Today is Sunday, and so I got a chance to preach again. I had Mass at Saint Stephen Martyr on the west side of Columbus beyond I-270.
It was a quiet day. I got a lot of compliments on the Spanish sermon. The prior thinks I should put it on the website. When we have a website.
I got home from my Lenten mission in Pennsylvania yesterday, and I'm happy to report that I'm down another 5 lbs. or so. My weight stands at 277 lbs, down from over 390 a year ago. I was sitting at 284 for a very long time. My Lenten regimen is making a difference. I have been wondering about using sweet potatoes instead of baked potatoes for my breakfast. They are lower in calories and higher in fiber than the same amount of potato.
For the nonce, there are still mashed potatoes from before I left in the refrigerator. I need to use them up.
So I'm starting up this blog again after several years without it. At this point, I'm halfway through my 67th year, and I'm assigned to full-time preaching at St. Patrick Priory in Columbus Ohio. Of course, this is also the year of the Covid-19 infestation, and I am finding my preaching ministry pretty much shut down in terms of interstate travel. I've been able to do some things in the Columbus diocese, and have been able to help out when we have been asked for special services, like assisting our cloistered nuns in settling in Heath, Ohio. I'm writing this almost a year after Covid-19 hit us, when things shut down on the eve of St. Patrick's Day (of all times}, March 16th.
Some things are not changing, I still wrestle with my weight and my diabetes. At the moment, I am waiting for Doctor Casey to get back to me about my last set of blood tests. He reports that I am down eight pounds from my last checkup, so that is something good.
I have been in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, preaching a Parish Mission (finally!) It’s Lent, and I have been experimenting by keeping on medieval-style fasting regimen. I'm trying to keep away from meat, eggs, dairy, cheese, olive oil, and wine. I am trying to fast with one meal a day every day for Lent, and taking two light snacks as necessary. I realized, given the culture I'm living in, that living this completely is pretty much impossible, especially if I have to accept the charity of people for some of my meals, which I do. For instance last night I was served a pork chop at the rectory. Anyway, not being able to do exactly what I want is a good discipline against my pride.
Breakfast has been an apple or pear and a baked potato. This is actually working. It's all “green zone” foods on my NOOM application and is under 300 calories. This is surprisingly satisfying, and I may keep this practice when I get home to Columbus Thursday tomorrow. I just cook the potatoes in batches and microwave them to warm when I need them.
I wonder where my weight is after a week of not checking.
I'm going to try to write more frequently. We'll see how this works.
