Father Peyton in Canton, New York  

 

Father Peyton flew from Spain to baptise our youngest brother James Matthew Joseph Woods, born on April 29, 1964. Jim was born just a short time after our Uncle Father Francis Woods, our Dad's older brother, had die while on a religious retreat at the Auresville Shrine. Father Woods had made the effort to baptise every one of the twelve previously born children to Norb and Mary Woods. All thirteen of us were baptised in our Father's ornate and delcate baptismal gown. This baptismal gown is still in the family and worn by nieces and nephews of the family in honor of our Dad.The six boys in the family were hoping for another boy while the six girls were hoping for another girl. Father Peyton made the great effort to get to Canton, a small town in St. Lawrence County in northern New York State all the way from Spain where he was involved in planning one of his Family Rosary Crusades, which had been Father Woods' responsibility. 

 

 

On the day of the baptism, our Mom had us all dressed up for church in our best Sunday go to church clothes. Father Peyton had us all go up to the altar of Mary behind the communion rail. Dad and Mom and Father Peyton had us all kneel praying to the statue on the altar. The official photographer said he couldn't fit us all into the picture. Father Peyton told the photographer to go ahead and get up on the altar so he could get his best shot. The photographer looked aprehensive, but with some encouragement he did climb up on the altar with some difficulty and got a great shot of all of us looking up ever so devotedly at him while saying the rosary. You just don't due that stand on the altar, but Father Peyton made it happen. That photograph of us praying at the altar has appeared in the St. Lawrence Plain Dealer and the Evangelist on numerous times, holiday editions, etc.

 

 

Father Peyton in Schenectady, NY

 

Father Peyton also came to visit us after we had moved to Schenectady, near Union College. He drove up in newish black car with a younger priest assistant as driver. Mom and us kids met him at the door and he greeted mom in his Irish brogue calling her Muther just as he had always referred to our Grandma Anna Woods as Muther. In the house he talked about Father Francis, blessed the house, our crucifix and the print of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Then we sat in the living room for coffee and cookies and ended with a decade of the rosary led by Father Peyton.