Making Ready

Was just working on some stuff for the Christmas Masses, and thought I'd take a break for the weekly update.

We indeed got several inches of snow last weekend, with a hefty layer of ice inbetween. It was beautiful to watch the snow falling on Saturday ... I could look out the kitchen window as I made a big pot of hearty bean soup. We had the usual numbers for the Saturday evening Mass, but only about 50 for Sunday morning. It was lovely (albeit a bit dangerous) while it lasted. Now it's warm and rainy. Ugh.

Been cooking and baking quite a bit this week. I made Polish Coffeecakes Wednesday evening to give as personal gifts for my Staff and some others. Thursday evening I made a pan of Baklava for our Staff Lunch yesterday ... a few weeks ago I had suggested we waive the weekly meeting for a holiday lunch, and no one objected. I found out that they all LOVE shrimp and seafood, so I went up to my international grocery and got three kinds of fresh shrimp ... some with the heads on for presentation effect ... and boiled those up. I also did a soup/stew with a seafood mix I found at the store ... mussels, small shrimp, scallops, squid and octopus. It was kind of a cross between a gumbo and cioppino. I wanted to have a nice crusty bread to go with the soup/stew, but my yeast died in the early stages, so ... And of course, there was the baklava. Needless to say, the priests of the house are enjoying the leftovers.

Many BIG pointsettias were being delivered to the Cathedral this morning as I began the 8am Mass. The decorating detail descends on the Cathedral tomorrow after Mass, and then we'll do the Chapel on Monday after the morning Mass.

Christmas Eve I'm told that I'm supposed to invite all the little kids up to the Altar steps for the beginning of the Homily ... it's a big thing around here, and am told by several people that I MUST do it. The Holy Spirit may have to do a little overtime on that one. I preside over the Service of Lessons and Carols at 11:15, then the Archbishop presides and preaches at Midnight... I'll concelebrate. I don't have any specific plans for Christmas Day ... I preside and preach at the 10:30am Mass as usual, then I'm open. I've received one invitation so far, but really not sure what I want to do.

As for the days after, the plan is for Mom and Dad to drive down on the 27th, then we'll go to Saint Meinrad together. They want to make a Christmas visit to the Hill to deliver the Christmas kielbasa to the Monks, and there are Community meetings scheuled. For years I've groused "Why aren't more of the guys from our parishes here for these meetings?" so now I need to put my mileage where my mouth is. We'll make our way back to Indy Friday afternoon or Saturday morning so I can be here for the weekend.

One of these days I need to do a Christmas Letter to send out to let people who don't read this blog know where I am. Abbot Bonaventure takes care of forwarding monks' mail from the Hill, so I see his penmanship alot these days... if I had been thinking, I would have left him labels... sorry, +B.

I had best get back to the matters at hand ... no soup on the stove today, as I have more pressing thing to take care of. Yes ... I realize there ARE more pressing matters than food... a few.

The grace and peace of the Silent and Holy Night be with all who find these greetings ...

In the bleak mid-Advent

Lots going on these days ... especially with the winter social season kicking up. Last weekend I had three Holiday-related gatherings to be present for, from an intimate dinner of four to a gala with several hundred. By Sunday evening I was whipped, and took refuge in the enclosure of my rooms well into Monday ... that means I hid from the world on my day off.

WEATHER ALERT ... just got word that we have a winter storm warning for this weekend, with a possibility of 5-9 inches of snow. There's to be rain and ice and different times, too.

After lunch today I ran out and got a live tree for the Common Room upstairs... a nice slender Fraser Fir, already 50% off. When I got back, I walked up to Walgreens and got a new stand. Tree-trimming is slated for Sunday, and I'm making dinner for the Residents.

Wasn't planning on going out this evening, but now maybe I'll run over to the grocery and pick up a few things.

I may never make beef barley soup again

I'm a bit behind ....

Last week I was in Toledo for three days ... surpised my Sister and Brother-in-law on their 25th Wedding Anniversary. I cooked ... had dinner ready at Mom and Dad's when they got there. I brought the rib roast with me from Indy (it was on sale) so I could do a rub ahead of time. It was a very nice evening. Then I stayed over until Wednesday for Mom and Dad's 48th Anniversary. Got back here Wednesday evening.

While out bumming around with Mom and Dad on Tuesday, we stopped at an architectural salvage/antiques place in old downtown. I mentioned to the guy that I'm always looking for "church stuff" and he asked me if I had seen the statues of Sts. Peter and Paul... I hadn't, so he showed me. To my pleasant surpruse he led me to two life-size white Corinthian marble statues in excellent condition ... done in the early 1900's. THEN I explained that I just so happen to be Interim Pastor at Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis. He said he negotiate the price ... I said I'd keep this in mind. Hmmmm ... seems like the finger of God stirring things. Now if God really wants us to have them, $46,000 will come my way. In the meantime, they're on my wish-list.

Saturday I was expecting friends from the Saint Meinrad area to be visiting, so I made a big batch of beef barley soup on Friday. It was tasty, and all was well UNTIL one of my friends suddenly "didn't feel so good." It appears she may be allergic to the spices in curry ... I had used a spice mix that included curry and she had never had curry before, so we deduced that was the problem. We didn't have to call 911 or haul her to the ER, but it was close. As it happens, she is a nurse and knows the course of her other allergic reations, so we just monitored things very closely. It did pass, and the rest of pour visit was nice, but ...

Other pieces of the weekend included meeting with two couples for Marriage Prep, the Rite of Welcoming for our Catechumens and Candidates, the Parish Council meeting, and sung Vespers on Sunday evening. Tis the season to be busy ...