Roncalli High School to host next winter theology series event Jan. 17

Roncalli High School, part of Roncalli Catholic Schools, will hold the next installment of “Learning on the Journey: A winter series of courses on Catholic faith, practices and perspectives” Jan. 17 at the high school.

The series, which will continue to run each Tuesday through 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 [email protected] for child care and registration.

Participating event presenters include:

• Fr. Dave Beaudry, M.A.
• Fr. Matt Colle, M.S.
• 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. 17 session will feature the following presentations and speakers:

Apostles’ Creed presented by Paul Schweigl, Th.D. 
This will be a line-by-line consideration of this ancient expression of the Church's faith. This talk will weave together theological insights, historical circumstances, and the occasional personal reflection to frame the Creed as an intersection of the historical and the timeless.

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. 

The Gospel of John presented by Fr. Dave Beaudry, M.A.
This presentation offers an overview of the Gospel and its two divisions: the Book of Signs and the Book of Glory, exploring its impact in the liturgical and pastoral life of the Church.

A graduate of Catholic University in Washington, D.C. and a priest of the Diocese of Green Bay for 40 years, Fr. Dave Beaudry currently serves St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Community in Newton and Roncalli Catholic Schools as the Director of mission and discipleship. He recently completed 25 years as an instructor with the former Holy Family College, Manitowoc.

Psalms presented by Fr. Matt Colle, M.S.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus’ last words on this earth as he hung on the cross were “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He is about to fulfill God the Father’s will for him and he is seemingly left abandoned?! What if I told you that Jesus is praying Psalm 22? The Psalm does not end in despair and neither does the Cross. The Psalms are the word of God, prayed by Jesus, and given to us to help us express our hearts to God. I hope you leave with an ever ancient yet ever new way to pray.

Fr. Matt Colle is an associate pastor at St. Francis of Assisi in Manitowoc. He also is the chaplain at Roncalli High School. He grew up in Luxemburg, WI and earned degrees in Animal Science from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and the University of Idaho before entering seminary. His seminary studies took place at St. Francis de Sales in Milwaukee and the North American College in Rome. He has been a priest for half a year. 

Passing on the Faith to Children presented by Dianne Vadney, M.T.S.
Drawing on experience in ministry to children ages 4-18 and being a mother to six children, this talk will focus on helping parents, grandparents, teachers, neighbors or anyone who interacts with youth pass on the faith in meaningful, effective ways. How can small changes make a difference? How can an ancient faith be presented with newness that helps engage young people?

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. 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)