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Author Archives: Trica Tembreull

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Life Teen and Edge Webinars: Relational Ministry on a Different Playing Field

By | June 27, 2011

Whether you are already registered for Life or Edge Support or you are looking into starting, you can sign up for a webinar or two. This is a free service and you do not have to be a Life Teen or Edge subscriber to participate. Webinars are one way that we as a Parish Outreach Team want to support you as in your ministry. We recognize that not everyone can come to a Life Teen and Edge Training Convention or Conference but you still need to be trained and you still need to connect with us as a staff. We also know that time is precious and no one wants to spend days playing phone tag waiting for an answer. Therefore, keeping that in mind, we developed four webinar trainings to support you from your playing field in a time sensitive way.

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Pilgrimage to Judah: Taking time in Advent and Christmas to learn from Mary

By | December 25, 2010

A few years ago, during the season of Advent, my sister and I traveled to Lourdes, France for a pilgrimage. It was a gift that continues to transform my heart year after year, cup after cup of Lourdes water, rosary decade after decade lifted up in prayer. A pilgrimage is a very special gift that should not be overlooked during this season of Advent for that is exactly the gift that the Holy family gave us in their journey to Bethlehem with the birth of our Savior. To travel a long journey to a sacred place is a gift unto itself: the sights, smells, tastes, and rituals undiscovered yet instantly seized into memory. But, to realize something of unexplainable significance is as majestic as the Magi themselves.

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Avoiding Burnout: Answers from I Love Lucy

By | August 18, 2010

Ever since I was a kid, I can honestly say that I Love Lucy. The television show, the woman (Lucille Ball), the lack of Technicolor on the TV set – I love it all! One of my favorite episodes, “Job Switching”, has Lucy and Ethel working at a candy factory while Ricky and Fred attempt housework. The most memorable scene is when the girls are placed in the wrapping department where they’re ordered to wrap every piece of chocolate on the conveyer belt in a wrapper. At first, the chocolates come out slowly but soon enough they speed past Lucy and Ethel as they shove pieces in their hats, shirts, and mouths to keep up the allusion of perfection. Looking competent, the boss orders them to “speed it up”, causing their unavoidable first day firing.

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June 2010: The Best Month Ever!

By | July 1, 2010

June 2010 has been one of the most exciting months I can remember for Life Teen. It started with our Life Teen Convention with 500 participants and 70 priests in attendance and then crescendoed in our Mesa office when we welcomed 47 new Life Teen parishes in one month. Every day Pam Zimmerman would place a new stack of parishes on my desk and I would ring my bell with the biggest smile on my face. Soon, Kevin Hickey would run into the office to ring the bell for the 33 new Edge parishes and the enthusiasm just got bigger and bigger.

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Dealing with the “Other Stuff” of Youth Ministry

By | February 11, 2010

When I first started in youth ministry I was green, youthful, and enthusiastic.  I attended Diocesan meetings excited, only to encounter tenured youth ministers who appeared burned out. The longer I stayed in youth ministry, the more I understood how people get burned out. On the outside I was as enthusiastic as ever, but in [...]

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Are You Making a Small Deal Out of Confirmation?

By | October 22, 2009

It continually surprises me when I get asked the question, “Can we just make Life Nights our parish Confirmation program?” Don’t get me wrong, I understand the reason for the question: not enough time to do Life Teen and Confirmation or you don’t have enough catechists or you’re trying to kill two birds with one [...]

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Don’t Be A “Bridezilla” At Your Life Teen Kickoff

By | September 10, 2009

I just got off the phone with a youth minister who asked me for some last minute words of advice prior to her parish kickoff this weekend. In our conversation I told her that the most important thing to do on the big day is to pray and be present to the teens. As much [...]

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After a Big Summer, Take Time to Celebrate and Anticipate

By | July 29, 2009

The Life Teen staff traveled all over the country to various conferences, camps, retreats, and more to pray, play, and grow in virtue with you and your teens this summer. We kicked off the summer with super heroes at camp; we grew in virtue as ministers at the Life Teen Training Convention; our teens learned [...]

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4 Common Mistakes of Starting Life Teen (And How to Avoid Them)

By | April 29, 2009

As the youngest child in my family, I have found tremendous joy learning from my mistakes of my brother and sisters. If you are the youngest in your family you know what I’m talking about. Your older siblings make massive mistakes, and you just sit back thankful you’re not the one with the bar of [...]

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Tips on Managing Busy Summers

By | March 26, 2008

When I think of summer I think of Red Rover, Steal the Bacon, kickball, chalk cities, bike rides to the park, Barbies, forts, and camping trips. I remember having so much time on my hands I was bored. I was lucky to grow up on a cul-de-sac with a friend to play with every day [...]