I feel so fortunate to get to be a part of this week long experience held 4 times in June and July. This blog is a summary of some of the good things that happened to me during my 3 visits to ND this summer.

I really like ND Vision because it helps teens take an “on purpose” look at their gifts. It helps them to learn some tools; to begin to ask the question: how God might be calling them NOW…to serve their families, churches, schools, friends, and our world??

The students at Notre Dame who work with the program are talented and deeply open to growing in expressing their own spirituality while serving the teen participants as group leaders (and in my opinions, examples of vibrant young Catholics). The music is unbelievable, the witness talks are “spot on” and the desire to serve teens well is crystal clear.

(counselors dressed for “80’s” day with Greg Thompson and me.)

I was really pumped up during one presentation where Tim O’Malley showed some correlations between liturgy and a football game. He had many male counselors join in in singing some traditional Irish fight songs…and then there were cheerleaders and chants like I had never seen. If 150 students generated this much spark, I could only wonder what 80,000 plus could do. Now I know I have to get to South Bend to see a game!

not Tim O’Malley but he WAS dressed like a leprechaun!)

The logistics and direction for things is in the hands of Lenny DeLorenzo. He is a man of great focus and loves video clips (more cowbell, Lenny). He oversees this wonderful program while being a husband and dad (Lisa and he have an adorable son, Caleb!). Lenny is refining and always thinking how to better this good program.

I also got to see my buddy, Fr Dan Parrish. He’s a neat young priest who is real in his witness. I am so proud of him for going to work on his MBA for non-profit organizations. He is continuing his learning when he doesn’t HAVE to, and after a full year as rector of Zahm Hall (where I got to stay for one session this summer!).

Another side benefit is “my soul SMILES” at Notre Dame when I get to see past counselors and youth ministers and now dear friends for brief moments while at the university. I got to visit with former counselors who are serving the church through teaching, religious education and youth ministry…it was great to see so many of them. I got to visit with youth ministry friends Liz Chick (her name is being withheld at request of the CIA), Greg Thompson, and Bryan Webb.

(Greg Thompson does his Heisman inpersonation)

I got to work on my anemic bowling game in what is becoming a yearly tradition—BOB (namely, the Brotherhood of Bowlers). Laughter and friendship with Steve, Adam and Andrew (also adding Timmy and, in absentia, Luke)—all Notre Dame men and me, the honorary putz. A lot of fun.

(A Cubs bowling ball—how COOL is that!)

I had a wonderful meeting with a young woman who will be working to design and implement a program for youth ministers that will run along side Vision. I am very curious and excited to see what will eventually result from the planning for this.

As always, my time at Notre Dame is inspiring to me. The emphases on vocation, prayer, discipleship, community, and discernment are always a good reminder or refresher for me.

Now I am embarrassed to admit this but all I really knew about Joliet was that the Blues Brothers were in jail there. (If you don’t get that reference you really are too young!)

(above = Elwood and Jake, the Blues Brothers…”we’re on a mission from God!”)

This was a great event, especially in terms of its organization and its energy. There were over 700 people there…and remember it is a LEADERSHIP conference. Paul Mach, diocesan associate for youth ministry for the diocese, told me if he opened it up to all the teens from the parishes, the event would be huge.

This event has a good history and you could feel that excellence is a value for these fine folks. The welcome given by the young adult and teen staffers was awesome—imagine walking through(or if you’re like me in a Michael Jordan mood, running through a “tunnel of people all clapping for you and high fiving you as you entered the building! That happened to me AND every other participant—ALL weekend! Sweet!

I saw tons of really neat tee shirts. I took a pciture of this one…it made me smile for whatever reason.

(Jesus rocks!)

The conference was held at Lewis University in Romeoville, IL. Love the name of that town. It’s a great university run by the Christian Brothers. Very impressive place. Oh, and Romeoville is right outside of Joliet. Romeo and Joliet. (If you don’t get that reference, consult Bill Shakespeare.)

I got to hear a great speaker, Ben Glenn, from Indianapolis, who was funny, gives a great witness and uses chalk art and media to make a really spirited presentation to teens. He was awesome. I hated speaking after him! If you’re interested in learning more about Ben, check out his website.

