Forge Presents: Dr. Jared Zimmerer - Basilicas and Barbells

June 18, 2025 7:00 PM
Location: The Hall, 111 S 11th St., West Des Moines, IA 50265

Since 2000, gym memberships in the U.S. have more than doubled (33 to 70 million). From protein shakes to CrossFit to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, our culture is gripped by a hunger for physical excellence. But what does the Catholic Church have to say about the gym? After all, some of our greatest saints were… well, not exactly lean. Does physical fitness have anything to do with spiritual fitness? If so, what? And can things go wrong? This talk has answers.

Dr. Jared Zimmerer—former competitive bodybuilder and Senior Director of Bishop Robert Barron’s Word on Fire Institute, now a humanities professor, husband, and father of six—will shed light on the topic. Human beings are a curious mix of mind, matter, and spirit. The one inevitably affects the other. Whether you’re hitting the squat rack twice a day or hitting the snack drawer every hour, this talk has something practical for every guy.

This event is $10/person, paid at the door. This event is for men only. Bar opens and drinks served at 7PM. Talk starts at 8PM.

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