Theology on Tap - Orange County

The first Tuesday of April 2026 was on the Tuesday in the Octave of Easter and we featured Brendon Boone, a convert and altar server (Thurifer) at St. John Henry Newman Catholic Church in Irvine.

Easter marks the end of the penitential season of Lent and at the Easter Vigil, the catechumens are received into the Church. What is it like having to make a decision to convert and become a Catholic? What can cradle Catholics learn from converts? What is the significance of a 2,000 year old event in our daily lives?

Please prayerfully consider giving a one-time or recurring tax-deductible donation to our apostolate by texting CHEERS2JESUSto 84576 or by visiting our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠donation page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

And to sign up for our future events and receive updates (including ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠St. John Henry Newman Catholic Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s Friday Newsletters), go to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Schedule of Events⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page.

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For March, we featured a conversation on the liturgical year between our director, Louie Calma, and Fr. Glenn Baaten, the pastor of St. John Henry Newman Catholic Church in Irvine and chaplain of Santiago Retreat Center in Silverado.

In this conversation, we briefly looked back on Fr. Glenn's pastoral journey into the Catholic Church before discussing the significance of the liturgical year and its seasons. But more importantly, Louie and Fr. Glenn explored the intrinsic connection of the liturgical seasons with the Gospel and a richer relationship with our Lord.

Please prayerfully consider giving a one-time or recurring tax-deductible donation to our apostolate by texting CHEERS2JESUSto 84576 or by visiting our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠donation page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

And to sign up for our future events and receive updates (including ⁠⁠⁠⁠St. John Henry Newman Catholic Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s Friday Newsletters), go to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Schedule of Events⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page.

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Theology on Tap OC's default schedule is the First Tuesdays of each month from February to December, and it is the custom that the first talk of the year will be given by the lead organizer of this ministry, Louie Calma.

Louie explored the elements of the Mass that most people tend to gloss over. As an Instituted Acolyte, he serves as an MC (Master of Ceremonies) and as a Subdeacon at St. John Henry Newman Catholic Church in Irvine.

Why is the Mass the way it is? Doesn't relationship with God matter more than religion and rituals? How can an ancient practice serve modern man's spiritual needs?

Additional resources:

• What Happens at Mass by Fr. Jeremy Driscoll, OSB
• GIRM, Third Edition
• Sacrosanctum Concilium (On the Sacred Liturgy) by Vatican 2

If you find Theology on Tap OC helpful, please prayerfully consider giving a one-time or recurring tax-deductible donation to our apostolate by texting CHEERS2JESUSto 84576 or by visiting our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠donation page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

And to sign up for our future events and receive updates (including ⁠⁠⁠St. John Henry Newman Catholic Church⁠⁠⁠⁠'s Friday Newsletters), go to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Schedule of Events⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page.

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DISCLAIMER: This is a sensitive for it is about recovering from sexual addiction and use of pornography. Listener discretion is advised.

To conclude the 2025 season, we featured a conversation between Louie Calma, the director of Theology on Tap OC, and Steven Caswell, the Director of Clergy and Community Partnerships for Road to Purity.

This conversation focused on Steven's journey of faith and healing with the help of Road to Purity. What are the warning signs of sexual addiction? How can parents and friends identify them and provide proper support? Why is this field in ministry not as widespread? And what service and support does Road to Purity provide to parishes?

If you find Theology on Tap OC helpful, please prayerfully consider giving a one-time or recurring tax-deductible donation to our apostolate by texting CHEERS2JESUSto 84576 or by visiting our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠donation page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

And to sign up for our future events and receive updates (including ⁠⁠⁠St. John Henry Newman Catholic Church⁠⁠⁠⁠'s Friday Newsletters), go to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Schedule of Events⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page.

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Our speaker for November 2025 is a returning speaker, Jose Pulido, the founder of At The Service.

In August 2024, he talked about evangelization inspired by the Holy Family. He also conducted a mini workshop on how to effectively share our Faith especially with those who are close to us. He also just published a new book, How to Evangelize Anyone.

As a sequel to his 2024 talk, Jose will share how to clearly articulate our mission in evangelization and at the same time, dive into God's imagination when faith is put into action.

If you find Theology on Tap OC helpful, please prayerfully consider giving a one-time or recurring tax-deductible donation to our apostolate by texting CHEERS2JESUSto 84576 or by visiting our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠donation page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

And to sign up for our future events and receive updates (including ⁠⁠⁠⁠St. John Henry Newman Catholic Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s Friday Newsletters), go to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Schedule of Events⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page.

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Our speaker for October was Nicholas Bezzina, one of the Instituted Acolytes serving at St. John Henry Newman and he will share his journey of faith, including his experience with traditionalist circles.

