anniversary of her death and two of her five children were coming to the Mass. I hadn’t intended to talk about her but as I prepared my homily on the first beatitude, I couldn’t help but speak about her.

After Mass, a young family came up to speak to me and tell me that their son was away a few weeks ago when we had our First Penance. Could I celebrate it with him.  I love such opportunities and because of the “seal of confession” I can’t tell you anything about it except that when we finished, he, Jesus, and I were all smiling!!

Then I went out to dinner with Pat, a daughter from Atlanta, and Terry, a daughter from Cape Cod, who runs a cookie business. We laughed and talked about Jackie (their mom) and when they left me, I had two packets of cookies – that I am sharing with my rectory mates.

Well that brings you up to date on Saturday

On Sunday, Deacon Mike Roach, from Pittsburgh (and Catholic University) preached at my Mass at 12:30. He gave a great homily and I was glad not to repeat mine from Saturday night.

After Mass, I headed to the Beltway to go to Southern Maryland for a TEAM meeting. Imagine my surprise when I got on at Conneticutt Ave and discovered that an accident at Georgia Avenue had the whole beltway at a standstill. It took my an hour to get to Georgia, which was the first off ramp I came to. I called the TEAM and told them I was going home to a nice welcoming bed.

I tried to write that night and it didn’t work either, so now you are up to date on Sunday.

Monday, I got up early and joined my rectory mates at “exercise”. We have a trainor, Jeremy, who comes twice a week. I have avoided them for over a year but I went  that morning, since I ate whatever I wanted on the cruise and the pants I wore down to Florida, I couldn’t fit into on the day we were coming home. I’m glad I went and will try to join them each day they meet.

I had the 11am Mass and Patrick Mullan, a seminarian at Mt. St. Mary’s, who had been my last seminarian at St. Michael’s and who lived with us here at SBS last year, came down to give a talk for Catholic Schools’ Week. He joined me for Mass and afterwards, we went to lunch and “caught up”. He is a second year Theologian and will be ordained a deacon in the Spring of 2012. Everyone – including me – loves him

I drove down to Maggie’s and took a nap. Had some supper and then Kerri and Tim came and we had another one of our “pre-cana” meetings and then we played cards.

I got up early on Tuesday and after dropping Kerri at school, I drove over to St. Michael’s to be a “Celebrity Reader” as part of their celebration of Catholic Schools Week. I loved it. I read about Eyegore’s birthday from Winnie the Pooh to two groups of the little children and I read from Harry Potter to the 6th to 8th graders. I was so good to see the children and how much they have grown. I was very pleased at the number of names that came back to me. I loved seeing the teachers and there were a few parents, including the Greenwell family, who had a five day old to show me. I married them and baptized their first two children. Claire I had seen in her classroom but Joey, who is only 5 isn’t in school yet and he came withhis parents and as soon as he saw me, he said, ” Hi, Father O’Connell!” It was worth three times the drive just to hear that!!!!

As I left Ridge, I stopped into the Day Care center but Miss Mary (Norris) was out on break so I missed her but I saw Miss Dana and the children. One of whom was Kyle Kovich, whose brother Nicholas, I saw at St. Michael’s and whose grandparents are my dear friend John & Shirley.

I came home and had the 5:30pm Mass, and afterward I went to the rectory to try to write something and that’s when my computer “froze”.

Today, Mark McCaffery, who is just the best office manager in the world and won’t give up till he solves the problem came and made this computer in the parish center work in spite of itself.

While he was hard at work, I went off to say the 11:00am Mass. I talked about this being the day on which many religious communities took and repeated their vows, so we remember all the sisters, brother, and religious order priests who have served us so well and asked God to bless them.

As soon as Mass was over, I headed to the St. John Vianney House, which was the former convent at Holy Redeemeer parish in Kensington. it is now a house for prayer, meetings, and to relax in for the priests of the Archdiocese. I have stayed over night when I use to come up from Ridge for meetings. It’s very homey. We hold our “Senior and Retired priests” meetings there on the first Wednesday of each month. I tried to go to them becaue Frs, Kane, Duffy, Liston, Hill, and Bishop Olivier come and we “catch up” and then have a nice lunch. Today I sat with Fred McIntyre, Sal Vittorino, John Brady, and the Bishop. It was very pleasant as we talked about the liturgical changes and basically agreed they don’t have enough to keep them busy in Rome and that why they keep upsetting the people with more changes! Who would have ever thought that I would be on that side of change??

You are now up to date!  And now that this computer works, I’ll try to get the one in the rectory fixed, so I can get back on track with Paddy.

My computer in the parish center is not working and I didn’t realize how much more I use it than the one here in my room in the rectory.  I’ve gotten into the habit of only coming to this room for a nap or to go to bed and that is part of why I haven’t written lately. Also I just noticed that I didn’t send two drafts – one from Saturday and one from Sunday. I will send them now and try to finish this and post it later tonight.

I sent them off and I really have to learn more about this process. I lost a really good message about my funeral in Barnesville on Saturday morning. The deacon gave a great homily about the reaction in 1972 to Richard Hook’s painting of the smiling Jesus. He told how all pictures of Jesus before that had a “neutral” look so that if you felt guilty, his look said, “You are forgiven”. If you were discouraged, his face said, “it will be alright”. If you felt lonely, his face said “I am here”.