I was asked to give a 15 minute lunch talk (which, of course, became 30 minutes) to the faculty where my daughter goes to school. I was impressed once more with their camaraderie and laughter, as well as their honest and professional manner. The parents group put out a fantastic spread of food and decorated things in a Cajun theme (it IS good to be back in Acadiana!).

How do you REALLY say thank you to the people who help form your child? I am so touched by how St. Pius (and no doubt, other schools across the nation) have welcomed Megan as well as other displaced students and families. I am touched by all who teach, all who deal with
• Low pay
• Limited resources
• Variety of parental expectations
• Societal challenges on the business of life
• The challenge to be “educational”
• Meetings, paperwork and extracurriculars
• The tensions of family time and work

I said an extra prayer asking God to re-mind and re-new teachers in their all-important work in touching salvation history.

I have had some fantastic faith experiences as a presenter whenever I have worked in the state of Wisconsin. I’ve been blessed to have been invited to speak in Madison, Green Bay and now Milwaukee. I have been so impressed with the volunteers and paid professionals who are working “for” the Church.

I had the awesome privilege of returning to Milwaukee for their lifelong faith conference. This conference had to be a huge undertaking. It was a very neat model, allowing people a wide variety of options and a great amount of choices.

I was also impressed with the staff; I don’t know all of them but I was blessed to work with Randy Nohl, Laurie Kish, Kathie Amidei, Jennifer Turner and Lisa Marie Calderone Stewart. The work that these folks and the others in the planning did was fantastic. I remember what went into planning those events and I know this was a lot of work. All involved deserve a huge thanks (and some rest!)

I did 7 sessions in the 3 days. The theme was based one of my favorite Scripture passages: the Emmaus story (Luke 24:13-35). My titles were: A Good Case of Heartburn, This Was Not in the Brochure, Can you Hear (Here) Me Now? and Receive Who You Are, Become Who You Receive.

I got to hang out with ministry colleagues, which is always an added blessing. I visited with Mike Theisen of Rochester NY (who will soon be working for the NFCYM—National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry) and Ela M. (a lovely Polish last name that I am too lazy to look up as I type) of Cultivation Ministries, as well as Laurie and Lisa Marie. Laughter and updating one another about life and ministry was good for me.

The people who came to the conference were awesome; I had some very neat informal chats with people about their work at the parish and school level.

I was so touched by the generous gifts of 2 people:

–Lynn, a youth minister with whom I’d chatted a few times gave me a stuffed Snoopy (so I could remember Pepi, my dog when on the road)

–Kathy, a Racine Dominican, who gave me a delightful book, Love Poems from God, which I have started reading.

I left Milwaukee tired and refreshed at the same time…with the Good News being that I would be HOME for a week.