Communicator. February 2014 MAMA TEC CALLED HOME. Stay connected to your TEC family. By: Deacon Dick Venezia

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1 EC Communicator Stay connected to your TEC family February 2014 MAMA TEC CALLED HOME By: Deacon Dick Venezia Dorothy Gereke, otherwise known as Mama TEC, passed away peacefully on February 6. She would have celebrated her 90th birthday on the 19th of this month. One of the many God-experiences associated with TEC s co-founder was that she went to be with the Lord on the feast of St. Dorothy which caused a friend to quip, She sure planned ahead. I write to give you a glimpse of Dorothy other than that which is on the home page of the TEC Conference web site, TECConference.org and to share with you some of the witnessing that those who gathered for her services were privileged to hear. I was truly honored to have been asked by Dorothy to conduct her wake service. Typically after the homily I invite those who wish to share memories of her to come forward and do so. The witnessing went on for 45 minutes or so --- the longest by far in my experience. How special! Our Executive Director, Billy, choked up as he credited Dorothy with changing his life through TEC, and introducing him to the Lord. Many told of being mothered by her and one, her spiritual directee, openly wept. Another told of how he was soundly scolded for having referred to her as Grandma TEC. I once but only once made that same mistake. Dorothy established Koinonia, essentially a TEC for older adults, at her home parish, St. Joan of Arc in Boca Raton FL. Many of those who shared at the service had experienced that retreat. They spoke of her deep faith, her ready smile, the twinkle in her eye and her little giggle. One Koinonia couple, Paul and Pat Phillips, tirelessly managed Dorothy s medical, financial, and personal needs --- visiting her at least once per day, and usually multiple times. When Dorothy moved to Boca Raton in the late 70s, my wife, Colleen, and I were among the first people she met. Quickly developing a close friendship, we were on the receiving end of Dorothy s frequent comments about TEC. Yet several years later when she and Fr. Matt as co-founders were contacted and asked if they would be the keynote speakers at TEC s 20th anniversary celebration she had no idea that TEC was still in existence let alone well organized. She commented, Wild horses couldn t keep me from going. Dorothy was reenergized by her experience and she immediately used her connections and her own funds to send several people to Omaha and Denver to experience a TEC with the intention of establishing the movement in the Palm Beach area. TEC was indeed established there and although it years later died out for a time it was reestablished in South Florida, and she played a huge role in it. She was part of virtually every team, participating in the Hoot in her declining times. She was in a wheel chair and on oxygen at her last appearance but still challenged all of us to carry the movement forward and share what we have been given. Not many days before her passing, one of Dorothy s friends who regularly brought her the Eucharist noted that something had happened to her and indeed it had. Dorothy went from being concerned about regaining her strength to accepting the inevitable. Whatever God wants, she said, I m ready. She was seeing visions of people, one of whom she called Mary. continuted on next page...

