Cedar Rapids Theology on Tap

08/31/2026

Meet the CR Theology on Tap Board! CR TOT is run by a group of volunteers striving to bring together young people to learn about their faith and grow in community.

This week, meet Andrew Moffatt, the board president!

Andrew has been a member of the board since 2025 and is currently the President, arranging the speakers for each event. Reverting to the faith in 2021 as he graduated from ISU, he returned to Cedar Rapids looking for community in Christ. Now a husband, Vincentian, and a Systems engineer for Collins Aerospace, Andrew seeks to build up the Catholic Community in the area. Andrew enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, and all forms of games.

08/18/2026

See you THURSDAY 🍻

Join us AUGUST 20 for our next Theology on Tap!

💬: Vocations: Born in the Home, Fostered in the Community, Formed in the Church
📣: Ted Francois
📅: Thursday, August 20, 2026
⏰: 6:00pm; talk starts at 7:00pm
📍: Parlor City Pub and Eatery

Ted Francois is a Cedar Rapids Catholic layperson, husband and father of 6. He and his wife attend the Cedar Rapids Area Central pastorate. Since moving to Cedar Rapids in 2001, he has been involved in CEW, the local Catholic school community, St. Jude and lately, St. Patrick Catholic Churches. During the day you can find him doing real estate work for utility companies, and during his free time grilling meat, doing endless house projects and yard work, and attending his children’s events. He is also the father to the recently ordained Fr. Jacob Francois of the Archdiocese of Dubuque and Fr. Jonathan Francois of the Archdiocese of Denver, Colorado.

08/05/2026

Join us AUGUST 20 for our next Theology on Tap!

💬: Vocations: Born in the Home, Fostered in the Community, Formed in the Church
📣: Ted Francois
📅: Thursday, August 20, 2026
⏰: 6:00pm; talk starts at 7:00pm
📍: Parlor City Pub and Eatery

Ted Francois is a Cedar Rapids Catholic layperson, husband and father of 6. He and his wife attend the Cedar Rapids Area Central pastorate. Since moving to Cedar Rapids in 2001, he has been involved in CEW, the local Catholic school community, St. Jude and lately, St. Patrick Catholic Churches. During the day you can find him doing real estate work for utility companies, and during his free time grilling meat, doing endless house projects and yard work, and attending his children’s events. He is also the father to the recently ordained Fr. Jacob Francois of the Archdiocese of Dubuque and Fr. Jonathan Francois of the Archdiocese of Denver, Colorado.

07/16/2026

See you tonight 🍻

💬: Sacred Art: Reviving the Tradition of Beauty and Meaning
📣: Emily Blake, part of our Peer Perspectives Series
📅: Thursday, July 16, 2026
⏰: 6:00pm; talk starts at 7:00pm
📍: Parlor City Pub and Eatery

Join Emily to explore the history of the sacred arts and how the wisdom of the Church Fathers calls us to action. She will introduce St. Damascus Gild and its four pillars—performing, visual, literary, and liturgical arts—to challenge us to move beyond observing history and start actively renewing the "lost arts," faithfully reclaiming these timeless traditions for the glory of God.

Emily Blake serves as the director of St. Damascus Gild, an exciting new organization launching this December to renew the sacred arts that have served as the heartbeat of the faith for centuries. By reclaiming these "lost arts," the Gild aims to equip the next generation with timeless, beautiful expressions that awaken wonder, build community, and draw us into a deeper encounter with God.

07/11/2026

💬: Sacred Art: Reviving the Tradition of Beauty and Meaning
📣: Emily Blake, part of our Peer Perspectives Series
📅: Thursday, July 16, 2026
⏰: 6:00pm; talk starts at 7:00pm
📍: Parlor City Pub and Eatery

Join Emily to explore the history of the sacred arts and how the wisdom of the Church Fathers calls us to action. She will introduce St. Damascus Gild and its four pillars—performing, visual, literary, and liturgical arts—to challenge us to move beyond observing history and start actively renewing the "lost arts," faithfully reclaiming these timeless traditions for the glory of God.

Emily Blake serves as the director of St. Damascus Gild, an exciting new organization launching this December to renew the sacred arts that have served as the heartbeat of the faith for centuries. By reclaiming these "lost arts," the Gild aims to equip the next generation with timeless, beautiful expressions that awaken wonder, build community, and draw us into a deeper encounter with God.

06/15/2026

THIS THURSDAY: Join us for our June Theology on Tap!

