Are you coming to Camp Echo?

Time is running out to register for Cincinnati's first Camp Echo, a unique Theology of the Body camp for high school students.  The registration deadline is May 30, so you have 10 days to pray and apply.  We would love to see you there!

Spread the word to any high school students you know, as well as young adults who play a unique role in the camp.  Teens come from far and near, so don't hesitate to share the news with young people who are a plane ride away from Cincinnati.

 

What are you doing this June?

If you're in high school or college, hopefully Camp Echo's Cincinnati debut is on your calendar.  If not, after you watch this preview, hopefully you'll be heading to Ruah Woods' registration site before the May 17 deadline to sign up for this incredible opportunity.

 

TOB for Teens training -- middle school edition

It's the last day to receive the early registration discount for Brian Butler's "Theology of the Body for Teens: Middle School Edition" training on May 4 or May 5. Visit www.ruahwoods.org for more information or to register.

10 "Good News" moments of 2011

Last year, I celebrated the close of 2009 with a list of the top ten highlights of the year associated with Theology of the Body, Kenosis and Ruah Woods. I always enjoy remembering what God has done in the past 365 days, so I’m going to embark on the project again this year. What opportunities have we been blessed with this year?

10) Brian Butler coming to town

In April, Ruah Woods partnered with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati to host Brian Butler’s Theology of the Body for Teens training program. It was so refreshing to hear Brian speak, holding his audiences captive by sharing the hunger of teens for a challenging, beautiful message. It was also encouraging to see how many teachers, DREs, youth ministers and parents filed into St. Peter in Huber Heights and Immaculate Heart of Mary in Anderson Township to learn how to communicate TOB to the youth.

9) Kenosis Discipleship Week

In July we had our first Kenosis Discipleship Week – an opportunity for high school students to receive from the Lord and then to learn how to concretely give of themselves to their schools, parishes, family and friends. We had Mass every day, generously offered by local priests. We spent time in prayer, reflection, small groups and education sessions. We also had working groups, bringing their gifts and talents to the table to see how they can reach others in creative ways.

8) Tremendous range of speaking opportunities

It is such a joy to be able to share various aspects of Theology of the Body with an incredible range of audiences. This year, there were plenty of high schools, parishes, a couple of middle schools, Northern Kentucky University, Marian University, the Edith Stein Project at the University of Notre Dame, Theology on Tap, the first Parrhesia young adult conference in Cincinnati. With such a range of topics and audiences (junior high, high school, college, parents, academics, young adults), I am always given new opportunities to learn and to grow.

7) Kenosis Restore retreat: Encounter at the Well

This year’s Kenosis Restore retreat centered on John 4 – the encounter of Jesus with the woman at the well. It was a wonderful opportunity for the teens to pray, reflect in silence, spend time with other Kenosis teens, and learn about Christ’s thirst for union with each of us as a unique, unrepeatable person. These retreats are vitally important to our philosophy of first receiving God’s love in a relationship with Him, which enables us to give in whatever way the Lord invites us to give of ourselves.

6) World Youth Day

Madrid, Spain was my third (and quite possibly, last) World Youth Day, but my first as a chaperone. It was beautiful to watch the teens’ desire to be open to all that God had for them on the pilgrimage. It was also quite stunning to witness a million or more young people kneeling in the mud in complete silence during Exposition

of the Blessed Sacrament, led by Pope Benedict XVI. This is exactly what people need to experience when they accuse the young of an inability to rise to the challenge of faith.

5) Teaching at the seminary

What a tremendous gift it was for me to be able to teach a Theology of the Body master’s course at Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary of the West and the Athenaeum in Cincinnati this fall! It was an honor to be able to teach future priests, as well as two laypeople. I was also given the opportunity to further immerse myself in Theology of the Body and in the more precise theological aspects of the teaching that are not fit for hour-long talks or teen retreats. It is also exciting to see how an “adequate anthropology” might impact future homilies, marriage prep programs, and other parish initiatives.

4) Working with the Kenosis teens on various projects, retreats, etc.

This year, my fellow Theology of the Body education coordinator and I have striven to give the Kenosis teens opportunities to use their gifts and talents to build a culture of life and a civilization of love. We have had a junior core of six high sch

ool students on TOB for Teens retreats. Two teens created an incredible new promo video, which debuted at our September banquet. Some students have traveled with us to speak to junior high students. There are countless opportunities to use gifts of speaking, design, video work, writing, prayer and leadership to serve the youth of the Tri-state area.

3) Hearing a young man at TOB for Teens talk about his sudden desire to become a priest.

During a Theology of the Body for Teens program, one young man struggled to put into words the consistent call he felt during the program: “Even though you didn’t talk much about it explicitly, I kept hearing this voice say, ‘Be a priest! Be a priest!’ Then you brought a seminarian to speak to us, and I felt like he was talking to me. I want to consider going to college seminary next year, because I think this may be where God is calling me.”

