I was speaking to a large group of catechists and youth ministers last November in Baltimore (one of my favorite places to be with ministry people).

Shortly after my presentation there, Mark Moitoza, who works with NFCYM and the military archdiocese of the United States, came up to me and asked if I’d be interested in speaking in GERMANY! It didn’t take me long to say yes.

The event is called ECYC–the European Catholic Youth Conference. I had the high privilege of speaking to 250 American teenagers from military bases across Europe. Their theme was ‘’Catholic to the Core.”

This was my first trip to Europe and the whole experience was neat. I read and watched movies on the 8 hour flight from Newark to Cologne.

The trip did start with a setback. My laptop computer and MP3 player were stolen from a storage room. That was a tough break but I was pleasantly distracted by seeing Cologne with my travel companions Kathy Carver and Mark Moitoza.

(Kathy Carver, center and Mark Moitoza, right)

I really enjoyed the different culture- the trains, cafes, churches (the Cologne cathedral is huge!) and people.

I didn’t have to speak on Saturday of the conference so I decided to sleep in–I was still jet lagged, I guess. I went to bed at 10 pm. on Friday night and woke up at 4 pm. Saturday. Yep, I slept for 18 straight hours! Mark teased me and said I slept through Europe! I knew I could sleep but that was something else.

Marlo Daniels was the lead organizer for ECYC. She and the planning team did an awesome job. There were some good workshops on the “theology of the body”, Catholic teaching, prayer and more.

The adults who accompanied the teens also deserve special mention–they really care about these young people and their faith. That was very clear to me.

I got to meet / watch a Catholic comedienne, Judy McDonald.

She is funny and she is very much into her Catholic faith. She was a hit with the group. Check out her website.

The teens were great– they listened, participated, asked great questions and prayed. I think it was neat that they got to see that they aren’t the only teen trying to be a person of faith (in a foreign country).

I hope this is only the first of many trips to Europe. Many, many thanks to all who made it possible.

Megan asked Marlene to replicate (to some degree) the party we threw for her last year…so Marlene put together a scavenger hunt at the mall. It went well. Props to Marlene for the excellent job. I was a driver.

I learned a few things that day.

• Eighth grade girls don’t have a logical walking path. I walked 10 miles in 2 hours throughout the mall.
• Everything I know about youth ministry doesn’t apply when it’s my daughter.
• Megan looks “normal” when you put her along side of her friends.
• I don’t miss eighth grade.
• Eighth grade teachers deserve a pay raise or a pass through purgatory.
• I’m old. (Not a new revelation but one strongly reinforced.)

Happy Birthday Peanut!

Mary Robicheaux and Roye Pontiff make my soul smile. They’re campus ministers at Hanson. These two women are so dedicated to young people and helping them become strong young disciples of Jesus and strong in their Catholic faith.

I met 45 seniors that day. We talked about leadership, power, authority, and the symbolism of the ring.

I wear 3 rings—
• My wedding band—symbol that I am committed to Marlene and that I am a married disciple.
• The cross ring—a ring I wear on the same hand and finger as my wedding band to remind me of the sacrament—the presence of Christ in my marriage–and my call to serve others.
• My dad’s senior ring (a gift from my mom a year ago)—reminding me of where I came from and to be the kind of giving person he was.

I say simple prayers when I put them on…

Does your jewelry have any symbolism…does it stand for a deeper reality…a call to an office, a duty, a responsibility?

(my parents’ wedding picture and my rings)

I always enjoy the chance to do these days for educators. I love watching their faces…they are so excited to see their friends and coworkers as they arrive. Then when I am introduced…they look at me as if to say, “I wish I were in my classroom. What’s THIS guy gonna tell me?”

I ask them questions. We laugh about the ups and down of the demanding work of teaching. Then I ask the question, “So WHY do you teach?” Their answers humble me—“I am called by God.” “I was born to do this.” “I was touched by the example of teachers in my life.” “Young people deserve it.”

