TEC OF
SPRINGFIELD



HISTORY

LAY DIRECTOR HISTORY

TECLD
001Quincy Team
002Howie Jung
003St. Pat Mulkey
004Joe & Julie Dirksen
005Howie Jung
006Mike Patton
007Jack O’Dell
008Sue Morris
009Joe Dirksen
010Pat Rolens
011Mike Patton
012Bob & Norma Niehaus
013Jim Morris
014Pete Wayne
015Alice Henseler
016Mike & Pam Patton
017Betty Crouch
018Fr. Tom Von Behren
019Paula Petrilli
020Maureen (Farmer) Zimmerman
021Jim Bearrs
022Diane & Jim Keller
023John Bulger
024Sue & Jim Morris
025Barb Danner
026Norma Niehaus
027Pat & Jack Rolens
028Jim Keller
029Gary Boston
030Joe & Julie Dirksen
031Pete Wayne
032Matt Penning
033Chuck Rizner
034Sandy (McWhinnie) Urich
035Joe McFarland & Donna Huck
036Frank & Gina Cornell
037Diane Keller
038Bob & Carla Hobson
039Pam Patton
040 Jim Morris
041Ruth McGlennon
042Randy & Ellen Gall
043Sandy Urich
044Mike Patton
045Julie Dirksen
046Paula Petrilli
047Terry Boarman Clarke
048Diane Walker
049Bobbie Nazrim/Sr. Helena Newton/Mark Nagy
050Betty Crouch
051Jim & Diane Keller
052Larry & Barb Brunette
053Roger & Gloria O’Niell
054Steve Wier
055Joe McFarland
056Bob & Carla Hobson
057Pete Wayne
058Bill Flatt
059Lynda McWhinnie
060Diane Keller
061Gina Cornell
062Gloria O’Neill
063Pam Patton
064Ap Clarke
065Sue & Jim Morris
066Pat & John Kennedy
067Karen Cutler
068Mark Nagy
069Barb Danner
070Diane Walker
071Pete Wayne
072Mary Handley
073Jim McCormick
074Betty Crouch
075Bob & Mary Jo Ihlenfeldt
076John Kennedy
077Paula Petrilli
078Roger & Gloria O’Neill
079Jim Morris
080Carla Hobson
081Paula Petrilli
082Dale & Lori Bilyeu
083Ap Clarke
084Lynda McWhinnie
085Sherrie Williams
086Barb Brunette
087Joe McFarland
088Matt & Karen Penning
089Brenda Eden
090Nonno Kinsel
091Ken & Mary Handley
092Karen Cutler
093Cathi Lickenstaff & Theresa Becker
094Barb Danner
095Rob Robertson
096John Kennedy
097Pete Wayne
098Joe Dirksen
099John LoGrasso
100Tom Jenkins
101Ken & Beth Crissey
102Ap Clarke
103 Bob & Mary Jo Ihlenfeldt
104Ed MacMurdo
105Ellen Gall
106 Larry Miller
107Lori Bilyeu
108Billy Anders
109Larry Brunette
110Theresa Becker
111Karen Cutler
112Lisa VanPelt
113Toni Corona
114Kathy Priester
115Paul Layendecker
116Gerry & Beth Beagles
117Mike Patton
118Jeanne Fuchs
119Beth Crissey
120John & Pat Kennedy
121Larry Brunette
122Dave Kennedy
123Mary Reiser
124Mary Jan Hayes
125John LoGrasso
126Theresa Becker
127Gabe Fuchs
128Denny & Kathy Baker
129Kim Ray
130Barb Brown
131Dave Schmitt
132Karen Cutler
133Cathi Blickenstaff
134Sean Hayes
135Ellen & Randy Gall
136Pat Thornton
137Ed MacMurdo
138Jerry & Cathy Baumann
139John & Pat Kennedy
140Dan Wagner
141Denny & Mara Atkins
142Kathy & Denny Baker
143Ed MacMurdo
144Karen Cutler (Last TEC at FAC)
145Corey Brost
146Barb & Larry Brunette
147**
148Ed MacMurdo
149Pat Thornton
150Nancy Frey
151Johna Viner
152Pat & John Kennedy
153Bernie & Pam Hand
154Kim Ray
155Denny & Kathy Baker
156Toni Corona
157John LoGrasso
158Joan Sestak
159Pam Hand & Cheryl Braye
160Val & Toby Ellegood
161Nancy Frey
162Dottie Cutler
163Marianne Ralph
164Kathy & Denny Baker
165Charleen Moore
166Sal Madonia
167Mary Jane Hayes & Sean Hayes
168Pat & John Kennedy
169Ed MacMurdo
170Kathy Priester & Gabe Overturf
171Gabe & Rusty Overturf
172Jeff Nevins
173Steve Brunette
174Paula Mattix-Wand
175Denny & Kathy Baker
176Trent Phares
177John LoGrasso
178John Hanfland & Ty Hakman
179Val & Toby Ellegood
180Denny Baker
181Chris Stults
182Ellen & Randy Gall
183Bill Naeve
184Todd & Julie Atwell
185        **
186Jared Bryson
187        **
188        Trent Phares
189Cheryl Braye
190John Hanfland
191Fr. Kevin Vann
192Mary Jane Hayes
193Val & Toby Ellegood
194Paula Mattix-Wand
195John & Pat Kennedy
196Jaymie Smith
197Dave Goebel
198Fr. Chris House
199Bill Heise & Mary Jo Heise
200Mark & Monica Ellebracht
201Denny Baker
202Paula Mattix-Wand
203Tom Schmitt
204Shawn Schroeder
205Kevin Collings
206Kathy & Denny Baker
207Michelle Stith
208Maria Kerwin/Dan Schraeder/Chris Wagner
209Kevin Collings
210Maria Kerwin
211Zach Edgar
212Bernie & Pam Hand
213Jaymie Smith
214Kathy & Denny Baker
215Toshia Solano
216        Dan Kessler
217Pam & Bernie Hand
218Deacon Jim Ghiglione & Denny Baker
** If you can help us fill in these blanks, e-mail the webmaster.  Thank you.
Compiled by Betty Crouch in 1984 on the 10th Anniversary of TEC of Springfield

