ToT Social Monday 11/14

Hi everyone...We'll have our next ToT social this coming Monday 11/14 at Black Market Bar.  We'll gather around 5:30.  They have some great drink specials on Mondays!

Please reply if you think you might be able to attend.

Thanks...see you there!

OLV's Theology on Tap Team
theologyontap@olvsch.com
http://birminghamtot.blogspot.com/

ToT Social Monday 10/17

Hi everyone...don't forget to mark your calendars for 10/17, out next ToT outing at Superior Grill.  We'll gateher around 5:30 (they have a free buffet from 5-6:30!).

See you soon!

OLV's Theology on Tap Team
theologyontap@olvsch.com
http://birminghamtot.blogspot.com/

ToT Social Monday 9/12

Hi everyone...just in time for the fall weather, OLV's Theology on Tap is back with our next social outing on Monday, 9/12 at 5:30 PM at Dram (in Mountain Brook).  All are welcome!  Please email us at theologyontap@olvsch.com if you think you might make it, just so we have a rough idea of the number.  

Also mark your calendars for 10/17 (Superior Grill) and 11/14 (Black Market Bar).  See you soon!

OLV's Theology on Tap Team
theologyontap@olvsch.com
http://birminghamtot.blogspot.com/

OLV ToT on April 20

Hey!  Our April OLV Theology on Tap outing will be on April 20 at 6:00 PM, at J Clyde downtown (1312 Cobb Lane in Birmingham).  Mark your calendars to join us...J Clyde is famous around town for their beer selection...and their food is pretty good too!

Thanks to those who joined us for our recent gathering at Billy's...it was a blast, and we were treated to a special appearance by Father Alex Steinmiller.  We had a great time discussing his work at Holy Family Cristo Rey as well as all the latest movies!  If you're looking for a fantastic organization to contribute your time, talent, or treasure, check out the 'How You Can Help' link at http://www.hfcristorey.org/.  Thanks to Father Alex for the fantastic work he's doing, and thanks for blessing us by hanging out with us!

See you soon!

OLV's Theology on Tap team
theologyontap@olvsch.com
http://birminghamtot.blogspot.com/

ToT social March 23!

Hello!  Please be sure to plan to attend our upcoming OLV Theology on Tap social event on Wednesday,  March 23 at Billy's (English Village location) at 2012 Cahaba Road in Mountain Brook.  They have great food and have some wine specials that night.

 

We had a great turnout last month, it was a blast seeing everyone!  Hope to see you at Billy's!

 

Also...just in case you haven't heard, the first meeting of Ecumenical Theology on Tap (organized by the Diocese and Second Presbyterian in Hoover) is tomorrow (Tuesday, March 8) at 6:15 at Sweet Bones at the Summit.  They'll have dinner and a discussion with Dr. Joseph Scrivner, a Hebrew and Old Testament Professor at Samford.  Please contact Susan Gorin at sgorin@bhmdiocese.or​g for more info and to get added to her mail list.

 

Have a great week!  See you soon!

OLV's Theology on Tap team
theologyontap@olvsch.com
http://birminghamtot.blogspot.com/

Theology on Tap outing Feb 17

Hello from OLV's Theology on Tap!!  Hope everyone had a wonderful and blessed holiday season, and that everyone is staying safe and warm in this crazy weather! 

We're ready to give it another go this spring with some ToT social outings for you to enjoy.  We'll start with a visit to Fire in Crestline Village on Thursday, February 17 at 6:00.  They have a great Thursday food special that we're going to try.  Join us!

We're also planning outings on March 23 and April 20...mark your calendar!

Hope you've had a good week...have a great weekend!  See you soon!

OLV Theology on Tap Team
theologyontap@olvsch.com
birminghamtot.blogspot.com

Theology on Tap December gathering

Hello!  After a GREAT turnout for our recent gathering at Dodiyos (cool place, great food, and they took really good care of our group!), ToT is ready to move along to our December gathering.  Which won't take very long, as this time we're going just down the sidewalk to Jackson's Bar & Bistro in Homewood's Soho Square.  They have some great Tuesday half-price specials, and what better Tuesday than December 14 at 6:00!!  This'll be a great way to relax in the middle of the holiday craziness.

We hope to see you there!  And we sincerely hope you and your family and friends have a truly blessed and wonderful advent and Christmas season!

The OLV ToT Team
theologyontap@olvsch.com
birminghamtot.blogspot.com

ToT gathering on 11/11

Hello! 

After a couple of very fun gatherings at a cool Italian-ish spot and one of our all-american sports bars, ToT is going to continue with an outing to a pretty unique location...we're going Mediterranean as we try Dodiyos in Homewood's Soho Square.  They have some cool after-work specials and neat food selections.  We'll meet around 5:30 on Thursday, November 11.

In the mean time...please don't forget the upcoming Angel Tree at OLV.  We won't be doing a ToT group project for that this year, but we definitely encourage everyone (families and individuals!) to participate in that wonderful project. 

And also, don't forget OLV's "Tuning Up with Catholic Basics" series Tuesday nights at 7:00.  It's in full swing and continues through December 7.

Thank you!  Hope to see you soon!!

