Theology on Tap is back for young adults

BY BILL DOYLE | CFP CORRESPONDENT

WORCESTER – For the first time in more than two years, Theology on Tap is back.

Theology on Tap provides people aged 18-39 the opportunity to mingle, dine and listen to a speaker talking about a religious subject. The Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Worcester Diocese had held Theology on Tap programs monthly before the pandemic hit. After taking some time off, Theology on Tap returned with a couple of programs, but none have been held since late in 2021.

Theology on Tap will return on Tuesday, March 12, at Joey’s Bar & Grill at 344 Chandler St. Dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. Father Donato Infante, director of the Office for Vocations, will speak at 7:15 p.m. about “Living Lent,” including prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Father Infante will take questions after his talk.

There’s no need to register ahead of time. People in the age group can just show up. The speaking program is free, but not the meal.

Theology on Tap is one of more than a dozen programs run by the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, which is fully funded by Partners in Charity, the Worcester Diocese’s annual fundraiser that supports thousands of families and individuals in more than 25 charitable, educational and pastoral ministries.

In 2023, the Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry received nearly $123,518 from Partners.

Partners in Charity funds the salary of director Timothy Messenger and the more than a dozen programs his office offers, including basketball and volleyball leagues, discipleship teams, college campus ministry, Catholic scouting, youth rallies, amplify nights for high schoolers with pizza, praise and worship music, guest speakers, adoration and confessions, and Ascend nights with prayer and worship. Some programs require fees from participants, but Mr. Messenger said his office wouldn’t exist without funding from Partners in Charity.

Mr. Messenger said past Theology on Tap events averaged about 30 people in attendance and he hopes that many will be on hand on March 12, despite the layoff of more than two years.

“There’s a real need for a young adult ministry,” he said. “I think this is an easy and comfortable event to engage people with faith discussions over food and drinks.”

If the program is successful, Mr. Messenger hopes to resume holding Theology on Tap events more regularly.

“The people who come are very receptive,” Mr. Messenger said.

Mr. Messenger said he sees a hunger for truth, especially from young adults, and that Theology on Tap provides that.

“That’s like a natural human hunger,” he said. “It seems like we’re searching. Sometimes we don’t know what we’re searching for or we don’t even know we are searching, but I think there’s like an innate desire every human being has.”
Mr. Messenger said many people search for direction.

“I think there’s something innate in us,” he said, “that is driving us to search for the meaning and purpose of our lives. Ultimately, as Catholic Christians we would say that the answer is in God. So, I think things like Theology on Tap, or any kind of faith-based program is going to accompany people in those questions by walking with them toward a deeper understanding of God and of their faith.”

Past Theology on Tap speakers talked about topics one might expect, such as the Eucharist and Mary, mother of God. Father Lucas Laroche, then a seminarian and currently associate pastor at St. Gabriel, the Archangel Parish in Upton, took a different route years ago at one program that drew nearly 60 people. His topic was: “What does the Catholic Church teach about ghosts?” The answer is essentially that they’re souls in purgatory.

Before the pandemic, Father Infante spoke twice at Theology on Tap. His topics were: “Seven Pillars of Catholic Social Doctrine” and “Why Be Spiritual and Religious?”

“It seems to be very well received,” he said of Theology on Tap.
“People get to know each other from all around the diocese. It’s a good time.”

Mr. Messenger has worked a lot with Father Infante because their two ministries can at times be related.

“He’s very good at taking theological concepts,” Mr. Messenger said, “and making them engaging for, I would say, any audience.”