HOW TEC IMPACTS FAITH AND VOCATIONS
IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG PEOPLE
Encountering the TEC Family
“My name is Ilse and I visited the beautiful city of St Louis for a three-month period in the summer of 2007. I am from the Netherlands, and every week or two I moved to a different host family and helping out at their workplaces and ministries. Luckily, I got to meet part of the TEC Family for two weeks as well. Working at the TEC office with Ron and Mary has been a great experience. From the moment I walked in the door, I felt welcome and part of the family. We start the day by praying together; something every Catholic workplace should do to keep in mind Whom you are doing it all for! I have to be honest, I’m not an office kind of girl, but with some religious music in the background, I became unstoppable! I quickly became a paper-folding expert!
The reason I decided to come here was due to my country and my life there. Where I come from there is hardly anyone with a living faith beyond going to Church once in awhile like at Christmas. I wasn’t very different from this myself these past few years. Although I was raised Catholic, faith wasn’t my main priority anymore and I could definitely tell. I wasn’t feeling good about myself, was insecure and even experienced depression. That’s what made me decide to come to a place with more Catholic people to have the possibility to heal and restore my relationship with God. Through my brother-in-law, I ended up in St. Louis, which seemed to be the perfect environment for me. From the moment I set foot in America, I felt better and my faith began to grow again. After a long and hard confession, I was clean and ready to get my faith in order. Through Mass, Eucharistic adoration, daily prayer and spending time with religious people, my faith grew and I was blessed in many different ways. I can finally tell myself and others that I’m happy again.
While with the TEC office, I got to go on a TEC workshop in June 2007, which gave me a clearer perspective on all the things TEC does. Central of course is the Paschal Mystery: to die, rise and go with Jesus. What a beautiful way of spending a weekend! First, you let go of things and areas which stand between you and God (die), then, you find out what your gifts and talents are and how beautiful God has made you (rise); and finally, you use these gifts in a society which can definitely use them! I think something like this would be perfect for the Netherlands, considering the lack of faith and all the young people who are struggling with themselves.
Besides the Paschal Mystery I got to meet some of the fantastic, hardworking people who give some of their spare (and full!) time to help youth get in touch with God. I had a great time getting to know them and sharing faith and ideas. It was a group from different TEC centers which made it very interesting for everyone attending. I am definitely inspired by this all and hope to go on a TEC weekend myself someday. I’ve had such a great time meeting the TEC Family. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!”
~ Ilse Bergkamp, 22-year-old college senior (TEC Conference summer volunteer, Breda, Netherlands)
God’s Plans vs. My Plans“
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you…plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
“I have to admit, the main reason I chose to go on TEC #151 was because of a boy. My aunt and uncle were youth ministers, and they always said that a retreat acted as a ‘Catholic dating service.’ After thinking about it, I realized it was true. All of my grandparents worked on the TECs, and when my parents were old enough, they became a part of the TEC family, too. At that time, the weekends were not co-ed, but they would still see each other at the reunions and started working on the teams. I remember hearing my parents talk about the weekends, and I thought if they could find their soul mate through TEC, I could, too.
My plan didn’t work out that way. I did meet some really nice guys, but my focus was altered. I’ve been a Catholic my whole life, but I just went through the motions at Mass. When I heard the speakers at TEC, it opened my eyes to so much more. For instance, Jay said in referring to the Eucharist, “I was so hungry and Jesus satisfied my craving.” Amy told us to be ourselves and if that means taking a different path, so be it. I had heard these words before in religion classes, but hearing them from young people—not much older than me—encouraged me to grow in my faith because it was ‘cool.’
Since TEC #151, I started satisfying my hunger for the Lord and traveling down my own path. I’m hanging out with the ‘cool’ kids at the Newman Center in Murray , Ky. where I go to school. I have even become a godmother to a precious little miracle. TEC has changed my life little by little; and, if I had to do it again, I would in a heartbeat.“
~ Amanda Barr, 18-year-old college freshman (Western Kentucky TEC, diocese of Owensboro, Ky.)