2) Called to be More vocations pilgrimage walk

How to summarize one week of walking 150 miles with ten high school students and five adults in order to pray for vocations, discern personal vocations and to witness to the astonishing fact that God always calls us to be more? There were plenty of blisters, sore feet, injured knees and

ankles, long days of walking. But there were also beautiful churches (we stopped to pray in 30 of them), wonderful conversations with people along the journey, a wealth of community prayer and plenty of laughter. Even in the suffering, there

was joy. The teens are still talking about the pilgrimage walk and the ways in which it has impacted them.

1) John Paul II’s beatification

Not only was John Paul II beatified this May 1, but I was blessed to be present at St. Peter’s Square for the big event. How incredible to stand with a million or more people from around the world, as Pope Benedict XVI made the official proclamation. We applauded until our arms ached while they unveiled the portrait of Bl. John Paul II. The beatification gave me the chance to thank a man who I never had the opportunity to meet while he was on earth (though I did see him from a few feet away at World Youth Day 2002). Bl. John Paul II’s influence on my life continues to this day. How fitting to make a pilgrimage in order to thank him and to thank God for sending us such an incredible Holy Father in a unique time in the history of the Church and of the world.

Letter to my future spouse

A young man who studied Theology of the Body for Teens (as far as I know, not in Cincinnati) created this video after completing the program:

Evangelization on the highway

A car-full of girls in Kenosis were recently on a roadtrip, when they were engaged in an innocent encounter of waving to another car. The other car -- full of several teen boys -- was not content with a simple waving match on the highway. One of the boys held up a sign in the window with an inappropriate message.

The girls, all schooled in Theology of the Body, decided this was a moment for evangelization. They scrambled for paper and pen in the car, and then wrote: "Respect. We are precious gifts."

The boys didn't get it. So the girls countered again: "Why would you want to use us?"

Still, the boys were confused, so the ladies responded: "Be men. Not boys."

The boys drove away. The girls continued their roadtrip. But one has to wonder how these simple messages impacted the boys. Maybe they tucked the messages in their minds for a later reflection. Maybe they were intrigued. Maybe they didn't believe there were girls in the world wiling to wait for respect.

Maybe something as simple as driving down the highway became an invitation to these young men to live the fact that they were made for more.

Retreat recap

The Theology of the Body for Teens retreat came to a close yesterday afternoon. It never ceases to be amazing to watch dozens of teens line up for confession, praise the Lord during Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, and join their voices together in prayer. It also never ceases to be amazing to watch six junior core members of Kenosis speak to their peers with confidence, grace, enthusiasm and authenticity about the way God has transformed their lives. And it will always be a gift to work with young adults who are beautifully present to the teens by giving up an entire weekend to lead small groups and witness to God's love.

Thank you for the prayers.

Prayers please

It's time for another TOB for Teens retreat. That means we need your prayers! This weekend, a full house of 26 teens, 6 junior core members and 6 adults will embark on an adventure of growing closer to God through learning about Theology of the Body.

It's the sort of event that is impossible without prayer. So if you are able, please offer a prayer or two for all of us this weekend. Thank you!

Made for More: TOB for Teens retreat

All high school students are invited to join us for a Theology of the Body for Teens retreat: Made for More. For more information, or to register, visit our website.

What's Kenosis all about?

Ruah Woods' banquet was last night. What a wonderful event!

Check out the Kenosis promo video we unveiled at the banquet. The video was created by two Kenosis teens and features the testimonies of many of our high school students from the Tri-State area.

Ruah Woods Final from TheUG on Vimeo.

TOB for Teens immersion week

It's not too late to register for next week's Theology of the Body for Teens immersion program. We will be meeting Monday-Friday and delving into John Paul II's work and its relevance for our everyday lives. Spread the word if you know a high school student (from incoming freshmen to outgoing seniors) who would like to dive into learning about God's incredible plan for our lives.

Kenosis, year one

I'm always one for remembering the dates of random occurrences -- things that have happened in my life, saints' feast days, JPII encyclical anniversary days, etc. So, this week it occurred to me that I had arrived at one year since beginning my position at Ruah Woods. And goodness, has it been a busy year!

When Courtney Brown and I arrived to begin jobs that had never before existed, we were given the task of creating a new program or group or ministry for high school students. Through lots of prayer and through the ever surprising Holy Spirit, Kenosis: Teen Disciples for Love and Life was born.

What a year! When we had our closing meeting for the school year, one of the Kenosis teens, only a week or two from graduating high school, said with tears in her eyes, "I would kill to be a freshman right now." Her brief time in Kenosis had been such a gift to her that she wished she had been able to experience four years of its formation and community-building.

So, what exactly happened within the last year?

