August 2015

Communicator
Stay connected to your TEC family
August 2015
TEC 50th Anniversary: Coming Home
Thanks to everyone who came and helped make the 50th Anniversary such a special event!
“Does a small seed have any idea how large it can grow?”
This question was posed by Fr. Matthew Fedewa, co-founder of TEC, to 200 people who gathered to celebrate TEC’s 50th Anniversary
at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows. The three day “family reunion” emphasized the wonderful feeling of homecoming that
TEC provides and highlighted the growth the movement has experienced in the past 50 years.
An extensive display of TEC memorabilia, including letters, project plans, newspaper articles, and more, lined the hallway of the conference center, delineating TEC’s history and roots. Several tables held objects of importance to Dorothy Gereke, co-foudner of TEC,
behind which were posters telling the story of how TEC came to be. Memories were relived and old friends met up again, while new
friends were made in celebration of Christ’s love. We honored the past with a prayer service inducting Dorothy Gereke, Brother Anthony Ornelas, SSS, and Colette Kennett into the Memorare Circle, and we celebrated the present by honoring Bishop Stanley Schlarman with the Friend of TEC Award, and by presenting Brian and Ronda Mathiowetz with the 2015 Heritage Award.
Each day featured one or more “Spark” sessions that brought the entire congregation together, either through Mass or with one of the
keynote speakers, Steve Angrisano and Oddwalk Ministries. Following each Spark, attendees were allowed to “build their own weekend” by following the new “Pray, Play, Share” model of breakout sessions. By choosing whether they wanted to participate in a spiritual,
playful, or networking session, attendees got to choose the experience in which they were most interested. Some chose to walk a
candlelit Way of the Cross or tour the Shrine grounds, while others played trivia games or had a fun jam session with Steve Angrisano,
and still others met to discuss recruitment challenges and solutions.
TEC 50th Anniversary continued...
On Saturday night, the 50th Anniversary attendees joined local Belleville youth for
Alive at the Shrine, a prayer service and concert led by Steve Angrisano and Oddwalk Ministries. Everyone had the opportunity to go to Confession, pray before
the Eucharist in Adoration, and sing and praise with the band. Sunday closed out
the celebration with Mass featuring Fr. Matt as the homilist and a last closing prayer
service by young adults from the LouTEC community. Everyone received a stalk of
wheat as they prayed for the TEC Movement and the strength to be wheat for the
world.
The TEC Conference would like to thank everyone who had a hand in making the
50th Anniversary celebration such a special experience. Many people came together and donated their time, their talent, and their treasure to create a wonderful and
memorable gathering. We would also like to thank everyone who attended and
everyone who kept us in their prayers during the weekend. We are already looking forward to next year’s gathering, TEC Encounter 2016, which will be hosted at
Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois. We hope to see you there!
The Eucharist is presented for Adoration
during Saturday night’s Alive at the Shrine
Billy O’Regan thanks co-founder Fr. Matthew Fedewa for giving
us the gift of TEC.
Attendees meet members of different TEC communities at their
tables.
The TEC family gathers for daily Mass.
Keynote speaker Steve Angrisano addresses listeners with his
humorous and heart-touching speech.
Council Corner
Meet your 2015-2016 Leadership Council:
David Walker*- Chair
Chris LaRosa*- Vice Chair
Mary Kay Marzano*- Treasurer
Leigh Anne Costlow*- Secretary
John Smestad, Jr.- Region 5 Coordinator
Marie Rice- Region 8 Coordinator
Jodi Simon- Region 9 Coordinator
Joseph Pearson- Region 10 Coordinator
Gonzalo Laverde- Region 14 Coordinator
Frank Osorio- Florida State Representative
Juliana Barroso- Georgia State Representative
Penny Wolf- Illinois State Co-Representative
Dr. Ann Stock*- Illinois State Co-Representative
Jessica Schneider- Kansas State Co-Representative
Joe LaScala- Kansas State Co-Representative
John Ivas- Massachusetts State Representative
Brett Mathiowetz - Minnesota State Representative
Adrian Sanchez- Texas State Representative
Steve Brink*- Wisconsin State Co-Representative
Sue Brink- Wisconsin State Co-Representative
*Member of Leadership Team
This year’s council has five new members. Please join us in welcoming them:
John Ivas – Massachusetts State Rep. John hails from Tewksbury TEC.
