By Karen Vance
Enquirer contributor

SHARONVILLE - When the bells ring at St. Michael Catholic Church in Sharonville, two congregations in the city will remember a time when they shared a church.

The Sharonville United Methodist Church, 3751 Creek Road, donated the funds needed to repair one of the bells in honor of the sharing.

St. Michael, 11144 Spinner St., has been meeting in the Methodist church's sanctuary for three months during a $2.7 million renovation. This weekend, the 1,550 families who regularly attend the church will return.

The updated church will be rededicated when Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk consecrates the new altar at the 11:30 a.m. Mass June 29.

"It's been like we're on a family vacation. People have stepped forward and done different things," said the Rev. Michael Pucke, St. Michael's pastor. "We're coming back a little tired, but it was rewarding and refreshing. We're glad to be home."

St. Michael hosted Sunday services at the Evendale Community Center, bringing the altar there and setting up 500 chairs for the three Masses. But the center was unavailable for Saturday night Mass, so Pucke asked to borrow the Methodist Church's 350-seat sanctuary.

St. Michael congregants made a return gift, furniture and literature organizers for the welcome center.

For Sharonville UMC, hosting the other church for three months emphasized commonalities between the faiths, said Laura Cleavinger, outreach committee chair.

"It has been such a neat way to share," she said.

Young Catholics meet

For the fifth year, there will be a different kind of spirit on tap when 80 to 100 young people gather at a downtown bar. Theology on Tap, a program designed to bring young adult Catholics together to explore their faith in a social setting, will begin an eight-week series of events Thursday.

The gatherings, which begin every Thursday with a mixer at 6:30 p.m. at Jefferson Hall on Main Street, are geared toward people in their 20s and 30s.

"For me, I was a busy young professional with an active social life, but I needed a connection with my peers in my spiritual life," said Paula Koenigs, one of the organizers.

Speakers will address the theme, "ordinary people with extraordinary faith talk about how to find deeper meaning," she said.

Speakers include a former professional athlete now in the seminary, a former actress and Cincinnati City Councilman John Cranley.

For more information, visit Web site.

Buddhist workshop

The Gaden Samdup-Ling Buddhist Monastery will host an introduction to Tibetan Buddhism from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 10. The monastery, 3360 Bishop St., Clifton, has space for 40 participants for the session, which includes the history of Buddhism in India and Tibet, karma, love and meditation.

Register before May 6 by calling Jackie at 235-3425 or e-mail at willajean@fuse.net.

To submit religion news, e-mail kvance@fuse.net or send a fax to 755-4150.