I had the pleasure and privilege to be with some school faculties in my home area: St. Genevieve Elementary and Middle Schools, Cathedral Carmel Elementary and Teurlings Catholic (all in Lafayette) and Carencro Catholic. I also got to spend 3 days speaking to the Catholic school teachers in the Archdiocese of Mobile (AL) and Evansville (IN). The bishops there are very supportive of Catholic education and of teachers. The Office of Catholic Schools there are first class people and I enjoyed spending a short amount of time with them.

A special treat for me was to be invited to supper with some special young adults. They are graduates of the University of Notre Dame and working on their Masters in Education. They are in a 2 year program there called ACE (Alliance for Catholic Education). They work on their courses during the summer and give two years to work in Catholic schools across the country. It so touched me to be invited to share a meal with them (I knew some as counselors of Notre Dame’s Vision program.) I loved hearing why they are giving two years of their lives to teach– for a very reduced wage— in places far from home— in community. They inspired me as well as all the people who work very hard for less pay than they are worth while they touch lives , inspire dreams and instill confidence.

(the Notre Dame ACE Community)

Here’s to all teachers…who touch lives.

It’s in-service week and I am traveling a lot from place to place.

As I was leaving Mobile, someone asked if I heard what happened in London…I hadn’t. I found out quickly about the arrest of 21 persons who were planning some bombings using liquids on planes. I knew this was going to affect my travel. I didn’t know how much.

• My first leg—from Mobile to Atlanta was mildly delayed. Arriving in Atlanta I was told I’d still make the Evansville flight. I called my Evansville host and told them things looked good as I boarded the plane. Maybe a one hour delay….
• We sat on the runway for 3 hours…delayed traffic and then a storm. Then they informed us we didn’t have enough fuel so we returned and deplaned.
• I got booked on 2 follow up flights, both leaving at the same time—one directly to Evansville, the other to Louisville (100 miles away). The flights were due to leave at 11:45 pm.
• I was so pumped as our plane arrived and we were told we could board in 15 minutes. Then my heart sank as I heard the announcement that the flight was cancelled because the crew had flown too much.
• I ran across the concourse and boarded the flight to Louisville. Tired, I fell asleep as soon as I buckled up. Ninety minutes later, I felt a bump and thought we landed. We hadn’t taken off; the bump I felt was the equipment used to push the plane back breaking. Another delay.
• We land in Louisville at 3 am. After landing (I have no IDEA where my luggage is) I rent a car from the airport and drive the 100 miles to Evansville. I got to the hotel at 5 am on Friday when I was supposed to be there at 5 pm on Thursday afternoon.

There are really no BAD days “at my job” but this was a long one. As Gene Monterestelli said, “The life of a rock star, coach.”

I thank God for safe travel and the people who are involved with that, in all its forms, every day.

For 7 or 8 of the last 10 years, my family has vacationed with two other families, the Herrys and the Gladharts. They are dear friends from Metairie and we enjoy our annual time together, laughing, sharing food, drink , faith and opinions on all things sublime and profound.

(vacation group last Christmas)

For most of our years, we’ve gone to Gulf Shores AL. The gang really enjoys laying out (not me) and we gather in the evening for meal and card playing. Simple but it works for us.

In Sept. 2004 Hurricane Ivan ravaged the coast of Alabama so last summer (2005) we tried out annual ritual in Biloxi.

I started to get a complex…the last two places we’ve vacationed have been blown away by hurricanes! And then when the decision was made to do DISNEY WORLD, I thought “Oh no! I don’t want that place being destroyed because we chose it!”

We did choose it, mainly because of the children…Meg and her teen friend Gabby Herry like the rides but more so for the two little Gladhart children. And it was worth it.

Sure… I don’t like long lines, hot sun, amusement park lines (and the group was kind enough to let me sleep in and lounge around!) but watching these children when Disney characters were around was awesome. I remember Megan being there some 10 years ago.

I really appreciate this group of friends…they are dear to me and they are a part of my “community” where I find life. I look forward to being with them…and hopefully next year on a beach somewhere.