Luke's Story - summarized

Tonight I gave my nephew, Luke, the section of my Mother's handwritten diary that pertained to his  premature arrival.  Then I thought that possibly my Blog readers may like to know what happened.
So to summarize, Luke arrived August 21st 1979 weighing in at a whooping 2 pound 6 ounces.  Initially, he did remarkably well and then as you know from my mother's  "Dear Luke" letters (that I included in previous blog entries) Luke had a terrible setback, and was intubated and on a respirator and antibiotics for a few days while we all prayed, and held our breaths.  My mother stayed at my house in Colonie, NY for awhile after Luke was born and then returned home to her husband (my father) in Brooklyn.
Luke started to improve and began breathing on his own again.  He gradually gained a little weight and on October 19, 1979, he was discharged from Albany Medical Center, weighing 4 lbs 2 oz, to live with his Mom, Meg, and his Dad, Carl, in their home on Esopus Creek in Saugerties, NY.
Luke has grown into a handsome, loving human being.  We are most grateful that he made it as our lives would not have been the same without him!

An Answer to the Urgent Priest Shortage

Bishop Frank Dewane does not need to worry about a future shortage of priests in Florida. Women priests are here! And we are growing. Last weekend, the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests ordained six women in Cleveland. A drop in the bucket, you say? Do you believe that faith moves mountains? I do.
We know that women who make up at least half of church membership, are ready, willing and open to serve the church. Women already do at least 80 percent of the work in parish ministry.  If church law did not discriminate against women, I believe that there would be a large number of priests to serve Catholics. The problem  is the man-made, sinful, sexist law that prohibits women's ordination.  
Even though, Jesus chose both male and female disciples and women served as deacons, priests and bishops during the first twelve hundred years of the church's history,Pope John Paul 11  issued an official letter in 1994 banning women's ordination, entitled "Ordinatio Sacerdotalis." It said that since women did not bear a physical resemblance to Jesus, they could not serve as priests.  Huh!? Contemporary theologians like John Shea call the church's explanation of why women cannot be priests "heretical".  Obviously, this teaching contradicts the bible and the example of Jesus.  Women and men are created in God's image according to Genesis.  Galations 3:28 reminds us there is neither Jew, nor Greek... male or female, all are one in Christ.  Baptism makes us spiritual equals in Christ.  
 The good news is that there are Roman Catholic Women Priests now serving inclusive Catholic communities in the United States, Canada, Europe, South Africa and Latin America. Locally, Judy Lee and Judy Beaumont are Roman Catholic Women Priests who preside at a weekly liturgy at Good Shepherd Inclusive Catholic Community. They serve people who are homeless and struggling to make a living in the Ft. Myers area. 
Perhaps, the shortage of priests is a wake up call that the Spirit is moving in grassroots, inclusive, empowered communities where the community of the baptized celebrates Eucharist as the Body of Christ around the table, on the table, and present everywhere in the cosmos. God is calling men and women to shape a renewed priestly ministry, one with all in the Banquet of love.   Women are saying, "yes,  here we are, we are ready to serve  as priests."Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP, www.arcwp.org

My Parent's House

Estate Sale

35 Ledgewood Dr. , Colonie

(near Osborne Rd – between Alb-Shaker and Sand Creek)

Fri, May 30^th  10 to 4

Sat, May 31^st  9 to 3

Electronics, Household Items, Books, Antiques, Misc. Items  

Remembering my Uncle Joe O'Donnell this Memorial Day Weekend

A V-Mail letter dated  Belgium  16 Jan. 45
To: Mrs. Charles Fries
58 Interboro P'kway
Brooklyn, NY
                                                                     From:
                                                                     Lt. J. O'Donnell
                                                                     Co. E. 401 Glider Inf.
                                                                     APO # 472 c/o P.M.N.Y.
Dear Rita, & Family
       
          I still have to answer your letter from Dec 18th so will take this chance to drop you a line.
       
          I received a letter from mother today telling me I'm the proud poppa of a baby girl.  I think I'm the happiest man alive and can't express myself in words or writing.   I only wish I could be there to see her, she must be wonderful.

         I'm staying in a little house with a store in front in a small town behind the lines.  We had a little excitement tonight when a Robot Bomb dropped in to pay a call.  They are frequent visitors here. The other day they shot down a Jerry plane that tried to do some sneak straffing (I have no idea what this word means). Loads of fun!!!

        I have a stinker of a cold, and don't feel too well, but this news today sure is peping me up.

        I hope you all are well, will tell you lots of true exciting stories when I get home.

        Well for tonight  Loads of love to you all
                                          from your brother
                                                            Joe