The house band was phenomenal. Their leader, Noel, came out dressed in a hamburger outfit–that should have been my first clue this was gonna be something special! It was. There were some 30 teens or so…the musicianship was good and the vocals were really good. They did some of my favorite songs in harmony—muy cool. But what really struck me was the JOY with which they “got after it”…especially the guys. I don’t think I have ever seen a group of guys singing like that—with such energy and NOT trying to show off. They were just singing for the JOY of the Lord. That house band rocked. In the words of an old Robin Williams skit, they were “fult tilt bozo!” That’s a compliment!

(HALF of the house band..it was awesome!)

I was so impressed with the dedication of the 30 or so adult leaders who were part of the conference planning team. They really had their act together. The logistics were about as smooth as any conference I have attended or worked. I only got a few names while there but I was impressed with conference coordinator Mike Kuhn, and key leaders Brian Topping (from the Religious Education office), Marta, Marj (my favorite liturgist), Lisa and Casey Ross (Casey used to work with Cultivation Ministries!) and Lisa’s dad (who kept the multi-media stuff running as well as stocking the snack bin with Tootsie Rolls, thereby becoming one of my favorite people.)

Paul Mach is in his first year in the diocese of Joliet though he has served in Seattle and Spokane as well. He’s fun to be with and he is blessed with a lot of great people to work with, including his bishop, Bishop J. Peter Sartain. He was in Little Rock before coming to Joliet.

The theme for the weekend was “Have No Fear! Our Shepherd is Near!” There were teen witnesses and breakout sessions and a real spirit of openness throughout the weekend. I do believe the Shepherd was very near.

I was thrilled to be a part of this top notch event.

Check the ADULT MESSAGE SECTION for a reflection as I went to the doctor today. It’s called HEART WONDERINGS. It fits under both a blog and for my adult friends in ministry.

You ever get in on something at the beginning… before everyone else really “gets” how cool it is? I feel I had the chance to do that recently when I was invited to speak for the Alive in You workcamp being held in the diocese of Lake Charles (in the city of Jennings LA).

Last October, at the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) in Atlanta, there was an exhibitors’ booth near mine that was causing a positive stir. Jim and Heather Weir (from Florida), along with Cory Howat (whom I knew from my work in New Orleans) along with Brogan (don’t remember his last name) were launching a new workcamp called Alive in You.

(pictured above are Jim, Heather and Cory)

Their booth was “slick” and their hopes and energy for their upcoming camps was impressive. They were going to do workcamps in the areas hit by Hurricanes Rita and Katrina. Later they asked me about giving a talk to the teens at one or more of their camps.

I got to speak to about 150 teens—from Wisconsin, Texas, Georgia and Louisiana– who gave a week of their lives to help people whose lives, homes and schools were affected by Hurricane Rita in southwest Louisiana. It’s always a joy to me to see young people responding in love to the needs of others. These young people were tired from our humidity but their spirits were still high.

After my talk, I chatted with Jim, Heather and Cory (Brogan was doing his “DJ” thing!). I grew in admiration for the drive and openness I see in them. They did a super job in their first year of a workcamp. They have learned much from previous experiences and this year also taught them valuable insights for the future. They were tired (and rightfully so after 3 straight weeks in Louisiana and on the road.) but they were looking ahead to better things for the future.

To Brogan, Cory, Heather and Jim, yes I actually did say that I can see he IS Alive in You.

For more on this workcamp see their website.

The gospel/homily at mass this morning was about traveling lightly. Fr. Rex, my pastor, talked about Jesus’ words to us on possessions. Fr. Rex framed his homily around things which DISTRACT us from being focused on the mission.

Distractions. I get distracted often—in prayer, while running errands, in remembering what is important to me. I know a lot of people are overusing the initals ADD and ADHD for the more common notion of being distracted.

I’ve taken some consolation in an insight that was given to me by Sr. Ruth Cowan SSND when I was making a personal retreat a few years back. I told her I get distracted when I pray (thinking of everything from the Cubs’ starting lineup to what home improvements I need to make). She basically said we shouldn’t let the guilt of being distracted keep us from seeing that moment of recognition (that we are”in” a distraction) as an invitation from God to re-join him, turn our minds and faces toward him once more, or continue our conversion to Him. That has been helpful to me in my prayer…

This morning’s homily got me to thinking in another direction.

