I had an interesting day – following a dodgy start (as mentioned already!) as I was “on duty” here in the parish. I had two things arranged for today, apart from the 12.10 Mass. The first was first thing in the morning when I had to go to bless a house. I didn’t know who was in the house or why the blessing was sought. As it turned out, the house has been recently occupied by a young couple and their two daughters. They could not have been any more welcoming. The youngest daughter was a bit wary of me at first but the ice was broken when she told me she likes ET and went to find the doll to prove her love! “ET Phone Home”, I said, she laughed and put out her finger to me. We bonded! They were a lovely family and it was clear that the blessing of their house was an important part of the moving in process where house becomes home. There was a very interesting map of Ireland on the wall and when I went to show the girls where I lived, the map was even more interesting. The shape of each county was filled with the name of the county in different fonts and colours. Very clever. I admired it and discovered the husband, who is a designer, had designed and produced it. Nice piece of work.
Mass at 12.10 went fine. Again, it’s amazing how many people come to he Masses each day. Something very right and uplifting about it. Feast of Ss Joachim and Anne so thought about and talked about parents – all parents, living and dead, and the great efforts they make in the name of their children. Ought never be forgotten. I told them about the house and family I had visited and the blessing of a home and the witness these parents are giving.
In the afternoon, I visited people in New Hyde Park. Another annual visit at this stage. I called to see Michael and then the Hunts. They are so good for keeping in touch during the year and it’s good to see them, even for a short visit.
Detective Steven McDonald, R.I.P.
At the other end of the day, I had been asked to speak to a Men’s Prayer Group and wasn’t sure what to expect or how many. The group was originally founded by Detective Steven McDonald, a New York Policeman who was shot and paralyzed in the line of duty and subsequently forgave the shooter. He travelled through much of the world, speaking on conflict resolution – including Northern Ireland in the company of Fr Mychal Judge (the Fire Department Chaplain, who was the first named victim of the attack of September 11th). I used see Steven at Mass in the Cathedral in his wheelchair. He was always so reverent and kind. He died last year, R.I.P. and his funeral was a major event in New York – I remember watching it on TV at home. In any case, he had started this prayer group for men in his home and the numbers grew to a point where they had to use one of the rooms in the Ministry Office. I’m not sure how many were there tonight, maybe fifty or sixty but I’m told there are over one hundred members of this prayer group. They meet once a month, pray the rosary and, as I understand it, ask someone in to give a presentation. That was my role tonight. I really enjoyed it. It was so heart-warming to see this group of men, of varying ages and backgrounds (I imagine) being at one in prayer. Made me wonder should or could something like that be done at home! It was a sort of “Men’s Shed” but the only tool was prayer. Very worthwhile and uplifting. Glad to have been asked to go.
When I came in from the talk I found a little bag left for me in the front office. It was left in by a cousin, Terry, and she and her daughter had included two baseball caps and a tea towel!! The caps were timely as I left my Sligo cap in New Jersey but will be re-united with it. I left it in Virginia last year!! The tea towel was in response to a few words I shared at Sunday Mass about needing to lose a bit of weight! Knowing it is one thing but doing it another!!
All in all – a good day!
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