Diocese of Joliet Young Adult Ministry

Advent Opportunities

2011-11-22T10:57:00.001-08:00

Check out the upcoming Advent opportunities for young adults this year...

Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Special Advent Mass with Bishop Siegel
7:00 p.m. at St. Bernard Parish
Homer Glen, Illinois

Saturday & Sunday, December 3 & 4, 2011
Toy Drive for Walk-In Ministry of Hope
All Weekend Masses at St. Scholastica Parish
Woodridge, Illinois

Monday, December 19, 2011
Advent Candlelight Vespers & Potluck
7:00 p.m. at St. Procopius Abbey
Lisle, Illinois

Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Faith & Film Night: "It's a Wonderful Life"
6:30 p.m. at Another Round Bar & Grill
Downers Grill, Illinois

For more information, go to www.dioceseofjoliet.org/yam/ or connect with the activities at the diocesan young adult commission website, www.catholicyac.net.

Hauntings, Hollywood, and Holiness

2011-10-25T11:29:00.000-07:00

All Hallow's Eve Celebration: Mass, Potluck, and Bonfire

This Saturday, October 29th, young adults from across the Chicagoland area are invited to a special event connected to the Halloween season: the annual All Hallow's Eve Celebration, being held at St. Jude Catholic Church in New Lenox, Illinois.

Mass begins at 7 p.m., followed by a potluck dinner at 8 p.m., and continuing with a bonfire and presentation on "Hauntings, Hollywood, and Holiness: A Spiritual Look @ Halloween."

So bring a dish, dress in a costume, and stop by for a great time. We'll talk about the sacred and secular origins of Halloween - and what this time of year can teach us today about our lives and our journeys of faith. See you there!

The World of QR Codes

2011-10-24T11:28:00.000-07:00

Today we want information fast. Perhaps too fast?!... Since typing in web addresses, especially long ones, can be tiresome for people - and may result in people not finding our websites. In an age of mobile devices, it can be difficult to type in all the characters in a long URL. So now we enter a world of QR codes - those bar-code-looking boxes that link people directly to a website.

Wanting to make sure that young adults don't forget about the diocesan young adult ministry opportunities awaiting them, we have developed the following.

Click the link below now (and anytime you want) and you'll immediately access the diocesan website for young adult ministry - and then from there, you can link to our calendar, upcoming events, list of opportunities for collegians, singles, and couples, parish workshops options, and more.

Joliet Young Adults Travel to Madrid

2011-08-15T13:28:00.001-07:00

21 pilgrims from the Diocese of Joliet travel to Madrid, Spain, for the celebration of World Youth Day with the Holy Father. There are also quite a number of young adults traveling with the various youth groups from the diocese. the week ahead looks to be a promising experience for all of them.

We are praying for all of you back home. Please pray for them as well. We will all be united in our prayers.

World Youth Day Madrid 2011

2011-08-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

Follow the Joliet Young Adult Pilgrim Delegation!

Hundreds of thousands of young adults will descend on Madrid, Spain, for the international celebration of World Youth Day in Madrid, Spain, this coming week. His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI will take part in the festivities as well - and will encourage the young people present (and those connecting virtually) to be witnesses of their faith to their generation.

If you would like to follow the pilgrims... check out the following:

The International World Youth Day Website:
http://www.madrid11.com/en

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops WYD Website:
http://new.usccb.org/about/world-youth-day/index.cfm

The Virtual World Youth Day Pilgrimage Journey:
http://www.virtualworldyouthday.org/
(and on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/VirtualWorldYouthDay)

The Diocese of Joliet Young Adult Ministry Social Media Pages:
(on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/yamjoliet)
(on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/yamjoliet)

We hope you will be able to follow along with us on our journey with the Holy Father in Madrid. Remember that the Pope speaks to you as much as he speaks to those making the physical journey overseas. Let us all pray for the rejuvenation of the Catholic Church among those in their 20s and 30s, in the United States and across the globe. See you around... online!

Ash Wednesday: Why Do We Go?

2011-02-21T05:05:00.000-08:00

Each year on Ash Wednesday, our pews are more full than any given Sunday. Studies show that while 15% of adults under 45 attend Mass weekly, a whopping 50% of that same group will receive ashes on the first day of Lent. That leads me to wonder: why?!

What's so special about Ash Wednesday that it commands our attention? Adults who are religiously inactive the rest of the year seem to make it a point to receive ashes. Because of this, our churches swell in attendance all day long. We cannot keep people away if we tried.

