December 2019 Year-End Newsletter

TOB MENTORING PROGRAM - THAT'S A WRAP

After 2 ½ demanding years, we have wrappedup the TOB Mentoring Program led byKatrina. Phase II (August 2018 - June 2019)involved reading through all of the TOBWednesday audiences (133!) and Katrinaguiding the group through each one, cappedoff by a TOB Speaker Training in June. Thefinal phase (Phase III) consisted of apracticum where participants led a multi-session TOB study using one of Katrina’sbooks, video series, or PowerPoint series.

Here are a few quotes from the mentorees: “Leading this books study was more fun that Iimagined. I was able to share what I’d learnedwith fellow catechists who appreciated therichness of TOB and how it would be importantfor Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.” -KiraMello, led 10-part study of The Body RevealsGod. "The best part was putting myself to the test ofteaching TOB. After this Practicum andMentoring Program, I feel like I could run amarathon – and I don’t even run!” -RebeccaRoberts, led a 3-part study of “TOB forEveryone” at St. Thomas the Apostle. “Over the course of weeks, Ilearned the rhythm of how topresent the material, commonquestions and concerns, andhow to handle difficultquestions and a variety ofviewpoints. I also saw how themore healing women can dointeriorly, the more integrationand ability to live out thefeminine genius occurs.” -Candida Kirkpatrick, led a 7-week study of Discovering theFeminine Genius at St. Joan ofArc for both a morning andevening group.

Participants' comments: "The greatest ‘aha’ moment came fromrediscovering that God created us as humanbeings not human doings. Too often I have foundmyself rushing through life with many obligationsand business. I have been able to retrain andrelearn the art of presence and being.” -DFGparticipant “This study made me see the gift I am to peoplearound me, why I was born, and how I can becomea gift to every person I meet or pass even if it issmiling at them. This has already impacted mostareas of my (50-year) marriage.” - BRG catechistparticipant "I learned that the spousal meaning of the body isintegrated into my whole life and not secluded tobeing lived out in a particular vocation." - "InitialHike Through TOB" participant

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS:

The JPII Resource Center has continued tocollaborate with our Catholic Schools Office tooffer TOB formation for all Catholic schoolteachers, grades K-4, along with helping toimplement the Ruah Woods TOB curriculum forthese grades.

Below are a few teacher “take-aways” from the TOBteacher training: “My ‘aha’ moment was equating our bodies to thetabernacle and how our body is also the dwellingplace for God.” “The best part was learning more TOB – it’s not all“sex” and for married couples.“I appreciated being able to use what I learnedtoday in the classroom by integrating it with thereproductive system in 7th grade science.” “Learning more about Heaven really helped medeepen my knowledge of what 'life after death' trulymeans." “I really liked Katrina’s use of visual to explain theseconcept to children in a way they can understand.” “Wow, this has been very eye opening for me, justlike learning a new language. I already do a lot ofwhat was talked about, but never knew there was a[TOB] 'lingo' that went with it.

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Katrina offered two parent-formation daysthis fall – one at St. Helen’s (see photo) andone at Corpus Christi entitled, “Sex Ed vs.Chastity: What Every Parent (andGrandparent) Should Know.” In a rapidlychanging world, these parents were givenvaluable tools to help navigate the currentconfusion over marriage and sexual identityalong with key language to help form theirchildren and grandchildren.

For the 6th year in a row, Katrina taught the5-week Kino TOB course in October for themorning cohort. While the course andhomework are demanding (the studentsalways remind her of this in theirevaluations!), the pay-off for some is life-changing. One student wrote: “This courseopened up a new way of thinking andvision for me. Very inspirational. Verydeep.”

In September, we re-launched Katrina’s blog, TOBTuesdays, but with a refreshed format. Each week werepost one of her original blogs from last year withadditional reflections by retired-meteorologist-turned-catechist, Jack Henz. If you’re not on our email list forTOB Tuesdays, please send a quick email to Katrina’snew assistant, Zelda at zgraham@dphx.org.

You can also see the weekly posting along with other helpful TOB insights by liking ourFacebook page: JPII Resource Center or by going to www.tobcenter.org.

PARENT FORMATION: GOING DEEPER!

TOB TUESDAYS REFRESHED!

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KEEP THE TOB FIRE GOING! PLEASE MAKE A YEAR-END GIFT!

The JPII Resource Center is funded about95% from private donations. This means, notonly are you a gift but your generous financialgift to us makes a difference! We welcome andare most grateful for your sacrificial self-givingto keep the memory and legacy of Saint JohnPaul II alive in our diocese. The St. JPIIResource Center, founded by Bishop Olmsted14 years ago, is unique in the world as the onlydiocesan founded outreach dedicated tointegrating theology of the body into thecatechetical life of a diocese. Together, we canbe a source of inspiration and mentoring forPhoenix and the universal Church!

PLEASE donate at:www.dphx.org/jp2/giving

AND LAST BUT NOTLEAST - BUYYOUR TICKETS NOW!

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Glenn Stanton

"Protestant Guy Skates into Theology of the Body

and Becomes Catholic"

Buy Individual Tickets or Table of 10 at:

www.JP2Celebration.com*Bishop Olmsted will be in attendance.

For more information, call 602-354-2032

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