TEC in 2018

Northcoast Teens Encounter Christ experienced many wonderful things this past year! From Bishop visits, to members of the community having life-changing moments, there is much to be grateful for. Let's take a peek at some of the notable things that happened this past year...

Retreats:
TEC 119-122 welcomed 113 new members to the community! Of those members, 72 were teens, 23 were young adults, and 18 were adults. 

 

Board:
The TEC board also welcomed some new members this year. Please give a warm welcome to the new following members:

• Katherine Komar, Chairperson
• David Liptak, Treasurer
• Helena Marcic, Teen Representative
• Joe Krych, Teen Representative

The board will also be welcoming new members at the start of the new year. Those members are: 

• Erin Galla, Registrar
• Adam Savel, Young Adult Representative 
• Justin Hunkar, Facilitator
• Alicia Gresko, First Adult Representative

The board also had their first bonding outing at an escape room..... and lost! 

Community:

The community welcomed Bishop Perez to the TEC community over the summer at a FOP. Read about the visit here: https://www.dioceseofcleveland.org/bishop-tec2018/.

Below are some events that members wanted to share with the community:

• Katie Betters (Fraser)(TEC 109) got married to Mark Betters on November 24th of this year.

• Bryan Istenes(TEC 111) had a summer internship with the FBI and would like to pursue that as a future career.

• Jennifer Morgan (Ference)(TEC 108) and Daniel Morgan(TEC 109) wed on August 4, 2018.

•  Gabby Yatson(TEC 106) recently graduated from college with a degree in Phlebotomy and has a job lined up with the Cleveland Clinic main campus.

Most importantly, the TEC Community received hundreds of prayer requests that were gladly received and prayed for. We are truly blessed to have this family.

That's all for now. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Spirit of Tec 2018

On August 12, at our annual TEC picnic, the Spirit of Tec 2018 winners were announced. Each year,  through pray and discernment, the board selects three members of the community who have shown committed service to (or as) the youth and young adults of the Church, have contributed to the TEC ministry in a significant way, and who are witnesses of the Paschal Mystery in their daily lives. We are happy to congratulate Mary Wojciechowski, Tom Kurtz, and Mike Giulivo as the 2018 Spirit of TEC award winners. Below you can read the beautiful words that were written about each of our winner. Please congratulate Mary, Tom and Mike should you see them!

Mary Wojciechowski 

“When you know how much God is in love with you, then you can only live your life radiating that love.” This quote from Saint Teresa of Calcutta perfectly describes Mary Wojciechowski. She is a young women of great faith, radiating the love of Christ to everyone who encounters her. Mary assists the Northcoast Spirit TEC community, her parish, and the imprisoned with great devotion. She is always willing to help, offering her love, support, and prayers, no matter how busy she may be. Mary serves the NCS TEC community in many ways including working multiple TEC weekends and always being a helping hand, even though majority of her service will not be seen by others. Additionally, she lives out her faith both by being an active participant with Newman Campus Ministry and volunteering with parish youth ministry in our diocese.  Mary lives out the important message from Saint Therese of Lisieux which teaches us to “Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.” Mary is a radiating light of Christ in not only our community, but the greater Church as well. We are truly thankful for the gift of Mary. It is an honor for NCS TEC to present the 2018 Spirit of TEC award to Mary Wojciechowski."

Mike Giulivo 

"Most saints have a notable quote attributed to them. St. Joseph, husband of Mary, has no attributed quotes.  He is a man of quiet action, taking Mary into his home, protecting the holy family, and teaching Jesus in faith and trade.  This year’s Spirit of TEC winner, Mike Giulivo, has modeled his life after St. Joseph, quiet action, with dedication to faith and family.  Mike quietly serves as husband to the Facilitator. He has helped set up ever weekend and clean up from every TEC weekend. He helps sort and organize bins, shop for supplies, and do the laundry generated in each weekend. He is a family man, supporting his wife and children.  Mike leads and protects his family. The greatest role he has is of husband, father, and grandfather. He also encourages people around him to experience TEC. Mike embraces his OPEC status. He dives into whatever role asked of him, and makes the OPECs more comfortable opening up. He is a father figure to many teens on the retreat, and will check in and pray for them. In addition to his service to TEC, Mike is active in his parish, St. Charles Borromeo. He leads a men’s faith group and sings in the choir.  Mike is content to never be recognized and serve. He can often be heard saying, “It isn’t about me.” For his quiet action, NCS TEC is happy to recognize Mike Giulivo as Spirit of TEC winner."

Tom Kurtz

"Be hospitable to one another without complaining. As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of God’s varied grace”. 1 Peter 4: 9-10. Tom Kurtz, a loving and participating member of North Coast Spirit Tec truly embodies the above bible verses. Tom has been a member of the TEC community for over 10 years, after he begrudgingly agreed to go on a retreat with the word “teen” in it after the urgings of his teenage son. Tom’s journey with TEC was just beginning after his initial retreat. Since then, he has worked 7 retreats, has introduced countless friends and family to TEC, and has played an integral role in serving the community through prayer and generosity in the forms of time, talent, and treasure. With his positive attitude and a personality that people gravitate towards, Tom continues to shine the light of Christ to the community whenever he is present. Outside of TEC, Tom is a daily mass attender, a devout rosary pray-er and a loving friend and father. He is a blessing to so many and through his selflessness and kindness, has changed many people’s lives for the better. It is with great joy to present the 2018 Spirit of Tec award to Tom Kurtz."

