Fr. O’Malley

The only reason I am writing a paper for today is because it leads up to the paper I am going to write for Tuesday April 26 when I had a private meeting with Fr. Vincent O’Malley who is the pastor of St. Joseph’s in Emmitsburg.

S.C.C. and I left the house this morning to go to mass at St. Joseph’s. I glanced at my watch as we were leaving and it said XX:XX:33. We drove to St. Joseph’s and when we arrived the odometer on the car was 1.3. I also glanced at my watch just as the car came to a complete stop and it also said XX:XX:13. We attended daily mass and Fr. O’Malley was the priest. When mass was over I glanced at my watch as we walked out the door and it said XX:XX:33.

After mass ended Dr. Joe F asked me to have a cup of coffee with him at St. Peter’s Books so we went there and arrived at 9:13. We talked for a while before I had to leave to take C.R.C. to get a haircut at Wayne Warthen’s house for his upcoming Confirmation. As I suddenly remembered that I needed to leave and get C.R.C. for his 10:30 appointment I looked at my watch and the time was 10:13.

I drove home and picked up C.R.C. and drove him to Wayne’s house which is only about a block from St. Joseph’s. When we arrived back at St. Joseph’s on the way to Wayne’s house the CD counter flashed 33.

C.R.C. and I both got haircuts and then we rode home. I did a few things around the house like mow the grass and other odd jobs. When I finished all the work around the house I had the urge to go to St. Joseph’s. I drove there and when I arrived I glanced at my watch at the very instant the car came to a complete stop. It said XX:XX:13. On my way in the church I ran into Fr. O’Malley and he nodded hello. I glanced at my watch as I walked in and it said XX:XX:33.

It was just beginning to rain as I walked in the church. The 4:30 mass was just letting out and I prayed the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. As I was leaving the church I ran into Harriet M. Harriet introduced me to a childhood friend of hers who was visiting her. Harriet said they went to grammar school together.

By now it was raining very hard and I offered to go get Harriet’s car and drive it up to the front entrance for them. Harriet gave me the keys and I went and got the car. When I started Harriet’s car the feeling of peace hit me. I then noticed the odometer on her car was 13.

After Harriet and her friend left I left too. I did a few things in town and rode around the countryside looking for spots that look good for metal detecting. I eventually ended up back at St. Joseph’s and I stopped and prayed the rosary. Ray Sanders arrived and joined me. We finished the rosary and I looked at my watch and the time was 6:13.

Ray reminded me that confessions begin at 7 pm tonight but I did not really feel like going because it had not been long since I had last been. I started driving home and was about half way there when I very suddenly felt like I should go to confession. It was so strong and so much the opposite of my plans I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:13.

I drove back to St. Joseph’s and while I was examining my conscience I would suddenly feel a jolt of peace run through me. Sometimes its is almost like electricity . Each time it happened I glanced at my watch and it said XX:XX:13. Fr. O’Malley came walking in and when I saw him I again felt the peace and so I glanced at my watch and again it said XX:XX:13.

People started coming in the church and the line for confession began to build. I got in Fr. O’Malley’s line and when it was my turn I glanced at my watch as I entered the confessional and it said XX:XX:13.

Somehow during my confession the topic of what happens to me came up and Fr. O’Malley and I talked about it for a little while. Fr. O’Malley does have all of the papers I have written over the years. Fr. O’Malley then invited me to call the rectory and make an appointment so that we could sit in his office and discuss this in greater depth. I told him that I would. He gave me absolution and I said my penance. I then drove home and looked at my watch at the very instant the car came to a complete stop and it said 6:33.

May 11, 2005

10:33 Pm