17 February 2025 · 2025-02 newsletter
From 19 – 24 January, the Theology of the Body Institute delivered an immersion course on the writings of St John Paul II on the topic of Gender, Marriage and Family at the Benedict XVI Retreat Centre in Sydney. Sr M. Rebecca, Sr M. Rita and I were very blessed to attend the course, together with around 65 other participants, most of whom were young adults coming from various states across Australia. Presented by Bill Donaghy who came out from the United States to deliver the course, participants were led through four documents written by St John Paul II during his pontificate: Familiaris Consortio (The Fellowship of the Family, 1981), Mulieris Dignitatem (The Dignity of a Woman, 1988), Letter to Families (1994), and Letter to Women (1995).
On many occasions throughout the sessions, Bill used art and media to draw out the point of discussion. Various images, songs and short videos were applied to keep participants engaged, often drawing upon the beauty of God’s creation to illustrate how men and women have been made in the image and likeness of God. In addition to the sessions themselves, which altogether comprised of around 27 hours of learning, the program included sufficient opportunity for spiritual nourishment provided by way of daily Holy Mass, rosary, adoration and occasions for the sacrament of reconciliation.
We all agreed that these opportunities of prayer connected us deeper with God, allowed us to better digest our daily learning, and created for a retreat-like atmosphere rather than an ordinary course.
What’s more were the ample opportunities participants received to interact with each other over meal and recreation times, which often led to wholesome discussions and, by the end, turned us all into a community of people reenergised and ready to take our learning back into our various ministries and daily lives.
Sr M. Olivia
Filed underEvents · Newsletter