A Welcome Letter from Our Chairperson

Back in January, Katherine Komar became our new Chairperson for North Coast TEC. Since then, Katherine has been a wonderful re-addition to our Board and a co-leader of our community. 

See below a long awaited welcome letter that Katherine would like to share with all of us:

"Dear TEC community,

   Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed! What a joy it is to raise our voices in Alleluia once again! It feels like forever and no time since I became chairperson in January (sorry this is so late). I feel so honored and humbled to serve the community. In October 2002, I made TEC #59 as a senior in high school. The nerd I was had concerns about missing school on Friday to make the retreat, and ironically, it was my parents who were fine with my skipping class. However, the weekend was amazing and I was thrilled to have been there and be part of the community. Reflecting over my time in TEC, I was trying to decide my favorite part, but I couldn’t pick just one, so my two favorite parts of the TEC community these past 15 years, are the intergenerational family that is created and our devotion to our Eucharistic Lord. We come together from all walks of life, locations, ages and places on our spiritual journey to support each other and grow closer to God.  In a time when our culture tends to encourage the separation of the generations, I love how teens, young adults and adults come together. I still have fond memories of working a TEC where three grandmas came, because their grandchildren wanted to share what they had experienced. What a joy it was to see those ladies who were continuing to strive to listen to the Lord’s call in their lives! They witnessed for all - tecites and team alike - that the Christian life truly is a journey we live our entire lives. Central to that journey as Catholic Christians is the Eucharist. Whether it is on a weekend or at a FOP/XLT, making time to be present before Christ in the Eucharist is a priority in the community. Welcoming those who have never experienced adoration, coming back after a time away or regularly meeting Jesus in the Host, adoration is central to who we are and why we exist. How blessed it is to gather together and offer Him, who has given us everything, praise and thanksgiving, while also entrusting our pains, sorrows, struggles and wounds to Him who is the Divine Healer that He may provide help, whether directly or through others.

While I was working TEC 120, the Lord reminded me how truly blessed we are in this community. Throughout the weekend I was reminded of just how many people come together so others may encounter the risen Lord! We often think of how we share Christ when we are working and we do - how wonderful that we can be physically present to the tecites and walk with them. Yet, while working and maybe because when you are in charge you feel the pressure and responsibility a bit more, the Lord awakened in my heart such a gratitude for all those who serve from home on the weekend. I feel 100% confident saying, TEC wouldn’t be the same without you! The prayers and sacrifices of the community are felt so tangibly by those on the weekend. Whether people pray at work, school, home, the Die Day service, drop off forgotten supplies, help care for children, cover work shifts, and the plethora of other services done by those not physically present for the weekend it is that sacrificial love that makes TEC so blessed. The joy with which others undertake these “lower places” as Christ says in the Scriptures truly brings the greatest glory, for the team and tecites wouldn’t have the weekend they do without you. For, “Unless a grain of wheat falls

to the ground and dies, it remains, but a single grain. But if it dies, it bears
much fruit.” John 12:24 Thank you for embodying the Paschal Mystery, so that through death you and others may rise to new life!

Know of my prayers for each of you, your loved ones and intentions.

In Christ’s Love,

Katherine Komar, TEC #59"

Please keep Katherine in your prayers as she continues to minister to us as a faithful servant of Christ!!

Goodbye, Desi! ........ Hello, Katherine!

Goodbye, Desi! 

The TEC board and community would like to take this opportunity to extend a big THANK YOU to our now Chairperson Emeritus Desi Gould for her service to the TEC Community. Desi most recently served as chairperson of the NCS TEC Board. We wish her congratulations in completing a successful term of service. We are grateful to have served with Desi during her near decade of time serving as Young Adult Representative and Chairperson. We have truly learned from the best through her selfless dedication to others in this community. 

Desi worked incredibly hard alongside her husband Matt, demonstrating her commitment and dedication, which have not gone unnoticed. We all share admiration for her in her desire to uphold traditions of this organization and to consistently improve it in any way seen fit. We appreciate her devotion. 

We wish Desi good luck as she begins the next chapter of her life perusing higher education in counseling as well as raising her two beautiful children Maria and Joseph. We hope to see the entire family at many more events in the future.

May God continue to bless her and her family and we wish her nothing but the best for the true inspiration that she is. 

We thank you for your time, talents and treasure and we say THANK YOU for giving to The Lord!  

Sincerely,

The NCS TEC Board

Our Lady of Guadalupe- The Patron Saint of TEC

The gift of Wheat

Hello, Katherine!

The NCS TEC board would like to take this opportunity to extend a warm WELCOME to Katherine Komar, the newly elected Chairperson for NCS TEC Board. Katherine has been a devoted board member of this organization for quite a long period of time, and continues to lend her skills and talents now as she steps into the role of chairperson. We thank her for her willingness to serve this community in this new role. It is evident that Katherine has a heart of giving and a strong faith life. We look forward to her efforts as chairperson and the work that she will do for this community. 

Chairperson Katherine Komar with Chairpersons Emeritus Desi Gould and Nick Naugle

Please offer a prayer up for Katherine as she takes on this new role that she may serve the Lord gracefully during her term. Best of luck, Katherine!!

Sincerely,

The NCS TEC Board

NCS TEC Board at Dinner of Thanksgiving