Nope, I am not going to talk about our nation’s independence. What I am going to talk about is my son’s independence. On July 1st, he moved into what will be his home for the next year. He is home to do a pastoral year at a nearby parish and will be living in the rectory there. This morning we went to Mass at his parish as this was his first Sunday there. We knew the pastor would be introducing him to the congregation today.
Unlike a week ago, when we attended Fr. Alonzo’s first Mass, this Church had air conditioning. Lucky thing since it was already 91 degrees by 11:30 a.m. and expected to hit close to 100. We sat near the front of the Church, as is our custom. I don’t like sitting in the back. I’m only 5’1″. I can’t see a thing more than a few pews back.
As it nears noon, we hear the organ kick in. We turn to look and see a young man. We only see his back. “Is that Steve?” Yes, pathetic as it is, from that distance, we had no idea if that was our son or not. A few minutes later, Stephen emerges from the front of the Church. Now unless he can bilocate, he obviously was not playing the organ.
Before the final blessing, after the Mass was over, the pastor came out to introduce Stephen. I see him standing on the altar near the woman who was reader for the Mass. I see her say something to him & then I see him pointing at us. Luckily, the pastor didn’t notice. I don’t think anyone else did, either.
After Mass, we met the pastor who we apparently met before. When we visited Steve in D.C. a few years back, we attended Mass at the basilica and the priest we had for Mass that day? Yep, his current pastor. We then had a little tour of the rectory and his room. Uh, I mean rooms. He has a nice sized bedroom, bigger than the one he has here at home. He has a living room complete with desk, recliner, sofa, and a TV with cable. And the biggest plus for him, after 7 years of living in a seminary, for the first time, he has his very own bathroom.
He’s currently hanging out here killing people. But not me. I’m already dead. Twice. He is playing a James Bond video game. He asked if we wanted to play with him. Frank says okay. Steve replies, “I really want Mom to play. That way I can kill her. I don’t want to kill you.” After getting killed a few times, I quit. I didn’t get him even once.