It took Pope John Paul five years, but we plan to cover his entire Theology of the Body in just three days.
Just a glance at any day's headlines demonstrates how much the world needs to recover and appreciate what it means to "be a body" (not "have" a body). Aat a time when Catholic teachings in the areas of marriage, sexuality, health care and even the priesthood are routinely dismissed as relics of the past, it can be a real challenge for lay Catholics to understand the sacramental "vision" of the person that underlies those teachings, and even more of a challenge to communicate them clearly and confidently. We believe that the Theology of the Body not only meets that need amply, it puts the whole Catholic faith within reach in a way that transforms hearts.
With your help, the Daughters of St Paul of Chicago are planning a six-session overview of the Theology of the Body geared to lay Catholics. This will be held in Chicago, streamed live over the Internet, and recorded in high-definition video (in view of a DVD series parishes can use).
We can't do it on our own
As frugally as we live from day to day, our tiny community (four sisters) still does not have the resources to complete the following necessary components of this project:
- Painting and equipping the meeting space (untouched for 20 years) so it will be suitable for a video project: $500.
- Airfare for two sisters from the motherhouse to do the camerawork (way less costly than working with a video company): $600.
- One year's worth of online archival of the webstream for individuals and groups who cannot join in real time (and to keep the program available to new viewers): $2400.
If we do not make our goal, we will archive the classes for as long as the funding lasts ($200/month). Hopefully, the first two items will quickly be funded!
If, with your help, we surpass the goal, funds will allow us to continue archiving, to produce the DVD series, and to extend our media ministry.
BIG NEWS! DivineOffice.org has promised to match your gift, up to half the goal! Let them know on their Facebook page how much you gave, and your gift can do even more!
We have something for you, too!
If you are as convinced as we are that the Theology of the Body responds to the questions and needs of our culture, and you have the means to offer a significant contribution to this project (we're thinking $2000), we have a very special thank-you. At the close of the Jubilee Year 2000, Sister Anne received a gift from the Vatican for her work for the Central Committee for the Great Jubilee: a sterling silver, limited edition medallion minted by the Vatican Numismatic Office in commemoration of the Jubilee. The medallion (40 mm, 34.5 grams) comes in a silk box, with a certificate of authenticity.
For a contribution of $1000, another numismatic "thank-you" comes in the form of a set of two Vatican medallions in bronze commemorating the opening of Pope John Paul's process of beatification. The medallions come in a velvet box.
Clearly, extraordinary gifts are beyond most people's reach; more likely, you'd like to help in a less dramatic way. That's fine with us! We have put aside some thank-you mementos for various donation levels: a St Michael bumper sticker ($20); Pope John Paul's memoirs ($100); even a "patron Saint credit" in the webstream ($300)!
Got $10 to spare? Why not just sign up for the first session of Theology of the Body! (Go to www.ustream.tv/channelTOB-TV and use their PayPal service rather than donate here.) Or, for your $5 donation, we will send you a medal of Blessed James Alberione, whom Pope John Paul called "the first apostle of the New Evangelization."
You may not be able to support our project financially, but you can still be a big help.
Spread the word about the online Theology of the Body program on Facebook, Twitter and in face-to-face conversations. Share links to this site and to our blog, especially with young adult ministers, marriage prep teams and the lay leaders in your parish.
Ask your local parish to include information about the program in the bulletin, on the parish website and on bulletin boards. (Suggested wording, a reproducible flyer and other resources can be found on our blog.)
Pray to St. Gabriel, the patron saint of audio-video technology, that--as he was chosen by God to communicate the message of salvation to Mary--we may use new media effectively to make God's surprising word known to people in our time.
The Daughters of St. Paul are a community of Catholic religious sisters founded in 1915 for evangelization through communications media.