OLV Theology on Tap Team
theologyontap@olvsch.com
birminghamtot.blogspot.com

ToT events: "Tuning Up" Tuesday 10/5, Social event 10/18

Hello!  Just a couple notes on some great upcoming events...

If you didn't make it last week, Maffiaoza's didn't dissapoint for our first ToT event this fall!  Our next social gathering will be at On Tap in Inverness on Monday, October 18 around 6:30 PM.  They have some great Monday specials for the "Mexican Mondays."  Come hang out with us!

OLV's "Tuning Up with Catholic Basics" series continues Tuesday nights through December 7, 7-8:30 PM in the OLV Parish office conference room.  The countdown begins October 5 with a discussion of the 10 Commandments led by Peggy DeBlanc-Vogt.  Peggy's a fun lady and a great teacher, so it should be a good time!  Childcare will be provided.  BYOB&B (Bring your own Bibles and beer).  Call 991-5488 ext 247 with questions.

See you soon!

The ToT Team
theologyontap@olvsch.com
birminghamtot.blogspot.com

It's Theology on Tap time!!

Happy fall!  OLV's Theology on Tap is finally ready to roll!

We're back, and with a new look!  This fall, we'll be combining young adult social gatherings along with opportunities for 
community outreach.  

Our first gathering will be at Mafiaoza's Pizzeria (2 Dexter Ave, Birmingham) on Tuesday September 28 (next Tuesday!) at 6:00 PM.  We will simply 
enjoy each other's company along with their "Two For One Tuesday" special!  Rumor is they have excellent pizza...we can hardly wait!

Also, OLV has a "Tuning Up with Catholic Basics" series beginning Tuesday nights from September 28 through December 7, 7-8:30 PM.  
They will be counting down the basic teachings of the Church: 10 Commandments, 9 days of a novena, 8 beatitudes, etc.  Childcare 
will be provided. BYOB&B (Bring your own Bibles and beer). Peggy DeBlanc-Vogt and Sister Madeline will be alternate facilitators. 
See the bulletin for more details.  (Sister let us know that if you make the Mafiaoza's outing on 9/28, you're still welcome to 
attend other "Tuning Up" sessions, as you can get something out of any individual session you are able to attend!)

Also ALSO, the Young Adults of the Diocese group's TGIFF series continues on Friday, October 1 at 6:30 at Our Lady of Sorrows.  
Father Rick (yes, THAT Father Rick!) will say Mass, and Deacon Vincent Bresowar will be speaking on confession.  Contact Susan 
Gorin (sgorin@bhmdiocese.org) or check out the Facebook page for more info...
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=131748216872868&mid=2fc7330G3e6c68f0G188ab60G7&n_m=davidbromano%40gmail.com

It's going to be a great week for the young adults!  Hope to see you!

The ToT Team
theologyontap@olvsch.com
birminghamtot.blogspot.com

Area Young Adult Events Upcoming

Hello!!  It seems that the Catholic young adult life has taken on a life of its own in just the past few months.  Would we say we have a plethora of events?  Oh yes, we have a plethora! :)  Here some young adult events around our area to put on your calendar:

August 20 (Friday) 6:30 - Cullman Theology on Tap at Berkeley Bob's Coffee House in Cullman.  Very intriguing topic for this one: Was Hitler Right?  A talk aimed at abortion, euthanasia, atheism, and stem cell research, led by John Martignoni.  Contact Jonathan Howell at 256-338-8517 johnpaul2guy@gmail.com for more info.

August 21 (Saturday) 8:30 AM to Noon - JustFaith Workshop at St. Peter the Apostle in Birmingham.  This is an introduction to a fantastic personal transformation program in which participants can grow in their commitment to care for the poor and vulnerable and to become advocates for justice...Sister Madeline and other OLV ToT'ers who have participated in this in the past have loved it!  The speaker is the founder of this national program, Jack Jezreel.  Check out www.justfaithalabama.org for information and registration.  Sister promises you won't be sorry if you participate in this one! :)

August 26 (Thursday) · 5:30pm - 7:00pm - Huskey Happy Hour at Chili's (Hwy 280 & Valleydale) ($2 margaritas!) with our friend John Huskey.
Call/text John @ 865-406-1386 for info, or check out http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=145263235495766

September 10 (Friday) 6:30 PM - Thank God it's SECOND Friday at Our Lady of Sorrows in Homewood.  Diocesan Young Adult meeting with a Mass, meal, discussion, and socialization!  (Or is it socializing??)  Contact Susan Gorin at sgorin@bhmdiocese.org or web on over to http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=152717414738469 for more info.

Whew!  That's enough for now!  As a sneak preview...you'll be hearing from us soon about activities for OLV's Theology on Tap!!  We're blessed with growing opportunities to grow as young adults in our church!

Hope you have a great week!

The ToT Team
theologyontap@olvsch.com
birminghamtot.blogspot.com

Diocesan Young Adult event

Hi!  We hope you're having a GREAT summer!  Just wanted to send out a quick note to let you know about a Diocesan young adult program that's firing up soon...in fact, an event is set for next Friday!  Details are in the email below.  OLV ToT is pretty excited about the idea of a Diocesan-wide young adult program.  We know it will be a great ministry and we plan on working with them as much as we can!  You can check them out on Facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=131281340235192 .  Or you can email Susan (info below) for more and to join their mailing list.

