NATCHEZ &8212; The Rev. David O&8217;Connor leaves Sunday for Rome for a three-month period of study and renewal.

With three priests on hand to take over his pastoral duties at St. Mary Basilica and Assumption Catholic Church, the timing was right to seize the opportunity, O&8217;Connor said.

&8220;As it turns out, they are here to take my place,&8221; he said.

Two are in Natchez as a result of leaving homes and workplaces destroyed by Hurricane Katrina &8212; the Rev. Brendan Murphy and Monsignor James McGough.

The third, the Rev. Tommy Moonnanappalil, was prepared ahead of time to come when O&8217;Connor found which class he would attend at the North American College in Rome. O&8217;Connor might have waited until 2007 if all the pieces had not fallen into place for 2006.

He will be one of 32 priests from throughout the United States to take part in the spring sabbatical. The college, built just after World War II, where about 150 U.S. seminarians are studying, includes a separate wing for the two sabbaticals held each year, spring and fall, for priests&8217; refresher courses.

&8220;The overall purpose is for a time of renewal. I could have gone in the spring or fall, but I wanted to be there for Easter at St. Peter&8217;s,&8221; O&8217;Connor said.

He and other priests will celebrate Easter with Pope Benedict XVI, and he looks forward to that, as well as to having the daily access to worship at St. Peter&8217;s.

&8220;Classes will be three or four hours, with instructors brought into the college,&8221; O&8217;Connor said. &8220;There will be classes on such things as Old Testament, church history, church administration.&8221;

Four to five hours a day will be free time for touring. Furthermore, the program encourages travel within Europe.

&8220;Some of these priests may never have traveled in Europe before,&8221; he said.

He looks forward to the touring in Rome as well as the travel in Italy and throughout Europe, visiting places such as Vienna, which is a favorite city, O&8217;Connor said.

More important, however, he looks forward to the fellowship with other priests from throughout the United States.

&8220;These sabbaticals ordinarily draw the priests who are 45-plus. I&8217;m looking forward to engaging with this cross-section of clergy from all over the country,&8221; he said.

The college stands atop one of Rome&8217;s famous seven hills. &8220;From the roof of the school, you can see out all over the city of Rome,&8221; he said.

This will be the second time for him to take part in the sabbatical, O&8217;Connor said. &8220;That was 20 years ago. I think the experience will be very different this time.&8221;

Another highlight will be a five-day retreat at Assisi.

&8220;All you read about St. Francis and the peace he stood for &8212; you can feel it throughout the city of Assisi,&8221; he said. &8220;Peace permeates the city.&8221;

The group will make weekend trips to Florence, Pompeii and other famous cities. O&8217;Connor looks forward to visiting other cities on his own &8212; some he may never have visited before.

The sabbatical will end in the joyous occasion of his nephew&8217;s wedding in Nottingham, England, he said. &8220;I had promised my nephew I would officiate at his wedding. All my family will be there. It will be wonderful,&8221; he said.

He will return on May 8, &8220;in time for (Cathedral School) graduation,&8221; he said.