By ROB HERBST The Catholic Week 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.
Phelps was named the office’s new director in May, replacing Adam Ganucheau. Phelps was most recently director of youth ministry for the Archdiocese of Washington for 4-1/2 years. He also held similar roles for the Diocese of Savannah (Ga.) and Diocese of Beaumont (Texas).
Phelps said among his goals in his role with the Archdiocese of Mobile is to help parishes grow and maintain their programs.
“There should be something in every parish for the youth and young adults to help them grow,” Phelps said. "That’s the way I focus, to help build a foundation and to help them continue to grow and not become stagnant. … How I look at it is everything I do in this office will benefit the parishes with what they do. In theory it will make their lives easier. That’s always the goal."
Phelps said among the reasons he came to the Archdiocese of Mobile is because of a yearning to return to the South. Yes, Tex Phelps is originally from Texas — Dallas — but he has family in Alabama.
“I’ve said I’m from Texas, but Alabama is my second home,” he joked.
While much of Phelps’ working history has involved youth ministry, he didn’t enter the Church until 1998 when he was a young adult.
Phelps said he had been "searching for something" in college and eventually attended his brother’s wedding at a Catholic church.
“I don’t know what sparked it, but something resonated with me,” he said. Phelps then called up a family member and asked to attend Mass before he eventually called a parish.
“I can’t remember how I phrased it but something like ‘what do I have to do to be a member of the Church?’ The person who answered said ‘just come over and fill out a card.’ I thought ‘that’s simple.’ ”
Of course it wasn’t that simple upon the secretary realizing Phelps wasn’t Catholic. But Phelps entered RCIA, became Catholic and then got an invitation which ultimately led to his path in youth ministry.
Phelps’ sister-in-law asked him to be a co-teacher with her in religious education. He initially taught fifth grade, then saw his role expand before accepting a part-time position with the middle school.
Phelps then took his first full-time youth ministry position at a parish in Macon, Ga., and later filled in as director of the Diocese of Savannah’s youth conference.
“Up until then I had never thought about diocesan youth ministry,” Phelps said. “That kind of experience really fit a lot with my skillset.”
According to Phelps, much has changed since he first began working in youth ministry.
For one, it’s now imperative to reach out to youth instead of expecting them to walk through the door.
“We need to seek people where they are and not just wait for them to come through the doors,” Phelps said. “Back in the day, even in my first job, we would get a lot of young people. Now there are so many things to be doing and young people are so busy. Church is not the top priority, although it should be.”