- Kenosis meetings were held twice a month, addressing a range of topics that incorporated Theology of the Body -- prayer, silence, suffering, the hook-up culture vs. dating with purpose and purity, etc. We were sure to emphasize the many ways in which TOB impacts our daily lives, moving beyond a sole emphasis on sexuality.

- Kenosis retreat, "Restore" was held in December to rave reviews from the teens, who enjoyed talks, small groups, silent reflection, the Sacraments, and an awesome talent show.

- Jason Evert spoke to 500 people at the Underground in November, captivating his audience with the compelling message of chastity.

- A small junior core team of Kenosis teens assisted with our TOB for Teens retreat in the spring. They were such a joyful witness to both the teens and the adult leaders.

- Kenosis teens gave their testimonies at an 8th grade Theology of the Body presentation this past winter. What a gift to watch them pass on the ways in which God has worked in their life.

- We watched multiple Kenosis/TOB for Teens students apply for college seminary!

And in the past year there have been countless conversations, times of prayer and brainstorming sessions with incredible high school students who are striving to live the message of Kenosis (self-emptying to Christ, leading to self-gift to God and others) in their daily lives.

So, praise the Lord for His many gifts during the past year! We pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide the mission of Kenosis, and enable us to be His instruments in building a culture of life and a civilization of love.

TOB for Teens essay winners

Be sure to take some time to read the winning essays from Ascension Press's TOB for Teens scholarship contest. It's always inspiring to read of young people's lives touched by Theology of the Body.

You can find the essays here.

TOB for Teens training: April 15 and 16

Today is the last day to register for the Theology of the Body for Teens training with Brian Butler, sponsored by Ruah Woods and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. For more information on the two sessions being offered on April 15 and 16, head on over to the Ruah Woods' website.

Brian Butler, co-author of the TOB for Teens curriculum will assist adults in learning how to engage young people with the dynamic message of TOB.

TOB for Teens retreat

Thank you to all who prayed for the Theology of the Body for Teens retreat this weekend. It was a beautiful experience. I think the most profound moment for me was watching the line of teens and adults waiting for confession, simultaneously immersed in worshipping the Lord in Eucharistic Adoration. Three priests heard confessions for two hours, waiting until each person had gone.

Another tremendous blessing was watching our six "junior core" members -- teens involved in Kenosis -- who spent the weekend serving their fellow high school students. Their testimonies were outstanding and their witness of lives radiating Christ's love was priceless.

Please continue to keep the retreatants in your prayers as they settle back into "normal" life again, grappling with the difficulties of immersing new found knowledge and conversion into the daily routine.

Prayers for retreat

Ruah Woods' Theology of the Body for Teens retreat is being held this weekend. The event was full a month ahead of time, with 16 teens eventually joining the waiting list. Many prayers for the retreat would be greatly appreciated! Please pray for our 35 attendees, 6 junior core team members, 5 adult core team members and 2 adult leaders. Additionally, 8 priests will be assisting during the weekend.

It's going to be a wonderful retreat! Your prayers are invaluable.

The Journey to the TOB for Teens Retreat

It's a crazy week amidst final preparations for this weekend's sold-out Theology of the Body for Teens retreat. So, it seems a fitting time to introduce you to Above the Norm, the band that will be leading our praise and worship during the retreat. It's a gift to have four young men on fire for their faith playing an integral role in the weekend.

TOB for Teens retreat is full!

It's rare to have a retreat filled to capacity a month before the event begins. Our first Theology of the Body for Teens retreat can claim that rare distinction. Please keep the high school students in your prayers, as they prepare for their weekend retreat in March.

Diocese of Covington promotes TOB for Teens retreat

The Diocese of Covington has been working overtime to promote our upcoming Theology of the Body for Teens retreat. In fact, any moment now we are expecting to have to close registration because we are nearly at capacity. In this week's edition of "The Messenger," they provided a front page article about the retreat, inviting local teens to register before the event is full. It is so encouraging to see the enthusiasm of those who are promoting the events in parishes, schools and youth groups.

10 "Good News" moments of 2010

Well, it's the end of the year, which always ushers in a flurry of "top 10" moments, reflections and lists. While we don't have to look very far for bad news (try the newspaper, Internet, movies, television and the general moral conscience of society), I would like to reflect on 10 wonderful pieces of good news from the past year, all related to Theology of the Body or Ruah Woods or the faith. And perhaps the even better news is that these "Top 10" barely scratch the surface.



10) The End and the Beginning: Pope John Paul II -- The Victory of Freedom, the Last Years, the Legacy was finally published by George Weigel. This second and final part of Weigel's biography of John Paul II was much anticipated. Having received it for Christmas, I am enjoying the portrait of the late Holy Father in the latter years of his life. It's so wonderful that on the third day of Christmas I was already half way through the 500+ page work.