2 Mama TEC Called Home continued... Indeed when the call from Paul came, informing us that she was being taken to the Hospice facility, we knew that her time was short. She passed into eternity the following morning at 4:30 in the company of her devoted caregiver, Jackie. I would be remiss if I were not to relate a happening in which God spoke to me through Dorothy. Colleen and I were living in the Florida Keys at the time and Dorothy was visiting with friends as she often did. She knew that freshly caught fish would be on our lunch menu. She told me that there was an upcoming TEC spiritual directors workshop in the St. Louis area. She knew full well that there were no TEC centers in Florida at the time and so the obvious question would be, Why should I go? Because it was Dorothy, I attended the workshop and soon afterward I was contacted and asked to facilitate the establishment of what is now Sonshine TEC in southeast Florida. The funeral Mass on Monday the 10th was a fitting sendoff for Dorothy. I was privileged to assist at the Mass which was concelebrated by four priests --- all being old friends --- one having come from the Bahamas. As noted on our web site I visited Dorothy less than a week before her passing and I quoted from St. John: In my Father s house there are many mansions. I told her that hers would be a very large one. She told me that it would have to be because she has many children. I repeat the story because that was the very Gospel selected for the Mass --- but by someone else. Dorothy was at it again! There will be another celebration of her life which will take place on April 5th near Chicago, Illinois. Dorothy s late husband, Paul, is interred there and her cremains will be interred next to Paul s. There she will rest and when the Lord comes to raise us up on the last day, we ll meet again. Until then with our waking breath we thank God for her and the gift she has given us all: TEC. Memorial Mass, Reception and Interment for Dorothy on Saturday April 5, :30AM - Memorial Mass at St. Christina Catholic Church, 111th St. and Christina Ave. Chicago, IL :30AM - Reception at St. Christina Parish with light refreshments Noon - Interment of Dorothy s ashes at Oak Hill Cemetery, South Kedzie Ave. Chicago, IL, TEC Congress Aug 1-3, 2014 in Kansas City, Kansas Humility of Heart Our Theme is Humility of Heart, stemming from Ps 119:71 - It is good for me that you have humbled me so I may learn your commandments. Savior of the World Pastoral Center Parallel Parkway Kansas City, Kansas TEC Congress 2014 will focus on humbly accepting Christ in your life and accepting the call to TEC. Cost: An $85 registration fee covers the costs of the Congress program, five meals, and conference space. It is due at the time of registration. The remaining amount (due upon arrival) is determined by your room preference. Below are the prices for rooms for two nights. Single: $ (private room) Double: $90.00 (two twin beds) Quad: $80.00 (four twin beds) Young Adult (18-21): $45.00 The TEC Congress registration page will go live in the next two weeks!

3 Director Billy O Regan recently traveled to Missouri and Illinois to visit with Billy O. On the Go! Executive several TEC communities. Below are some of the pictures from his trip! Dinner with leaders of Mid-America TEC in the Diocese of Jefferson City, MO. The picture of Billy s lunch with Spirit of St. Louis TEC leaders is unavailable. Dinner with Great River TEC leaders from the Diocese of Springfield, IL. Bishops Supporting TEC The Episcopal Moderator of TEC, Archbishop Gregory Aymond, is sending a letter next week to each bishop in the United States, asking for prayers and a financial gift for the TEC Conference. This is our annual Bishop s Appeal which comes directly from Archbishop Aymond. Please pray for the success of this appeal. Coffee with Kyle Holtgrave, Associate Director for Youth & Young Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Springfield, IL. Dinner with Peoria TEC, Bloomington/Normal TEC and Peterstown TEC leaders in the Diocese of Peoria, IL. Norb & Michelle Kramer, Riverbend TEC 172; Brett & Lori Mathiowetz, Riverbend TEC; Tom & Kris Langworthy, Riverbend TEC; Peter & Ann Langworthy, Riverbend TEC; Jennifer & Ed Merritt, New Orleans TEC 89; Heidi & Brian Parrow Winsted, Riverbend TEC 192; Brock & Kim Sondgeroth, West Central TEC 4; Billy & Sara O'Regan, New Orleans TEC 82; Matt & Nickie Moncada, New Orleans TEC 33; Sandi & Stephen Johnson, New Orleans TEC 101; Randall & Christine Roberts, New Orleans TEC 97; Dustin & Sarah Treiber, Pittsburg TEC 88; Becky Crusen & Paul Noel, Peoria TEC 69; Laura & John Smestad, New Orleans TEC 104; Ken & Shelle Sandbothe, Mid America TEC 10; Dan & Paula Sanning, Mid America TEC; Tim & Angie McCann, New Orleans TEC 13; Jackie Stenger & Kevin Kampeter, Westphalia TEC 1980; Shannon & Erin Ramsay Cerneka, Mid-America TEC; Mickey & Mary Giroir, New Orleans TEC 49; Ken & Teresa Huxel, Heartland-Washington TEC 40; Anthony & Patty Bellocq, New Orleans TEC met on TEC We would love to include additional couples who in future newsletters. your names and TEC number to: jenn@tecconference.org TEC Married Couples

