Dec 31 Workshops

LIVING OUR APOSTOLATE

LA1 – Building a Culture of Life

The culture of death has gripped our contemporary culture over the past quarter century. Elective abortion, euthanasia, and “physician assisted suicide” are being given greater consideration than ever before. John Paul II called the Church to a “culture change” which “demanded from everyone the courage to adopt a new lifestyle.” He unmasked the culture of death by recognizing that “there is no freedom where life is not welcomed and loved.” -  Evangelium Vitae. How can we as Christian disciples uphold, enhance and protect the dignity of human life? How can we engage and contribute to the culture of life in Canada and in the world as young people?

LA2 –  Charity in Truth

Dan Freeman, CCO Missionary

“  Love - caritas - is an extraordinary force which leads people to opt for courageous and generous engagement in the field of justice and peace… To defend the truth, to articulate it with humility and conviction, and to bear witness to it in life are therefore exacting and indispensable forms of charity.” – Caritas in Veritate. Just like evangelization is central to our role as Catholics, so too is the need to fight for justice in the world. As JPII’s successor, Pope Benedict XVI, wrote in this his most recent encyclical, charity and evangelization go hand in hand. How are we being asked to further integrate these in our mission as Catholics?

LA3 – Evangelization and the Arts

In his letter to artists, JPII said,  “Not all are called to be artists in the specific sense of the term. Yet, as Genesis has it, all men and women are entrusted with the task of crafting their own life: in a certain sense, they are to make of it a work of art, a masterpiece.” Come and learn how to you can use your creative and performing gifts to glorify the God who gave them to you and to share the gospel message with others.

LA4 –  Combating Relativism

Pavel Reid, Archdiocese of Vancouver

Relativism preaches that there can be no such thingas absolute truth and that man is his own god.  Blessed John Paul II saw relativism at work in Communism and Fascism that plunged the world into World War II.  He also saw how relativism crept into our democracies, including Canada, and tries to erase Jesus Christ from homes, schools and workplaces.  How does Blessed John Paul call us to witness and equip ourselves in order to protect ourselves against relativism? How can we move past relativism on campuses to find the absolute truth of Jesus Christ again so that our generation can find its own meaning and dignity?

LA5 – Sharing the Gospel Effectively

So you’ve had an encounter with God and want your friends, family or coworkers to experience a relationship with him too. Perhaps you’re feeling confused or intimidated by the idea of evangelization and don’t know where to begin. Come and learn from the tools that CCO has developed through years of ministry; with these and the help of the Holy Spirit you can be equipped to be a more effective witness of Christ!

LA6 – Ecumenism & Interfaith Dialogue

Fr. Tom Rosica, CSB, Salt + Light Television

In our country we live side by side with people of all cultures and faiths and our country often feels like a place of isolated camps because of major religious differences. We also have many fellow Christians that we cannot seem to come into full unity with, even though we all believe Jesus is God. Blessed John Paul II worked hard to build bridges between the Church and non-Catholic leaders because he saw a day when all people could know Christ in the fullness of the Catholic faith.  What is Interreligious Dialogue and Ecumenism?  How is God calling us to step out of our Catholic communities and share Christ by witnessing, Ecumenism, and Interreligious dialogue?

Vernon Robertson, Vancouver BC

The image of JPII supporting himself on his pastoral staff is an image of the Holy Father that models for us the importance of leaning on the Cross of Christ through the experience of suffering. Come and learn how your sufferings, whether they are big or small, can have redemptive value for the salvation of souls.

Msgr. Gregory Smith, Archdiocese of Vancouver

The 'Theology of the Body' is Pope John Paul II's integrated vision of the human person - body, soul, and spirit. What does it mean to be created in the image of God, as male and female? How are we called to give of ourselves in our relationships? In this workshop for both men and women come and discover the truth about how our sexuality is a gift from God.

PD4 – Does Mary have a place in my life?

Kelly Rude, CCO Missionary

It is clear through Blessed John Paul II’s teachings that he, like many saints before him, had a deep devotion to Mary. Do we truly understand the role of Mary in our relationship with Christ? Can we grasp the weight that her ‘yes’ played in God’s plan of salvation? Come discover how JPII wanted us to know Mary and how she can lead us to her Son.

PD5 – A Higher Calling

Panel of Speakers

Discerning a religious vocation in today’s society has proven to be more difficult than the consideration of married life, to which we are naturally inclined and which is more familiar to us. Yet, St. Paul exhorts us in 1 Corinthians 7 to serve God “without distraction” through consecrated life, for what could be better than a lifelong union with a perfect God? Come to this workshop and learn about the beauty of the priesthood and religious life and how to discern the Lord’s plan for your vocation.

PD6 -  Saints of JPII: Leading us to Deeper Prayer