In 1972, Sr. Joan Schullian, O.S.F., and Sr. Helena Henton, O.P., attended a Great River TEC in Quincy, and soon Sr. Helen Ely and Fr. Larry Boehler followed in their footsteps.  In Jan. 1973, six teenage girls from Springfield went with Sr. Helena to Quincy for Great River TEC #8.  These were the first teens from Springfield to attend a TEC, the beginning of many who made TEC in Quincy the following year.  Springfield people became a large part of the Great River TEC community and took many trips to Quincy for reunions and TEC teams.

As more people got involved and the enthusiasm for TEC grew, Sr. Joan, Fr. Larry and Sr. Helen began to entertain the idea of possible getting our own TEC in Springfield.  Sr. Joan met with her community and discovered a possible location for TEC to be held.  The Franciscan Sisters had run St. John's TB Sanitarium in a large building adjacent to the Franciscan Motherhouse.  The sanitarium, which had been closed for several months, was available but in dire need of cleaning and scrubbing.  In Feb. 1974, some of the first teens who had gone to Quincy TEC in 1973 met Sr. Joan and Sr. Martinette at the old sanitarium with cleaning equipment and lots of energy.  After several Saturday's cleaning and scrubbing the place was ready.

During that same month, Sr. Joan, Fr. Larry, Sr. Helen and some of the Quincy TEC people held a TEC introduction and information meeting at Sacred Heart Convent in Springfield.  Gerry Beagles and Paula Petrilli were chosen to represent teens who had involved in Quincy TEC from Springfield and to share their TEC experience.  This meeting was held to introduce and explain TEC to interested people in Springfield, especially the parents whose teens had been in Quincy TEC, as well as parents and teens interested in making a TEC.  Despite a fresh layer of snow just fallen the day before, many adults attended, curious to know what more could be offered other than the C.Y.O. programs some of the parishes offered. They felt something more was needed to help young people become closer to God and more interested in their faith. 

With the help of the Franciscan sisters and the leader of Quincy TEC, Springfield TEC #1 was held April 27-29 in 1974 at the old TB sanitarium (later renamed the Franciscan Apostolic Center - FAC).  The directors were Don Sederwall and Fr. Clarence Chambers of Quincy Great River TEC.  Several priests and lay adults from Springfield attended TEC #1 as team and observers.  Four of the six resources were Springfield teens who had made their first TEC in Quincy.

