Spent last night at Anthem’s kickoff Oktoberfest at Frankford Hall in Northern Liberties. Lots of great Catholics of all ages came together for a night of fellowship and celebration, joined by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput and many others.

I’m impressed with what Jacob King and Megan Mastroianni and others are building with Anthem, which is an entirely reimagined Catholic youth and young adults initiative to build up the Christian community across Greater Philadelphia. I haven’t considered myself even a “young adult” for many years, but I’m happy to watch what they’re doing and hope it leads to lots of fruitful change for Christian life in this area.

The only thing I would have changed about last night? It would have been great if there was some scripture study time and confessions heard in some of the quieter spots of Frankford Hall. What would’ve been a more unexpected place for forgiveness and repentance than a beer hall?