No Apologies with Theology of the Body

Based on the evaluation forms done by the participants, there were various forms of feedbacks. An overall conclusion that can be drawn out from the remarks from the participants is that the entire camp was at satisfactory, if not, better. The participants of boys and girls ranging from ages between 15 to 18 years enjoyed and received a lot from each session and some even claiming that their eyes have been opened and they can understand many things that were foggy previously. The sessions were made to suit to the needs and requirements of teenagers and made relatable for the youths to comprehend. Besides that, each and every participant was able to bond with each other even though meeting for the first time. The games and activities carried out were based on the concept of God and ice-breaking which resulted in the participants enjoying and remembering them.

The main objective of “No Apologies with Theology of the Body” Camp was to open the eyes of the young ones about God’s plan for them involving their body, faith and the relationship that God has planned for them. Some of the sessions were to teach the participants the power of choice and its consequences, the choice to engage in inappropriate activities and the negative effects that entail them. Certain sessions were also able to educate the teenagers on God’s plan for relationships, sexuality and God’s unconditional love for them. Moreover, sessions on the meaning, study and language of love teaches the camp participants on the correct notion of love and the Godly perspective of creation. The pledge that the participants have to take after the completion of the camp is a pledge whereby to remain chaste before marriage, the pledge of abstinence.

There was adoration of the Blessed Sacrament accompanied by a meditative Taize form of adoration lead by a couple from France. The participants revered the time that they spent adoring the Blessed Sacrament through hymn, new songs and silent prayers. It was a good form of reflection and reverence after a long day of activities and sessions.

On the last day, there was a session where the participants gave their verbal comments and testimony throughout the 3 days and 2 nights. The response was excellent because they expressed their new knowledge and new sights on certain life’s issues. The suggestions that they expressed to improve future camps in the evaluation form was that more games and activities should be carried out, especially outdoor activities and participative activities with fun visual aids during certain sessions because a few quoted, “lack of activities” and “put more interactive video clips to make sessions more lively”. Some stated that the camp was as good as it can get, saying “the workshops were nice just the way they were” and some even preferred the camp to stretch on to 4 to 5 days or more if possible. Being fun-loving teenagers, the majority quoted “put in more games”. There were some that expressed their feelings towards the succession of the camp that they would like to do it next time in “a bigger place so that more people can come and experience what they had experienced during the camp.” Praise and worship sessions were also commented to be longer.

All in all, the 40 participants of boys and girls wished it to have been longer because not only that they enjoyed the camp but they learnt a great amount of information and their perspective of the human body have transformed whereby they now see it in a Godly perspective; something to be respected, loved, cherished and made pure for God’s plan which is the best plan.

By,

Eugene Wong Chen Wei