💬: Death by Joy: Our Participation in the Work of Christ
📣: Connor Miller
📅: Thursday, June 18, 2026
⏰: 6:00pm; talk starts at 7:00pm
📍: Parlor City Pub and Eatery

St. John Vianney (beloved patron of the Archdiocese of Dubuque) once quipped, “If we truly understood the Mass, we would die of joy.”
While we will never fully understand this prayer of the Church on this side of the veil, it is of great importance that we continue to learn why we do what we do when we participate in it.

In his talk, Connor will aim to:
➡️explain what liturgy is
➡️explore what liturgy encompasses
➡️expound what it means for us to participate in it

We will dive into the Church’s teachings and learn how our participation in it can extend beyond church walls and into everyday life so as to “pray without ceasing.”

Connor Miller is the Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Patrick Catholic Church. He loves the Lord, loves the liturgy, and loves making music. These are a few of his favorite things. In addition to parish work, Connor serves on the CR Theology on Tap board, maintains an active graphic design practice, and serves as the Master of Ceremonies for Archdiocesan Liturgies. In his (sparing) free time, he enjoys reading, hanging out with friends, and can probably be found listening to the latest music from Cody Fry or watching an episode of Taskmaster.

06/12/2026

We're looking forward to welcoming you to our next Theology on Tap event on JUNE 18 at Parlor City Pub and Eatery! Looking for the opportunity to meet other young adults, be formed in the faith, and enjoy a free drink on us? Join us the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:00pm.

06/07/2026

The liturgy is the lifeblood of our Catholic faith - where Heaven meets Earth and Jesus Christ is truly present among us. Yet it's easy to move through our prayers without reflecting on the incredible gift we share through it.

Join us for a parish presentation at St. John XXIII, "Living the Liturgy". Drawing upon his knowledge and experience as former Director of the Office of Worship, Fr. Greg will explore the beauty, meaning, and power of communal prayer. Rediscover how liturgy can transform your heart and our community! Whether you are lifelong in the faith or just beginning, this presentation will deepen your love for how we celebrate the Sacred Mysteries.

The Sunday and Monday evening presentations will be stand alone presentations (come to either or both!), with a light reception to follow.

8100 Roncalli Dr Cedar Rapids
319-846-3139

06/01/2026

See you JUNE 18 for our next Theology on Tap!
💬: Death by Joy: Our Participation in the Work of Christ
📣: Connor Miller
📅: Thursday, June 18, 2026
⏰: 6:00pm; talk starts at 7:00pm
📍: Parlor City Pub and Eatery

St. John Vianney (beloved patron of the Archdiocese of Dubuque) once quipped, “If we truly understood the Mass, we would die of joy.”
While we will never fully understand this prayer of the Church on this side of the veil, it is of great importance that we continue to learn why we do what we do when we participate in it.

In his talk, Connor will aim to:
➡️explain what liturgy is
➡️explore what liturgy encompasses
➡️expound what it means for us to participate in it

We will dive into the Church’s teachings and learn how our participation in it can extend beyond church walls and into everyday life so as to “pray without ceasing.”

Connor Miller is the Director of Music and Liturgy at St. Patrick Catholic Church. He loves the Lord, loves the liturgy, and loves making music. In addition to parish work, Connor serves on the CR Theology on Tap board, maintains an active graphic design practice, and serves as the Master of Ceremonies for Archdiocesan Liturgies. In his (sparing) free time, he enjoys reading, hanging out with friends, and can probably be found listening to the latest music from Cody Fry or watching an episode of Taskmaster.

05/21/2026

See you TONIGHT for Theology on Tap!

See you MAY 21 for our next Theology on Tap!

💬: Now That We Have Eaten: GO FORTH!
📣: Fr. Ken Glaser
📅: Thursday, May 21, 2026
⏰: 6:00pm
📍: Parlor City Pub and Eatery

The Eucharist we share is the "source and summit" of our faith, but it is also the foundation that we build our lives upon. I will be using the story of the early disciples on the Road to Emmaus for insights. In my reflections we will discover that the Eucharist is more than a weekend gathering at Mass for an hour, it is an invitation into something much deeper ~ our personal lives. Each time we walk with others, when we question our faith, when we encounter strangers and gather around our dining room table, we become Eucharistic people. It is my hope our time together will be a dialogue of how we encounter and discover our Lord in the Breaking of the Bread!

Fr. Ken Glaser is the pastor of St. Ludmila parish in Cedar Rapids, IA