There’s something about my luggage and this corner of the world (this time my CHECK ON bag got lost for a few hours!).

Leigh Sterten and I broke into diocesan youth ministry around the same time. She has been in the diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau as director of youth ministry for about 15 years, if my math is correct. She has had me speak to her adults about 2 years ago and invited me back for the youth conference in West Plains MO (a place I had been 18 years ago for a basketball tournament!). And driving through town I saw this sign and had to snap a pic of it!

The theme for this weekend was “Jesus: Unlimited Talk Time”. This theme allowed for a lot of neat connections between the images of using cell phones and our faith life with Jesus.

The house band (I think they may have been from Immaculate Conception in Jackson) did a good job. Their song “God is Good” may be a fixture at future youth rallies….very catchy!

The local workshops speakers were very impressive…Vicki B., Mat H., Troy P., Mandy A., Kim , and Aaron Jahn (Lousiville). I regret I didn’t get to go and see them because teens said such good things about them.

The teens were SO receptive and open…and generous. They collected over $1400 in cash at their closing collection for victims of storms in the Diocese of Biloxi. Not to mention hundreds of dollars in gift cards. I had already seen the generosity of folks from this area [see my December (28?)blog].

I also got a reminder that people begin to look like their pets or vice versa—so do you think Pepi and I look that much alike? Thanks Cece.

Fr. Paul Hart, pastor, and I went to college seminary together. He’s had me do an Advent mission for the parish about 15 months ago, so I was worried about doing another one so soon in the same parish.

I was relieved to see so many parishioners come out for the 3 night mission. There were lifelong parishioners as well as young families with their children.
Of course, there were familiar faces from my youth ministry work there (Pat S., Chris L., David F., Mary Beth and David L., Yvette P., Sandie and Ron G., John S.) as well as some of Marlene’s former co-workers (Linette, Jill, Margaret and Rachel)—which always makes it nice, and a little challenging.

The theme was” “Burros, Basins, Bricks, and Bouquets—the Symbols of Holy Week.”

I enjoyed being ministered to, and plain simply enjoying the company, of Ed and Jackie Daniels, who hosted me so lovingly… they had an impromptu supper Saturday night with some friends. Good food, good company and conversation! Jackie helped with tee shirt sales as well as lining up prayer (with Trudy Cook) for each evening.

Special thanks too, to Trudy Cook, DRE for the parish–she is a “class act” and well respected for the fine work she does. I appreciated her prayerful spirit as she helped me through the mission.

It was good to meet Fr. Mike Mitchell, parochial vicar, whose first assignment is St. Andrew’s. He is already well liked and respected and I can see why. (He likes basketball!!!!)

It was good to visit with Fr. Paul (and having lunch with our good friend Kevin E.) Fr. Paul has a good parish and he is working very hard to serve it well. He was very generous to me during my time there and I appreciate him inviting me back to his parish to be with them.

The parish was very generous to me as well. I am so grateful to all who made love offerings and who shared works of support and challenge. All were appreciated.

This was my first of two parish missions “back home” that is, back in the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

OLPH is a very welcoming church, from its architecture to its people. I learned during the mission how many people from further in Plaquemines parish found refuge and welcome there since Katrina. I remain moved as I hear stories of loss and destruction as well as welcome and assistance.

The parish is filled with some superb leaders. Fr. Otis Young, pastor, was a former “student” of mine in an elective course at Notre Dame Seminary. Even then he was always asking good questions about parish life and connecting to young people (the course was on youth ministry). Fr. Otis is big enough to pick on himself, but more than humble enough to see his assignments as opportunities for his own growth as he serves God’s people. He is very well respected as he has come into a parish at an interesting and challenging time.

There are some other awesome leaders in the parish…Donna S. oversees youth ministry and has been doing great things with teens there for some time…Dolly R., who handles adult faith formation and has been a supporter of mine for years….Nanette C. who’s retiring as DRE after many years of service.

The school also is excellent. I enjoyed speaking to the (well behaved) students. Sister Elizabeth, principal, and Viki G. (her assistant) show great love and care for the young people in the parish school.

I loved visiting with so many fine people after the mission. Folks stayed for refreshments for the better part of an hour.

I got to visit with friends during the week, Shannon, Amy and Viki…and that was good for my soul. One of the “fall outs” of moving has been missing friends who have been supportive of me through the years.

I was so touched the last evening when Dolly presented me with a drawing/plaque of THE FISH. It is a keepsake I will treasure and post proudly in my (new) home—one I get one!

The church marquis was nice too…though I have never seen so many pictures of me in one church—the good news is they should have no rodents!

