How would I start a theology on tap for my diocese?

[WildCatholic]

I’ve looked and looked and looked and unfortunately my diocese (Lincoln NE) does not have a theology on tap for young adults. There is one that is put on by the University of Nebraska Newman Center, but I would like one specifically for young adults out of school, not just students. How would I go about doing this. To be honest, I don’t know many young catholics who live close to me. I live in a mostly rural area about 45 minute NW of Lincoln, and I don’t know many priests, so I am kind of stuck. Yet I feel there is a need for it. I assume there have to be young catholics who are looking for some sort of community in my diocese. How would i get a theology on tap started when I know so few people? I honestly don’t know any other way to meet young catholics in my diocese since there isn’t a lot for us here (that I know of. I’m kind of surprised with its reputation that my diocese wouldn’t do that much for young Catholics who aren’t a part of the university)

 

[YinYangMom]

I looked at the Diocese of Lincoln’s website and see there is no Theology on Tap mentioned there. They do have the Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul and Totus Tuus. Each of these would be opportunities for you to serve others and possibly meet other members of your age group who also wish to serve (especially the Totus Tuus who seeks college students to help carry out the camp). That is a starting common ground.

From that common goal relationship you may find that your core group would like Theology on Tap in your area. You can then work together to bring Theology on Tap to your area. It seems to me you would have to show your diocese there is a demand for such a ministry in your area. As with all ministries, the focus is not on how much it would benefit you, but whether or not it serves the people in their need.

 

[WildCatholic]

I looked at the Diocese of Lincoln’s website and see there is no Theology on Tap mentioned there. They do have the Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul and Totus Tuus. Each of these would be opportunities for you to serve others and possibly meet other members of your age group who also wish to serve (especially the Totus Tuus who seeks college students to help carry out the camp). That is a starting common ground.

From that common goal relationship you may find that your core group would like Theology on Tap in your area. You can then work together to bring Theology on Tap to your area. It seems to me you would have to show your diocese there is a demand for such a ministry in your area. As with all ministries, the focus is not on how much it would benefit you, but whether or not it serves the people in their need.

Yes there is Totus Tuus, and I am applying for it in Lincoln, and the other diocese’s in Nebraska. I understand that a ministry needs to serve people in need, but I would feel the need is good. Lincoln would have enough younger Catholics who are out of college who could form one. Its no small town. If Omaha, and even Sioux City IA can have one, then you’d think Lincoln could. I do understand though there has to be a need for it.

 

[GAHere]

Yes there is Totus Tuus, and I am applying for it in Lincoln, and the other diocese’s in Nebraska. I understand that a ministry needs to serve people in need, but I would feel the need is good. Lincoln would have enough younger Catholics who are out of college who could form one. Its no small town. If Omaha, and even Sioux City IA can have one, then you’d think Lincoln could. I do understand though there has to be a need for it.

Hopefully the Totus Tuus experience will start networking you’ll need to determine a need for ToT in Lincoln. Keep praying to the spirit for guidance in this. Ask that if it is his will to use you to help bring young adults (20-30 year olds) together to learn more about the faith, that he guide you to the existing ministries, events, and activities offered by area parishes where he will have you cross paths with these young adults. That’s usually how he works.

While you belong to one particular parish, go online to see if the surrounding Catholic parishes post their bulletins online. Subscribe to them and read them each week to see what type of events are being held. If one is showing a film, attend. If one is hosting a spaghetti dinner for the youth program, attend. When you go, look for others your age, and try to strike a conversation with them. Ask them why they chose this event to go to. You’ll probably get answers like, I’m looking for something deeper in my spiritual life but there’s nothing for people my age. BINGO. That opens the conversation up to consideration of ToT.

Get Facebook/Twitter contact from them, perhaps start up a Facebook page for young Catholics in your area to discuss ways fill that void. Perhaps it’s not just ToT. Ascension Press and Ignatius Press have several DVD series available. Perhaps one of the area parishes offer those studies already, through your new FB network with other like-minded, same age group cohorts, you can arrange to attend those studies together. Sounds like a great Lenten project for you, WildCatholic! I’ll keep you in my prayers for this endeavor of yours. Open yourself to what the Lord is asking. The seed is ToT, but maybe there’s more to it than that.

 

[WildCatholic]

Get Facebook/Twitter contact from them, perhaps start up a Facebook page for young Catholics in your area to discuss ways fill that void. Perhaps it’s not just ToT. Ascension Press and Ignatius Press have several DVD series available. Perhaps one of the area parishes offer those studies already, through your new FB network with other like-minded, same age group cohorts, you can arrange to attend those studies together. Sounds like a great Lenten project for you, WildCatholic! I’ll keep you in my prayers for this endeavor of yours. Open yourself to what the Lord is asking. The seed is ToT, but maybe there’s more to it than that.

Thanks, I certainly want to do this. I will say though one of my biggest problems is that my immediate area doesn’t have a lot of young catholics. Most of the people are 60 plus, and the few young people that stay are either married an do stuff with older people, or simply don’t go to church. There are also not a lot of people period. My hometown has 100 people, and the nearest big town has 2500 (thats right 2500, I am not missing zeros) Lincoln though I am sure has a community since it is a city of 250,000.

I certainly will find a way to do something though. I will pray, and I will submit my Totus Tuus app.

God Bless:thumbsup:

 

[asia53]

Recently your diocese got a very excellent bishop, Bishop James Conley. Bishop Conley was very active with Theology on Tap in the Archdiocese of Denver.

Email him or his office. I’m sure, you’ll be put in touch with someone, who can help you.

 

[Margarite]

I was just about to post this exact same thing except for the Las Vegas diocese. I just graduated from college and really want to continue to challenge myself intellectually, but most of all I want to meet some Catholics who think deeper than “Jesus loves me this I know…” The other thing is that I know absolutely no young Catholics, and I just think it might be dangerous for a 20 something girl to start advertising that she will be at this particular bar at this time on this day. So, I just don’t know how to begin. And I have had it with trying to get along with and the Charismatic group, they are probably closer to God than I am, but I cannot deal with that kind of Catholicism, which is why I want to start this group. I already have plenty of ideas of what to read, I just don’t know how to meet people.

Thanks for any insight and thanks for posting this thread!