Jessica Schneider – Kansas State Co-Rep. Jessica is part of both the Sunflower and Dodge City TEC communities.
Joe LaScala – Kansas State Co-Rep. Joe is from Sunflower TEC and will work with Jessica to represent the state of
Kansas during council meetings.
John Smestad, Jr. – Region 5 Coordinator. John is from TEC New Orleans and will be a liaison between all
TEC communities in Region 5, including Western Kentucky TEC, Houma-Thibodaux TEC, TEC New Orleans, and
LOUTEC.
Brett Mathiowetz - Brett is taking over representation of his home state, Minnesota.
Leadership Council Summer Meeting Snapshot:
The Leadership Council met immediately after the 50th Anniversary, from June 14-15, 2015, in Belleville,
Illinois. The meeting began with both compliments and critiques of the 50th Anniversary and then turned
towards planning for the future. Topics covered included:
•
DiscussionofTECEncounter2016inQuincy,Illinois
•
ContinuationofTEC’srebrandingprocess
•
Dialogueonthedifferentministryteamsandhowtoencouragemembership
•
Reviewofquestionnairesfilledoutduring50thAnniversary
Interview with Chris LaRosa, TEC Historian and Archivist
Those in attendance at the 50th Anniversary were treated to a stunning display of TEC history and archives, arranged by our
volunteer historian and archivist, Chris LaRosa. He selflessly dedicated an enormous amount of time to creating a memorable
exhibit that truly captured the essence of TEC and its history. We interviewed Chris to get an insight into his process and how
he created the exhibit.
What was your favorite gem from the archives?
It’s hard to say, really. Going through the archives to assemble the history displays for the 50th was like trying piece together a
mosaic without knowing how many tiles would be needed or what it would look like when it was done. Every time I thought
I knew what shape the histories and the displays would take, I would find another picture, article, letter or writing that I then
felt I needed to include to complete the picture. If I had to pick anything, I would pick two items: an original copy of the very
first TEC weekend manual form 1965, including the very first meditation outlines, which gave a wonderful insight into the
earliest TEC weekends; and a file folder containing all of the original letters and forms from Dorothy’s Bishop and superiors
that released her into full-time ministry with TEC. That one made me realize that had any one of those letters not been written,
TEC as we know it may never have existed.
What was most difficult about the task of going through everything and putting it all together?
I was pretty sure I had the time to find and pick out materials for the displays, and I knew I had a wide enough range of material
to create a nice history. My biggest concern for over a year was, “How am I going to get these materials printed and mounted
so that they can be displayed?” I knew I would have dozens of pictures, articles and original pieces to put up, and until March I
no idea how I would get them on the walls! Thankfully I discovered that the local FedEx print shops print certain things cheaply
but beautifully. That’s why so many of the pieces were the same size, or multiples of that size! In those last two months I spent
a lot of nights creating and uploading display pieces, and a lot of afternoons between FedEx, Hobby Lobby and my den floor
gluing, mounting and trimming the display pieces.
You asked people to give you a quote about what TEC meant to them. What was your overall impression of
what TEC means to people or how they feel about TEC based on their quotes?
There were several themes that really shined through in those quotes, but I think the biggest theme overall was one of relationship – meeting someone’s spouse, renewing a relationship with the Church, finding a relationship with a community, and even
healing their own relationship with themselves. So many people spoke of building new or better relationships in some way,
but it was obvious that each time it happened it was always because that person died to themselves first and embraced their
relationship with Christ. Only then were they opened up to all of those other relationships.
A big part of the archives display was Dorothy Gereke’s mementos, and we know she kept EVERYTHING!
What was it like to go through the many possessions of the co-founder of TEC?
