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.