Hope you continue to have a wonderful and blessed summer!

The ToT Team
theologyontap@olvsch.com
birminghamtot.blogspot.com


On Thu, Jul 22, 2010 at 3:16 PM, Susan Gorin <sgorin@bhmdiocese.org> wrote:

Diocese Young Adult Ministry Presents:
TGIFF (Thank God It's First Friday)
 
TGIFF will take place Friday, August 6th from 6-9:30 at the Cathedral of St. Paul. We will begin with Mass in the Cathedral, followed by a short informative talk by Fr. Kevin Bazzel regarding the history and importance of the First Friday devotion, as well as celebrating the Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ, which coincides with this event. The talk, dinner, and social will take place in the parish hall following Mass.

If you plan to attend, please email me or RSVP on our facebook group, Young Catholic Adults of Birmingham, so we make sure to have enough food! In honor of the traditional Catholic custom of fasting on all Fridays of the year, we will be serving a vegetarian meal consisting of sautéed vegetables, beans, rice, salsa, lettuce, cheese, and all other taco bar type fixings! We will also have homemade churros for dessert! To cover the cost of the meal, we ask that you please bring 7 dollars.
Childcare will be provided for this event!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at sgorin@bhmdiocese.org
 I look forward to seeing you there!
 
 
Pax Christi,
Susan
 
Susan R. Gorin
Young Adult Ministry Coordinator
Department of the New Evangelization and Stewardship
Diocese of Birmingham
2121 3rd Avenue North
Birmingham AL 35203
Office +1 (205) 776-7163
Fax      +1 (205) 836-1910
sgorin@bhmdiocese.org

Upcoming Huskey Happy Hour

Hello everyone...hope everyone is staying cool so far this summer!  John Huskey has let us know it's time for another Huskey Happy Hour, and once again he's inviting his ToT friends...we'll see you soon!

Huskey Happy Hour

Date:	Thursday, July 15, 2010
Time:	5:30pm - 7:00pm
Location:	Cafe Firenze
Street:	110 Inverness Plaza
City/Town:	Birmingham, AL

 

Hello!
July's Huskey Happy Hour will be at Cafe Firenze, located at Highway 280 & Valleydale Road on Thursday, July 15.
Cafe Firenze's Happy Hour is Monday-Friday 4-7 $1.75 domestic bottles, $5.50 double wells, $0.25 Oysters and Wings. Also everyday of the week from 7-9 Cafe Firenze has $1 Coors Lt draft and $2 imports.
This is an open event. Please feel free to invite your friends to this event.
If you have any questions,
please contact John Huskey @ cell# 865-406-1386 or e-mail johnhuskey@hotmail.com.

Huskey Happy Hour

Hi!  Hope you're having a GREAT summer-ish season!

Some of us are friends with John Huskey, who has attended some of our recent ToT meetings...John has started his own periodic social gathering for adults in our area.  He'll be hosting at Superior Grill this Friday, June 11, and he asked us to extend the invitation to the ToT group.  Looks like it could be fun!  Details below, and you can also find John on Facebook...please let John know if you have any questions.

Hope everyone stays cool this summer!  Stay tuned for news on upcoming ToT events!  :)

The ToT team

Huskey Happy Hour <a facebook event>

Date:	Friday, June 11, 2010
Time:	5:00pm - 7:00pm
Location:	Superior Grill
Street:	4701 Hwy 280
City/Town:	Birmingham, AL

 

Once again, it is time for the Huskey Happy Hour. Superior Grill offers $2 margaritas during its happy hour(3:30P.M. until 6:30P.M.).
http://birmingham.superiorgrill.com/events-specials.html
If you have any questions, feel free to call/text my Sprint cell# 865-406-1386.

JustFaith Information Session

Hello everyone!

This email is to let you know about the upcoming JustFaith information session for the JustFaith program at Our Lady of the Valley.  JustFaith is a powerful faith sharing, learning, and social ministry program.  OLV's program is coordinate by our own Sister Madeline, and a few of the past participants are also members of our ToT family.  All are invited to attend the information session on Tuesday, May 18, from 6:30-8 PM in the Parish Office Conference Room.  Please contact Sister Madeline to register or to ask questions, 991-5488, ext. 247, scontorno@olvsch.com. Access the website, www. Justfaith.org, for more information.

Everyone have a great weekend!

The ToT team
theologyontap@olvsch.com
birminghamtot.blogspot.com

ToT future planning, NO meeting this Tuesday

Good afternoon everyone...just wanted to send a quick note confirming that Theology on Tap will NOT have a meeting on Tuesday, 5/4.  We did have that on the calendar, but have decided to cancel that one.  You'll hear more soon about upcoming events...a sincere ToT "Thank You!" goes to everyone who was able to join and support us over the Winter and Spring!!

