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New advisory committee carries forward legacy, vision of John Paul II
By Mary Moore, The Catholic Sun
October 4, 2007
While the 20th anniversary celebration of Pope John Paul II’s visit to Phoenix has come and gone, the former pontiff’s spirit remains present through the John Paul II Resource Center for Theology of the Body and Culture.
Founded in January 2006 under the leadership and guidance of Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted and Fr. Charlie Goraieb, the resource center brings the teachings of Pope John Paul II to the catechetical and cultural life of the diocese by promulgating the “Theology of the Body,” a series of lectures given by Pope John Paul II during his Wednesday audiences between 1979 and 1984, along with his reflections on culture, life issues and human dignity.
“John Paul II’s vision of the dignity of the human person, which he emphasized in his [1987 Arizona] address to health care workers and in his homily on the triumph of the cross and human suffering, is at the heart of the resource center’s work,” said Katrina Zeno, coordinator and primary educator for the center.
Coinciding with the 20th anniversary celebration is the establishment of the center’s inaugural advisory committee. Seven individuals from seven Valley parishes will contribute their expertise to drafting and implementing a three-year strategic plan.
Greg Thirkhill, a real estate agent and member of Resurrection Parish in Tempe with 20 years’ experience in marketing and men’s ministry, agreed to be part of the inaugural committee in part for what he calls “selfish reasons.”
“I have three daughters who are going to have husbands that I want to be very aware of the ‘Theology of the Body’ and Mulieris Dignitatem,” he said, referring to the former pontiff’s 1988 apostolic letter on the dignity and vocation of women.
Like the other members on the committee, Thirkill sees the center as an invaluable conduit for John Paul II’s powerful messages on human dignity and the family.
“I have been a real zealot for JPII and the Church. It’s great having the resource center,” he said, “but we need to build awareness of it so that the gift of John Paul II can be disseminated.”
The committee will encourage local Catholics to take advantage of the center.
The other inaugural advisory committee members are: Jennifer Spreng, JD, an assistant professor at the Phoenix School of Law, a parishioner at St. Mary’s Basilica, and a well-informed scholar on abortion law and public affairs issues; Pete Hofmann, senior vice president for Bank of America, with extensive experience in promoting the Church’s teachings on marriage and family and a member of Corpus Christi Parish; Dr. Patricia Gangi, an international educator on ethics in the workplace, a veteran of strategic planning for non-profit organizations and a member of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Tempe; John Escarcega of St. Bernadette Parish in Scottsdale, who has been involved in Natural Family Planning education for eight years and is a business consultant for start-up companies and business development; Anthony (Rick) Ricciardi, MBA, of St. Timothy Parish in Mesa, a former Protestant minister and current staff analyst for Boeing Company with extensive experience in helping former Catholics return to active participation in the Church; and Rosa Camou, a Glendale resident who helped found the New Sexual Revolution Club last year, which aims to bring the Church’s teachings on chastity to the Arizona State University community.
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