As is my custom the week before UW-LaCrosse’s spring break, my column will be shorter than usual … mainly because it has to be to get all the other stuff that needs to get your attention.  What you have here is one of our “two-week” bulletins—two weeks full of information and schedules in one printing.  What makes it a bit more challenging now (compared to January and summer when we also ease back into every-other-week bulletin production) is that with Lent there is so much going on.  If it were up to me to schedule a week for the University students to be away, it wouldn’t be at the middle of March … but we have done this before and will manage again.  In truth, while the run-up to these Alternative Spring Break Trips is always something of a rush, once we all pile in to our vehicles and hit the road, everything just sort of opens up and I don’t worry too much about things “back here” while I’m away with our students.  Maybe in part that’s because I sort of have my hands full there … in part because I trust that those left behind can certainly get on without me.  I will be heading out with my crew on Friday, March 12^th, after “Soup and Sustenance” that night.  Jon and his people will be leaving on Saturday the 13^th.

The one “on the edge” part of the whole expedition for me is always the trip back … counting on good weather, clear roads, and our trustworthy vehicles to get us (well, especially “me”) back with just a little room to spare for Saturday night liturgy at 5:00 pm on the 22^nd.  Keep your fingers crossed.  Enjoy Fr. Del on the 13^th/14^th … but not too much.  A thank you to all who keep things running while we are gone, and keep us all in your prayers.