John Paul II Resource Center for Theology of the Body and Culture

2010 in Review

2010 was quite a year for the JP2 Resource Center! I presented over 90 talks throughout the diocese for ages 10 on up. One highlight was speaking to over 200 people at Holy Cross Parish’s annual pro-life dinner. My keynote presentation, “Heavenly Pro-Life: Our Ultimate Destiny and Why it Matters,” drew from John Paul II’s writings on the resurrection of the body and our ultimate destiny to live eternal virginity. That got their attention! We often forget that the soul and body have an eternal relationship that endows our bodies with a dignity way beyond anything this world could offer – and it should inspire us to be not only “pro-life,” but “pro-body” as well. A few other highlights from 2010 included:

  • Emceeing our third annual St. Philomena mother-daughter retreat for 120 mothers and their girls ages 11-14, including attendees from California and Texas.
  • Speaking at Ss. Simon and Jude and St. Timothy/St. Mary teacher in-service programs to inspire and equip every teacher to be a chastity educator at an age-appropriate level in his or her classroom.
  • Reaching out to our Northern Deanery by offering a series of talks for women, teens, and RCIA at San Francisco de Asís in Flagstaff in February 2010 along with a one-day woman’s retreat in the Fall of 2010.
  • Continuing to speak on the “Sacramentality of Marriage” at the diocesan marriage prep program. As part of my presentation, I have the privilege of inviting couples to separate if they are living together and to stop having marital relations. For the first time in five years, instead of getting “dagger looks,” this in October 2010 the couples actually seemed receptive. I attribute this to our new marriage prep policy that requires couples to attend “God’s Plan for a Joy-Filled Marriage” along with the full NFP course. Thank you Bishop Olmsted!
  • Offering, for the first time, an in-depth theology of the body workshop in Spanish, which was attended by 50 participants from a variety of parishes. Participants were thrilled and thankful to receive this teaching in their native tongue and are enthusiastic about taking it back to their parishes and ministries.

3rd Annual Celebration of Heroic Love and Life, January 29, 2011

Thank you, thank you, thank you! The third annual Celebration of Heroic Love and Life on Saturday, January 29, was inspiring and entertaining, and a good reminder of the life-changing impact of theology of the body for all ages.

Jeremy and Sarah Stanbary performed another outstanding drama through The Vitae Monologues and reminded us of the harmful misinformation and even lies presented to women (and men) when they are told that abortion is a safe, painless, and easy solution. Bishop Olmsted emphasized the significance of Pope John Paul II's beautification on May 1, 2011, and Fr. Will Schmid shared his own conversion story and call to the priesthood through theology of the body.

The wonderful crowd of 350 participants responded generously to the invitation to support the ongoing legacy of John Paul II in our diocese through pledges and donations totaling almost $40,000 for the next year. Our "Core 175" donor base expanded to include 73 faithful benefactors who support the Resource Center on a monthly basis.

And, we announced plans for our 4th annual Celebration of Heroic Love and Life on January 28, 2012. International speaker and author GEORGE WEIGEL, who wrote the extensive biography on Pope John Paul II entitled "Witness to Hope," will join us for what promises to be an outstanding evening of fellowship, inspiration, and gratitude for the legacy of Pope John Paul II in our diocese and the world. Look for more details coming soon!