"Teens Encounter Christ"

July 28, 2009

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I have been pleasantly surprised by so many aspects of my ministry as bishop; every day new things crop up that add to my enthusiasm for the great work going on in so many sectors of the Lord’s vineyard.  I am happy to be called to cultivate those good things and encourage their growth.

Last weekend I attended the TEC Congress in Peoria, Illinois.  TEC stands for Teens Encounter Christ.  When I was a young priest, TEC was really popular for teens and I participated in several weekend TEC events.

The mission of TEC is basically to communicate the Paschal Mystery to teens in a high power experience that takes them through the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of the Lord by allowing them to celebrate a “mini-triduum” during a weekend encounter.  There are, of course, a number of intensive spiritual exercises, loads of fun, and some well-orchestrated surprises built in.

I hadn’t been involved with TEC or even heard too much about it until last year when Archbishop Schwietz of Anchorage asked me if, as a bishop, I would be “willing to help out with TEC.” The next thing I knew, I was the national episcopal moderator of the movement—hence the weekend in Peoria.

It was a great gathering of people from all over the U.S. and Canada. These folks, filled with enthusiasm and energy, are still interested in working with teens and TEC seems to be making a “comeback.”  I met one woman from Milwaukee and several others from the Diocese of Madison during the event. 

I know that TEC was a part of the spiritual life of teens in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in the early and mid-eighties.  Are any of you “TECites” still around?

Obviously, as the national moderator, I am interested in stirring up the flames a little for the movement.  While TEC is not a “vocation retreat” many priests and religious women have found it to be significant in their response to God’s call in their lives.

As planning gears up for the new school year, TEC might be a valuable tool to use in building the spiritual life program for young people. You can find more information on the Web at www.tecconference.org.

One other thing, don’t forget about the Sacred Music Workshop, sponsored by the Black Catholic Ministry Commission, this Saturday, August 1, from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Stritch University.  The event features W. Clifford Petty, a nationally published composer, producer and recording artist.

August already…enjoy your summer! God be with you.

Faithfully in Christ,

Most Reverend William Patrick Callahan

Archdiocesan Administrator
Archdiocese of Milwaukee

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