Radiant Gift
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A TOB Retreat for High School Girls
High School aged girls (8th-12th grade) are invited to Mary, Queen of Peace Parish for an afternoon retreat inspired by Pope Saint John Paul II's Theology of the Body and to explore the Radiant Gift of femininity together.
Sunday, September 28th
1:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Presented by Dr. Sarah Denny Lorio
Master of Ceremonies Frankie DeMelo
$30 per person
All are invited to join us for an afternoon of connection and renewal! Registration is open. Space is limited.
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For Teens:
What to expect on your retreatBeauty in the Body
This session will provide an age-appropriate exploration of the biological functions of a woman’s body, highlighting the beauty and inherent dignity of God’s design. Dr. Sarah Denny Lorio will also discuss the complementarity of men and women, as well as the covenantal and sacramental nature of the marital embrace.
Goodness in the Heart
This session focuses on the truth that Jesus is the model for our lives and that a relationship with Him is essential. This primary relationship nurtures and strengthens all other relationships—in our families, friendships, and even with ourselves. It is only by cultivating a relationship with Jesus that we can truly discover our unique vocation.
Truth in the Mind
During this closing, girls will receive guidance on how, at their particular age, they can replicate Jesus in their actions and how to make good and holy decisions; especially in their current and potential relationship. Girls will also talk about the forgiveness and mercy of Christ and how it is always readily available to us through the sacraments.
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For Mothers:
What to expect in your sessionAll mothers of high school-aged girls are invited to a special presentationSunday, September 14
5:00 p.m. in the Cafeteria
presented by Aimee MacIver and Jodi Awbrey
As a mother, you’re called to guide your daughter in authentic womanhood. Be ready for her questions with truth, beauty, and joy.
This FREE session will address:- how to talk to your daughter about intimacy
- how to answer hard questions
- how to build authentic self-confidence and body image
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Dr. Sarah Denny LorioDr. Sarah Denny Lorio is a bioethicist specializing in women’s health and integrated sex education. She provides ethical consultations to doctors, nurses, and patients (or their families) navigating complex medical situations. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Lorio teaches university students, speaks to adult women on issues related to women's health, and mentors young women and female athletes on the importance of understanding their fertility. Many women are unaware of how their hormonal cycles influence every aspect of their being—emotions, physical development, mental health, and even memory. One of Dr. Lorio’s greatest passions is educating future medical professionals about the rich possibilities within the field of women’s health, with a particular focus on empowering women through knowledge of their own bodies. You can learn more about Dr. Sarah Lorio Denny through her podcast What Women Are.
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Contact Us
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Audrey Huckahuckmaryqueenofpeace.orgCo-Director of Children's Formation | Director of Marriage, Family Life & Women's Ministry -
Jodi Awbreyjawbreymaryqueenofpeace.orgDirector of Missionary Discipleship
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During his papacy, Pope Saint John Paul II gave a series of weekly audiences focused on human love in the divine plan that he titled Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body. This body of work, while officially making its public debut in St. Peter’s Square in Rome from 1979 until 1984, finds its roots and foundation in the dawn of mankind itself: Genesis. The Holy Father addresses the original state of humanity before the fall and how knowledge of ourselves as a gift to one another empowers us to live as we were made to by our Creator. Pulling from the very words of Jesus Christ, we can also come to understand that this is a deeper call to conversion than just our actions, but that our Lord calls for a conversion of the heart. This inward vision allows us to see ourselves and others as true images of God. As a talented theologian, brilliant philosopher, and now canonized saint, John Paul II writes from a place of true love for human love and with a deep desire for man to live fully and freely in the light of God’s plan for humanity.
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Theology of the Body encompasses many teachings on God’s design for the person and His design for how persons should love one another - in marriages, the single life, friendships, and families. God’s intentional and masterful creation of human persons, as Genesis tells us, was not just good but "very good." The Church uses this scriptural account of the creation of man to tell us that we were made with an innate sense of human dignity, which gives weight to countless other Church teachings that shape our Catholic faith - especially how we relate to our fellow man.
This innate human dignity, which is an undeniable attribute of each and every human person, is a mirror that reflects just how much God loves each of us and why He has a divine plan for our lives that leads to our ultimate happiness and fulfillment.
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Human persons are often described by the Church as the crown jewel of all of God’s creation and women especially hold this role. It is no coincidence that our Lord chose a young woman, our Blessed Mother, to hold a crucial role in our salvation. It is particularly through the gift of her femininity and perfect alignment to the divine plan that Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born to save us from sin and death.
While none of us are sinless as our Blessed Mother was, she is our model for true, good, and beautiful femininity and womanhood which is why it is often the target of the forces of evil. The world that we live in now aims to lie to and confuse us about the truth of who we are but Theology of the Body speaks truth over these lies; it affirms that we are made in the image and likeness of God and that He made men and women equal in dignity but distinct in role. The role that women play, not only in the family but also in the Church, is one that is distinct and irreplaceable. Instilling the truth of their dignity, regardless of vocation, and the beauty in the complexities of their bodies allows all women, especially our daughters, to be able to live more fully in the divine plan of our Creator and find their worth primarily as children of God.
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