Missing in Action???? No just Spring Break

I appreciate the emails I have received -- especially the ones expressing concern over the lack of activity on the blog the past few days.   I want to assure every one that I am not responsible for any international incidents, nor have I joined a cloistered monastery.   We are on Spring break and like most students, that means travel time.  And how easy it is to do in Europe with discount airlines, hotels and the common currency, the Euro.  Fr. Andy Prachar is here for the week so we are making the best of it.  The institute offered a trip to the Holy Land, but you may recall we did a parish trip there in 2009,  so I opted a not to go.  Instead, I would see some places that I had always wanted to visit. We left Rome last Friday for Amsterdam.  Andy had some friends to visit.  Spent most of the days sightseeing lots of museums and the various districts.  Our hotel was located at Museum Square, a little off the beaten track, but easy access by tram.  And much quieter than some of the more tourist areas. We then flew to Berlin, a city still under transition from the fall of the Wall, but certainly has come along way since its reunification.  To see so much of what was studied in World History in high school.  While most of the wall is gone, it's location is marked by a simple double row of bricks in the road and I must admit that walking 'through the wall' did evoke feelings of amazement, anger and history.  We toured the city by bus, and it is utterly amazing how far they have come in 20 years.  What was East Berlin is now a booming area of commerce, industry and homes. Visited Checkpoint Charlie one of the last remaining reminders of the Cold War, along with its museum and timeline.  How easy it is to forget some of the history of our lifetime. All over the city, there are photographs of what it looked like before, during and now after World War II.  Reminders of man's cruelty to man and the danger we all face when the power of evil is allowed to take root.  Hopefully, we will always remember the lessons learned and at what a price. We are ending the week with a trip back to Barcelona.  I went there earlier in the sabbatical and I am looking forward to spending more time exploring some of the things we did not get to see last time.  We return to Rome on Friday to be there to celebrate the high holyday (St. Patrick's Day) on Saturday with dinner and a show at the Irish College (seminary). Andy leaves on Sunday.  The program resumes on Monday. Need to mention that Fr. Clatton was a big help arranging all these flights/hotels.  The parishioners reading this will remember him from his two summers with us.  He is awaiting the date of the defense of his dissertation and the will return to India about the same time Fr. Grace will be returning in May.  He sends his regards to everyone.