The ToT team will be meeting soon to discuss our upcoming schedule and topics (and maybe a Spring/Summer social!).  If you have ideas or suggestions on meeting topics or community and social events that might interest you or our young adult population, we would love for you to share them with us!  Please send an email to theologyontap@olvsch.com.  We really value your thoughts and feedback!

Have a great week!

The ToT team
theologyontap@olvsch.com
birminghamtot.blogspot.com

ToT meeting Tuesday 4/20

Good afternoon everyone!  Our Lives of the Saints series continues this coming Tuesday, April 20 with a discussion of St. Therese of Lisieux.  Known as the "Little Flower of Jesus," Saint Therese  became a nun at 15 and died of tuberculosis at 24.  Many of her writings, published after she died, had a impact on millions.  She is considered one of the greatest Saints of the 20th century, and she was declared the 33rd Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II, the youngest ever to receive that honor. 

This should be a really cool discussion about one of the Church's most exemplary young adults.  One of us could be the next St. Therese!  Well, maybe. :)

We'll meet at 6:30 PM in the OLV Parish office conference room.  There is no charge to attend...BYOB...childcare is provided.

Take a look at http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_19101997_stherese_en.html for more info!

See you soon!

The ToT Team
theologyontap@olvsch.com
birminghamtot.blogspot.com

ToT meeting Tuesday 4/6!

Hello everyone!  Just a quick note to remind you of our upcoming ToT gathering on Tuesday, April 6.  We'll discuss the life of Blessed Franz Jaggerstatter.  A father of three daughters, Franz took a public stand against being called to fight for Germany in World War II and was imprisoned and executed by the Third Reich.  Theology on Tap will discuss the inspirational story of his unwavering faithfulness in the face of the greatest evil of the 20th Century.  We'll meet at 6:30 PM in the OLV Parish office conference room.  There is no charge to attend...BYOB...childcare is provided. 

If you have a chance to read up on Franz, check out http://www.vatican.va/news_services/liturgy/saints/ns_lit_doc_20071026_jagerstatter_en.html for some good info!

We'll continue our Lives of the Saints discussion on Tuesday, April 20 with St. Ignatius of Loyola. 

The ToT team hopes to see you soon, and we hope you and your family and friends have a wonderful Holy Week and Easter season! 

The ToT Team
theologyontap@olvsch.com
birminghamtot.blogspot.com

Theology on Tap - April 6

On Tuesday, April 6, Theology on Tap will host a Lives of the Saints discussion of Blessed Franz Jaggerstatter.  A father of three daughters, Franz took a public stand against being called to fight for Germany in World War II and was imprisoned and executed by the Third Reich.  Theology on Tap will discuss the inspirational story of his unwavering faithfulness in the face of the greatest evil of the 20th Century.  We'll meet at 6:30 PM in the OLV Parish office conference room.  There is no charge to attend...BYOB...childcare is provided.  For more information, email us at theologyontap@olvsch.com or check out birminghamtot.blogspot.com. 

Stump the Bishop is right around the corner!!

Only five days until Stump the Bishop!  We're taking our popular "Stump the Priest" series to the next level!  What curious, vague, or maybe even weird questions do you have about Catholicism and Christianity?  :)  Hope you can join us at 6:30 on Tuesday March 23, as we attempt to stump Bishop David Foley with your questions about our faith.  We'll meet in the OLV Parish office conference room.  BYOB, childcare provided.  No charge to attend!!

Also, don't forget that our Coffee and Theology bible study on "Becoming a Praying Person" still has two more meetings to go.  We'll meet this Sunday 3/20 and next 3/27, 9:45-10:45 in the OLV Social Hall.  If you haven't made it to our meetings yet, there's still time!  We ask for an $8 donation to cover the cost of the book.  Please join us for bible study, coffee, and doughnuts!

Also also...mark your calendars for our ToT meetings after Easter...we'll meet on April 6 and April 20 to continue our Lives of the Saints discussion.

We hope to see you soon, and most especially, ToT hopes you and your loved ones have a most blessed Lent and Easter season!

The ToT Team
theologyontap@olvsch.com
birminghamtot.blogspot.com

ToT meets Tuesday, Coffee continues Sunday

Hello!  Just wanted to send a reminder about our upcoming Theology on Tap meeting this coming Tuesday, March 2.  We'll discuss "How To Live a More Simple Life"...a very timely topic since we just started the Lenten season of reflection and simplification.  We'll have a short video to view and some good discussion.  We'll meet at 6:30 PM in the OLV Parish office conference room.  As usual, no charge to attend, BYOB, childcare provided.  If you can also help out by bringing a snack to share, that would be great too!

Also...we had a strong start to our Lenten Coffee and Theology series this past weekend.  Our topic is "Becoming a Praying Person."  It's a little different from previous Coffee sessions, in that instead of focusing on one or two books, we're studying six different instances of prayer represented in various places in the bible and discussing each.  It's a very interesting approach!  You don't have to attend all six sessions, so we hope you can join us even if you couldn't make it to the first!  We'll meet this Sunday, February 28, 9:45-10:45 in the OLV social hall room A.  Childcare is provided.  We ask for a one-time $8 donation to cover the cost of the study guide.  Other than that, you can enjoy all the coffee and doughnuts you want!  Our meetings continue each Sunday through March 28.

