Carrie Fuller saw me speak at Notre Dame this summer for the Vision program and invited me to present a similar message at her new school’s freshman retreat.

She and her cohort Joe Cannon (happy birthday Joe) did a super job with theme, environment, etc. and, together with a great group of student ministers, held a really good day for close to 500 freshman.

The school plant is impressive, and that is an understatement. But the vision these teachers have for students connecting with Jesus and his gospel values is what is sticking with me as I travel home.

I also got to speak with some really neat teachers after the retreat in a relaxed setting. These people are very professional and dedicated to their vocation as teachers. (They came to visit with me only 2 days after having their faculty retreat!!!!)

A personal highlight was I was asked to speak to athletes, coaches and parents in the evening about sports and spirituality…some of my passion for both rang out during this session. (I always get pumped, especially when I show a film clip from Rudy!)

I have a sore throat now—17 presentations in 11 days—but it has been so cool.
I am SO ready to see my family—and do the happy dance!!

This was a really cool event for me because I already have some super fond memories of time spent at the Shrine. (If you have never been, it is a nice, relaxing, comfortable, spiritual place. I did NFCYM’s Second Wind there twice and am enamored with the Shrine and its people).

I got to see some ministry friends, Colette Kennett, Dianna and Mike Kempfer, Lesley and Mark Coleman as well as a quick connect with Shannon Cerneka (along with his wife Erin and young Miss Madeline). These visits made my soul smile as I got to reconnect with them. Everything from deep thought to deep laughter took place and it was a great treat for me.

I spoke at 2 rallies, one for junior high at their lovely amphitheater and the senior high event which was moved to the church because of rain (Hurricane Rita strikes again—I am really getting the idea these storms follow me!). The theme was “Not Only But Also” (a very cool theme to work with!).

I grew in admiration for the people working on this day. I got to see some more layers of devotion and service from Fr. Raul, Tina, Orin and Donna…the staff at the Shrine. I am in awe of not only what they do but the SPIRIT in which they do it.

Karl Zimmerman led the house band and they were really awesome to hear…lots of good music warming up the teens on both days!

I met Aaron Thompson, the musical keynoter

…very powerful with a cool band. I also met 2 new faces on the music and ministry scene—Sarah Bauer

and Ryan Meyers.

Their music is cool and I think they both have their own websites. Worth checking out.

I spent Monday enjoying a relaxing day at the Shrine. And praying that Rita wouldn’t follow me to the West Coast.

This was a long, but fantastic week for me. I did 8 presentations in middle schools and high schools in Austin, Bryan, and Waco TX. I went to these schools to talk about how God speaks to us today in the most ordinary way…through our own gifts. It is a powerful message and one which is shaping a great deal of my presentations, as well as my chatting with people when I am NOT presenting.

I won’t remember all the schools names, but I do know I met some enthusiastic students and administrators along the way. I received a warm welcome from Fr. Brian McMaster of the vocations office. He was so thorough and organized in providing me details and even getting me a GPS doo-hickey for my rental car so I wouldn’t get lost. Those things are so cool!

I received awesome hospitality from my colleague Matthew Robaszkiewicz of the youth and young adult ministry office (and if he blames me for spending lots of money at Sports Authority, don’t believe it!) as well as Frs. Peter and David in Waco. I am grateful for them opening their homes to me.

I got to see a long lost ministry colleague in Deacon Jeff Heipel at Reicher Catholic High School in Waco TX. Jeff is a gracious man who I was blessed to go to Sotuta Mexico over 12 years ago.

An added blessing was getting to see Sr. Keri Burke from New Orleans while I spoke at one of the Austin schools. It was awesome to see a familiar face, even though it was due to Katrina’s impact that she was re-located.

Speaking of that, I listened as I heard people preparing to evacuate the Texas coast as Rita was coming. I began to wonder if these storms were following me because of hot air or something!

I had the chance to spend the day with some 500 junior high teens in the Diocese of Victoria TX. It is so cool to see young people open to taking chances and getting involved. The house band had these young people moving and singing right off the bat. The diocesan director Debbie Vanelli and her team of high school leaders did a great job of organizing a fabulous day. They did some neat icebreakers and crowd movers.

As always, it is so neat to see so many adults involved and active in supporting teens. What was neat about Victoria was seeing many parents and youth ministers but also supper being cooked by dedicated Knights of Columbus.

I was most impressed with the number of priests (as well as the bishop) their teens at the closing mass (especially since it was a Sunday).

It was great to see Fr. Mike Lyons from that diocese. He and I went to seminary together…and he is always so good to look me up when I am in the area.

My only regret is that I had to rush in and rush out because of my travel plans. The people in Victoria are so kind and it is always good to hang out with them.

Yesterday I was presenting to some middle schoolers. After it was over, a teacher came up to me and said…”You were good; I didn’t get a single paper graded.”

A few weeks back I was touring Megan’s new school with the principal and she was introducing me to teachers as we saw the different rooms. One of Megan’s teachers smiled and then paused and asked, “Do you speak and do retreats?” I answered that I did, thinking I might have spoken at some mission or youth rally in the last few years which she attended.

She then said, “You did my 6th grade retreat!” I shook my head thinking I could have gone all day without hearing that remark. It’s hard to believe I began teaching and doing retreats in 1984 and that I could have well done this. She recalled icebreaker songs she remembered and how she used them in her classroom to teach various points. She said it was one of the most memorable retreats she had.