4 Council Corner Meet Dr. Ann Stock of Belleville TEC My Contact Information is: Office Phone: (618) Cell Phone: (618) Main Secondary I am Dr. Ann Stock, from Belleville, Illinois and lifelong member of the Cathedral of St Peter Parish in the Diocese of Belleville, Illinois. My father signed me up for my first TEC Retreat, Belleville TEC 8, in the winter of My parents were classmates and friends of Bishop Stanley Schlarman, who as a priest working at Mater Dei High School, introduced the TEC retreat program to the Belleville Diocese 40 years ago. I thought it was a wonderful experience and I recognized God s true presence and the Holy Spirit dwelling among us, especially during the visit to the Blessed Sacrament after the reunion. I recognized the same presence of Jesus when I received the sacraments as I was growing up as well as the spontaneous flow of love and peace that I experienced at the charismatic prayer meetings. I am the third of 10 children, and I have seven sisters, two brothers and many nieces and nephews. I am single, and my greatest privilege in my life has been to be a part of this family and to be an auntie with my own youth group. While in college I worked full time at the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows Pilgrims Inn Hotel. The Pilgrims Inn was basically a 38-room retreat house that also was also a hotel. During this time I grew to appreciate the retreat approach to growing one s faith. Stepping away from the distractions and demands of everyday life and spending time with the Lord is time well spent. Was it St Augustine who said that singing is twice praying? Well I say retreating is twice singing. After graduating from college I started my post-college career back with the Oblates of Immaculate Mary; I was an Administrative Assistant to Fr. Edwin Guild and who at that time was creating the Catholic Evangelization Association. Fr Guild was developing this new program to help with parish renewals with the purpose of evangelizing fallen-away Catholics and bringing them back to the church. When he retired, I started working for two chiropractors. They were inspirations to me and encouraged me to return to college and become a chiropractor. Dr Tom and his wife were Catholic, and very involved with the Cursillo retreats in our diocese and I attended one while I worked for them, and then another after chiropractic college. I graduated from Logan College of Chiropractic in December 1985, and have been practicing in the Belleville area since. I have recently become Board Certified as a Medical Examiner for FMCSA. I got re-involved with TEC about 15 years ago and joined the Belleville TEC Board. I have served on most of the committees and positions including chairperson. I try to be on at least one TEC per year. My major interest has been the Lay Spiritual Director s role. I have also participated in three National TEC Conference workshop events: Renewing the Vision, in Peoria, Illinois, Communities of Faith and Follow Through Workshop, in Springfield, Illinois, and The Spiritual Directors Workshop in Eureka, Missouri. I have also attended two Congresses, one in Kentucky and one in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. I am honored and grateful to have been asked to help the National TEC Conference by serving as a State Representative this year. I have collaborated with Penny Wolf and Ron Reiter on multiple occasions in the past and look forward to working with all of you this year.

5 January Leadership Council Meeting Recap The Leadership Council of the TEC Conference recently met in Eureka, Missouri (near St. Louis) for one of its biannual meetings. The Council provides the TEC Conference with direction, leadership and momentum. It hires and supports the Executive Director and is a group of prayer and fellowship. The Council dialogued on a number of important topics at this gathering, including... After approving our minutes from our summer meeting in 2013, we talked about our terminology (Congress & Conference) (Leadership Council & Leadership Team) and how we can simplify for the sake of the TEC family. Outside ideas are welcome! We prayed, deliberated and selected the winners of the 2014 Heritage Awards and Friend of TEC Award, which will be given at this summer s TEC Congress in Kansas City. We