Some have speculated that people return out of a sense of subconscious Catholic identity: it was ingrained in them as children, so they reenact that spiritual experience as adults. Others believe it is a form of peer pressure brought on by co-workers, neighbors, friends, media personalities, and strangers on the street - they are reminded of this special day by others' already-received ashes on their foreheads (not to mention the day appears on most secular calendars too). Or perhaps it is because Lent gives people a second chance at a New Year's resolution - and the ashes signify a public admission that they need to try harder this time around.

But why do YOU go? Whether you're inactive or a frequent churchgoer, why will you receive ashes this year? What's so special about this day to you?

Feel free to respond, reply, or comment. We would love to hear from you.

Advent Candelight Vespers - 2010

2010-12-16T09:37:00.000-08:00

The Diocese of Joliet Young Adult Ministry's annual Advent Candlelight Vespers Service is a great respite for those needing a little peace in their otherwise hectic lives. Check out the invitation below. This event is open to all young adults, 18 to 39 (and those young adult at heart) and their families. Who doesn't need a little break?

The service takes place on the darkest night of the year - so that we remember that the light of Christ's light and everlasting peace always vanquishes the darkness of war, stress, anxiety, polarization, apathy, and bitterness. Check it out...

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Advent-Candlelight-Vespers--You-re-Invited-.html?soid=1102273236541&aid=92uCqwVQZ58

Tell your friends, too. Happy Advent.

World Youth Day Madrid: 365 Days & Counting

2010-08-22T08:08:00.001-07:00

Only one year to go to WYD 2011 in Madrid, Spain!

Twenty-two young adults from the Diocese of Joliet will depart for Madrid, Spain, in one year's time. The international celebration of World Youth Day will take place August 13-22, 2011 on the Iberian penninsula - and we'll be there to experience the big event!

This past week, WYD pilgrims from the diocese have celebrated their one-year pre-anniversary by gathering and sharing their thoughts on the notion of pilgrimage - and why this trip will be different than any vacation they have had or will ever have. As we look one year into the future, we can expect a journey of faith - both interior and exterior - that will transform their lives.

World Youth Day, begun at Pope John Paul II's suggestion in 1984, is now an international phenomenon. The audience for this event are young people ages 16 to 35 (the word "youth" in Europe is more indicitive of young adults than teenagers) - and the Diocese of Joliet is bringing a big contingent of those people to Spain next August.

In addition to the 22 young adults, the diocese will also send along older teens, chaperones, and young adult seminarians and priests - as well as Bishop J. Peter Sartain, who will accompany the pilgrimage overseas. Several diocesan agencies are working together to make this trip a reality: the youth ministry office, the campus ministry office, the vocations office, the Hispanic affairs office, and of course, the young adult ministry office for the Diocese of Joliet.

The young adult pilgrims include men and women from around the Chicagoland area: Joliet, Naperville, Morris, Clarendon Hills, Schaumburg, Buffalo Grove, Plainfield, Elmhurst, Lockport, Lisle, Frankfort, and Chicago. They are college students, recent grads, married couples, and singles - and they are open to the Holy Spirit as they make their way towards Madrid this year.

The coming year will feature retreats, days of reflection, catechesis, spiritual renewal, social opportunities, travel preparation, and other activities for these pilgrims. One major difference between a vacation and a pilgrimage is that the pilgrim's route is just as important as the destination. And this year, as we journey with these men and women, that route is full of great things.

Please pray for our pilgrims this year.

Summer Finale Celebration with Bishop Sartain

2010-08-05T10:49:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, August 7th, 2010 - Finale Mass on the Grass

The summer is almost over - and what a better way to send off the season by being a part of a great Mass on the Grass with Joliet Bishop J. Peter Sartain and a crowd of your peers?

This Saturday, the Diocese of Joliet hosts its finale event at the St. Charles Borromeo Pastoral Center in Romeoville (specifically at 101 W. Airport Road, Romeoville, IL 60446, just north of Lewis University on Rt. 53). Mass begins at 5:00 p.m., followed by a picnic dinner at 6:00 p.m.

The cost is only $5.00 per person in advance (call Nancy for tickets to be held at will call: 815-834-4048) or $10.00 if you buy them at the door. All young adults are welcome to attend, whether they came to Theology-on-Tap or not. We'd love to have you!

What Does the Mass Mean to Young Adults?

2010-07-26T13:19:00.000-07:00

Catholic Mass: What's the Point?