I was so very fortunate to have known Dorothy personally, so looking through all of her items meant discovering the early and
interesting fullness of the life of an old friend. For me, it really was an insight into her personality and her heart. I fully expected
to find writings, notes and insights about TEC, theology, the Church, etc., which were legion in those boxes. What I didn’t
expect were the thousands of small items, cards, pins, prayers, and trinkets that she kept. I don’t believe she was really a “pack
rat” in any sense. I believe that to her every one of these items was a reminder of a person, a face, a talk, a smile, a moment or an
experience in her life that really meant something to her. I think that every one of those things was one more reassurance to her
that she had touched a life and that she had made a difference in her own life. That’s why I’m so glad that so many people could
leave the 50th Anniversary with some of Dorothy’s things – all of these were little pieces of her own life that now continue to
live on in every corner of the TEC world.
What sort of things didn’t make it into the display?
We have thousands upon thousands of pictures, hundreds of letters and correspondence, dozens of additional articles about
TEC or TEC people, and many original writings from Fr. Matt and Dorothy that could have been included, but were not appropriate for displays that would only be browsed casually over short periods of time. There are also many items we have that
were too fragile to display, were not preserved in context, time-stamped, or unique in their own way.
Personally, I wish I could have included more about the many TEC-inspired movements that exist, including the non-Catholic,
the prison-based ministries, the Awakening-type retreats, and many others. Fr. Matt’s original theological vision was so brilliant and inspired that dozens of other movements were created based on it. Though not ‘TEC’ per se, they still show us just
how far and wide the Christ experience of TEC has spread, and I wish I could have shown that better. We too often see only
the TEC experience as our own movement, when it is actually much bigger and more widespread than most people realize.
And finally, can we expect to see a fabulous display from you at TEC’s 100th Anniversary?
Check with me in about forty-eight years and I’ll let you know if I’m feeling up to the task! Perhaps I’ll be able to get Billy’s
great-grandchildren to help me out with it by then.
View of archive display at TEC 50th Anniversary.
Close up of TEC founders for the archive display.
Binders displaying content of TEC history and archives.
View of archive display at TEC 50th Anniversary.
1007 Airline Park Boulevard,
Metairie, LA 70003
504.227.3233
www.TECConference.org
office@TECConference.org
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Breakfast
Bishops enjoy the breakfast provided by TEC as they watch our new promotional video.
On June 11, Executive Director Billy O’Regan and Episcopal Moderator Archbishop Gregory Aymond traveled to St. Louis, MO, to
host a breakfast at the summer meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). This was the first time TEC had
hosted such an event. Leading up to the breakfast, TEC worked with a graphic designer to create professional packets of information
to hand out during the event. These folders contained flyers and pamphlets about the TEC Conference and explaining how TEC can be
beneficial within a diocese. Formal invitations were sent to bishops around the country.
The bishops were served a hot meal and listened to a brief presentation by Billy and Archbishop Aymond. In his speech, Billy spoke
about the urgent need among emerging adults to have a personal and lasting encounter with Christ. He then shared some compelling
information about TEC and how this ministry continues to reach the young people of this generation at a critical developmental moment. The bishops were also shown a short promotional video for TEC, which is available for all local communities to view and share.
After breakfast, Billy and Archbishop Aymond were able to spend some time with the bishops, talking about TEC and other ministries.
To their surprise, while they were visiting with the bishops, the room filled again with other bishops eating breakfast. Billy and Archbishop Aymond were able to make their presentation a second time, thus increasing the number of bishops who heard about TEC that
day. Both Billy and Archbishop Aymond considered the breakfast to be a great success. This initiative was inspired and funded by a dear
friend of TEC, to whom we express our gratitude.
TEC Encounter 2016 will be hosted at
Quincy University by Great River TEC.
Please mark your calendars now to join us
July 29-31, 2016. Search “TEC Encounter
2016” on Facebook to find and LIKE the
Facebook page for more information. Help
us spread publicity for the event by sharing
with your local TEC community.