9) In the fall, Ruah Woods hosted its first ever book discussion group. We had a wonderful time with nearly 20 young adults eager to engage in discussion over Edward Sri's Men, Women and the Mystery of Love: Practical Insights from John Paul II's Love and Responsibility. We had wonderful conversations about love vs. use, true friendships and relationships, modesty, "raising the bar," contraception and the gift of chastity.

8) Pope Benedict XVI's grace and humility in leading the Church, even amidst gross societal-wide misunderstandings. He dealt with many of those this year and yet continued to be an unwavering voice of truth. This year marked five years since the death of John Paul II and thus five years (and counting) of the pontificate of his successor.

7) It is always a gift to teach Theology of the Body for Teens. This year Courtney Brown and I taught 68 teens the program (including IHM youth ministry's fall retreat). As always we walked away blessed from meeting them. And they walked away with a renewed enthusiasm for their faith and a greater understanding of God's love for them. What a gift to watch teens say that TOB for Teens: "'is where the healing begins'. I can honestly tell you that after this class I have gained such a beautiful new respect for myself, for women, and ultimately for God and everyone." And, "I cannot thank God enough for loving me so that I was able to love myself and love others. In a way, I believe these classes were God’s way of calling me back to Him. Theology of the Body for Teens helped me when I thought no one could help me, and I appreciated all that Theology of the Body has done for me." You can read more testimonies and watch a brief video of teens and their parents at our Kenosis website.

6) The first Theology of the Body Congress in Philadelphia was amazing! It was such a gift to hear remarkable presentations by Fr. Brian Bransfield, Helen Alvare, Fr. Roger Landry, Michael Waldstein and others. There were friends from the TOB world at every corner and plenty of new people to meet. I walked away with 30+ pages of typed notes from the wonderful talks. And I'm not sure that I had ever really reflected on the fact that those engaged in TOB education and promotion now are among the front runners in the field.


5) How incredible to watch the Underground flood with people on Nov. 4 in order to hear Jason Evert's compelling chastity message! There were 500 teens, young adults and parents who crammed into the building. Yet despite the large crowd, one could have heard a pin drop during Jason's presentation and concluding Q&A session. His free materials were gone in minutes, as teens rushed to the table to receive miraculous medals, rosaries, chastity commitment cards and booklets. The lines to speak to Jason after the talk lasted for a couple of hours.



4) CREDO and Cast Your Nets were two local youth events that continued to draw large crowds in 2010. The numbers aren't even what's important -- who can ignore the enthusiasm of the teens who participate in these events? Then there's the student-led all-school Holy Hour at one local high school. Add to it the hundreds of local teens who head to the annual March for Life, and one has to have great hope for the future. It's no wonder John Paul II told the young, "For me, our meeting has been a deep and moving experience of your faith in Christ, and I make my own the words of Saint Paul: "I have great confidence in you, I have great pride in you; I am filled with encouragement, I am overflowing with joy" (2Cor 7,4). These are not words of empty praise. I am confident that you have grasped the scale of the challenge that lies before you, and that you will have the wisdom and courage to meet that challenge. So much depends on you."


3) The Human Person According to John Paul II by Fr. Brian Bransfield is the most remarkable presentation of John Paul II's thought I have read. The book was published this year and has received praise from many people looking to delve more deeply into the thought of the late Holy Father. Fr. Bransfield has a gift for simply expressing profound truths, connecting the dots and presenting a wealth of information in only 250 pages. The hundreds of footnotes point to the depth of research put into the work and yet Fr. Bransfield's pastoral heart make the work accessible.

2) On a personal note, 2010 was quite eventful. In May, there was graduation from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family in Washington, DC. Only a couple of days later I was off to Italy, where I saw the Shroud of Turin and dozens of gorgeous churches. But the purpose of my visit was to give a week-long seminar about Theology of the Body in Chiampo. I was also blessed to present to a campus ministry group at the Angelicum in the room where John Paul II defended his doctoral dissertation. Last but not least, I found myself dubbed in Italian during TOB interviews taped for Tele Giovanni Paolo II. It was incredible to see the hunger for TOB in Italy, even though this is the country where the audiences were first delivered. And it was truly a gift to be able to speak to such wonderful people -- the first groups to whom I spoke after completing my Masters degree.



1) Kenosis: Teen Disciples for Love and Life began on Sep. 14, the feast of the Triumph of the Cross. It has been extraordinary to watch the Holy Spirit work in the lives of the Kenosis teens in only three months time. They have eagerly attended meetings, looked for opportunities to share their faith with friends, surrendered their lives more completely to Christ during the first Kenosis retreat, and gathered strength in knowing they are not alone in building a culture of life and a civilization of love. They chose the patron and patroness of Kenosis -- St. Maximilian Kolbe and Bl. Chiara "Luce" Badano. And they can't wait to see what God has in store for 2011.