TORONTO — Ignite Ministries has entered the fall with one of its most popular offerings for young adults thirsty for faith and companionship on tap with the return of its popular Bible and Beer series.
Run by the Youth and Young Adult Ministry of the Redemptorists of Canada, Bible and Beer is the name given to each monthly event at St. Patrick’s Church in downtown Toronto where young adults (age 18 to 39) explore Bible study communally.
After contemplating each event’s various Scripture passages and dedicated themes together, attendees are invited to continue the evening at the nearby Sin & Redemption pub, across the street from St. Patrick’s. There, further fellowship and discussion, whether Biblical or casual, continues over drinks and food.
The first social of this fall’s newest season on Sept. 2 followed an in-depth talk from Fr. Santo Arrigo Cs.S.R., provincial superior of the Redemptorists of Canada and former pastor at St. Patrick’s. His talk explored the Scripture of Wisdom 9:13-18, Philemon 9b-10: 12-17 and the Gospel of Luke 14:25-33.
The particular passages of Luke’s Gospel explore “The Cost of Being a Disciple,” which go hand-in-hand with this month’s theme — “What does it really mean to follow Jesus?” The session purposely pursued Jesus’ call to count the cost of discipleship through embracing sacrifice, letting go and committing fully in everything we do as Catholics.
Arrigo highlighted that the series prepares attendees for each Sunday’s readings by providing historical and contextual insights that encourage a deeper engagement with Scripture, more than just a weekday homily. This month’s passage on the cost of discipleship is presented in context with Jesus’ frustration at the Pharisees’ hypocrisy.
“ This week, looking at the cost of discipleship, you can compare it to walking down a road with all this baggage that you think is important that you have to hold on to. When you come across a lost, crying child, do you let go of that luggage and take their hand or do you keep walking? The cost of discipleship is letting go of the baggage that prevents us from responding with the care and compassion that Jesus calls us to,” he said.
While Ignite Ministries develops and supports many different initiatives for youth and young adults through parish outreach, leadership training, evangelization and retreats, the Bible and Beer model remains a favourite. Last year saw upwards of 50 participants for each monthly session, with the recent event following suit.
Still, Ignite Canada has found success across its varied offerings this summer following its last Bible and Beer night in May, which focused on what it means to follow the Good Shepherd. Since then, the ministry has been focused on its similarly popular “Holy Smoke: S’mores & More,” a summer BBQ and bonfire series over the summer that attracted more than 100 attendees for each event. A final BBQ for the season takes place on Sept. 16 in the St. Patrick’s Rectory Garden.
It’s this casual, approachable style of youth ministry that Ignite has become synonymous with, a deliberate method that has allowed the group to reach audiences where they are in more ways than one.
“We always want to have serious content that affects young people’s lives, whether about life issues, spirituality or even just learning about the faith, but it’s also important to build community,” Arrigo said.
“This transition from the summer into the fall, we take the opportunity to draw people who may be on the margins of their experience with faith, the Church or spirituality. When we can be a welcoming presence and face of the Church, it helps to bridge the gap for people who may be searching for something in their lives.”
It’s not just Ignite, either. The Redemptorists worldwide have prioritized youth ministry, a commitment reaffirmed in the order’s 1985 General Chapter and again in 2019 for Canada and North America. With that, Ignite’s model has extended beyond Toronto, with similar programs in Redemptorist parishes in Grande Prairie, Alta., Chicago and San Antonio, and leadership formation through its Network series for youth and family ministry volunteers across North America and the Caribbean.
In Toronto, the ministry hopes for more of the same success across this fall’s launch of its Bible and Beer series, the first in Annette Donovan Panchaud’s time as director of Ignite Ministry Canada, having taken over from Arrigo in July.
“What you can only hope for, even during this busy generation of young people who are working and trying to get their lives established, is that we can be there to help with the basics, then invite them to more,” Arrigo said.
