Back in the 1970s, parish youth ministers around the country utilized the SEARCH national program for their high school youth groups. In the Diocese of Birmingham, Father Matthew Brennan advocated for the program and Bishop Joseph Vath, then Bishop of Birmingham, supported the program and the priest’s involvement.

Father Brennan valued the program’s focus on the peer-to-peer style of ministry. One young man who benefitted from the ministry is Joey Ritchey. His introduction to the program came courtesy of a pretty girl inviting him to a retreat at their parish, St. Barnabas in Birmingham.

That invitation led Ritchey to participate in four SEARCH retreats while in high school. After graduation, he found himself college-bound. Once on campus at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, he felt called, unquestionably by the Holy Spirit, to check out the Catholic Student Center at St. Francis of Assisi. He says he was hoping to find something similar to what he was fortunate enough to experience at St. Barnabas, but for college students.

He had no such luck, but what he did find was an open mind. Father John Fallon was the pastor of the parish at the time and agreed to meet with Ritchey. “I’m sure he had no idea what I was talking about,” jokes Ritchey, “but he listened and said he would get back in touch with me.”

A few months passed, but the priest kept his word. The two met, and Ritchey explained the program and how he had benefitted from the retreats. After hearing from the college freshman, the priest emphatically said, “Let’s do it!”

The rest, as they say, is history. The first diocesan college SEARCH retreat took place during the spring semester of 1974, after which students from other campuses were invited.

Today, SEARCH is hosted by Bama Catholic, which is the campus ministry of St. Francis of Assisi University Parish. Father Tom Ackerman, pastor of the parish, noted, “Even with the expansion of Bama Catholic programs and activities in recent years, the SEARCH Retreat program over the past 50 years has tied the generations together. I have students at Alabama now attending the SEARCH Retreat and on the SEARCH Team whose parents were involved in the SEARCH program while attending UA.”

Father Ackerman’s observation validates a point Ritchey makes, “If it didn’t work, then it would have ended long ago.”

SEARCH’s longevity is undoubtedly due to it “working,” and it works because of the Holy Spirit. Recently, one UA student, Ella Peay, reluctantly agreed to attend a SEARCH retreat. “I was trying to carry and control everything in my life without giving any of it to Him,” she admits. Once at the retreat, the small discussions allowed her to see the strength and wisdom of having a relationship with the Lord. “I can never go back to who I was after seeing such truth and beauty in Christ,” Peay exclaims.

What Ritchey knew those 50 plus years ago as a college freshman when he approached Father Fallon still holds true today. Every day is a new opportunity to follow God or an opportunity not to follow God. Be sure, however, that our hearts are always seeking God, and SEARCH offers an opportunity to renew one’s spiritual life and choose to follow Him, every day.

“SEARCH’s unique imprinting of faith, development, and reason to provide the framework for students to attend, lead, and foster growth with each other helps to build discipleship. There is a world of difference between being a disciple and being one who dabbles in religion. Someone who dabbles in religion may take part in Mass each week or attend services, but a true disciple is one that can continue to grow, evolve, and foster a deeper connection in their own personal relationship with Jesus. When college students can grow together and share a common experience, it shapes how they live their faith. During the college years of discernment, there are copious factors that can impact faith and spiritual development. This program gives ownership to those who both lead and attend by creating a community. A community full of disciples can cultivate goodness, stewardship, and a deep commitment to serving and growing with self, God, and others.” — Father John Fallon