I had been told by another speaker that this diocesan conference was special. I soon found out how true those words were.

After watching the opening prayer and ceremonies, I wondered if I was in a high school musical! It was well-scripted, executed and done with energy. A theme song was written…the video/media pieces were crisp and attention getting. The prayer was especially moving.

The peer ministry/evangelization team was so inspiring. Jerry White and his team of adults do some exemplary work with these fine young people. I was so blown away by their spirituality and its expression throughout the weekend. A very moving part of the weekend (for me) was their praying with other teens late on Saturday night.

Great houseband, Wannabe Stephen! Props to Mike and Joe and all the other talented guys in the band. Nice tee shirt…many thanks!

They truly were living out the theme: “Now is the Time.” Too often, still, after 20 years or so in youth ministry, I fail to realize what teens are capable of…I got a superb reminder this weekend.

And what fun it was to share time this weekend with APeX (Gene and Brad) and Steve Angrisano. I am sure we would get tired of one another if we traveled to conferences together all the time, but I experience a lot of joy hanging out with them. I love watching them get a group to interact with them and the message of God’s love and our Catholic faith. Plus they are fun! I laughed a lot too…especially at Steve playing bubble blaster on my new phone! (ask him who got high score for the weekend???)

It’s always a neat thing when I get a call to do stuff “outside” my normal scope of work. Phil Calvo of Eagle Industries saw me do a parish mission last year and we re-connected at NCYC (youth conference) in Atlanta last fall. He called a few weeks ago and asked if I would speak to his sales staff. The dates worked so I said sure.

What stunned me was… he invited me to come up to The Bluffs, an awesome golf resort near St. Francisville, LA. to speak to his twelve salespeople. I could tell that this group of men must be special for them to have this type of treatment and investment from their boss.

I wasn’t disappointed. Meeting these men was a treat for me. Their humor, work ethic and desire to be excellent were very evident. They didn’t rest on their laurels of success; they have their eyes on what lies ahead (sounds a little like St. Paul there!).

This is my second year to speak on this retreat for over 200 senior girls. Martin Nguyen, campus minister, does a good job of coordinating and orchestrating a well-structured experience for these students.

The retreat is at Forest Glen Christian camp…a great place with a very helpful staff but I always get a little nervous as I drive the back roads north of Houston late at night. The stuff horror movies are made of. There is always a sense of joy when I see the lights and warm inviting environment of the camp itself!

The retreat focused on one of the four Dominican pillars: Preaching. The theme for looking at preaching was: Remembering, Reflecting and Representing. I was impressed with the student ministers, the spirit of community and the openness of these girls.

Another thing which really struck me was how ARTICULATE these young women were. There were many expressions of spirituality and religious denominations. I was moved by how sincere and how aware these girls were of the movement of God in, and around, them.

I always get a little misty when I remember that these girls are someone’s daughters, like my Megan. I also get more misty when I realize she will be in their shoes soon.

It is a great chance for me to reconnect with a campus ministry colleague, Becky R., who works on the staff there. She has a lot of wonderful experience, and it was clear to see, she is loved by her students there. I was also juiced to hear she’s written a book!

The topic made me reflect on how I am doing with “my” preaching—my remembering, reflecting and representing. What WOULD Jesus say after one of my talks? What would he say about my treatment of family and friends? The way I spend my free time? Humbling stuff.

This was a neat experience for me because one youth director saw me and got me hired, but other ones handled all the details of my visit.

Jill A. saw me at the Diocese of Austin’s youth rally (an awesome event) in January, 2005. She scheduled me after getting her pastor’s approval. Then Jill moved and a new pastor was assigned.

The new (husband and wife) youth ministers, Dave and M. J., made me feel so welcome (even though their daughter Shauna did shake a garlic bread stick at me!).

Friday night was a talk to the parish as the beginning of their Lenten series. (The following week, my former boss, Bishop Greg Aymond, was the speaker …nice to be his “lead act.”) On Saturday I spoke with ministry leaders from the parish in a morning of reflection.

I also got Saturday afternoon ‘’off” and watched college basketball–a real treat for me. (I am picking Duke to win it all- as I usually do)

Sunday, I had lunch at the Ollie Garden with some teens from the parish and had fun getting to know them by playing a little game I call “either/or.” I’m not sure but I think that’s when the infamous garlic breadstick incident occurred. Later that night I spoke to teens from the parish.

Thanks to M.J. and Dave for a great weekend and to the teens for a fun lunch.

This is the stained glass window behind their altar! Muy cool!

Forgive the politics but I also saw this sign and thought it was different…a light bulb store in Austin…