Yesterday, Marlene, my wife, and other members of my family had a garage sale‘; return true;” onmouseout=”window.status='’; return true;”>garage sale. Man, I knew we were pack rats, but I never realized it until I saw all of the STUFF under my carport.

no this is NOT our garage sale but you get the idea. I think we had MORE!

I really do accumulate a lot of stuff. In college, my buddies called me the “trinket king.” Marlene calls me “gadget boy” sometimes. Gadgets, music, office supplies‘; return true;” onmouseout=”window.status='’; return true;”>office supplies, papers, e-mails, pictures, clothes, and the list goes on.

Jesus’ words and Fr. Rex’s homily made me think that sometimes my “stuff” might be (as the Act of Contrition says) “a near occasion of sin.” The way I use and hoarde these things often dis-tracts me from my mission of living intentionally (”on purpose”) “through Him, with Him and in Him.”

I invite you to join me in thinking about

• attitudes
• possessions
• habits
• relationships

that dis-tract us rather than attract us in our relationship with God. Maybe we need to sub-tract some things. I know I do.

Gene Montterestelli (of APeX) has been telling me I really need to be a part of this experience in the Washington DC area.

It seems Tom Hild, of St. Rose of Lima Parish, (seen here with his wife Julie)

was talking with other youth ministers 9 years ago about how the workcamps they were going to were really great but why were they having to go away to serve and work for justice?

I was so impressed to be with over 300 teens and adults for 2 nights as they worked in over 26 sites across the metro Washington DC area…anything from advocacy on Capital Hill with legislators to working with orphans, Hispanic outrach, people with cerebral palsy, senior citizens and children.

Most of the teens were from the DC/Va/Baltimore area though there were groups from Boston and Marietta GA there.

A high value in this week is teen leadership…I was impressed with the animators who led discussion groups. I really loved the teen house band who really pumped up the crowd every night.

There is a strong flavor of both service AND justice in this experience. I offered some challenging words about Catholic social teaching, one that stretched me as a presentor as well as many who heard the remarks.

I had a lot of fun with the leadership of the event. Tom is tenacious about teen empowerment and is great with process and relating with teens. He plays a mean guitar and drives in a most interesting manner.

Anne Marie Cribbin was my hostess—

she is witty and fun to be with and a fashonista in every sense of the word. She is very gifted in so many ways and I am glad she works with teens.

Justin Russell (below with his back to the camera)

was the programming designer for this year’s content; I am impressed with his ability to be clear as well as his ability to keep a straight face as Anne Marie, Tom , Tammy Everard (another speaker) and I became the percussion section as he led singing at many residences.

Ann Gradowski had logistics and I marveled at how she oversaw the details for meals and site coordination and more. Justin’s wife, Meg, led prayer with energy and depth and got teens into early each morning.

We were housed at the University of Maryland where there are sculptures of their mascot, the turtle, everywhere–

Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets was big here (alum???) and I loved this morphed “Kermit meets terrapin”.

I felt blessed to be given this opportunity. Thanks to all for a great few days and welcoming me into the Encounter Family.

I just spent a great weekend in the diocese of Fort Worth for their annual youth conference, DCYC. Kevin Prevou is diocesan director there.

I was so impressed by a few things:

• The logistics.

There were over 1000 middle- and high school teens as well as adults there. There were no hotel complaints. There were awesome activities on Sat. Night- a movie room, improv room, “who wants to be a Catholic millionaire?”game show, a coffee house‘; return true;” onmouseout=”window.status='’; return true;”>coffee house and a dance.

• The speakers…

Sr. Mary Fagin was the other keynote presenter and s was in awe of her ease with teens and her ability to get a message across. Her presentation style was refreshing…she used teens hi her presentation most effectively.

• The musicians–

it was so cool to see young people lead the music for the weekend under the leadership of Jesse Manibusan and Curtis Stephan; these 2 quality musicians really used their gifts. And let those of teen singers and musicians shine forth.

• A super neat bonus for me was to meet Jesse’s wife, Jodi Manibusan and his daughter, Jenna. I see why Jesse likes being home. You could ‘’feel the love” just being around all of them.

