Popping online for a minute!

It has been a full and interesting week for the DSP choir.

We've traveled thousands of miles and met thousands of people, collecting prayer intentions along the way. Yesterday, we prayed all along the way as we inched down the New Jersey Turnpike in a snowstorm, passing one wreck after another. Our vehicle (part of a 3-van caravan) made the 4-hour trip from Staten Island in a mere 7 hours. The other two vans were on the road for more than 10 hours. (Truth to tell, we're all still recovering.)

Selfie in the car on the New Jersey Turnpike during Sunday's
snowstorm. (Are we there yet?)

Today being the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, there was a huge crowd at the noon Mass at historic Old St. Mary's. (The stained glass windows were lovely, but there were too many people praying after Mass for me to discreetly snap any pictures.) At lunch afterwards (chicken cutlets, sweet potatoes, mixed veggies and salad), Sr Tracey commented, "It's like the Blessed Mother has something so specific in mind for our ministry today that she arranged a change of venue."

In suburban Fairfax County, where our evening concert in the Beltway district was originally slated (at Good Shepherd Parish), all schools and other institutions were ordered closed. Until around 10:00 this morning, we weren't sure what was going to happen, but now our concert has been relocated to the nearer (and more intimate) St. Joseph's here in Old Town Alexandria. We're doing our best to get the word out. (Some people had already traveled from as far as Charleston, so we're glad that the event wasn't completely cancelled.) If you can make it (or let others know about it), the show starts at 8:00 tonight.

You know that line in the Gospels about those who leave all things for Jesus having a hundred times as many homes, brothers, sisters and mothers? It is coming true for us every day. Here in Alexandria, Sister Margaret Michael's mom is even preparing home-cooked meals to keep us going. (And those visitors from Charleston? They brought homemade Irish soda bread and an almond pound cake that belongs on the Cooking Channel.) There are plenty of sacrifices, as you can imagine, but it almost doesn't feel like living out of a suitcase when the meals are so fresh and good!

See the photos from our "big" concert on Staten Island!