Join thousands of your peers... July 8 - August 5 Across 5 different dioceses In over 50 Parishes & Catholic Centers Mass & Picnic with Cardinal George and Bishop Sartain on Sunday, August 5

Theology-on-Tap 2007

Basic Information
Theology-on-Tap is a four-week summer program for young adults, college age through their thirties, both married and single. It is a weekly opportunity for a parish to gather young adults for a speaker, conversation and theology. One parish in cooperation with other parishes in the area hosts the program. Theology-on-Tap is a wonderful opportunity to make those young adult parishioners feel welcome and at home by their church.

When Theology-on-Tap begins the week of July 8, 2007, it will mark the twenty-seventh year that this program has taken place in the Archdiocese of Chicago. Theology-on-Tap was invited to be a part of the ministry to young adults in the Diocese of Joliet for the first time during the summer of 1994; the Diocese of Rockford in 1998; the Diocese of Gary, Indiana in 2000, and in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 2001.

During the first twenty-two years (1981 – 2002) Theology-on-Tap was hosted by 380 different local parishes. More than 330 local speakers have been privileged to address over 30,000 young adults during these summer sessions.

Theology-on-Tap began in the Archdiocese of Chicago in June, 1981 at St. James Parish, Arlington Heights, as a response to a conversation between a parish priest and a young man from the parish who was graduating from college. That man was looking beyond his last few months of college to the "real world." He was facing a career, and wondering about the future. He was concerned about his personal identity and finding meaning in life. "Will I be more than my job? What will it mean to fall in love? Where does God fit in all this? What does it mean to be Catholic?" Theology-on-Tap will continue to address these and similar questions for the twenty-seventh consecutive year from July 8th to August 5th, 2007.

At 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 5th, Theology-on-Tap will close with a grand finale. Mass will be celebrated in Holy Name Cathedral for all the young adults who attended the program. Cardinal George will preside at that Mass; Bishop Peter Sartain from the Diocese of Joliet with preach the homily. From 4:30-7:30 p.m., a lawn party complete with music, food and dancing, will take place at Cardinal George's residence.

Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, former Archbishop of Chicago, developed a special relationship with young adults. He presided at the Theology-on-Tap Mass with young adults and hosted them at his residence every year until his death in 1996. Also, in his homily at the Theology-on-Tap Mass in August of 1985, he made this remark, "If I had children of my own, they would be your age. You are very special to me and to this Archdiocese."

Francis Cardinal George continued that relationship with young adults in 1997. As soon as he arrived as the new Archbishop of Chicago, he enthusiastically agreed to preside at our Theology-on-Tap Mass and to host over 1,000 young adults at a picnic on the grounds of his residence. In a letter inviting young adults to attend the Mass and picnic, Cardinal George said, “You are very important members of the Church. Your energy, talent and faith will give me much help as together we build up our local Church to be a vital presence in the Chicago area. Together we can continue the mission of Jesus Christ to bring the Gospel of love, forgiveness and holiness to all the places where we live and encounter others.”