This week at Theology-on-Tap, a panel of young adults will explore the meaning of the Mass and what it means to them today. The presentation takes place:

Thursday, July 29, 2010 @ 7:00 p.m.
Christ the King Catholic Church
1501 S. Main Street, Lombard, Illinois

Katie Jennrich, a recent graduate of the University of Dayton in Ohio and a native of the Diocese of Joliet, will share her experiences with the liturgy and invite the panel and all participants that night to explore what the Mass means to them. Why is it important? Why is it so special? Why even bother waking up Sunday moring to take part?

Come and be a part of the discussion. We'd love to see you there!

The Spirituality of Sports

2010-07-19T04:34:00.000-07:00

Fr. Burke Masters speaks @ Theology-on-Tap 2010

This week, among all the great opportunities to connect with the faith at Theology-on-Tap, take a break to hear about the more spiritual side to America's favorite pasttimes: sports.

Fr. Burke Masters, the vocations director for the Diocese of Joliet and former baseball player, will speak three times on this topic at the Theology-on-Tap series:

Monday, July 19, 2010 @ 7 pm
John & Tony's Restaurant, West Chicago

Tuesday, July 20, 2010 @ 7 pm
Cathedral of St. Raymond, Joliet

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 @ 7 pm
Benedictine University, Lisle

Prior to entering the priesthood, Burke was on the baseball team for Mississippi State University and played in the College World Series. He went on to work for the Kane County Cougars, a minor league team in Illinois, when he felt a call to the priesthood. He was ordained for the Diocese of Joliet in 2002 and now works at recruiting men to the ordained life.

Theology-on-Tap continues all around the Joliet Diocese this week. For the full schedule and details about each site, go to www.dioceseofjoliet.org/yam/theologyontap2010.asp.

Other featured speakers include Fr. Thomas Loya, an international presence who will speak on Theology of the Body; Tom Quinlan, the Director of Religious Education for the Joliet Diocese, who will go deeper into the meaning of the Eucharist; Dr. Jim Papandrea, a professor of church history at Northwestern University, who talks about the spirituality of everyday living; and Fr. Mario Quejadas, a new pastor from Kankakee who will touch on the art of happiness and taking risks in life.

The Tap Starts Flowing

2010-07-10T06:11:00.001-07:00

Beginning this week, Theology-on-Tap starts flowing again...

For thirty years, Theology-on-Tap has been a part of Catholic culture in the Chicagoland area - and the Diocese of Joliet is proud to continue that tradition in 2010.

Way back in the summer of 1981, at a suburban church in Arlington Heights, the first Theology-on-Tap sessions were held for young adults wanting to go deeper with their faith. It worked so well that the program grew and continued for the next three decades. Soon after its beginnings, the Diocese of Joliet began hosting Tap nights and became a wonderful success.

Since that time, Theology-on-Tap has expanded beyond the Chicagoland area into other states across the country and overseas to other countries including Australia, China, and Italy. There are also some non-Catholic churches that are hosting Theology-on-Tap for their own young adults. While it has taken different forms and been hosted in a variety of ways, the basic premise remained the same: great theology, enjoyable conversation, good food, and opportunities to meet new people.

This week, nine locations across the Joliet Diocese will host a Theology-on-Tap night. Sr. Helena Burns from the Pauline Sisters in Chicago will tackle the issues revolving around media, movies, and Theology of the Body in Downers Grove and New Lenox. Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Siegel will share words of wisdom at his alma mater, St. Raymond Cathedral in Joliet, and with young couples at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Aurora. Friar Johnpaul Cafiero will talk about war and peace in West Chicago and Lombard - and with college students at Benedictine University. Fr. Thomas Loya will open up the world of Byzantine Catholicism to young adults at his home parish in Homer Glen. And Fr. Pat Mulcahy will explain what we're supposed to do after Sunday Mass is over - in his presentation at the appropriately-named Tap House Grill in Glen Ellyn.

What a week! We look forward to seeing everyone there.

Bishop Siegel on Tap

2010-07-07T11:47:00.000-07:00

Bishop Joseph Siegel speaks at Theology-on-Tap

This week, Bishop Joseph Siegel makes his Theology-on-Tap debut, speaking to young adults at two locations in the Diocese of Joliet.

On Sunday, July 11th, Bishop Siegel speaks to young adult engaged and married couples at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Aurora. And on Tuesday, July 13th, he meets up with young adults, both single and married, at St. Raymond Cathedral Parish in Joliet.

