When Stan Cordero invites me to present for him, I have this sense that it will be good…and a stretch for me. Stan is diocesan director in Santa Rosa and really has a passion for leadership development and for spirituality. His attention to detail is strong.

This was my second consecutive year presenting for Vertical Reality, a one day leadership RETREAT for high school teens. The theme this year was “The Sorrowful Mysteries.” My opening (major) address was on the Crucifixion. Challegning to say the least.

Last year I did this event with Danielle Rose. This year, the other presenters were Steve Angrisano and Anna Scally. I was pumped because it was my first time to work with Steve…who I enjoy even though his wife Jenny “ain’t right” (I love her to death but have to bust her chops!). And anytime you work with Anna Scally, you want to be better for the people you serve. (I lost $5 to her on the Seahawks-Panthers game!)

What is so cool is that not only do I get to work with national speakers on a day like this, but I also get to co-design and implement a focus session within the retreat with local youth and adult leaders. Last year I was paired with a creative guy Matt C. (who had me on the church roof stapling trash bags so we could black out windows to get a certain mood!). This year I worked with Ben, a real articulate junior in high school, and two fine adults who love teens—Gayle B. and Tom D. Our session was on “the Scourging at the Garden.” I was so impressed by their session design and how it was carried out.

The 125 or so teens in attendance blew me away with how they “got into” the day…from silence to journaling as well as noise, crowdbreakers and celebration.

A special treat in this day was having Beth B . and her youth from St. Charles Borromeo church in the Rochester area makes cord decade rosaries for the teens making the retreat. Thanks Beth and teens…you helped make this day a prayerful one on many levels!

On the Sunday night, I spoke for the teens at St. Rose on “peer power.” It was a fun loving group of teens…who put up with Matt C. but who, I can also see, are good reasons for him to do the ministry he does.