Starting in July, young adult Catholics in their 20s and 30s can take part in a summer theology series geared specifically to their interests and spiritual needs. The four-week "Theology on Tap" series of young adult-friendly religious education seminars will be held in each of the five pastoral regions of the archdiocese.

Now in its fourth year, Theology on Tap --- sponsored by the Office of Religious Education's Ministry with Young Adults --- targets an audience often overlooked by the Catholic Church, noted Cindy Lambrix, core leader for the Santa Barbara Region who attends St. Peter Claver Church in Simi Valley.

"The age group that we are targeting is a lot of times the age when they fall away from the church, but its also when they are searching to come back, too," she said. "It's a good way of reaching out to them in a relaxed atmosphere."

Coming on the heels of the Synod initiative to target young adults, Theology on Tap is a ready-made arm reaching out to this group.

"These seminars are springboards to launch young adult ministries in our own church community," said San Pedro Region core leader Suzanne Gibson, who attends St. James Church in Redondo Beach. "It's the untapped young adults that we are appealing to. It's a place to go to socialize where everyone has the same moral understanding in a nice comfortable setting."

Each seminar is much more that just a religious education class, said San Pedro core leader Francisco Ubieto of American Martyrs Church in Manhattan Beach. "It's a way for young adults to get together and have a really good time outside the church and at the same time hear about topics of spirituality," he said.

Ubieto noted that the seminars are conducted in lounge-like settings with lots of food, drink and time for socializing in addition to the talks by the featured speakers.

"It's an environment that young adults really enjoy coming to and really relate to," added San Gabriel core leader Joy Daniels of All Souls Church in Alhambra.

The seminars are modeled on a program started in the Chicago Archdiocese to address the spiritual and life needs of young adults and keep them in the church, said San Pedro region representative Bettyrae Reyes of St. Dominic Savio Church in Bellflower.

"Theology on Tap is going to help to regionalize young adult ministries as the Synod seeks to do," said Reyes. "Young adult ministry is new to a lot of pastors and they are asking how to address the needs of young adults. Theology on Tap is ministry for young adults, done by young adults, chosen by young adults. It really addresses the core of who they are and what they need."