Siegel is the Auxiliary Bishops for the Diocese of Joliet, a role he began in January 2010. Raised on a farm in Lockport Township, he was baptized and formed at St. Raymond Cathedral - and so it is fitting that his Tap debut should be there as well. He attended St. Charles Borromeo High School Seminary in Romeoville, on the grounds of what is now the diocesan pastoral center, and St. Meinrad College in Indiana, completing his seminary formation in Rome.

Bishop Siegel has served at several parishes across the diocese - most recently as the pastor at Visitation Parish in Elmhurst. He has served on a number of commissions including being the chair of the Presbyteral Council, the Diocesean Board of Consultors, and his current role as the chair of the steering committee for the Diocese of Joliet Year of the Eucharist and Eucharistic Congress (which will take place in June 2011).

If you're in the area this Sunday or Tuesday night, stop by and greet our new bishop. He would be happy to meet you too.

Theology-on-Tap begins now!

2010-07-06T05:23:00.000-07:00

Will you be part of a celebration that spans the globe?

Tonight - July 6th, 2010 - marks the beginning of the 30th season of Theology-on-Tap in the Chicagoland area. This series, begun in 1981 in the Chicago suburbs, has grown into an international phenomenon - stretching from across the United States to Great Britain, Australia, China, and even Rome, Italy.

Tonight, we join our special guest Bishop J. Peter Sartain as we kick off the summer season with a festival of music, food, and conversation. Rain or shine, this promises to be a great event. So bring some snacks and drinks - and if the weather is good, a lawn chair or blanket - and come down to Benedictine University campus in Lisle (at College Road and Maple Avenue, just a little west of the I-355 expressway). Signs will be posted on campus to show the way.

Hope to see you there. Be a part of a thirty-year, multi-national legacy - and above all, come and meet some really great people and talk about some really great stuff: theology, faith, and the spirituality of everyday life.

For more info, go to www.dioceseofjoliet.org/yam/yamtot.asp.

Theology on Tap Schedule 2010

2010-06-10T08:24:00.001-07:00

The 2010 Theology on Tap schedule has been unveiled for the Diocese of Joliet! In celebration of 30 great years of Theology-on-Tap in the Diocese of Joliet, we will have some of the finest experiences of faith and conversation this summer all across Will and DuPage counties.

The schedule can be viewed at www.dioceseofjoliet.org/yam/theologyontap2010.asp.

This schedule includes links to presenters and speakers, as well as a at-a-glance calendar for printing and downloading.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the big kick-off celebration:

Theology-on-Tap Kick-Off Event: Brew with the Bishop
An Outdoor Festival of Faith and Conversation
Tuesday, July 6, 2010 - 6:00 p.m. Doors Open, 7:00 p.m. Event
Benedictine University Campus, 5700 College Rd., Lisle, Illinois

Bring a lawn chair, blanket, and a picnic basket for a great time that evening - featuring music, discussions, and a presentation by Bishop J. Peter Sartain, bishop of the Diocese of Joliet.

See you around the Diocese of Joliet this summer!

Holy Thursday Midnight Pilgrimage

2010-03-07T06:50:00.000-08:00

Be a part of the journey. Walk through Gethsemane with Jesus.

This is the third annual Midnight Pilgrimage journey sponsored by the Diocese of Joliet for young adults in college and in their 20s and 30s - and everyone reading this blog is welcome to walk with us.

Here are the details:
Holy Thursday, April 1, 2010
7:00 p.m. Mass, 8:30 p.m. Walk
The Cathedral of St. Raymond
604 N. Raynor Ave., Joliet, Illinois

Joliet Bishop J. Peter Sartain will lead the pilgrimage walk, beginning with a mass commemorating the Last Supper at the diocesan cathedral parish. After the liturgy, the Bishop will walk by candlelight to several churches in the Joliet area before midnight. This journey marks the first night of the Diocese of Joliet Year of the Eucharist - which will continue through 2011 to highlight the source and summit of the Catholic faith in the Eucharistic experience.

The Holy Thursday pilgrimage allows participants to walk with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane - to "stay awake and keep watch" before the midnight hour. The participants will visit various churches around Joliet for the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. At each stop, there will be a short prayer service, led by the bishop, and time for quiet prayer.

There is no charge for this event. All young adults are welcome to walk with us (however, bus transportation is available for those who cannot walk - or in case of inclement weather). For more information, contact Paul Jarzembowski at (815) 834-4047 or pjarzembowski@dioceseofjoliet.org.

