Workshop Description
“The human body includes right from the beginning… the capacity of expressing love, that love in which the person becomes a gift – and by means of this gift – fulfils the meaning of his being and existence.”- St. John Paul II
In this workshop we expound St John Paul II’s life giving catechesis on life and love: Theology of the Body. We start with a basic overview of the creation of man and woman in the image and likeness of God and the call to communion that is a reflection of the richness of Trinitarian love. We then highlight why this teaching that encompasses the entirety of Christianity is important in our world today and provide practical insights for those that walk with young people to incorporate this scripturally rich treasure into their daily lives and ministries.
Speaker Bio
Maria Pais describes herself as “an enthusiastic Catholic” who has lived in Zambia, England, Afghanistan and New Zealand. She practices as an Optometrist and has been involved in youth and young adult ministry for over fifteen years. Maria is extremely passionate about enabling young people to understand their uniqueness and opening eyes to the truth and joy of Christ’s love. Maria has a great love for the saints especially St John Paul II and the life changing message of his teachings on human dignity, love and theology of the body. In 2018 Maria completed a Masters in Theology (Marriage and Family) from St John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family, Melbourne, Australia. In her free time Maria enjoys cardio kickboxing. She is an avid sports fan with a special interest in tennis and rugby. Her favourite movies are Karol, Bella and October Baby.