prayerfully moved through an invitation and discernment process to select the Leadership Team (different from Leadership Council). Billy O Regan presented an Executive Director Report and members of various Ministry Teams also presented reports, sparking excellent dialogue. Topics included: o Billy s visits to various TEC Communities o Spirituality Team is working on Meditation Outline Updates o Gereke Grants o Financial health of the TEC Conference & development efforts o The urgent need for database expansion o Our communications efforts and practices o Stewardship Fee participation o Development of a Speakers Bureau to help TEC Communities host affordable formation workshops We reviewed, discussed and tentatively approved our budget for the fiscal year We conducted a performance review for our Executive Director, Billy O Regan We reviewed the reports submitted by TEC Communities and discussed our strategic direction and the needs of the TEC family. We reviewed the status of the planning of the 2014 TEC Congress and the th Anniversary Celebration. We also discussed the future of our annual gatherings and continued our efforts to discern the direction in which we are being led. The Council traveled to Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows to attend vigil Mass and evaluate the facilities at the Shrine for the upcoming 50th Anniversary celebration of TEC. Dinner was enjoyed at Shrine Restaurant with Belleville TEC leaders Our January meeting brought together 16 Leadership Council members from 11 TEC Communities. If your community does not have a strong relationship with your State Representative or if your State is not currently represented on the Leadership Council, pray for the situation, dialogue with your local leadership and contact us! 1007 Airline Park Boulevard, Metairie, LA office@tecconference.org

6 Belleville TEC Renewal Weekend 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 Marriottsville Rd. Marriottsville, Md Phone: (877) pat_dowling@bshsi.org Web site: On January the Belleville TEC community held a TEC Renewal with about 14 people in attendance. The content for the renewal weekend was developed by Mary Poletti, Chair of Belleville s core team, Illinois Council members Ann Stock (Belleville), Penny Wolf (Peoria) and TEC Conference Executive Director Billy O Regan. The content was meant to renew individual participants while sparking an accelerated renewal of their TEC community. Bishop Emeritus Stanley Schlarman (pictured below with Billy) of the Diocese of Dodge City was a guest presenter. Sisters of St. Benedict Contact: S. Anne DeMers, OSB - St. Benedict Monastery 620 Summit Ave., Crookston, Minn Phone: (218) ademers@msb.net Web site: St. Mary Monastery Contact: S. Bobbi Bussan, OSB Vocation Director th Ave. W., Rock Island, IL Phone: rbussan@smmsisterrs.org Web site: Redemptoristine Nuns Phone: rednun@redemptoristinenuns.org Web site: Divine Word Missionaries Contact: Mr. Len Uhal - PO Box 380 Epworth, Iowa Phone: svdvocations@dwci.edu Web site: Edmund Rice Christian Brothers Contact: Br. James McDonald, C.F.C S. Pulaski Road, Room 111, Chicago, Ill Phone: bromaccfc@yahoo.com Web site: Home Mission Sisters of America, Inc. (Glenmary Sisters) Contact: John Calhoun PO Box Owensboro, Ky Phone: John@glenmarysisters.org Web site: Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul Contact: S. Theresa Sullivan, D.C New Harmony Road, Evansville, Ind Phone: (812) daughtersofcharityvocations@gmail.com Web site: TEC Anniversaries The following TEC communities are celebrating anniversaries of the founding of TEC in their diocese in We give thanks for each of you. Let us know how you plan to celebrate! 10 Years New Life TEC in the Diocese of Gaylord, Michigan 10 Years Czech TEC in the Czech Republic 20 Years North Central West Virginia TEC in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston, West Virginia 20 Years Lincoln TEC in the Diocese of Lincoln, Nebraska 30 Years Wichita TEC in the Diocese of Wichita, Kansas Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers Contact: Deacon Steven DeMartino PO Box 305, Maryknoll, NY Phone: (914) (2449) or (888) Web site: Dominican Sisters of Springfield Contact: S. Teresa Marron 1237 West Monroe, Springfield, IL Phone: srteresa@spdom.org Web site: Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, Indiana Contact: S. Michelle Sinkhorn or S. Agnes Marie Dauby 802 E. 10th St., Ferdinand, Ind Phone: (812) vocation@thedome.org Web site: School Sisters of Notre Dame Contact: S. Joyelle Proot 320 East Ripa Avenue, St. Louis, MO Phone: jproot@ssndcp.org Web site: Xaverian Missionary Fathers Contact: Fr. Rocco Puopolo, s.x. 101 Summer Street, Holliston MA Phone frrocco@xaviermissionaries.org Website