Bishop Vann, the Bishop of their diocese spent a lot of time among the teens and even played along Jesse and Curtis from the stage in Saturday afternoon. It was great to see this.

All in all, it was a great weekend.

NOTE TO ALL THOSE AT MY INTERNET WORKSHOP…please go to teen message for the list of links you might enjoy.

It’s really neat when people come up to me after a presentation and ask me about coming to their parish or to speak at some event. I never put too much stock in it because I know that scheduling is tricky business.

A few years ago, while speaking in Madison, Wisconsin I was approached by a permanent deacon, David Hendrickson, about speaking on a teen retreat for his parish (and some others) in Colorado–but over a year and a half away. I thought to myself “Right” but when I got an e-mail from him, I had a sense this would be a unique experience for me.

I was not disappointed. Over 125 teens and adults from 3 parishes in Madison flew to Denver and then drove about 2 hours through the Rocky Mountains to get to Snow Mountain Ranch near Granby, Colorado.

Snow Mountain Ranch : (I think) is one of 3 ‘’ YMCA’s of the Rockies. The activities available are awesome: hiking. Biking, horseback riding, volleyball, basketball, jung pong. roller blading, swimming and more- all in the lovely scenery of the Rocky Mountains.

When I got there I got to meet a really neat Christian band, Six Days from Sunday.

Paul, Jeremy, Robert and Eric are good musicians; they played praise and worship music as well as some cover band stuff (U2’s Vertigo was my favorite) plus Some cool original stuff they’re written.

I feel their best ministry was off-stage, when they were just hanging out. They play some mean volleyball, as a few young ladies found out. (I really enjoyed the ice cream, girls!)

The teens were a joy–I loved watching them “get into” the talks and activities. I sat in on a few small group discussion sessions and was impressed with what teens were saying.

Most of all, I was impressed with the commitment shown by the adults. It’s a super vision and such a powerful statement to raise so much money to reduce costs so teens can have this experience every other summer. The logistics alone boggle my mind.

There’s a real commitment to excellence around this retreat… You should have seen the number of adults there and the amount of A-V materials (sound, light, projection, printers, etc. ) these folks brought. Simply amazing!

I’m really sorry I couldn’t make the whole retreat (I left the day they were going white water rafting). I thoroughly enjoyed reflecting on the theme “more of You in my life.”

And I got to stay at the TrailRiders Motel in Granby…very cool to be in small town America on the 4th of July.

Congatulations to Deacon David and all the adults for your powerful witness and investment in the young people of your parishes.

I had to rent a car to make the two hour drive from Denver to Granby Colorado for this retreat I am going to be doing. I saw a funny sign in the airport:

I really am curious about “Prunes the Burro Memorial” and how it might relate to the “Blue” (mule) story I tell across the country.

The weather driving through the mountains was a mixed bag. My trip began with a pretty steady downpour…and the rental car NOT having any keys inside, while I am trying to load 2 large pieces of luggage. They are not going to make a training video for speakers or travelers from the way I handled this little inconvenience.

Once I got in side the car, I was “blown away” by the scenery…

…mountains (the Pass at Continental Divide was awesome), creeks with running water from the mountainside, mustangs (real horses, not the sports car), sunsets, and more. It was awe inspiring to say the least. Then as I am listening to a country music‘; return true;” onmouseout=”window.status='’; return true;”>country music radio station, Martina McBride’s song, “I Have Been Blest” begins to play. It was a God moment, I assure you. For all the little headaches I might get in my “work”, it is really neat to have moments where I realize how cool it is that I get to see some of the most awesome things.

Three years ago, today (July 1) I left the Archdiocese of New Orleans and became self-employed. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long.

I’ve been blessed in so many ways during these last three years. I’ve met ministers who inspire me. I’ve met teens hungry to grow in their Catholic faith. I’ve seen funny things that have cracked me up. I’ve lost luggage, learned about airports, and grown in admiration for the other traveling ministers. I’ve been at home a little more. I’ve seen parts of the US I never would have if it were not for this ministry. I’ve come to spend time with God differently.

This ministry has a few pains but I so often tell people that “God lets me hang out with him in his playground while He’s there.” It is so cool that I get to do this. I thank God for the privilege and I hope I never forget that it is.

It also hit me that if they ever got all of the photos of me in action…I might be in trouble.