Wow! Very Exciting Discovery - Margaret Coleman, Teacher

I can't describe how excited I was to come across this "find" tonight.  It answers a question I have had for years and years (actually - my entire life) .  I had asked my mother, "where did Grandma O'Donnell (nee' Margaret Coleman) teach?"  and "What was the name and location of the "her" one-room schoolhouse?"  My Mom didn't know or if she had known in the past, she had forgotten.
So tonight I got my answer - once again hidden in a large Manila folder in a messy old cardboard box.  It makes the pain of this massive cleanup disappear. 
The Manila envelope holds several other treasures which all seem to pertain to my Grandfather, TJ O'Donnell.   As a matter of fact this particular "Souvenir" obviously belonged to him since he has written " My Sweetheart" down the right side of it.  My Grandfather had a very distinctive handwriting and I would recognize it anywhere.  Besides, history taught us Margaret Coleman was TJ's Sweetheart.  
The other page of this "Souvenir", which was attached to it by a small, delicate cord, contains the names of Margaret Coleman's 24 students.   This was another very interesting bit of historical fact for me.  Among her students were her sisters, Norene Coleman (Purtell), May Coleman Geary, Kathleen Coleman Fitzgerald, and possibly her brothers, Francis and Martin Coleman and some other Coleman relatives. I'm not sure how Walter Coleman or John Coleman were related.  I'll have to ask my cousins, Anne Fitzgerald Herman and Anne Purtell McCarthy to see if they can identify some of Grandma's other students.
The name of the school was Biglan School No. 8 and it was in Middletown Turnpike, Susquehanna Co., Pa.  The date was March 18, 1910 - over 104 years ago! Grandma was 23 years old at that time since she was born on the 16th of Feb. 1887.   She certainly was a beauty - and a smart one at that.  I must say, she makes me feel proud.
I'll have to go looking for the location of the old Biglan School No. 8, the next time we take a nostalgia ride to "God's Country".

Luke "hangs in there" - another letter from his Grandma Rita

                                                            "September 10, 1979
                                                                    Monday
Dear Luke,
You are still hanging in there, thank the Good Lord for that!  They have you hooked to the respirator but they say you're breathing on your own.  If you keep up the good work, they try taking you off tomorrow.  That will be great news and I'm certain you'll be much happier and more comfortable.  This morning your Dad came up from home (Saugerties) and he, your Mom and Aunt Mary Beth went to see Dr. Gries.  He's an associate of Dr. Bartoletti.  You seem to be improving.  We sure hope you are licking the germ - bacteria or virus or whatever triggered your apnea attacks Friday night.  Your parents and Aunt Mary Beth spoke for one and a half hours to Dr. Gries telling him of their concerns for you, especially because of the inadequate nursing care you received last week. They told him they were almost sorry they hadn't taken you home before you got infected.  He - the Doctor - was sympathetic and will discuss your case with the staff.  Aunt Mary Beth met a nurse, Rita Koff, who worked with he at Downstate.  She promised to keep an eye on you.  We are continuing our prayers for your health and growth.

While your parents and Aunt Mary Beth were at the hospital,  Grandpa took me, Brian and Diane to play group at Tina O'Leary's.  Tina has two little boys - Kevin (2 yrs.) and Steven will be one.  Carla Kennedy and Lynn came, also a lady by the name of Linda with a little boy, Benjamin, and another lady, Denise who had two children - Christopher and Stephanie.  We brought "Drums" cakes - similar to Ring-Dings and everyone sang " Happy Birthday" to Brian who was three today.  It's your Uncle Marty's birthday, too.  I called to say "Happy Birthday".   Your Dad was here for supper with us.  Uncle Bob was away on business in Watertown.  Aunt Anna is with us.  She's your great, great Aunt, 90 years old!

Your dad visited you tonight and Mom called while he was at the hospital.  He left for home after he said good night to you.  "

We contine to eat in the midst of Luke's ordeal - even apple pie!

"                                                       Sunday, Sept 9, 1979
Dear Luke,
Your Mom, Aunt Mary Beth, Brian, Diane and I went to 12:15 Mass today.  Uncle Bob went to early Mass and then helped a friend from work black-top his driveway.  Your Dad stayed home.  He's Lutheran and doesn't attend his church regularly.  You'll have to work on him when you get a little older.  There's a saying, "A Little Child shall lead them".

After church I went to visit you at the hospital with your Dad and Mother.  Right before we left i got a call from Grandpa.  He and Aunt Anna are on their way up here.  You looked very pathetic today.  We all feel very sorry to see you with the tube in your nose (the respirator tube) and your little arm strapped down for administrating the IV. That's to feed you and give you your antibiotic.  I stroked your little arm today and you seemed to like it.

When we got home from the hospital, Aunt Mary Beth was out shopping. Your Dad and Mother went for gas for Dad's truck.  A short time later (around five) Grandpa and Aunt Anna arrived from Brooklyn.  We had delicious pot roast dinner, including an apple pie.  After dinner your Dad and Mother went to the hospital again.  You were very active and showed in no uncertain terms your dislike for the IV and respirator.  You were on your stomach and your mother rubbed  your back.  She thinks she woke you or else you were mad just being touched. She felt very sad to see your distress. She was shook up over the latest doctor's report - you have pneumonia.  We're hoping the antibiotics will cure that for you. 

I must get up early tomorrow to take cousins Brian and Diane to play group at Tina's.  Your Mother, Aunt Mary Beth and your Dad plan to see Dr. Bartoletti tomorrow to talk about you.
                                                                       Love,
                                                                       Grandma"

In the midst of your ordeal, we continue to eat well!  I believe that this sharing of food together was more than physical nourishment for us.  It was a true communion and a way to keep a small sense of normalcy in our lives.    
And I always said that Grandma was stronger in her beliefs than any priest I ever met.   Here she was wanting your Dad to get to church.   She even has to tell you- a 2 pound baby - that your father is a Lutheran. God Bless her, she certainly was a sweet, caring Grandma.  Words are sure powerful, reading her words bring her right back to me.