The Theology on Tap series, hosted this summer at the University of Saint Francis, will bring young people from across Fort Wayne together as they dive deeply into the themes centered on finding Christ in various aspects of faith and life. The series planned by a team of local young adults, entitled “The Paradox of the Christian Life”, will offer a weekly talk by a local follower of faith and the opportunity to enjoy food, drink, and fellowship. Individuals of any faith or non-faith are encouraged to attend.
There will be one talk each Tuesday from July 9th – July 30th at the University of Saint Francis Cougar Den (Student Center). Food and bar service opens each week at 6:00 PM, and the week’s talk will begin at 6:30 p.m. On August 6, there will be a closing Mass at 6:00 PM at the University of Saint Francis Chapel followed by a closing celebration in Achatz Hall at 6:30 PM. The event is generously sponsored by the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend. Dinner will be available for purchase at a discounted rate, $8 thanks to their support.
The goal of this series is to help young adults navigate an increasingly complex society and equip them with resources to be better Christians in a secular world. Our society and culture are often dominated by “either…or” extremes by which individuals are expected to define themselves. Even within the Church, this temptation to be “either…or” exists. But what we see revealed in Jesus Christ is that to be a follower of His is to live a paradox – to hold two things that seem opposed in tension, and allow the Holy Spirit to purify and animate our life in that space – which is often referred to as the “both…and” of Catholicism. Each of the series talks will focus on a “both…and” theme that young adults encounter regularly, and will offer guidance on how to live this paradox in imitation of Christ, who is both God and man and reveals to us what we are created for.

On July 9, Marie Heimann will share how both joy and sorrow are intertwined in the Christian life. The paradox between joy and sorrow is often misunderstood: when faced with great sorrow are we to put on a brave face and act like everything is fine? Or are we called to enter in more deeply somehow? This talk will delve into a more authentic understanding of what joy is and how joy and sorrow are not opposed and can exist simultaneously, as well as how we are called as Christians to respond to the experience of suffering when we are in the midst of it ourselves.

Marie Heimann is a Fort Wayne artist and shop owner of Fawnly. She works at the local YLNI farmer’s market and is on Etsy. Her work merges her passion for her faith, mental health, parenthood, and all the messiness and beauty within them. She is a mother of five boys ages 11 to 1 and also two children in heaven. Marie is married to Cory Heimann who is a creative director and together they are working to raise a family of wildly creative minds!

Website: https://diocesefwsb.org/tot-fw/