Youths re-discover the value of love and human sexuality |27 April 2012

 
                              Father Joel addressing the audience at yesterday’s session

The session was led by Father Joel Jason, a Philippino diocesan priest who is in Seychelles at the invitation of the Diocese of Port Victoria and two church organisations– Couples for Christ and the Association for the Promotion of Solid Humane Families (APSHF).

Present at the forum were Catholic Bishop Denis Wiehe and Father Lonnie Adrienne.
The session started off with blessings and songs of praise, following which Father Joel explained what Theology of the Body is all about.

The main focus of the session was to re-discover the importance of love and human sexuality. Topics covered included the understanding of sexuality, its misunderstandings, its Biblical, religious understanding and anthropological interpretation.

He also made references to verses in the Bible and scenarios were presented for young people to reflect on.

While preaching, he told the young people present that there is a reason why we were created as male and female.

Father Joel talked about the differences between a sign and a symbol.
He added that for humans, the body is a symbol and not a sign.

Father Joel will be leading other similar gatherings until Sunday.
A session today at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception will be mainly for government officials and lay leaders, catechists and the clergy.

Tomorrow, Father Joel will move to St John Bosco at Pointe Larue, where all adults, couples and parents are invited.

The last session at Plaisance on Sunday will be for migrant workers residing in Seychelles.
All sessions start at 9am and will go on until 4-5.30pm.

The 'Theology of the Body' is Pope John Paul II's integrated vision of the human person - body, soul, and spirit.

It was the topic of a series of lectures given by the Pope during his Wednesday audiences between 1979 to 1984, which were later compiled into a book.