We'll see you soon!!


The ToT Team
theologyontap@olvsch.com
birminghamtot.blogspot.com

ToT Mardi Gras Social Tuesday, Coffee starts Sunday

Hi everyone!  Just wanted to send a quick reminder about our Mardi Gras social Tuesday evening at Carrabbas on highway 280 starting at 6:30.  It should be a lot of fun!  If you'd like to join us but haven't yet RSVP'd, please respond to this email or to the eVite invitation so we can include you in the headcount.

Also, Coffee and Theology, our Sunday morning bible study series, starts this coming Sunday, February 21.  This series will be "Becoming a Prayerful Person," and should be a great Lenten reflection.  Coffee and Theology meets 9:45-10:45 (between Masses) in the OLV Social Hall.  A one-time $8 donation is requested to cover the cost of the book.  Coffee, doughnuts, and childcare are provided at each meeting.  We hope you can join us!

Everyone have a great week! 

The ToT Team
theologyontap@olvsch.com
birminghamtot.blogspot.com

ToT Saints' Gallery meeting Tuesday

Hello!  Just a quick reminder about our next Theology on Tap meeting this coming Tuesday, February 2.  (Insert your own Groundhog's Day joke here!)  We'll meet at 6:30 PM in the OLV Parish office conference room.  No charge, BYOB, childcare provided.  If you'd like to bring a snack to share, great!!

Tuesday's meeting will be the introductory discussion on Saints.  We'll watch a video on the lives of several different saints, and we'll discuss how we can apply some of the principles lived by those individuals to our daily lives in our modern society.  It should be very interesting and informative...probably even entertaining! :)

Hope you can make it!!

Thanks to everyone who made it to our meeting a few days ago...it was wonderful to see everyone, along with some new faces.  A big thanks to Father Alex for talking with us.  He was AWESOME, and we can't wait to get him back!

Have a great weekend!

The ToT Team
theologyontap@olvsch.com
birminghamtot.blogspot.com

ToT meeting Tuesday

Hi everyone!  First of all, thanks to everyone who was able to join us for our kickoff Mass and pizza dinner...we had a blast!

We hope to see even more ToT'ers at our upcoming meeting this coming Tuesday, January 26.  We'll meet at 6:30 in the OLV Parish office conference room.  Father Alex Steinmiller will discuss "Authentic Catholicism."  It should be very interesting!!

No charge to attend...BYOB...childcare provided.

If you can help us out by bringing a snack treat for us to enjoy, please send a quick reply to this email.  (This is one of the best parts of the meetings...we have so many generous and talented treat-makers in our ToT family! :) )

We hope to see YOU Tuesday!!

The ToT Team
theologyontap@olvsch.com
birminghamtot.blogspot.com

Season Kickoff!

Our season kickoff was a blast! We had a wonderful Mass said by Father Phil Paxton (special thanks to Father Phil for stepping in and covering for Father Alex). Thanks to Chip, Jeanie, Katie, Margaret, Sally, and Sister for helping with the Mass! After Mass we enjoyed a fantastic pizza dinner!

We'll see you all on January 26 when Father Alex presents "Authentic Catholicism."

The details of our meeting next Tuesday, 1/12...

We will begin with Mass in the OLV Chapel at 6:00 PM. We are delighted that Father Alex Steinmiller will be presiding. After Mass, we will head to the social hall for dinner and some socializing. It'll be great to see everyone after the holiday season!

ToT will provide the food and a limited supply of beverages. We're asking for a $5 donation to help cover the costs for the evening. Also, please feel free to BYOB (you can leave them in the Social Hall Room A (the room closest to the lobby area) before Mass if you like). As usual, we'll also have childcare.

If you plan to attend, please send us an RSVP email so we can get a ballpark number for the food.

Thanks everyone! See you Tuesday!!!

Happy New Year & 2010 Lineup

Hi! Our Lady of the Valley's Theology on Tap hopes you had a wonderful, blessed Christmas, and we hope you're gearing up for a fun New Year!!

We have a really great lineup of ToT events in Winter and Spring of 2010! We had such success in our discussion of "Rediscovering Catholicism" last Fall that we have selected to continue our learning theme by having discussions on the lives of five Saints -- some more familiar than others -- all excellent models of how we can live better lives as Catholics and Christians. But wait...there's more! Our meetings will also feature not one, but TWO appearances by Father Alex Steinmiller, "Stump the Bishop" with Bishop Foley, and a Mardi Gras Social! To get right to it, here are the dates you should reserve on your calendar for 2010:

• January 12 - our season kickoff! We'll have Mass, followed by dinner. We are very blessed to have Father Alex Steinmiller join us to say Mass.
• January 26 - Father Alex will return to discuss "Authentic Catholicism."
• February 2 - Discussion of the life of a Saint
• February 16 - Mardi Gras social
• March 2 - "Affluenza"
• March 23 - "Stump the Bishop" with Bishop Foley
• April 6 - Saint discussion
• April 20 - Saint discussion
• May 4 - Saint discussion
• May 18 - You guessed it...our final Saint discussion! :)

It's one of ToT's most agressive lineups, but we can pull it off with your help! More details will come closer to each event. We hope to see you soon!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

The ToT Team

Advent Wreath Making

A few pics from the Advent Wreath Making held at OLV on 11/29...thanks to all who joined us!! ToT hopes everyone has a wonderful and blessed Advent and Christmas season!

