Good morning Palm Sunday from a very wet Glasgow.
I have had a night of weird dreams, not helped by my high pain levels. I tried to get up for the loo, but my lower back and hips have seized up.
Yesterday was so busy at the Vigil Mass, we couldn't get a minute's peace, due to constant interruptions. Going by the number of palms, we used, there must have been about 600 people there.
We will probably use another 600 palms at 10am Mass and the remaining ones at the 11.30am and 5pm Masses. Our congregation is growing very fast.
I won brownie points with some of the elderly parishioners, for giving them palms, which were already made into a cross. I had ordered them especially, for the priests to take to the care homes, but those with not so nimble fingers, were struggling.
I told them they were receiving them, because they were part of the parish clique. and esteemed members of the congregation. They thought this was very funny.
We had the very long Gospel yesterday, after a procession, for which I had needed an extra reader. A very difficult parishioner volunteered (she drives me mad, with her constant emails and texts) and appeared, demanding to know if she was still reading and which part was hers.
I explained again, ( having already had ten messages from her on Friday) , but she demanded the narrators role, saying she should have a script, highlighted with her part. She had a beautiful leather bound book to read from, but that wasn't good enough.
Despite advising her, that she was not the narrator, she followed me about the sacristy, having a tirade about the other reader, always getting principal readings.
The young sacristan was becoming more and more annoyed.
Then, I suddenly remembered, that toilet rolls were required.
I was hiding in the toilet, when the door burst open and the other reader rushed in.
She is a very gentle lady, whose son was my son's best friend all through school. I have never seen her angry, but she was fuming.
She had received a number of texts from the same lady, I was hiding from, demanding that my friend give up her role as narrator, because she would be better at it.
The young curate was highly amused at the thought of us hiding in the toilet.
I had to take painkillers before Mass, I had a blinding headache, due to her behaviour.
When it came her turn to read, she forgot to come on the altar!!!
She is so single minded and can only see her own point of view.
The best thing that happened, was I was late joining the congregation and there was DIL, her first public outing in ten weeks.💗
I was so late home, because all the tasks we do for the coming week, had to be done after Mass, due to the time spent dealing with her. I was not a happy bunny.
Also tickets were needing printing and cutting for a forthcoming event.
I had decided, not to use my own printer, but the photocopier.
I was afraid, I would jam it, as I was using card.
The young sacristan kindly cut out the tickets, because my hands were so painful.😍
He is the reason, I can keep going. He does all the heavy work.
A gentle Sunday is planned, I am so tired. The roast chicken is made, so not much to do.
I stopped on the way home for takeaway, I was wiped out and couldn't face cooking.
Roses, I was glad to read, that you have something to look forward to.💐
Wishing you all a gentle day.
