Every year, the international TEC family gathers for three days of fellowship, prayer, networking, and learning. This year, Encounter 2019 took place in Collegeville, MN, from July 12-14. Host team Central Minnesota TEC welcomed attendees from 26 different TEC communities to St. John’s University, where all were invited to hear Christ’s individual call.
Keynote speaker John Vitek, co-author of the popular study Going, Going, Gone: The Dynamics of Disaffiliation in Young Catholics, walked listeners through the statistics of why young adults are leaving the Church while encouraging everyone to continue the good work of ministries like TEC that welcome them into the loving communities they desire. John’s presentation, as well as witness speakers Kristen Neuman’s and Darrell Welle’s talks, and other portions of Encounter are available for viewing on the TEC Conference Facebook page.
Following the keynote presentation, Encounter participants created their own schedule by selecting which breakout sessions most appealed to them, which ranged from playful to prayerful to formative. The main event concluded with the Agape Dinner on Saturday evening, during which Mary Lu Geiger (Almost Heaven TEC) and Jim and Marie Rice (Riverbend TEC) were honored with the 2019 Heritage Award. After dinner, attendees enjoyed the annual auction, live music, and the company of friends both new and old.
Executive Director Billy O’Regan wrapped up the event with a call for all who love TEC to return to the “bare necessities” and remember exactly what we want to share as we provide opportunities for young adults to encounter Christ in today’s world, not as a program, but as the community and family that TEC uniquely provides and young adults long for.
Michelle Biver from Belleville TEC knows she will take Billy’s encouragement back to her home TEC community. She says, “TEC Encounter 2019 was a wonderful experience. Each Encounter I attend has the same loving feeling as a TEC, just feeling surrounded by God's love through people. I love being able to join in community with TEC family from around the world as we share, play, and pray together. I take so much from each Encounter I attend. It helps me to grow in my faith, deepens my appreciation and understanding of the TEC movement, gives me ideas to bring back to my community, and gives me a continually growing faith family of support.”
"I love being able to join in community with TEC family from around the world... it helps me to grow in my faith, deepens my appreciation and understanding of the TEC movement, gives me ideas to bring back to my community, and gives me a continually growing faith family of support."
As always, the TEC Conference owes the success of Encounter to the many hands that came together and worked to make it possible. Thank you to Central Minnesota TEC, the national planning ministry team, every participant who said “yes” to attending, and everyone who prayed, donated, or contributed in any way to the event. We hope to see everyone again next year at Encounter 2020 (July 10-12, 2020), hosted by Sunflower TEC in Kansas City, KS!
We would especially like to thank Catholic Development Group for sponsoring Encounter 2019!