Social Outing DATE CHANGED!!!

The date for our ToT social outing has been CHANGED to November 21. We'll meet for dinner at 6:00 for some great food and conversation. We're looking at Margarita Grill as a possibility...they have an outdoor patio (heated if it's cold), great food, and fantastic margaritas. :) An email will come out next week with more info.

11/3 - Rediscovering Catholicism

Pictures below from the final meeting of our Rediscovering Catholicism series. THANK YOU to everyone who participated and helped make it a great series!!

10/6 - Rediscovering Catholicism

Check out some pics from our ToT meeting on 10/6. Thanks to Tony for putting together a great discussion for us! Please join us for our next meeting on 10/20.

Rediscovering Catholicism - Sept 15

Thanks to everyone for a great meeting last night! We had a great group - right around 25 people! It was wonderful to see some regulars along with several new faces. Thanks also to those who brought a snack for us to enjoy. SPECIAL thanks to our presenter, Chip, who got us off to a great start with a discussion of the first section of Rediscovering Catholicism.

If you couldn't make it, we hope to see you at our October 6 meeting!

Pictures below...

September 1 Meeting - Success!

Great meeting! Great crowd, wonderful food, fantastic company! Thanks to all who attended! A few pictures below.....see everyone on the 15th!

Season kickoff Tuesday September 1!!

Hello everyone! If you can believe it, summer is winding down. School's started, football is just around the corner...and it's once again time for the Theology on Tap season to get started!

Our Fall "kickoff" (no pun intended) event is just about a week away: Tuesday, September 1 at 6:00 PM. Take note of the special start time...we're doing something a little different this year for our kickoff. We'll start by sharing in a Mass lead by OLV's own Father Rick in the OLV chapel. Then we'll move to the social hall for dinner, hosted by the Theology on Tap team. We hope to put together a really great meal for everyone, and we hope everyone will enjoy hanging out, enjoying the good company, and catching up on how our summers went.

There will be no charge for this event. You read that right...no charge! Call it our own little contribution to the economic stimulus. :) Also, we'll have a limited supply of beverages on hand, so please BYOB. (You can even bring one of those fancy new brews that are all the rage around town lately!) Childcare will be provided.

If you plan to attend, please send us a quick email to let us know. That will help us plan to be sure we have enough food for everyone. All are welcome!

Tuesday September 1, 6:00 PM
OLV Chapel & Social Hall
No charge
BYOB
Childcare provided

Also, go ahead and mark your calendars for our upcoming events on September 15, October 6, October 20, November 3. This will be our four-week series where we discuss Matthew Kelly's Rediscovering Catholicism...should be a thought-provoking series! Also, we hope you can attend our social on Saturday, November 14. Look for more details on those events later!

Everyone have a great week!

The ToT Team
theologyontap@olvsch.com

Back in Action! Fall 2009 Events...

Happy summer!! We hope everyone has had a fun and safe summer so far.

Despite the heat and all the 4th of July celebrations, OLV's Theology on Tap team has been working hard planning our Fall lineup. Here are some dates to mark on your calendar for the Tuesday night meetings as well as the Coffee and Theology series.

Tuesday Night ToT Meetings
This season, our first meeting will involve a mass, followed by a social dinner. Following that, we'll have a four-meeting series spanning September, October, and November. We'll then have a social outing. Also, this season, there is NO CHARGE to attend a Tuesday night ToT meeting!

• September 1 - our season kickoff!
• September 15
• October 6
• October 20
• November 3
• November 14 (Saturday night) - 4:30 mass at OLV followed by social outing. This could be bowling, dinner, skydiving, cowtipping...the possibilities are endless! :)

Coffee and Theology
Our Sunday morning bible study series continues this fall! The time is 9:45-10:45 Sunday mornings (between masses at OLV).

• September 20
• September 27
• October 4
• October 11
• October 18
• October 25

Advent Wreath Making
This year, our Advent Wreath Making event moves back to Sunday morning between masses at OLV. We will make our wreaths on November 22.

More details will come to the blog and through email as we get closer. We can't wait to see everyone again!! Have a great summer!

DVD Series April 21 and 28

Hello everyone, and happy Easter season! Theology on Tap hopes everyone has had a wonderful, blessed Easter celebration.

This is a note to remind you of our upcoming events...On April 21 (next Tuesday!) and April 28, and we'll continue viewing the Matthew Kelly DVD series. For those who missed the first two meetings in the series, Matthew Kelly is a world-renowned speaker, and more than 3 million people have attended his seminars, talks, and retreats. His DVD series is titled "Living Life with Passion and Purpose," and he does an excellent job relating to young adults. Our first two meetings consisted of viewing the DVD mixed with some good discussion. This is a DVD series, but each DVD is a complete package unto itself :) ...so even if you haven't seen the first two, we hope you'll join us for the upcoming episodes!

