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From left, Father Andrew Ginter, parochial vicar at St. Hilary Parish; Steve Sears, St. Hilary parishioner and owner of Sam’s Anchor Cafe; Sister Rose of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, the evening’s guest speaker; and parishioner Janice Russell raise a toast to the success of “Theology on Tap,” initiated at St. Hilary last year by Father Ginter. (Photo by Lidia Wasowicz/Catholic San Francisco)
February 8, 2018
Lidia Wasowicz
Answering Pope Francis’ call to take the Gospel to the people, Father Andrew Ginter, parochial vicar of St. Hilary Parish in Tiburon, brings Catholic teaching to a neighborhood hangout where debating beliefs comes as easily as downing a beer.
“Our parish is a social parish, and when we discuss theology outside of church, it can allow for more free discussion (without) the pressure to ask the ‘right’ questions,” said Father Ginter, who launched the format at the start of Lent 2017. “I like the informal nature of it.”
Janice Russell, a parishioner since 2010, sees the scenic, secular setting at Sam’s Anchor Cafe on the Tiburon waterfront as a magnet for “folks who might be a bit tentative about attending faith events and would hesitate to go to a private home or church where they might have fears of being ‘trapped’ by boring religious people.”
Originally intended for college students, the program dubbed “Theology on Tap” appears to work well for any age group.
“I’ve heard many positive comments from people who have attended, and the funny thing is that the Archdiocese of San Francisco had, at one point, advertised it as being only for young adults in their 20s and 30s,” said Father William Brown, the pastor of St. Hilary. “For us, the majority of people who enjoy these gatherings are older.”
Russell, 66, wishes more of the younger set would attend.
“I’d be very interested to hear their questions, and I’m sure they would bring their usual boisterous energy,” she said. “That said … I noticed married couples enjoying a night out – they ordered dinner – and some people I know who are widowed and single who came felt very comfortable with the mixed group setting.”
The social evenings, held every other month, begin with a prayer, include questions and answers and center around a speaker expounding topics that have included the meaning of the cross, the spiritual guidelines of St. Ignatius, Mary as a model of prayer, an explanation of the Mass and the intersection of faith and science.
The subject matter may relate to a liturgical season, an inquiry posed by a parishioner or an expert deemed “fruitful and interesting” to the congregation, Father Ginter said.
For future features he is considering Sacred Scripture, the Letters of St. Paul, bioethics and a panel of priests and sisters to address any issues the audience may raise.
Russell suggested he add “a talk on the intellectual and artistic giants of Catholic Christianity to give us a sense of the tremendous Catholic cultural heritage we can tap into.”
Susan and Tim Geraghty, parishioners since 1999 who have skipped only one meeting, recommended Ignatian spirituality and Pope Francis along with tips for daily challenges faced by practicing Catholics.
“We’ve heard about bishops and priests doing this around the country for a couple of years, but to learn that our own parochial vicar wanted to offer it for the people of St. Hilary was a real shot in the arm,” Father Brown said.
Father Ginter said he acted in response to the Holy Father’s admonition that priests “smell like the sheep” and serve “the church of the poor.”
Although St. Hilary is an atypically affluent parish, poverty connotes a shortage not only of material possessions but also of the spiritual treasures of God’s love and mercy, he said.
“We are all poor in this sense because we need to know more about our loving God,” Father Ginter said. “The more we learn about him, the more we are able to be like him, and then we can help those in need, the poor.”