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| The original Dead Theologians Society (DTS) chapter in Ireland is pictured above. Several of the girls are now pursuing a religious vocation and the others are active in leading the DTS chapter. Also pictured are Eddie Cotter, third from left, and his son, Rory, right, who recently helped lead a Confirmation retreat in Ireland with the Antrim DTS Chapter. (Contributed photo) |
BLACK EARTH — In the fifth century, St. Patrick travelled throughout Ireland, where he established small communities of people of the Catholic faith which eventually spread across the country.
Today a Catholic apostolate is following the blueprint of St. Patrick in spreading the faith, not only in Ireland, but in the United States and other countries.
It is the Dead Theologians Society (DTS), a Catholic apostolate for high school teens and college-aged young adults. DTS has its headquarters in the Diocese of Madison in Black Earth.
Following St. Patrick’s blueprint
As we prepare to observe St. Patrick’s Day on March 17, it is appropriate to reflect on how DTS uses a similar approach to St. Patrick, said Eddie Cotter, co-founder and executive director of DTS.
“Our DTS efforts in Ireland (as well as here in the U.S. and other countries) really do follow the blueprint of St. Patrick, who traveled many miles establishing and strengthening small faith communities that produced disciples who converted an island and a race of people,” said Cotter.
Of DTS, he said, “It isn’t flashy, but it is real, and thank God it is truly effective! Young people in DTS are literally following in the footsteps of the saints. They are spreading the Gospel by their lives wherever they are.”
To help support this apostolate, an evening of Irish music, food, and fun will be held on Saturday, March 15, at the Bishop O’Connor Center in Madison with proceeds to help sponsor the work of DTS in poorer parishes in the U.S. and Ireland.
The Kells to hold traditional Irish music concert in Madison |
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MADISON — Celebrate an evening of Irish tradition with music, food, and fun at a concert featuring international recording artists and acclaimed Irish band, The Kells, on Saturday, March 15, at the Bishop O’Connor Center, 702. S. High Point Rd. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. The band will be featuring music from their latest CD, “Smooth Sailing After All,” as well as tracks from their three previously released CDs and a host of traditional Irish jigs, reels, and songs. The Kells are based out of central Ohio with the exception of bodhran player, Eddie Cotter, Jr., who resides in Black Earth. Eddie is the co-founder and director of the Dead Theologians Society (DTS), a Catholic youth and young adult apostolate in parishes throughout the United States and Ireland. Proceeds from this event will help to sponsor the work of DTS in poorer parishes in the U.S. and in Ireland. The Kells perform regularly at many of the country’s premier Irish festivals and venues. In 2013 they toured in Ireland, Rome, and Brazil with notable performances in Rio de Janeiro for Pope Francis at World Youth Day. Tickets cost $20 for adults or $15 for students (under 18). The cost for a table of eight with preferred seating is $200. Admission includes music and Irish dinner buffet. To purchase advance tickets, call 608-767-4063, email: Eddie@DeadTheologiansSociety.com or order online at www.DTSbenefit.TicketLeap.com/theKells |
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The March 15 event will feature the Irish band, The Kells. Cotter is a bodhran player with the group. (See accompanying article for more details on the event.)
Inspiring youth through the saints
The mission of DTS is explained on its website (www.deadtheologianssociety.com): “Through the saints of yesterday, the Dead Theologians Society inspires the youth of today to become the saints of tomorrow.”
Since DTS began 17 years ago, there have been close to 500 parishes which have had the program. “We have some chapters that have been going strong for all 17 years,” said Cotter.
“Like many programs, longevity and success are often dependent upon the program’s leadership. The average youth minister stays in the profession less than three years, and often the length of stay at a particular parish for clergy isn’t much longer. This always makes a good program vulnerable.”
The DTS format, however, is unchanged and is proving to be just as relevant today for young people. “The reason for this is that we help them to fall in love with Christ and His Church, which is always relevant, and with the inspiring lives of the saints as positive role models, we’ll never run out of material,” said Cotter.
Confronting the society
In comparing DTS to St. Patrick’s efforts in Ireland, Cotter said that St. Patrick had to confront the errors of paganism that had a grip on the Irish people in his time.
“In modern Ireland — just as in modern America — there are many ‘false religions’ that grip a large number of young people,” Cotter observed.
“We like to think as a society that we are quite ‘enlightened,’ but in reality many shams, scams, and falsehoods take advantage of good people who are struggling to know God, to love God, and to trust God,” said Cotter.
In Ireland, for example, Islam is one of the fastest growing religions. The media also is full of advertisements for psychic readers, spirit mediums, and a host of other scams.
“In DTS, young people are afforded the opportunity on a regular basis to grow in their Catholic Christian faith by hearing the Truth and learning of the lives of true heroes of Christianity who confronted many of the same issues that young people face today,” said Cotter. “They can grow to put their trust in Jesus, because they come to know Him through the Church He founded.”
Growth of DTS
DTS has six chapters in Ireland with two more beginning soon. Cotter said that very few parishes in Ireland have youth ministry budgets or even have youth ministry. However, DTS is making inroads, especially in the areas where the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal are involved with DTS.
In the Diocese of Madison, seven parishes currently have DTS chapters: St. Mary, Pine Bluff; St. Francis Xavier, Cross Plains; St. Bernard, Middleton; St. John the Baptist, Waunakee; Divine Mercy, Sauk City; St. Bernard and St. Henry, Watertown; St. John Vianney, Janesville; St. Augustine, Platteville; St. Clement, Lancaster; and St. Joseph, Edgerton.
DTS chapters are also established in Canada and Ghana.
Since its beginning 17 years ago, over 11,000 teens and young adults have been part of the apostolate.
“Please God, it is only the beginning, and, over time, it will help to spread genuine lived-out Christianity across this country and in Ireland,” said Cotter.