The end of the first week of Advent took me to Maryland, my first visit there since son Ian graduated college. It was nice getting back.
On Saturday, Dec. 4, I had a busy, church-filled weekend, starting with a Daily Mass at St. John in Westminster, then a radio interview with the fantastic Danny Gallagher at WSJF on the campus of St. Joseph in Sykesville. Finally, it was on to Our Lady of the Fields in Millersville, my designated stop on the 52 Masses caravan.
Yet, it was really the night before, in Baltimore, that drew me to the area. On Friday, I was at St. Vincent de Paul parish right in the heart of the downtown. For 30 years, Deacon Ed Stoops of Our Lady of the Fields has spent nearly every Friday night traveling to the heart of Baltimore to provide food and other necessities to the city’s most impoverished people.
Now in his mid-80s and mostly retired, Deacon Ed remains committed to this ministry, Breaking Bread with the Hungry. It was a privilege not just to be there and see the mutual respect that exists between him and the guests, but also to do my small part by handing out gloves and hats to gird the guests against the fast approach of winter weather.
I have some photos of my Saturday trips, but nothing from Friday. However, a cameraman from The Catholic Review was there as part of a nice write-up, and you can follow this link to both the story and photo of me having a great conversation with Wendell, one of many who call themselves Deacon Ed’s friends.
Here’s a link to the Catholic Review Radio page, where you can listen to the interview I did with them.
52 Masses 