Surprise on a Saturday Afternoon

 This one was almost perfect.

Almost!

I actually never found out who was behind the planning and executing. However, I do still strongly suspect my own parents. I think they took the challenge to pull of a surprise for my birthday.

And this one almost worked.

Almost!

Friends and relatives were contacted. Plans were laid out. Provisions were arranged for food, a whole dinner actually. Word circulated and folks were brought on board.

This plot unfolded (shall I say "Unraveled"?) while I was pastor of St. Clement of Rome in Romeo. So that takes this on back into the 1970's.

The parish offices were connected to the church itself, all in one same building. The office area had a downstairs. It was not just a basement. This held meeting rooms, a kitchen, restrooms, plenty of gathering space.

That downstairs would be the site of this surprise.

And the plan, evidently, was to unveil this surprise on a Saturday.

I was scheduled that particular Saturday for afternoon Confessions followed by the evening Mass. 

The plan was that while I was tucked away in that confessional, the invited would arrive, parking their cars among the ones already there for Confessions and arriving for Mass. The arrival would be unnoticed.

Arrangements had also been made with some parish staff members to unlock the side door, not the main entrance to the downstairs area. That side door was tucked away, rather out of sight.

Once the door was unlocked, the invited would enter bearing their gifts as well as food, drink, snacks and whatever. With stealth they would enter, descend to the meeting area, set up the goodies, all ready for the surprise. Upstairs, I would be totally unaware of what was unfolding directly below.

Perfect plan!

Almost!

When Mass was finished, one of the staff would meet me while I was investing and tell me that there was something I had to see right away downstairs. And that would be it!

Surprise!

However, a slight glitch developed as the afternoon wore on.

Seems it was one of those Saturdays on which very few presented themselves for Confession. So I sat waiting and waiting and waiting. And nothing happened. No one was coming. There was still a good hour before Mass was scheduled to begin and so I decided I would sit in that booth no longer. I left a notice that I was in my office and if anyone did show up, they could find me there.

And I went to my office.

Which was on the corner of the building directly over the downstairs side door.

It also had a window looking out over the countryside and including a perfect view of the action unfolding at that side door.

I watched the whole parade.

OK At first there was an element of surprise. I saw the folks entering and carrying their goodies and I did wonder. What are they doing here? What's going on?

Of course, it didn't take all that long to figure things out.

And No. I did not go downstairs to unravel the surprise. I merely watched while the unsuspecting party entered and descended.

And then I went to Mass.

And got the word  to come downstairs.

And down I went.

And I tried as best I could to "be" surprised.

And maybe there are some reading this who were part of that plot and who thought it really worked.

Well, surprise!

You were caught in the act.

But come on back as I share have more memories of other efforts at Surprise!

Meantime, Keep Praying . . . and Stay Safe!