Sixty Catholics walk into a bar … to learn theology.
O’Faolains Irish restaurant and pub in Sterling is the newest
location offering Theology on Tap on the second Tuesday of each month. The
Office of Youth, Campus, and Young Adult Ministries partnered with nearby
parishes to start the Sterling location. Our Lady of Hope Church in Potomac
Falls, St. Thomas à Becket Church in Reston, St. Joseph Church in Herndon, and
St. John Neumann Church in Reston have all taken active roles in sponsoring
this monthly event.
The Sterling location is one of seven in the diocese — Clarendon, Old Town Alexandria,
Fairfax, Manassas, Woodbridge and Fredericksburg.
Kevin Bohli, director of the youth office, said the goal is to
assist parishes to come together and choose a location where young adults can
gather on a monthly basis.
“There are many young adults living in the Sterling, Herndon and Reston
area, so it made sense to work with those parishes to create a centralized hub
for their young adult ministries,” he said. “In addition, those parishes
already had strong young adult ministries with a lot of support for this
Theology on Tap.”
Thomas Patchan, young adult coordinator at St. John Neumann, said
his parish saw it as an option to reach out to people who weren't coming to parish
events.
The first speaker in the series Aug. 14 was Carmen
"China" Briceño, a consecrated virgin. She presented, "Mercy is Our Mission:
How to Have Transforming Encounters Through the Works of Mercy."
Briceño, a parishioner of All Saints Church in Manassas and a Catholic Herald columnist, talked about how to live the
different works of mercy and how living them can transform the lives of those
who perform the works. She and a friend help the homeless in a Manassas tent
city. Initially providing a meal every Friday, the ministry grew to include paying
for loads of laundry at a nearby laundromat and other services.
“We don’t have financial support and always pay with our own
tithing money if they need something,” she said. “We wondered how we can help
the homeless help themselves and create an environment to talk about God.” Briceño
makes crosses from parachute cords with the needy while waiting for the
laundry. That leads to spiritual conversations. “It gives us time to talk and
be together and find out what else is going on in their lives,” she said.
At Theology on Tap, Brady Dice, a parishioner of St. Thomas à Becket,
learned how works of mercy can be done closer to home. “The biggest part for me
was how mercy doesn’t have to be some cross-country or world trip,” he said.
“It happens right here in Northern Virginia and in your life already.”
Bohli’s office is looking for Theology on Tap speakers.
“We are trying to find speakers and topics that are not simply
teaching the faith,” he said, “but also reflecting the joy of living the
Catholic faith and being a part of the local Catholic community.”
Find out more
Theology on Tap, O’Faolains Irish restaurant and pub, 20921
Davenport Dr., Sterling, Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m.
All adults (ages 21-39) single and married, all faith
backgrounds invited. Contact yam@arlingtondiocese.org. Doug Johnson, a Vietnam
War veteran will present “Love of God and Love of Country: A View from the
Trenches.” New speakers every 2nd Tuesday of the month.