162 Young People Tap Into Theology
Fr. Timothy Kitzke addresses, pain, suffering in opening session

The pastor of Three Holy Women was the featured speaker during the opening night session of Theology-on-Tap, a faith-centered series for young people in their 20s-30s. The program started in Chicago 20 years ago, and has expanded into several other dioceses in the United States. It was adopted by the Milwaukee Archdiocese last year.

Locally, Theology-on-Tap has expanded to 10 sites this summer and sessions will take place through Aug. 8. In a social setting with peers, participants learn about and discuss their faith.

Following an interactive format, Kitzke addressed, “Aloe for the soul: Embracing pain and suffering in life.”

Using everyday language, Kitzke told the audience that questions like “can we really justify God’s presence, God’s love in our lives when all around us is suffering?” need a different approach.

He emphasized that the question to examine is not why God causes — he actually never causes, but allows — suffering to befall us, but to examine the meaning of suffering. “Instead of asking, ‘why am I suffering like this and yet I have faith in God,’ toss the question the other way and ask, ‘what is the meaning of this suffering for me?’” said Kitzke.

With a show of hands, participants agreed they suffer and have wondered whether God, in the words of Kitzke, “had taken a nap.”

Kitzke took on the Sept. 11 tragedy in his two-hour session.

“The good news is that you cannot change the love of God,” said Kitzke, since he so loved the world that he sent his only son for our salvation (John 3:16). God could only have allowed the Sept. 11 disaster, but that does not mean he stopped loving us, he said. It’s up to us, said Kitzke, to ponder further “what does the Sept. 11 incident mean to us?”

We all want to be in control of things and when we secure that we want to control others, said Kitzke. For participants Denise Laftos and Meghan Keaveny, Kitzke was the reason they attended the session.

Marcus Poppler said he was struck by the approach to suffering. “I came to this meeting because it gives me some ideas on how to approach life,” he added.

Amy Stachowiak was a first-time Theology-on-Tap participant, and could not hide her excitement midway through the session. “I came with my neighbor and it is very good, I mean all the teaching that we have heard,” she said.

Many of those interviewed were amazed by the high turnout — which drew 40 more participants than last year — including Bridget Flad, one of the session’s organizers and director of Christian formation at St. Monica Parish, Whitefish Bay.

Flad attributed the high turnout to the choice of a popular speaker, along with the fact that many repeat participants brought friends.

Young people are hungry for the word of God, said Flad.

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