The Recession & Young Adults

2010-01-05T09:08:00.000-08:00

In recession, no place like home: Parents see young adults "boomerang" back into their houses because of job loss and debt

The Chicago Tribune ran the following story on the front cover of the Monday, January 4, 2010 issue. The statistical and anecdotal data here is worth considering - it may very well affect the way we see young adults and how we work in the ministry with them.

The above photo from the Tribune (by Lane Christiansen) features Natasha Giraldo, age 33, who moved back into her mother's Roselle home due to the economic crisis.

Read the article here and feel free to comment or offer your thoughts on the issue:

Natasha Giraldo shoved her possessions into half of her mother's garage this June.

She quit her full-time teaching gig in Florida and moved back to Roselle to be closer to her nieces, or so she told her mother at the time. When September rolled around and she still hadn't found a new job, Giraldo confessed she had racked up $48,000 in credit card debt, largely in the six years she lived in Florida. And she had to acknowledge she couldn't make it on her own.

What was supposed to be a temporary stay looks like it may be extended to next fall.

Giraldo, 33, is part of a bumper crop of young adults who have sought their old bedrooms as a recession-era refuge.While the increase in so-called boomerang kids seems a rational response to the financial slump, the young adults are putting their lives on hold during this downturn.

According to a recent Pew Research Center study, one in 10 adults between the ages of 18 and 34 said the poor economy has forced them to move back in with mom and dad, according to Pew. In addition to those who have moved home, another 12 percent scurried to find a roommate to scale down living expenses.

Young adults are altering their behavior in other ways too. About 15 percent of adults younger than 35 say they have postponed getting married because of the recession, according to Pew.Not only can they not afford a big wedding, but they don't have the money to buy a house or take care of a child, the study said. Fourteen percent of young adults say they have put off having a baby."

They are delaying important decisions, perhaps indefinitely. We hope it's temporarily, but that's contingent upon the economy improving," said Richard Morin, a senior editor at Pew and the study's author. "These aren't slackers. These are people who are in transition, and their lives are on hold."

The survey of more than 1,000 adults was taken nationwide in October.It was combined with Census Bureau data to show that while the recession has touched Americans of all ages, it was been especially hard on young adults.

Similar proportional drops in young adults living alone happened during or immediately after the recessions of 2001 and 1982, the researchers found.

Parents who have adult children under their roofs shouldn't expect them to leave soon, said Morin, who expects the return to multi-generational households will last at least another year.

Young adults are struggling to find work in a job market of diminished pay and opportunities.

When they find work, they often aren't earning enough to live independently.

Only 46.1 percent of 16- to 24-year-olds are employed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the smallest share recorded since the government began collecting such data in 1948.

"Young adults are the first to feel the pain of a bad economy and the last to feel the benefits of a recovery," said David Morrison, president of twentysomething.inc, a young adult consulting firm. "They are at the age that has the least job security. They are the most vulnerable in this market."

For many adult children, moving home is a tough call. As much as they love mom or dad's cooking, this is the age when they want to establish independent lives. Parents and children have to manage expectations, experts say, and guard against reverting back to familiar roles and patterns.

Giraldo said her mother, Kathleen Ustick, "knew what my intentions were" before she came home for an open-ended stay."And she knew what my expectations were," said Ustick, 63.

That doesn't mean the transition has been easy.

After years of sleeping in her queen bed, Giraldo has been relegated to a full-sized mattress on the bottom bunk in her mother's guest room. She has splinters and knuckle scrapes from sleeping in the bottom bunk to show for her new living arrangement."

I created that room thinking, 'This is for my grandchildren,' " Ustick said of the space Giraldo shares with a crib, two dog crates and three kitty litter boxes.

At 33, Giraldo doesn't have to ask her mother's permission to stay out late, but she checks in as a courtesy."

She's already raised me. She doesn't have to do it again," Giraldo said. "I moved back in as a necessity based on the choices I made."

It's hard for children to avoid viewing it as a step back in time, and experts say feelings of failure, depression and anxiety are common in such situations. Giraldo has experienced them all.

The scariest part was having an honest conversation with her mother about her finances, said Giraldo, who feared Ustick would lose respect for her.

"It's admitting that you screwed up," Giraldo said. "But in these economic times, there's no room for embarrassment."

It's been an emotional and financial adjustment for her mother as well, Ustick said.

