Parents with troublesome teens might want to consider sending them to see Father Ken Roberts -- a playboy millionaire who turned priest and has since devoted his ministry to young people.

Father Roberts, who confesses he made his millions illegally by smuggling currency and gold while he was a chief steward on British Airways, claims he has helped hundreds of young people find God.

Although he would not consider taking youngsters there today, he has visited Medjuorje in Yugoslavia 20 times in the past with groups of up to 100 youngsters.

The town is where six men claimed they saw the Virgin Mary on a mountaintop.

Since then thousands have flocked there and returned believers in Christ, said Father Roberts.

He recalled how a rebellious teenager, who had been in and out of reform schools, was converted after visiting Medjuorje with him a few years ago.

He told of how the young man drank and took drugs the whole time, but on the last day after witnessing Father Roberts perform an exorcism on one of his friends, was converted. He is now studying to become a priest.

It was a similar spiritual experience that made Father Roberts suddenly decide to give his millions to the Catholic church and become a priest.

He was three weeks short of getting married when he made the decision.

Father Roberts said he had been sitting by the ocean in Beirut, "thoroughly disgusted'' with the life of sin he and his wealthy friends were leading.

"I was 25 and I had all the things money could buy,'' he said. "I thought where do I go from here?'' He then got up and while walking past a Catholic Church "experienced the Holy Spirit''. He likened the experience to falling in love.

Father Roberts, who owned a mansion in London, villas in America, Europe and the Far East plus a private jet and several sports cars, gave it all up -- except for his gold Rolex watch -- for the life of a priest.

He spent six years studying to become a priest, his first job being an assistant pastor at a Catholic Church in St. Louis, Missouri.

Father Roberts now has his own television ministry, during which he invites youngsters to sign up for youth rallies, and up until the war started in what was Yugoslavia, he invited them on the Medjuorje trip.

A group of Bermudian youngsters have also been to Medjuorje, and it was they that begged the Catholic Community Group to bring Father Roberts to Bermuda.

"They wanted their friends to meet him,'' said a spokeswoman.

Father Roberts said youngsters are intrigued by his past life and why he gave it all up.

"They are mesmerised when I talk.'' he said. "I used to want to convert everyone at a rally, but now I am pleased if I can change just one person's life for the better.'' One story that really intrigues youngsters, he says, is how he performed his first exorcism in Medjuorje.

He said he was summoned to a dormitory by youngsters in a group he had taken to the town. Although it was hot and the dorm had no air conditioning, the room was freezing cold, he recalled.

Upon entering he saw a group of youngsters trying to hold down one of their peers, who was talking in two voices, using unusual force and rolling his eyes.

"At first I tried to copy Jimmy Swaggart, but that did not work,'' he said.

"After two hours of praying, the kid was not getting any better. It was then one of the kids suggested using holy water.'' Father Roberts went to get some water, blessed it, and threw it on the "devil-possessed child''.

"He was out like a light and woke-up back to normal.'' Father Roberts said that when he tells that story he uses teenagers who were on that particular trip to back it up.

His autobiography, "Playboy to Priest'', published in 1970, became a best-seller and he is the author of several other books including one due out this year.

He has been a guest on many US talk shows including the Oprah Winfrey Show and 20/20.

British-born, he became an American citizen and spends much of his time as a lecturer and retreat leader in both the US and abroad, visiting up to 10 countries in a month.

This year he was the recipient of the 34th Annual Franciscan International Award for his work as a Catholic Priest and evangelist.

He is the featured speaker at the Catholic Community Group's youth rally to be held at No. 1 Shed at 8 p.m. tomorrow night. Young people of any denomination are invited to attend.

MAN WITH A MISSION -- Father Ken Roberts, once a jet-setting millionaire, has been helping youngsters and adults find God since he chose to become a Catholic priest at the age of 30. He is on the Island to speak at the Catholic Community Group's youth rally tomorrow.