By: Billy O'Regan

Early in February I traveled to the Annual Membership Meeting of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM), which has been rebranded as “Exchange“. Exchange occurs in the first week of February, moving around the country annually. This year we gathered in Colorado Springs with about 150 youth ministry professionals in attendance, mostly folks who are diocesan youth ministry directors or executive directors of youth-serving Catholic ministries. it was a great opportunity to network and share with other professionals in my field.

It’s encouraging to meet so many faith-filled and gifted men and women from every corner of our country. This year we were joined by Bishop Joseph Espaillat of the Archdiocese of New York, who preached and led us in worship multiple times. Another highlight was Dr. Julie Sadusky, who gave a truly helpful presentation on gender issues affecting youth and those who serve them. The prayer experiences at Exchange were very rich this year with Thomas Muglia leading worship beautifully. I have always enjoyed the Litany of Humility, which TEC communities in the state of Kansas had shared with me years ago, but I had never heard it set to music as beautifully as Thomas Muglia has done.

This gathering was particularly helpful for TEC in that I was able to have several conversations which I pray and expect will benefit TEC in several dioceses where it already exists and in other dioceses which hope to begin a new TEC community in the coming months and years. Particularly there is momentum and strong desire to bring TEC to the Northern Indiana area where several dioceses intersect. Also, the diocese of Sacramento, California is very interested in beginning TEC and Quest. Additionally, I had the opportunity to share a private meal with Bishop James Golka, Bishop of the Diocese of Colorado Springs. Bishop Golka has TEC experience from his years serving as a priest in the Diocese of Grand Island. We had a wonderful meal and a truly memorable conversation about family, life, and ministry and our beautiful and complicated Church.

For about a decade, I have served on the hospitality team for this annual gathering. This group remains a warm community of friends who are passionate about being the welcoming face and friendly smile for our coworkers in the vineyard. At the end of my time in Colorado Springs, I traveled to Denver and shared a meal with Bernie DeSantis, a TEC friend from New Orleans who now serves as a campus minister in Denver. Bernie and I enjoyed an excellent Vietnamese meal with Ron Marinelli of Rocky Mountain TEC and the TEC Conference Spirituality Ministry Team. The restaurant is owned by the parents of one of Bernie’s former students, and they warmly welcomed us.

I remain grateful for the opportunity to travel on behalf of TEC and to share our awesome ministry with others!