By Joan Koehne, TEC 286 Volunteer
A Faith-Filled 3-Day Catholic Retreat
The photos below give you a glimpse of what happened on the TEC 286 Catholic retreat, but the photos can’t possibly represent all of the laughter, faith-sharing, music, and camaraderie we experienced. The 11 young adults came to the retreat ready to participate, and the volunteers came ready to serve. The result was powerful! Special thanks to our Spiritual Directors Father Kevin Ripley of the Diocese of Green Bay Vocations Office and Deacon John Bundra, Senior Deacon at Nativity of Our Lord Parish. Also, thanks to team leaders Craig Majeski, James Steinike, and David Weddig. By word and example, they led our three-day faith journey that filled us with God’s goodness.
Intergenerational Community of Volunteers
The TEC 286 leaders worked with an intergenerational team of volunteers. We were blessed with high school students, college students, and adults of all ages. One volunteer traveled from Nebraska to work the TEC retreat with her mom. Jane and Katelyn shared beautiful stories about their family’s love, resilience, and trust in God. We also had three husband-and-wife volunteers on the team. I know that each one appreciates having a supportive spouse who helps them grow in faith. TEC 286 was blessed to welcome 6 first-time volunteers to the retreat, 5 high school students and one college student who started her spring break at TEC 286. Their helpfulness, eagerness, and faithfulness were so inspiring. The director said he never had to ask twice to accomplish the tasks at hand. Everyone pitched in to help make the retreat a success.
Overcoming Obstacles Prior to the Retreat
“Nonchalant” was one of the buzzwords on TEC 286. We got a good laugh when this small groups incorporated “nonchalant” into its group name. Leading up to TEC 286, we had moments that were not nonchalant. Anchor of Hope TEC had several obstacles to overcome which added some uncertainty to our prep. The first uncertainty was about the venue. Two weeks before the retreat, we were still questioning whether St. Joseph, a former Catholic school in Green Bay, could host us again. But it all worked out, and we are thankful we have an entire school available for our retreats. The second uncertainty related to registrations. We were blessed with an abundance of volunteers (Praise the Lord!), but very few TECites. In the end, 11 young adults participated in the weekend retreat.
Prayerful, Fun Group of Young Adults
We couldn’t have asked for a more open, prayerful, and fun group. These 11 young adults made us realize that we don’t need 20 or 30 retreatants in order to have an awesome retreat experience. God touched the hearts of these 11 and the team of volunteers in a profound way. We’ll keep inviting high school students and adults to spend a TEC weekend with Jesus, and we’ll keep praying for more to say Yes to TEC retreats. But in the end, whether we have 10, 20, or 30 TECites doesn’t matter as much as whether we all grow closer to Christ because of our retreat experience.
So Thankful for God’s Blessings on TEC 286
What will the buzzword be at TEC 287 in November 2026? Sign up, and find out for yourself if “nonchalant” makes a return appearance. TEC 286 overcame some huge obstacles, and we are so thankful to everyone who contributed to its success. Special thanks to the Catholic Foundation of the Green Bay Diocese for its financial support. Most of all, we thank God for all His blessings before, during, and after TEC 286.