"It's a whole change in lifestyle. If I'm perfectly honest, I would love to go back to having my house to myself," she said. "But you incorporate (your adult children) into your life rather than stop living."

All of Giraldo's plans are stalled until her career gets back on track. She's cut up all of her credit cards to remind herself of what it's like at the bottom of that financial hole. She continues to find substitute teaching jobs, hoping to build relationships with the administrators who will be hiring next school year. Mostly, she's ready for the day when she can turn her mother's garage back into a place to store her car.

"As much as I love my mom," Giraldo said. "When I'm able, I will be out of here."

Some questions for church leaders to consider:

How does this affect the Catholic Church's ministry to young adults?
What can the Church say or do for young adults in these trying times?
In what ways does this crisis change the way we think or minister?

Please post your own thoughts and questions here.

150 Young Adults Brew with Bishop Sartain

2009-07-10T11:04:00.000-07:00

Brew with the Bishop: Amazing Crowds Turn Out!

On Thursday, July 9th, 150 young adults from all around the Diocese of Joliet crowded into The Coal Ben Restaurant on the campus of Benedictine University in Lisle to have a brew while Bishop J. Peter Sartain shared his time and wisdom with those gathered.

The bishop shared his thoughts on the fruits of the Holy Spirit and how they move us to become the best versions of ourselves, the way we were created to be - in the image and likeness of God.

This event marks the kick-off for a great Theology-on-Tap season around the diocese. Starting Sunday evening, eight great sites will feature presenters and conversations on issues related to faith and young adult life.

For more info about the series, go to www.dioceseofjoliet.org/yam/yamtot.asp.

See you at the Coal Ben!

2009-07-09T05:37:00.000-07:00

Brew with the Bishop tonight!

Bishop J. Peter Sartain will be kicking off the 2009 Theology-on-Tap season in the Diocese of Joliet at "Brew with the Bishop" tonight (Thursday, July 9th at 7:00 p.m.) at the Coal Ben restaurant on campus at Benedictine Univeristy (5700 College Rd.) in Lisle.

All young adults in college and in their 20s and 30s are invited to be there, meet the bishop, and connect with others their age in a fun, comfortable, and faith-filled setting.

The Coal Ben, shown above, is the old Benedictine University powerhouse that was converted into a bar and grill last year, thanks to the generosity and insight of the Benedictine fathers and brothers. Throughout the year, the restaurant is open to students for meals, but they have wonderfully opened their doors for a few nights this summer for Theology-on-Tap.

No cost to attend, so drop on by this summer evening. See you there!

Celebrate the Patron of Young Adults!

2009-07-02T09:30:00.000-07:00

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

On July 4th, not only do we celebrate Independence Day in the United States, we also honor the feast day of Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925), Patron of Young Adults.

Blessed Pier Giorgio is an incredible role model for all men and women in their late teens, twenties, and thirties. In his late teens and early twenties, Pier Giorgio was active in the Church, regularly attending Mass and other Catholic activities and festivals, but was also very active in charity and service to the poor, outcast, sick, dying, and struggling people of the community. Born to a rich family, he gave his money to those in need whenever he saw others suffering.

In addition to his life of prayer, ethical fortitude, and social justice, Pier Giorgio was also a very popular young adult. He was a skilled athlete, mountain climber, skier, and sportsman. He spent time with his friends, and because of his great sense of humor (and habit of practical jokes), he was dubbed with the nickname "The Holy Terror."

Pier Giorgio radiated joy and compassion wherever he went. He was a model young adult Catholic, someone young people today can look up to in their everyday lives.

Sadly, on July 4th, 1925, he died from a disease he contracted while serving the poor the week before. In 1990, after years of devotion and affection for this young adult hero (and after reports of miracles in his name), Pope John Paul II beatified him and gave him a new nickname: "The Man of the Beatitudes" as he embodied all the goodness that Jesus declared on the Sermon on the Mount.

As we prepare for Theology-on-Tap in the Diocese of Joliet and as we celebrate this wonderful feast day, let us pray with Pier Giorgio to God that young adults in the Chicagoland area might come to know Christ through this special series of talks, conversations, and networking.

Theology on Tap is coming!

2009-06-18T21:07:00.001-07:00

We've got all the details ready for Theology-on-Tap 2009 in the Diocese of Joliet. We've got our speakers, sites, and nights all set up. You can check them out right now at www.dioceseofjoliet.org/yam/yamtot.asp.

Follow this blog all summer long (you can even subscribe to it), and find out what's going on.

See you around the Tap!