Peace Be With You!

It is New Year's Eve and it's already been memorable, for sure!!

While my Christmas gift to my son was a bonafide homerun, my Christmas surprise for my brother was clearly 'out of the park'!

Paul is visiting from NJ and spending a couple of days with Mom and me. Since Flo has moved in with me after her stroke, my brother has made the six hour trip many times, and each time he has made a pitch to take Mom to church. She, however, resists these efforts because of her wheelchair self-consciousness. Being out in public is not on her agenda, and at 97 her vote trumps all others.

A good friend of mine works in the parish rectory and told me that the pastor, a much loved priest and friend, has occasionally said Mass in people's homes. I asked her to inquire what the odds were that Father would be able to come to my house and say Mass while my brother was in town. The window of opportunity was small considering Paul's scheduled visit and Father's schedule and the New Year's Celebrations and activities. My holiday gift bag to Paul had some exotic soups which I was sure that he would like. And then I told him to look again because there was something else in the bag. Watching his face was fun, fun, fun...as he read that New Year's Eve Mass would be at 6PM at my house with our Mom.

At 6PM, Mass was held in my living room and it was truly a special event for my brother, my mother, and me. [The remaining trio of my immediate family!] It was snowing wildly, and with the colorful holiday lights as a background and Gracie [Amazing Grace...poodle extraordinaire] stretched right out in front of the 'altar', I'm thinking that is about as unique as you can get!

For a part of the service, as I sat next to my mom, I was fearful that she was going to 'leave us' right there in the presence of the priest. He told her that it wouldn't necessarily be a bad time because he could also give her the sacrament formerly known as 'the last rites'. As nervous and/or as pious as she looked, all was well. We even had the benefit of a general confession and absolution before the service.

So, Paul got to attend Mass with Flo as they had every Sunday when she used to spend weekends with him[before the stroke], Flo attended her first Mass since April '07 and didn't have to be seen out in public in her wheelchair, and I was treated to an 'Our Father' with everyone holding hands...in the comfort of my living room...priceless.

It was good. And I am thankful. God bless Father Dennis...and Marg.