As an athlete, I was constantly figuring out the best role for myself to help my team achieve success. The best coaches that I played for would guide me through this process along with my teammates because the team results were the most important objective.
Thirteen years ago this month I started on a journey when I accepted my first full-time position at St. Joseph in Macon, Ga. Up until that time I had lived my entire life in Texas, and all but three years in Dallas. I felt that God was calling me to ministry but I was very unsure about leaving my home, my family and my friends.
My name is Tex Phelps and I am the new Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. In my position one of my favorite parts of the job is visiting different parish communities and the beautiful churches across the diocese. In my previous positions in Beaumont, Savannah, Maryland and Washington DC, I have been very blessed to visit many parishes and be a part of parish celebrations of the Liturgy and other special occasions. It is always an honor and a privilege to worship alongside different communities with the same faith. It brings us together as ONE.
MOBILE — With extensive youth ministry experience at the diocesan and parish level, Tex Phelps brings expertise to the Archdiocese of Mobile’s Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry.
There are many moments in movies, books or television shows where the hero discovers who they are and who they are destined to become. Oftentimes it takes challenges or obstacles for that revelation to occur. It could be that a family member reveals an insight, or the life lessons learned along the way illustrate one’s strengths and gifts.
While ministering to young people and their families, there has been an unexpected but enjoyable aspect that I have been reflecting on lately: generational research and insight. I am not sure if I would have been interested in something so sociological if I was not active in ministering to a certain generation, while knowing my own generation, and appreciating the parents’ and other adults’ generation.
Though the decision was made months ago, it finally hit me just a few days ago: we would not be taking a March for Life pilgrimage to Washington, D.C. this year. From an abstract place, I knew in the back of my mind that this was going to be the reality. Yet, from a practical place of actually looking at my calendar, it’s actually starting to take root.
In healthy relationships, compromise and complementary personalities are often found. Each person can make a little sacrifice, a small choice to die to oneself for the greater good of the relationship and the other person.
With four boys, there is a certain level of chaos that exists at my house. Whether it’s wrestling, running, or jumping, there usually seems to be constant activity. Chaos is usually accompanied by mess of some kind – clothes strewn about, an explosion of Pokemon cards, throw pillows literally thrown to the ground.
As the son of a Catholic schoolteacher, I have gotten used to being called into service for my mom’s classroom. In 2008, after graduating from college, I was asked by Mrs. Ganucheau to help her with another project. She was teaching a very basic lesson on elections, even making a small, curtained voting booth.
When star athletes near the end of their career, sports commentators will remark, “Father Time is undefeated.” In other words, all athletic careers will come to an end eventually as time elapses. Time has been a fickle thing lately, as it seems like Father Time is running up the score on his way to another victory.