Official Patrons of our Pilgrimage: Saints Anthony and Jude…
To be sure, the trip is going well! We are in Florence for a few days, Fr. Mark Spruill has been on a tour to see the David and the various Medici family tombs designed by Michaelangelo. Fr. Ryan and I have been strolling around enjoying the occasional cappucino (and conversation with a Third Order Regular Franciscan) and offering some prayer time in the many beautiful churches that loom everywhere in the city.
Interestingly enough, there is a male model fashion show in town, and we were invited to a pool party (which we respectfully declined 
). I suppose the cassock is a timeless fashion!
There is some bad news to report, though, and it is this news that accounts for the lack of media rich content coming your way. As we boarded the train for Assisi and Florence, while we were storing our bags on the train, all three of us were distracted quite expertly by one man — actually two men, one of whom we didn’t see who was simultaneously stealing my computer bag in which my Mac laptop and video camera were located. It was very well executed to be sure, and as the train began to pull away moments later we realized that it had been taken, our assailants now being left far behind to scrape off serial numbers and pillage whatever they can find…which is a whole bunch of saved emails, pictures, and a Venture Brothers DVD. Also, I hope I have a backup of several of the websites and catholic underground projects I have been working on! Anyway, that combined with a total lack of internet (especially wireless) is responsible for the issues with giving you, our faithful techies, moms, dads, priests, religious, super-cool laity, you know, all of you that listen, with our escapades through Italy. Also, I have had to spend a good deal of time cancelling and changing various services so they will not suffer the wrath of hack attack, which sadly has been eating into my composition and blogging time. Gah!
But, suffice to say all is well, Italy is lovely, and God is indeed with us on our trip. I do hope that all of you are well, we are praying for you listeners!
Pax!
