Fr. Z's Blog

UPDATE 13 March:

Thanks (so far) to:

KK, OK, AC, JLS, DC, Fr. TE, TD, ER, WH, AC, TB, VF, AR, AB

Posted 13 March

I’m still processing some donations, but I have an appointment across town and must do some later. So far….

Time for a fundraiser.  I’m starting a little late, however.

Long-time readers know that I try to get back to Rome in (March/April/May for Easter and my ordination anniversary. This year I will be there for Holy Week and beyond for most of the month of May.  Since Easter is really early this year, that means that I have more days to cover.

This is my way to keep my brain alive, identity strong and – having been significantly but not entirely cancelled (“under-utilized” against my will) – my liturgical batteries recharged. It keeps me fighting.

This fundraiser must cover three things: airfare, rent, groceries.

And of course there are additional expenses and nearly endless beggars.

I usually only eat out when invited out.  Because I stay in and cook for myself, I save quite a bit.  I’ll have to cover US phone use in Italy (I changed from ATT to T-Mobile).

My plan is, once again, to head to Brooklyn for a couple of days next week and then arrive in Rome before Palm Sunday begins, hopefully to get over jetlag before the heavy days start.

As always, I will record the names of all those who contribute for this.  I will celebrate Holy Mass for the intention of my benefactors as well as for other intentions which readers have requested through my form.  As I go about in Rome, I will remember you in my prayers at the tombs of saints.

Another benefit for all is some enhanced content here and the knowledge that I occasionally realize that I am smiling while I am going about my day.

My goal is to cover 66 days in Rome. Since my mom passed away I’m now freer to spend more time abroad.

The usual ways of donating are available.  Some of you know them already.

• Zelle, through your US bank, works best.  Drop me a note HERE   PLEASE use this if you can!  Add a note “Days in Rome” in the “memo” and your email.
• For international donations there is a service called WISE which is very good and has the lowest fees and best conversion rate I’ve seen and I can accept any currency with it, convert it, and either move it or withdraw it using an ATM in Rome.  Also, this is the service that I use to pay my rent in Rome. Try WISE. HERE
• There’s also waaavy flag (PayPal). Add a note “Days in Rome” and include your email if you want me to write back.
  

  CLICK

• Venmo is an option, also. Drop me a note HERE  Or use this QR code…
• PayPal takes a service fee percentage.  Therefore…
• For larger donations checks by snail mail would be better.  TIME IS SHORT and MAIL IS SLOW.  Contact me HERE about that.  There is a faster route than through the old P.O. Box.  This is the best way for any significant amount, and there were a few of you, last time, who were quite generous.

Thank you to the many kind readers who sent notes of condolence after the recent passing of my mother.  It is a great consolation that at the 11th hour of her earthly life, she was received into the Church with the sacraments and I gave her Last Rites and the Apostolic Pardon.  That defrays much of the sorrow.

For my part these days, I’ve been coping with as much of closing down her affairs as I can before I head to Rome before Palm Sunday  Some of it has been head-poundingly frustrating.  The worst has been dealing with the administration for things like DMV, second only to AI driven phone menu purgatories.  I have burned hours dealing with that.  Charon was an amateur.  Moreover, each time I make a sweep of the house or  scan various bank statements, etc., I find the breadcrumbs of other action items to pursue, threads winding though the labyrinth of old policies, autopaid bills (autopay from … what/where?).  Indiana Jones would envy my prowess in cracking username and passwords.  I should hire myself out.

Then there are the autocratic bureaucratic demands. What documents do I have to take to The Circumlocution Office, and which to The Department of Redundancy Department?

I have learned: take everything I have, whether I have it or not.

This is an object lesson about getting my own affairs in order with crisp clarity and the close involvement of my executor.

And, while I hade a house guest (my executor who came to lend a hand), my hot water heater gave another proof of the reality of entropy and permanently failed. What came out of it at the end was unappealing. Yes, irreparable, and just in the nick of time, too. The fellow (did parish maintenance for years, super active KofC) who put the new one in for me (the next day) said that there were signs that it was burning and was probably about to start on fire, which would have been bad other than for the possibility of destroying boxes of books which I desperately want to get rid of. Still, we can agree that fire in the corner of a sheet-rocked garage would be less than optimal.

As a result, these days I’ve posted less here.

And I am behind in my thank you notes.

Someone sent a new microphone for my podcasts, but it lacked the right cable.  So, there’s that.  I have recent more San Marzano tomatoes which are dear to my head and heart.   I have a couple of bags of nuts, because, as we say in German, “Man ist was Mann isst”.  Other things have come, some with slips, others not.  But slips or not, I’m scrambled at the moment.  If I haven’t written to you, forgive me.

My mom’s friends are all getting together for her 91st birthday next week.  They miss her.

I miss her.

She was received into the Church with the sacraments and I gave her Last Rites and the Apostolic Pardon!

Near my place!  I’ll be starting a fundraiser for a Roman Sojourn.

Please remember me when shopping online and use my affiliate links.  US HERE – WHY?  This helps to pay for health insurance, utilities, groceries, and now also my late mother’s place.  At no extra cost, you provide help for which I am grateful.  

I am delighted to report that my guy Wesley So defeated the always tough Levon Aronian to win the 2026 American Cup in St. Louis!    HERE