Springfield TEC #1 was also known as Great River TEC #19 because, at the time, Quincy was not ready to let us go, and we were not sure we could make it on our own.  God definitely saw the need and provided the people and support to make TEC a success in Springfield.  TEC #2 was held in October and TEC #3 was held in November of 1974.  The enthusiasm has continued with TEC of Springfield.  In 1984, as a special celebration, two TEC's were held, one for the hearing and one for the deaf and hearing impaired.  The two TEC's shared the Sunday liturgy and following celebrations.

Many follow-up and branch-out programs have started from Springfield TEC.  In 1976, some of the adults in the TEC community formed KOINONIA, which is the same program as TEC, with a few adjustments to make it more geared for those over 21.  A KOINOINIA is held Friday evening through Sunday evening to prevent the need to take a day off work.  The originators of KOINONIA, Jim and Sue Morris of Springfield, along with others, had experienced the message of TEC as observers and team members and saw the need to offer the message of the Paschal Mystery to adults who possibly would not feel comfortable in a teenage environment.  KOINONIA has spread at a rapid rate across the United States and interest is growing outside the country.

In 1977 TEC of Springfield developed Witness Weekend, which is a three-day witnessing to what is introduced on TEC.  There are talks and discussions but on a much deeper level that commands a response to a deeper faith.  These are held twice a year, once during Christmas break and once in the summer.

TLC (Teens Living Christ) is another of the follow-up programs developed.  This is a one-day experience directed by teens consisting of talks and discussions and sharing, concluding with a shared prayer or mass.

RETEC was developed for those who wanted to experience TEC again.  Rather than being a resource or adult team member, RETEC allows people to be candidates and observers again while experiencing TEC perhaps in a different way that the first time.

Residents Encounter Christ (REC) was developed by Fr. Bob Porter.  Fr. Bob was on TEC #1 in Springfield, and developed the REC program when he was assigned as Chaplain at the Vandalia Correctional Center.  REC is the same as TEC with adjustments made to fit within the Department of Corrections strict rules and schedules.  As there are no resources on REC, and no one under 21 is allowed to attend the reunions held at the individual  correctional facilities, Springfield TEC supports REC through wheat letters, prayer and providing adult team members.

Resource workshops are held to inform the interested teens of the responsibilities of being a resource.  These are also used to explain the duties of the sacristan and coordinator.  The workshop is 2 hours in length and are held 2-3 times a year.  This has proven to be a valuable source of feedback from young people on their thoughts and feelings about TEC and the roles that teens have in the community.

Three years ago, Springfield TEC held its first TEC for the Deaf and Hearing Impaired.  Under direction of Fr. Leo Enlow and Sr. John Francis, O.P., teens have come from as far away as Ohio and Nebraska to experience TEC.  This type of TEC is held once a year, with this year's being held simultaneously with the hearing TEC (as mentioned earlier).

In February of this year, Springfield TEC began the use of wheat teams.  As it has only been in existence a few months there are still some rough edges, but it has already been proven to be an excellent source of support for the weekend as well as being another way to experience the message of TEC.  To help celebrate the 10th anniversary of TEC, the wheat team consisted of both hearing and hearing impaired members of the Springfield TEC community.

Another milestone for the Springfield TEC community
will occur in a few short weeks when Bishop Daniel Ryan, Bishop of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, is the Assistant Spiritual Director of the July TEC #79.  Bishop Ryan, who was installed in Jan. of 1984, gave the first sign of his support for TEC of Springfield when he attended the reunion held Jan. 22, 1984.  This is the answer to nearly 10 years of prayer that TEC would finally have the support of our Bishop.
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Postscript 2006:  The last TEC weekend to be celebrated at the FAC, TEC 144, was directed by Karen Cutler.  We will be forever grateful to the wonderful Franciscan community for the roots, support and love they have given us.  Since then TEC has had different homes (Camp One Way, Camp Walter Scott, several diocesan Catholic schools and our current home, Villa Maria) but has continued its journey to provide the message of the Paschal Mystery to the teens and adults of the Diocese of Springfield. TEC of Springfield has reached out to begin TEC communities in Champaign, Illinois and Sarasota, Florida.  Many of the programs that came from TEC still exist and are flourishing today. Without the spiritual direction and guidance of the wonderful priests and sisters over the years, this would not be possible.  We extend the invitation to all of our brothers and sisters who have experienced TEC over the 32 years of its existence to "come and see" this incredible gift you have given us.  The TEC movement, begun in 1967 in Michigan by Fr. Matt Fedewa, has become an integral part of the support and evangelization of thousands of teens in the Diocese of Springfield.  May our God and His Holy Spirit continue to guide is for many years to come.