Kudos to the Cajuns!

The Ragin Cajun Catholics of Our Lady of Wisdom Catholic Student Center (University of Louisiana, Lafayette) have a lot going for them in the Theology of the Body department. It helps that their pastor, Father Bryce Sibley, studied TOB at the original "John Paul II Institute for Studies of Marriage and the Family" at Rome's Lateran University.

Here are a few examples of their "New Evangelization" approach to TOB (remember, the "new" means "new in its ardor, new in its methods, new in its expression").

Spring program update!

  We have a few more details for our springtime Theology of the Body series with Father Robert Sprott, OFM:

The class will meet on May 4, 11 and 18 (Saturdays) from 9:30-3:30 (with a generous break for lunch). Two hours of teaching will be devoted to each "chapter" of Pope John Paul's masterpiece "Man and Woman He Created Them." (It took Pope John Paul five years to get through the whole Theology of the Body; we're going to do it in three days!)

 If you are not in the Chicago area, do not despair! These sessions will be streamed live and archived online for ready access. We suggest you get a group together and share the class with others. This can also be done at the parish level, using an ethernet connection (recommended over wireless), projector and speakers. Wouldn't it be fantastic to have a nationwide TOB program going on in homes and parishes (and convents), all linked in real time not to unpack the riches of Pope John Paul's insights into the most travailed topics of our day?

The fee for participation, whether online or in person, will be $20 per day. This will help us cover the expenses involved, and will allow us to provide a suitable stipend to the presenter, who is already hard at work preparing the material. The program will be, as the text is, intellectually stimulating. Father Sprott is not entertaining, but he is mesmerizing, so this program will be ideal for people who are looking for something that will engage them on all levels.

 Our sisters from the video department at the motherhouse are hoping to come to take care of the filming (onsite participants, there will be video releases posted at the entrance). (They are looking forward to a trip to Chicago!)

Now, what can you do in the meantime? Tell others, especially young adults and people involved in young adult or youth ministry, marriage prep teams, wavering Catholics, the searchers... Send them right here to this page, or to our Google+ community ("Theology of the Body").

More links coming as soon as each area (ticketing, streaming, etc) is finalized!

Are you ready? New TOB program coming soon!

We are in the planning stages of a 12-session video series on the Theology of the Body, to be led by Father Robert Sprott (best known here in Chicago for his annual series at the Newberry Library).

The six chapters of Pope John Paul's masterwork will be covered in two one-hour segments each, for a total of twelve classes. Filming begins in April, but that is about as far as we have gotten. (Father transferred to a new parish over the summer and was only able to confirm this week that he would be available.) Most likely we will film the series a chapter at a time (two hours per recording session).

Our Founder, the media apostle Blessed James Alberione, told us that our mission must always "start from Bethlehem"--in poverty. That about sums up the resources we have to bring this project about. We need sponsors to underwrite the costs of video (film crew, lighting and supplies) and a just stipend for Father. Do you know anyone who is especially interested in promoting a greater appreciation of the most misunderstood aspects of the Gospel message? Here's their chance!

We will also need an audience for each of the sessions! Check back soon for a calendar and sign-up.