Please send your future TEC
weekend retreat dates, as well as
any changes in your TEC leaders’
contact information, to erica@
tecconference.org
TEC Promotional Video
Search for ‘TEC promotional video’ on
YouTube or enter this link (https://www.
youtube.com/watch?v=O8S6Kg_VnjM )
into your browser to watch our new promotional video. Share it with your friends
and community as a “TEC-splanation” for
what TEC is all about!
TEC Conference Partners in Ministry
These religious communities have joined our Partners in
Ministry program and offer continual prayer support for
the TEC Movement. Please contact us to have your religious
community featured here and on the TEC Conference.
Sisters of Bon Secours
Contact: S. Pat Dowling, CBS - 1525 Marriottsville Rd.
Marriottsville, Md. 21104 - Phone: (877) 742-0277
e-mail: pat_dowling@bshsi.org
Web site: www.bonsecoursvocations.org
Sisters of St. Benedict
Contact: S. Anne DeMers, OSB - St. Benedict Monastery
620 Summit Ave., Crookston, Minn. 56716
Phone: (218) 281-3441 e-mail: ademers@msb.net
Web site: www.msb.net
St. Mary Monastery
Contact: S. Bobbi Bussan, OSB—Vocation Director
2200 88th Ave. W., Rock Island, IL 61021
Phone: 309-283-2300 e-mail: rbussan@smmsisterrs.org
Web site: www.smmsisters.org
Redemptoristine Nuns
Phone: 636-464-1093
e-mail: rednun@redemptoristinenuns.org
Web site: www.redemptoristinenuns.org
Divine Word Missionaries
Contact: Mr. Len Uhal - PO Box 380 Epworth, Iowa 52045
Phone: 800-553-3321 e-mail: svdvocations@dwci.edu
Web site: www.svdvocations.org
Edmund Rice Christian Brothers
Contact: Br. James McDonald, C.F.C.
10001 S. Pulaski Road, Room 111, Chicago, Ill. 60655
Phone: 773-429-4496 - e-mail: bromaccfc@yahoo.com
Web site: www.erbrothers.org
Home Mission Sisters of America, Inc. (Glenmary Sisters)
Contact: John Calhoun
PO Box 22264 - Owensboro, Ky. 42304
Phone: 800-301-2689 - e-mail: John@glenmarysisters.org
Web site: www.glenmarysisters.org
Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul
Contact: S. Theresa Sullivan, D.C. - 9400 New Harmony
Road, Evansville, Ind. 47720 - Phone: (812) 963-7556
e-mail: daughtersofcharityvocations@gmail.com
Web site: www.daughters-of-charity.com/
Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers
Contact: Deacon Steven DeMartino
PO Box 305, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0305
Phone: (914) 941-7536 (2449) or (888) 627-9566
Web site: www.maryknollsociety.org
Gifts & Supplies:
Have you visited the Gifts & Supplies tab on the TEC
Conference website recently? We offer a variety of
products, including TEC crosses, pins, journals, stationery, books, and more. Our TEC crosses are our
most popular item. Purchasing these gifts and supplies for your community benefits the Conference,
although we do not profit from shipping. To place an
order, email erica@tecconference.org with your item
count and shipping address. We appreciate your support!
Dominican Sisters of Springfield
Contact: S. Teresa Marron
1237 West Monroe, Springfield, IL 62704
Phone: 708.207.1874 - E-mail: srteresa@spdom.org
Web site: www.springfieldop.org
Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, Indiana
Contact: S. Michelle Sinkhorn or S. Agnes Marie Dauby
802 E. 10th St., Ferdinand, Ind. 47532
Phone: (812) 367-1411 e-mail: vocation@thedome.org
Web site: www.thedome.org
School Sisters of Notre Dame
Contact: S. Joyelle Proot
320 East Ripa Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63125
Phone: 314-561-4100 - E-mail: jproot@ssndcp.org
Web site: www.ssndcentralpacific.org
Xaverian Missionary Fathers
Contact: Fr. Rocco Puopolo, s.x.
101 Summer Street, Holliston MA 01746
Phone 508 429 2144
Email: frrocco@xaviermissionaries.org
Website www.xaviermissionaries.org