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Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Francis Parish,

ON Tuesday I saw something really odd, a white, older model Ford pickup with a bright yellow snow plow on the front.  I doubt if I was the only one to wonder if the owner knew something no one else did.

Eleven Vatican Swiss Guard soldiers have to have tested positive for C 19. Not a good sign. Even the Vatican is not immune from C 19. I’m sure the Pope and his circle of advisors are taking appropriate precautions. FYI The Swiss Guards are the world’s oldest standing army, and provide ceremonial guard duty during papal Masses, man the Vatican gates and help protect the 83-year-old Pope Francis. They have a very “colorful history.” Check them out online.

Amazing Grace has asked us to bring down our cereal on Wednesday mornings. Art Morin and I used to do it on Monday. This week we brought down 59 pounds of cereal. Please bring a box to church, or drop one off if you are staying home. Good opportunity to touch base with our parish during this C 19 time.

I am afraid I am not optimistic about C 19 going away anytime soon. With the colder weather coming, (truck with snowplow,) we will be spending even more time inside. This is not a good thing. As far as church goes, I have no idea if and when we will get back to any kind of “normal.” I got an e mail from the North Pole letting me know Santa has laid off all his elves and sold the reindeer. He is subcontracting out to Amazon.

This Saturday we have a bunch of Baptisms, one to be done by Father George, and a sweet 15 done by Deacon Octavio. The numbers will be small and we will do the best we can at social distancing. Yes, everyone, except the baby, has to wear a mask.

Our problems without accounting program continue and Paola is not a happy camper. She hasn’t pulled out all her hair, yet. We can’t send them reports when the info we input disappears into a “cloud” somewhere.

The company that used our back parking lot to install new gas lines has moved on and left our parking lot in very good shape.

The parish center is almost back to normal as far as the floor goes. Too bad most all activities are cancelled.

Last night I turned on TY to watch one of the baseball games and saw that LA was ahead 11 – 0. I thought the game was almost over. Turns out it was only the first inning. I missed the best part. Read more of Andrew Jackson.

Please keep the Archbishop of New Orleans and the parishioners of a certain parish in your prayers. A priest desecrated his church altar, which the AB had chopped up and burned. He installed a new altar and re-consecrated the church. I’m sure this priest will be “defrocked” ASAP. I know priests are only human and can make some really stupid decisions, but this is just too much for me to comprehend.

As I looked over the Middletown Press this morning, as I always do, I noticed a picture of the “McKenna girls” at the Farmers Market. “A” is as tall as mom.

I think Irish wolfhounds should be called elephant hounds.

Many of you could not receive this RT with pictures. Not sure why