We'll use our standard Theology on Tap meeting protocol: 7:00 PM in the OLV Parish Office Conference Room. $5/person, with drinks, snacks, and childcare provided.

See you there!

The ToT Team

Coffee and Theology continues!

Our Coffee and Theology Series continues this Sunday, 3/8, 9:45-10:45 at OLV in the social hall. We're studying Philippians.

The series will continue through the rest of Lent (3/15, 3/22, 3/29, and 4/5). Attendance at every session is NOT required. The cost for the entire series -- including the study guide (and all the coffee and doughnuts you want!) -- is $7 per person. We hope to see you there!

DVD Series Recap - 2/24 & 3/3

Thanks to everyone who attended our DVD Series! We viewed the first two DVDs of Matthew Kelly's "Living Life with Passion and Purpose" series. Our first session included a little Mardi Gras fun (with beads and a king cake!). The first DVD set the stage by presenting us with a theme of "Our Lives Change When our Habits Change." We can become better versions of ourselves by working to eliminate bad habits and form good ones.

The second DVD centered on an important good habit to form: spending 10 minutes a day in prayer. Focused prayer...moving toward achieving union with God...can change our lives, and it can start with just 10 minutes a day. It's challenging, but it can make a big difference!

Matthew Kelly is a very dynamic speaker, with thought-provoking stories and examples, a good sense of humor, and a cool Austrailian accent. Combined with some great discussion among our own group, it made for two very entertaining evenings!!

And we enjoyed yet another incredible dip...thanks to Kate for sharing with us!!

Thanks again everyone! We'll let you know when our next ToT events are on the calendar. We hope everyone has a blessed and fulfilling Lent and Easter season!

ToT events: Habitat Saturday, Coffee Sunday, DVD Series Tuesday...

Just a quick note to remind everyone about the upcoming events...we have a busy Lent planned!

This Saturday, February 28, is the Habitat for Humanity build. Please send us an email to let us know if you're able to participate. It will begin at 7:30 AM, and usually runs until around 3:00. Lunch and tools are provided (you may want to bring work gloves and a tool/nail belt if you have one). It should be a lot of fun...and for a good cause!

This Sunday, March 1, is the first meeting of our Coffee and Theology series. We will meet from 9:45 to 10:45 (between masses) in the OLV Social Hall. We'll be discussing Philippians. We'll meet each Sunday during Lent (March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and April 5). The cost for the entire series is $7 -- that gets you the book, along with all the coffee and doughnuts you'd like for the entire series! :) You don't have to attend every session - we encourage you to join us whenever you can. Childcare is provided for children not in CCD.

Tuesday, March 3 is the second of our DVD Series meetings. We had a great meeting this past week - lots of entertaining and thought-provoking discussion. We'll meet at 7:00 PM in the OLV Parish Office conference room. The cost is $5...drinks/snacks/childcare provided.

Thanks to everyone who was able to attend the DVD Series meeting this week. We hope to see everyone again soon!

Upcoming Events

Upcoming ToT Events...

ToT DVD Series: February 24 and March 3. 7:00 PM, OLV Parish Office Conference Room
We will review and discuss the first two installments of Matthew Kelly's "Living Every Day with Passion and Purpose" series. Matthew Kelly is a world-renowned speaker. His seminars, talks, and retreats have been attended by more than three million people in fifty countries. We'll have two meetings centered around some of his topics (and if we want to keep going, we'll schedule more!). We'll also have a Mardi Gras party along with our February 24 meeting!

Habitat for Humanity: February 28 (Saturday)
On Saturday, February 28, we will participate in the Habitat for Humanity project co-sponsored by Our Lady of the Valley. If you've never helped with a Habitat project, it's a fantastic and fun way to sacrifice our time and energy to help others, which helps us mimic the sacrifices of Jesus. We'll be working to build a house in Montevallo, and February 28 is the first Habitat workday, so we'll be framing the house. Lunch and most tools will be provided...as well as onsite directors and supervisors, so we can help even if we don't know anything at all about building a house!

Coffee and Theology: Sundays during Lent (March 1 through April 5), 9:45-10:45 - OLV Social Hall
Our Sunday morning guided bible study series, will begin Sunday March 1 going through April 5. This year, we will be studying Philippians.

Unfortunately, we've had to cancel the Mardi Gras Masquerade previously scheduled for February 20. We'll try to arrange another get-together to make up for it...let us know if you have any good ideas for events!

Thanks everyone! We hope to see you soon!

Stump the Priest, 2/3 (No fish were harmed....)

The final installment of our Winter 2009 Stump the Priest Series was held on February 3. It was a blast! We had ANOTHER great crowd. Our guest of honor was Monsignor Paul Rohling from OLV. Having served in the Diocese for several years in various capacities and parishes, Father Paul brought much experience and wisdom to our meeting. So, we had a lot of questions for him...the fishbowl could hardly wait!

Our topics ranged from confession, to the Trinity, Mary, the Catechism...we covered a lot!

Special thanks to Father Paul, who taught us AND entertained us. We are so blessed to have been able to spend time with him!

