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.