Roncalli High School to hold winter theology courses beginning Jan. 10

Roncalli High School, part of Roncalli Catholic Schools, will hold “Learning on the Journey: A winter series of courses on Catholic faith, practices and perspectives” beginning Jan. 10 at the high school.

The series, which will run each Tuesday from Jan. 10-Feb. 14, is open to the public and there is no admission fee. All sessions will feature four speakers and be held at the high school, 2000 Mirro Drive, Manitowoc, from 6-7 p.m. with a social to follow. Attendees should enter through the Fine Arts Center doors.

People may attend as many or few sessions as they’d like. There is no reading or homework required to participate. Child care services will be provided, but families hoping to utilize this service must provide at least a week’s notice to ensure sufficient number of volunteers are available. Registration is not required, but appreciated to attend the sessions. Please contact 920-682-8801 or theology@roncallicatholicschools.org for child care and registration.

Participating event presenters include:

• Fr. Dave Beaudry, M.A.
• Fr. Matt Colle
• Taylor Geiger, M.A.
• Callie Hynek, M.A.
• Tim Olson, M.A, principal emeritus
• Paul Schweigl, Th.D. 
• Dianne Vadney, M.T.S.

The Jan. 10 session will feature the following presentations and speakers:

Genesis presented by Paul Schweigl, Th.D. 
The stories of Creation, the Fall, and the Flood, important as they are, occupy only about 20 percent of this first Biblical book. What holds the book of Genesis together? What insights might it contain for the Christian disciple?

Paul Schweigl is a Roncalli alumnus, holding degrees from St. Norbert College, the University of Notre Dame, and La Salle University. He has taught theology at Roncalli since 2011. He lives in Sheboygan with his wife and two children. 

How Could a Loving God … ? presented by Tim Olson, M.A, principal emeritus
Nothing challenges our faith in God like tragedy. How can we understand evil in our world or tragedy in our own lives?

Tim Olson is a graduate of St. Mary’s University with a Bachelor of Arts in music and holds a Master of Arts in administration from North Dakota State University. He has been a teacher and administrator in catholic schools for 45 years. After serving Roncalli for more than 20 years as principal, he retired from administration, but has stayed on as a part-time teacher. He currently teaches classes in public speaking and theology.

Finding Healing in Christ presented by Taylor Geiger, M.A.
We all carry wounds from our past, our actions or actions inflicted upon us. Healing must be part of the process, but we also must learn how to find the ultimate healing in Christ.

Taylor Geiger was born, raised and still lives in Manitowoc with his wife and two daughters. He graduated from Holy Family College with a degree in theology in 2015 and earned a Master of Arts in Theology from the Augustine Institute in Denver, Colorado in 2022. Geiger served as the campus minister at Roncalli High School from 2015-20 and is now serving as the vocation coordinator for the Diocese of Green Bay.

The Mass presented by Dianne Vadney, M.T.S.
Drawing on insights and materials used in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, this talk will uplift important moments of the Mass, helping us slow down our minds to engage them more deeply next time we participate in Mass.

Dianne Vadney, an alum of Roncalli, received a biology degree from The Catholic University and her master’s in theological studies from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family, both in Washington, D.C. As part of the Roncalli Catholic Schools Campus Ministry team, Vadney serves as community minister. She and her husband are members at St. Francis of Assisi in Manitowoc and have six children. 

The remaining lineup for the series is as follows:

Jan. 17:            Apostles’ Creed (Schweigl)
                        The Gospel of John (Beaudry)
                        Psalms (Colle)
                        Passing on the Faith to Children (Vadney)

Jan. 24:            The Book of Job (Schweigl)
                        Discernment 101 (Geiger)
                        A Poet, a Composer & God (Olson)
                        Eucharistic Miracles (Hynek)

Jan. 31:            St. John Chrysostom: Theologian, Prophet & Pastor (Beaudry)
                        Islam (Schweigl)
                        Roman Martyrs (Colle)
                        Understanding Sacramental Marriage (Vadney)

Feb. 7:             Made in God’s Image We Will Never Die (Olson)
                        Mercy: The Heart of the Gospel (Beaudry)
                        Does God want Me to be Happy (Geiger)
                        Jesus in the Cities of the Holy Land (Vadney)

Feb. 14:           Judges (Schweigl)
                        The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Beaudry)
                        Service & Spirituality (Hynek)
                        Parables (Vadney)