Aloha, Welcome, Bienvenidos

Just returned from a much needed vacation. Went to Maui for the first time. Beautiful. I get sort of existential when I travel but in the past few years have discovered one way around that certain empty feeling that can hit while traveling, either for work or on vacation. I go to Mass.

One of the reasons so many Catholics stay in the church, despite the turmoil, the scandals, the struggles between conservatives and liberals, is this: We share a common language in the Mass. It's a great leveler. And it's always something familiar, despite cultural variations. And the Masses are always easy to find. I usually just ask the front desk, but there is a Web site that will help you locate Masses, too.

On Maui, the church we attended was Maria Lanakila Catholic Church. Tropical breezes blew in the church's open windows. The smell of exotic flowers wafted in. It was the Sunday for the children's Mass and beautiful Hawaiin children sat in the front rows. The priest's homily was excellent and aimed at their level.

After Mass, I introduced myself to the priest, said I was a Gonzaga grad, and he mentioned that he had once been at a conference where Fr. Bob Spitzer, president of Gonzaga, was the keynote speaker.

Catholics have those sorts of connections all over the world. That's what would be hard to give up. That's what provides some more common ground to erase differences.