As the world spirals out of control and cultural foundations constantly being eroded, many are flocking into the Church to find stability. However, even the Church is not immune to its members forming cliques, factions, and political parties.

What is obedience? When does fidelity devolve into factionalism? How do we guard against factionalism? And what kind of authority does the Church wield regarding discipline and worship? These are some of the questions Nick addressed in his talk.

Additional Resources:

• Donum Veritatis (Instruction on the Ecclesial Vocation of the Theologian, May 24, 1990⁠) by the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith
• [Apostolic Letter] Ordinatio Sacerdotalis (On Priestly Ordination, May 22, 1994) by Pope St. John Paul II
• [Encyclical] Casti Connubii (On Christian Marriage, December 31, 1930) by Pope Pius XI
• 4th Session of the Council of Trent - Decree Concerning the Canonical Scriptures (April 8, 1546)

If you find Theology on Tap OC helpful, please prayerfully consider giving a one-time or recurring tax-deductible donation to our apostolate by texting CHEERS2JESUSto 84576 or by visiting our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠donation page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

And to sign up for our future events and receive updates (including ⁠⁠⁠⁠St. John Henry Newman Catholic Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s Friday Newsletters), go to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Schedule of Events⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page.

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Our speaker for September 2025 was Fr. Daniel Seo of Our Lady of Peace Korean Catholic Center, and he spoke on the role of beauty and theology when it comes to Church Architecture.

Isn't beauty subjective? How can the Church justify expensive buildings in the midst of poverty? What is the role of church design in glorifying God? What should be the purpose of a church building? These are some of the questions Fr. Seo addressed in this talk.

Additional resources:

• [Book] Church Architecture in the Spirit of the Liturgy by Dennis McNamara
• [Book] In the Church Building as a Sacred Place by Duncan G. Stroik

If you find Theology on Tap OC helpful, please prayerfully consider giving a one-time or recurring tax-deductible donation to our apostolate by texting CHEERS2JESUSto 84576 or by visiting our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠donation page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

And to sign up for our future events and receive updates (including ⁠⁠⁠⁠St. John Henry Newman Catholic Church⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠'s Friday Newsletters), go to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Schedule of Events⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page.

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For August, we featured a conversation between Brandon Traut and Theology on Tap OC's director, Louie Calma, and on why people should bother becoming Catholic.

Brandon, coming from a non-denominational tradition, was received into the Catholic Church on Easter 2024. This conversation covered Brandon’s journey of faith, how his upbringing prepared or hinder his journey, the challenges he faced, and how did friendship played a role in his conversion.

If you find Theology on Tap OC helpful, please prayerfully consider giving a one-time or recurring tax-deductible donation to our apostolate by texting CHEERS2JESUSto 84576 or by visiting our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠donation page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

And to sign up for our future events and receive updates (including ⁠⁠⁠St. John Henry Newman Catholic Church⁠⁠⁠⁠'s Friday Newsletters), go to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Schedule of Events⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page.

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July is the month dedicated to the Precious Blood of Jesus and our speaker was Steve Lovison, founder of Adoration Servants, an organization that provides a comprehensive Eucharistic Adoration System for use by any chapel such as SF Adoration and OC Adoration.

What has a private devotion such as Adoration have anything to do with a public action such as evangelization? How does the great mystery of the Eucharist help with bringing people into the Church? What are the challenges of making Adoration more accessible in parishes?

If you find Theology on Tap OC helpful, please prayerfully consider giving a one-time or recurring tax-deductible donation to our apostolate by texting CHEERS2JESUSto 84576 or by visiting our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠donation page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

And to sign up for our future events and receive updates (including ⁠⁠⁠St. John Henry Newman Catholic Church⁠⁠⁠⁠'s Friday Newsletters), go to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Schedule of Events⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page.

Follow us @theologyontapoc in ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠

Theology on Tap's speaker for June was Alyssa Wills, founder of The Sparrow Initiative, a performance group that uses music to inspire hope and initiate change in the community by producing thought-provoking concerts and commissioning new works that enrich the human spirit.

She spoke about her experience working as a Catholic artist and the role Catholic art plays in evangelization. She also shared her new opera based on the life of St. Joan of Arc, and how Joan helped to deepen her love and understanding of her vocation. Alyssa also performed one of the pieces live.

If you find Theology on Tap OC helpful, please prayerfully consider giving a one-time or recurring tax-deductible donation to our apostolate by texting CHEERS2JESUS to 84576 or by visiting our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠donation page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

And to sign up for our future events and receive updates (including ⁠⁠⁠St. John Henry Newman Catholic Church⁠⁠⁠⁠'s Friday Newsletters), go to our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Schedule of Events⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ page.

Follow us @theologyontapoc in ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