YG TOTB

THEOLOGY OF THE BODY FOR TEENS PROGRAM OUTLINE:
(All sessions meet in the Parish Meeting Room at the Holy Name location)

Parent and Student Meeting (September 21 6pm - 7:30pm)

Chapter 1. Created for Love (Sept 21 3-5pm)

The Theology of the Body points us to God's intended destiny for all human beings: heaven. Highlighting some of the painful realities of our modern culture, this segment ends with a powerful message of hope- showing teens that God desires an intimate, intense relationship with each of us and how our bodies actually reveal His eternal plan for humanity.

Chapter 2. Love Defined ("Historical Man") (Oct 19 3-5pm)

Recognizing that teens are often more in touch with their own bodies and experiences than they are with grasping God's original plan for humanity, this segment analyzes how humans have lived throughout history and discusses man's constant battle between love and lust.

Chapter 3. Naked Without Shame ("Original Man") (Oct 26 3-5pm)

In the beginning, God created man and woman as gifts for each other, with goodness, peace, and purity of heart. This segment brings teens back to the beauty and purpose of God's original plan, when Adam and Eve lived in perfect freedom.

Chapter 4. Hope and Redemption ("Eschatological Man") (Nov 16 and 23 3-5pm)

Since many teens have used others and have been used themselves, there is a great need in our catechesis for hope and healing. Teens will learn that no one is beyond the reach of God's grace. In Christ, we can start anew and look forward to our destiny of heaven.

Chapter 5. Truth and Freedom (Dec 14 3-5pm)

Teens often think that freedom is being able to do "whatever they want, whenever they want." This segment explores the nature of authentic freedom as the ability to choose the good and to accept the demands of authentic love.

Chapter 6. Language of the Body (Dec 21 3-5pm)

Some of the greatest signs are those expressed with the body, including those that people use when expressing affection sexually, specifically in the act of intercourse which says, " I give all of myself to you and to you alone." Here, teens will learn how to "speak the truth with the body."

Chapter 7. Free, Total, Faithful, Fruitful (Jan 11 3-5pm)

As a man, Jesus demonstrated for us how to be fully human by giving himself fully for us. Openness to receiving God's love enables us to enter relationships of "giving and receiving" with others, and these relationships must be free, total, faithful, and fruitful, in order to fully imitate Christ.

Chapter 8. Marriage (Jan 25, Feb 8 3-5pm)

The Theology of the Body highlights a woman's ability to image the Church and man's ability to image God the Father as the initiator of the gift-one who generously loves and serves. In this segment, the Sacrament of Marriage is shown to be the tangible and resounding image of God's love for us.

Chapter 9. Celibacy and Religious Life (Feb 15, 22 3-5pm)

In this segment, the nature of the celibate vocation as a type of marriage is explored. Teens discover that celibacy is much more than sacrificing sex and earthly marriage; celibacy is actually a foreshadowing of the eternal marriage we are all called to experience in heaven.

Chapter 10. Vocational Discernment and Prayer (Mar 22 3-5pm)

After outlining the vocations, this segment stresses the beauty of the particular vocation to which God calls each of us. In practical ways, teens learn how to pray and hear God's voice.

Chapter 11. Dating with Purpose and Purity (Mar 29, April 19 3-5pm)

This segment is packed with practical tips for dating purely in a society that encourages selfishness and sexual promiscuity. Questions such as, "What is the point of dating?" and "How can I remain pure if I'm not getting married for another ten years?" are answered.

Chapter 12. Living the Good Life (April 26, 13 3-5pm)

This final segment is a wrap-up of how teens can actually live the Theology of the Body in their lives, offering concrete and practical suggestions. Teens are empowered to live "on the edge" as a member of the Body of Christ so that they might be a part of changing the world with love.

End of Year Dinner (April 26, 13 Noon – 2pm)

Theology of the Body for Teens as a weekly seminar for high school students of the parish, meeting Sunday evenings from 3 ~ 5:00 pm.

What is the Theology of the Body?

Pope John Paul II devoted the first major teaching project of his pontificate – 129 short talks between September of 1979 and November of 1984 – to provide a profoundly beautiful vision of human sexuality. he gave this project the working title " Theology of the Body."

By helping us understand this profound interconnection between sex and the Christian mystery, John Paul's Theology of the Body not only paves the way for lasting renewal of marriage and the family; it enables everyone to rediscover "the meaning of the whole of existence, the meaning of life" (Oct 29, 80).

How is the program implemented?

The Theology of the Body for Teens program is divided into 12 unique segments that reflect the pedagogical approach of Pope John Paul II's teaching.

Theology of the Body for Teens has been designed specifically as a catechetical program which fits perfectly into Catholic schools, CCD, youth ministry, and homeschooling settings.

Each lesson can take anywhere between 60-120 minutes to complete, depending on the needs of the group. Each segment includes "core" lessons, and optional sections. The teacher or group leader can choose which optional sections to include, as desired.

What will your teens learn from this program?

Theology of the Body for Teens answers questions such as:

· Why did God give us our sexual desires?
· What is the difference between love and lust?
· What does our sexuality teach us about God?
· Can Christ bring healing to me if I've already "messed up"?
· What is the "language of the body" and how do I "speak" it?
· How can I discover my vocation?
· How far is "too far"?
· How can teens remain pure in our oversexed culture?
· Does waiting for sex make marriages stronger?
· Is there any hope for overcoming lust and pornography?

....and many more.

Using a great mix of stories , real-life examples, activities, prayers, and references to the culture that teens understand, this program takes the two hottest topics on the planet - God and sex - and "marries" them through Pope John Paul II's compelling vision for love and life.

Pope John Paul II's revolutionary Theology of the Body is changing lives around the world through its positive portrayal of our sexuality as a good and essential part of love and life. Theology of the Body for Teens brings this exciting teaching into a practical format of 12 lessons that teenagers will enjoy and understand.

Confirmation Class Requirements