March 16, 2008 edition

TAPT - 20 Years later, people keep coming back to help
by Steve Euvino

VALPARAISO – It takes many components to put on successful weekend retreat for 80+ teens, not the least of which is spirituality. However, there are also the more practical components, from environment to kitchen duties to housecleaning.

For 20 years the Diocese of Gary has offered Teens Are People Too (TAPT) and during that time many volunteers—including former TAPT’sters—have worked behind the scenes to ensure that teens have access to a memorable weekend.

Kevin Driscoll, director of the Office of Youth and Young Adults, estimated that TAPT XX had a staff of 40 during March 7-9. Many of those staff members, including Donna Frazier, have been coming back for more than half of the retreat’s 20 years.

“I’ve seen high school kids attend, then serve as peer and adult ministers,” said Frazier, from Our Lady of Grace, Highland.

The 2008 TAPT environment coordinator, Frazier said she keeps coming back because of “the kids and adults who are so dedicated to the young people. They help our young people see Jesus in themselves and others.”

Frazier added the “some if the best friendships I’ve made are the people I met through TAPT.”

Matt Eich established a friendship when he met his future wife, the former Laura Siegel, at the first TAPT in 1989. Since then the parishioner at St. Paul, Valparaiso, has served at 14 retreats.

“It’s more of a desire to serve and give back what I got,” said Eich, the 2008 TAPT co-director, “TAPT changed my life, and I have a desire to give these young people what I got.”

Drew Augustyn, the other co-director, has been to half of the 20 TAPT’s . “I believe in it,” said Augustyn, From St. Mary, Crown Point. “Teens don’t know things kike they used to. Our schools are so structured, they miss the opportunity to build community.” Among the key elements of the weekend, Augustyn said, is the Reconciliation service held Saturday night. With the assistance of Bishop Dale J. Melczek and 10 priests of the diocese, young people gathered in the dining hall at camp Lawrence, where candles on the floor led to areas for confession.

Faather Ian Williams, pastor at Sacred Heart, LaPorte, and a veteran of at least 12 TAPT’s, told retreatants that Reconciliation was an opportunity to see the “darkness” in their lives, Joe Kern, youth minister at St. James the Less, Highland, relating how God entered his life, reminded this youthful audience that “wherever you are in your life, God is here to meet you. God give His grace freely. Place your life in God’s hands. Allow that grace to enter you.”

Bishop Melczek, in comments prior to Reconciliation, told participants that their presence at TAPT “expresses your own faith.” He added, “Each of you is unique, and the Lord loves each of you in that uniqueness.”

The 2008 TAPT weekend was centered on the theme of seeing the face of Christ. Teens and adults gave witness talks about seeing Christ in their lives, after which retreatants broke into small discussions groups.

Father Williams, who in addition to priestly duties fixed plumbing, mopped floors, and set the dinner table for TAPT, said he comes back because “of the profound impact on young people, not just for a month, but it continues on.”

The LaPorte pastor said he’s seen TAPT members “diving” into parish ministry, from their teen years through adulthood.

“I see the real value of the retreat – young people being able to grow into a love relationship with Christ,” Father Williams said.

Ann Keene, who made her first TAPT in 1995, was directing the “Oats,” the behind-the-scene staff members involved in set-up and clean-up. Watching young people clean up after a Saturday evening dinner, Keen said, “this is a great group of kids. They remind you why you want to be Catholic. It’s good to see the transformation of the kids, and that reminds you of why you do it.”

A computer teacher at St. Mary School, Griffith, Keene explained that teens may be quiet upon their arrival at TAPT, but by the time they leave they’ve developed a new set of friends and are laughing and screaming.

“I’ve seen the kids renewed in their faith, and that’s nice just before Palm Sunday,” Keene said. “They’re excited about their faith.”

Katie Sanchez, one of those Oats members, was marking her second year at TAPT. She returned, she said, “because it is such a small environment, and you get to learn a lot from those small groups. The friends ;you made at TAPT, you kept as friends.”

Regarding her faith, Sanchez, a parishioner at Nativity of Our Savior, Portage, called TAPT “the wake-up call I needed, and the retreat helped me.”

(Article printed in the Northwest Indiana Catholic March 16th 2008 issue page 8 Volume XXII, Number 11)