Thanks to EVERYONE who attended our Stump The Priest series. It was a fantastic start to the year! At the end, the fishbowl was empty, with a few blank question cards ready for next time!

***No fish were harmed in the production of Stump the Priest '09. They were only slightly inconvenienced for about a month.*** :)

We look forward to seeing everyone at our DVD series starting February 24!

Pics from Stump the Priest, Week 2

Here are some pics of our second Stump the Priest event featuring Fr Joe Cullota. See if you can find yourself! :)

Stump the Priests going great!

Thanks to everyone who attended Stump the Priest with Father Joe on 1/27! We had a great crowd and a lot of fun!

Please join us for the final session of our Stump the Priest series this coming Tuesday (2/3) with Msgr Paul Rohling from OLV...7 PM, OLV Parish Office Conference Room. $5... drinks/snacks/childcare provided.

Stump the Priest with Fr Rick, 1/13

We kicked off Winter 2009 with the first edition of th season's Stump the Priest series. Our 'target' was Father Rick Chenault of OLV. :)

We started the year off right with a great crowd...both the usuals as well as several new faces! (And another excellent dip by Margaret Ann!)

After a few TRULY hilarious jokes :) by the MC to start us off, we got right to it. Father Rick fielded live questions from our group, as well as a few written questions placed in the Official ToT Question/Fish bowl. We asked some excellent questions...

...and Father Rick did an excellent job. We thought for sure we would stump him, but despite being new to the priesthood, Father Rick handled everything we threw at him like a pro. He's a great teacher, and was able to explain his answers in a way that we, as young adults, could relate to. His real-life examples helped us better understand some very difficult aspects of our faith.


Thanks so much to Father Rick for being a willing and excellent participant in our Stump the Priest series!

Next up: Stump the Priest continues on 1/27 with Father Joe Cullota from St. Mark the Evangelist. We hope to see you there!

Winter/Spring 2009 Events Calendar

We have an action-packed schedule for the next few months...there's something for everyone! Be sure to add these events to your calendar:

Stump the Priest Series
January 13 - Father Rick Chenault (OLV)
January 27 - Father Joe Cullota (St. Mark the Evangelist)
February 3 - Msgr Paul Rohling (OLV)
**all events at 7:00 PM in the OLV Parish Office Conference Room
**snacks, drinks, childcare provided
**cost: $5

Mardi Gras Masquerade - "BYOM" (Bring Your Own Mask!)
February 20 - OLV Social Hall - 7:30 PM
**snacks, drinks provided
**$10 per person

Theology on Tap DVD Series
Matthew Kelly - Living Every Day with Passion and Purpose
February 24
March 3
March 10
**all events at 7:00 PM in the OLV Parish Office Conference Room
**snacks, drinks, childcare provided
**cost: $5

Coffee and Theology - Sunday morning Lenten Bible Study series
Meets in the OLV Social Hall from 9:45 to 10:45 AM on the following Sundays during Lent:
March 1
March 8
March 15
March 22
March 29
April 5

We look forward to seeing you!

12/2 - Advent Wreath Making

Wreath-making was a blast this year!

We held our annual Advent wreath-making event on Tuesday, December 2. We had a great turnout! The Advent wreath is one of the most popular Catholic Advent traditions. We opened with a prayer, and then we got right to the action...

Everyone seemed to enjoy making a wreath. It provided just the right amount of challenge without being too complicated: attaching the greenery, tying the bows...it was just enough to provide a few laughs along the way, and by the time we finished, we felt like we really accomplished something!

Father Paul even checked it on us...and he appreciated our creativity!

The lighting of the candles of the Advent wreath throughout the time of Advent helps us to remember and focus on the promise of the coming of Jesus, the light of the world. This night, we were all fortunate to be able to spend this special and fun time together!

ToT hopes that you and your family and friends are able to experience the full joy and true meaning of the Christmas season.

Thanks to everyone who was able to join us! We look forward to seeing you at future ToT events in January.

11/11 - Power in Weakness

Theology on Tap met Tuesday, November 11. Mandy was our speaker, and she led an excellent discussion of Paul's 2nd Letter to the Corinthians, considered by many to be one of Paul's most emotional writings. The theme was 'Power in Weakness,' and Mandy started by giving us an overview of the letter.

She outlined several examples of how Paul explained and demonstrated the 'power in weakness' concept. She gave us a good reminder that we shouldn't judge others when we see they're in an tough situation - sometimes it's tempting to say 'what have they done to deserve what they're dealing with?' We should instead provide encouragement and support!


Mandy's discussion also reminded us we are very fragile and woundable as human beings, and it's our spirit that gives us power, especially in tough times. Our own burdens -- the crosses we bear -- are how God works through us, the same way that God worked through Jesus in the way he suffered on the cross.

Mandy did a great job! She's always a lot of fun to talk with, so it was a great discussion on how we can improve our own lives, especially by supporting others in times of weakness. We hope to have some ideas for service projects in the next few months so we can put this learning to work!

(Also, Margaret Ann made a great bacon-frito-awesome dip!) :)

Thanks to everyone who was able to attend, and thanks to ALL for your prayers, support, and participation as we continue to build this young adult ministry!

Next up: Advent Wreath Making!