I went from groaning on the inside that I am as old as I am to have my daughter’s teachers telling me I did retreats for them to thanking God for working through the silliest things sometimes and for letting me get to hang out while he does some of them.

Today I was at a wonderful gathering, a Eucharistic Congress for the diocese held in Myrtle Beach SC. Their theme was Fire at the Beach.

I was very impressed with the town; I’d heard good things but it was neat to see it for myself.

I’m always impressed when a conference is held and different ministries in the church come together (as in this case). I met a superb group of DREs who were a part of this committee and cared deeply about this experience being a good experience for those gathered, even with all the logistical glitches that can happen.

Fr. J. Glenn Murray gave a rousing keynote address (I hear it may eventually be up on www.fireatthebeach.com.).

My workshops were on “Eucharist as a Model for Youth Ministry” and “A Healthy Case of Heartburn”—wanna guess what that one was about?

I had to laugh as one of my workshop times were changed and a delightful catechist who has been in ministry forever didn’t get the news of the change and came to see me expecting a different presenter. When I introduced myself to the group she politely (and publicly) explained to me I was not supposed to be there and wanted to know where the advertised speaker was! (Humbling and humorous to me for sure). She thought I was mispronouncing the name (Daugherty, I think) badly. I explained my topic and how the news of the switch had come..and told her (publicly, humorously) I would not be offended if she chose to leave (he wasn’t offering the session until the next time slot) and she said , “No, go ahead with what you planned. I might as well stay here and see what you say.” Nothing like starting with a bang!

I got to meet some neat adults (and also, to my surprise, some teens) who are working hard at the grass roots level. My host, Jerry White, was awesome in providing hospitality.

I’m excited because I will be back here in March for their diocesan youth conference.

Living away from home is a minor inconvenience. My wife’s parents and her sister and husband have allowed us to live and work in their homes and try to make the being away as normal as possible. I’ve been impressed by how they have MADE SPACE for us…moving things, clearing shelves, closet space, refrigerator and pantry space to make us feel at home. That can’t be too easy or too convenient for them.

And of course, I watch Megan to see how this move affects her. She’d be starting in a new school, and as a 7th grader, that could be difficult.

Marlene and I feel so blessed that we have been able to get Meg in at St. Pius Elementary…this school community has been awesome in their response. The principal is one of my heroes in ministry from ways back, Ms. Lemaire. She is a true leader, minister and innovator. She is fearless and welcomed this chance to respond. She is joined by educators who seemed genuinely eager to respond…who have gone out of their way to welcome us and make us feel as much a REAL part of their community. The parents have come forward with everything from help with apartment and house hunting, spare uniforms, clothing for other family members, etc.

People can talk about things that are wrong with Catholic education or about the politics of the church. I know I witness(ed) a lot of what is good about Church and Catholic education in the spirit of Christian hospitality and welcome Megan and our family has received there.

To the pastor, Msgr. Mouton, the parents, the staff, Ms. Lemaire, our friends, Susan and Steve (who double as personal bus service for Meg), please know of our gratitude to you for being open to receiving us and the many others who wanted our children to continue Catholic education. You have given us a great lesson in what it means to “do this for the least of my people”.

I had a wonderful time being with about 150 freshmen and sophomores from this area near Kansas City.

We had an afternoon retreat on the opening day of the NFL (football) season, and a home opener for the Chiefs.

It is always interesting to me to watch teens as they are dropped off for such an event. The uncertainty when they are the only one dropped off…the “oh-no, adult-don’t-come-and-speak-to-me-arghgh!” look. Or the “I am sticking with my friends and we’ll wait outside or in the lobby until they make us come inside” thing.

What these teens don’t know is I am as nervous as they are(if not more so). How can I do anything that will make them dread this less than parents’ lecture #39 or a root canal? And what expectations do they have? I can’t compete with DVDs, video games‘; return true;” onmouseout=”window.status='’; return true;”>video games, concert musicians, IPODs, friends, sleeping or even the Chiefs.

Yet these teens were pretty open (with the exception of one young man, who–we found out later—hid in a loft in the church while the whole retreat was going on) to the games, mingling, silliness, singing and challenges of the day and the messages I had prepared.

My soul was nourished though by sitting with Heather, Will (a teen-now-turned-youth minister who came from Oklahoma City to see me and visit as he does his own ministry thing–www.willyputty.com)

Elizabeth (my YOUNG Panera bread and Notre Dame friend) and my contact person, Cynthia (dedicated and detailed extraordinaire) for sharing thoughts about ourselves and the ministry we do. It was a faith sharing that continues to stay with me and bless me.

It was a good day. The Chiefs won. The Saints won. God was in the neighborhood.

I remember hearing a wonderful story from a friend of mine, Eileen (consecrated woman, that she is).

She told of a woman who was dealing with a child born with severe physical challenges. In the early days of this reality, many of her family members were panicked and fearful.

Eileen walked in and approached the mother (a former student) and asked her how she was so focused amid all the news and challenges and reactions.

The woman responded, “It’s simple: Pity won’t work here. Faith will.”

I am trying to remember and apply and remind those around me of this fundamental choice.