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Institute For Sexuality Studies
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| Comments From Former Participants | |
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“The Institute for Sexuality Studies has provided me a wonderful opportunity to explore this important dimension of human life in a very safe and supportive atmosphere. I have gained tremendously in learning to be comfortable with talking about sex and sexuality and acquiring skills to help others in this area. Above all the Institute offered me the chance, through well-planned seminars, interpersonal discussions, rich reading and video library to explore, address, and reflect on my own personal journey through psychosexual development. I highly recommend this study for every formator and everyone that accompanies others on their psycho-spiritual journey of healthy integration.”
(Religious Sister, Formator and Clinical Psychologist, Nigeria April 2006) |
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“As a vowed celibate religious woman, I have valued the opportunity to speak open and frankly about the many issues that make up our sexuality. It has enabled me to clarify some confusion about sexual feelings and relationships and restore a more balanced perspective to my experiences. The necessity of knowing, understanding and accepting my own story has been confirmed. I have become more compassionate towards myself and I hope I will deepen in my relationships with others in ministry, community, and socially. I have realized the importance of close friendships, relaxation, deep prayer and solitude and feel able to let go of the need to let work overtake those crucial aspects of my celibate commitment. Formators who have attended deeply to their own inner sexual and relational journey will be far more able to facilitate this same journey in their candidates. This program has been a deeply enriching experience and I thank God for leading me to it!”
(Religious Sister, Australia June 2006) |
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“‘Let’s talk about sex’. The aim of this program was for us to talk about sex and so we did. Four weeks of it in an open, caring, supportive and educative way. In my role as a formator of students for priesthood, the program has helped equip me to understand sexuality in my life and the lives of those with whom I journey. It was a holistic learning experience.”
(Religious Priest and Director of Religious Formation, Australia June 2006) |
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“After four weeks at the Institute for Sexuality Studies, I am convinced this course is indispensable for anyone who will be engaged in Formation. The seminars where we received the benefit of the experience and learning of Kevin McClone and others were excellent. Private tutoring session, the availability of books, tapes, and videos on every aspect of sexuality and spirituality, together with small group discussions made it a most fruitful experience and a very significant step in my own journey towards wholeness.”
(Woman Religious, Formation Director, Great Britain June 2005) |
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“I came to this course with a lot of questions surrounding the subject of sexuality and I am happy leaving the Institute with answers to most of my questions. I feel it was a great honor for me to spend time learning about this special gift of my sexuality in an accepting and loving environment where I felt free to speak my mind and share freely my feelings and experiences.”
"I would certainly recommend these seminars to those taking up the challenges of becoming formators. Spirituality and sexuality are very important aspects of our formation in priestly and religious life, often not adequately attended to. The ISS will open the minds and hearts of those trained or working in formation to deal with real issues in the area of sexuality and spirituality. I feel blessed that I spent one month here and wouldn't mind coming back to repeat the same course.”
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“Our professors, their seminars, the meeting on a one-on-one with our Director, Kevin McClone and the ample time at our disposal to read, reflect, and interiorize helped me immensely. For me, Kevin was an excellent resource person who for me was a source of deep inner healing. I was deeply touched by his ability to listen sensitively, respectfully and his remarkable expertise was evident in his tutoring and seminars." "Grace Chen-McClone is an excellent process person who earned my deep respect for her ability to get us to share our sexuality and spirituality. She complemented this with her own wisdom and scholarship. Tom and Paul also offered some relevant materials for ministry. I came here primarily to integrate better my spirituality and sexuality and I'm leaving a more healthy and happy person.”
"As a Province Leader, a significant aspect of my roles is listening to our personnel, supporting and challenging them to grow as healthy human beings. This is the first program that I have come across that deals so exclusively and professionally with the integration of sexuality and spirituality. It is a must for future formators and Vocation Directors whose responsibility is to shape integrated religious men and women into the future. I, personally have every intention of sending more of my men here for this course.”
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“Participating in the Institute for Sexuality Studies was an integral part of my recent sabbatical program. From a personal perspective, it assisted me to attend further the ongoing integration of my sexuality. Further to this, the program helped me to fine tune my professional skills to accompany the people with whom I journey in spiritual direction, supervision, and counseling. A very worthwhile program for anyone serious about personal and professional development.”
(Religious Priest, Counselor & Spiritual Director, Australia, July 2005) |
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“Sex and the City is a highly-rated American TV series. I couldn't help thinking of this program during the recently concluded seminar on sexuality at the Institute for Sexuality Studies, Chicago. Given that the Institute is located on the campus of Catholic Theological Union (CTU). I suggested to Dr, Kevin McClone who directs the program, what I thought would make a catchy caption for the course: Sex in the CTU! Sex is an absorbing and fascinating topic. Sure enough it captured the minds and hearts of 3 nuns and priests and one brother from countries as diverse as the Philippines, Australia, Papua New Guinea, South Korea, England, Ireland, and Nigeria.”
“The Course offered participants an invaluable opportunity to explore, discover, and contemplate the rich and intricate dimensions of sexuality in its biological, psychological, and spiritual manifestations. I found the course extremely helpful in appreciating the fuller reality of my sexuality, talking about it without inhibitions and striving for holistic awareness of its centrality in my daily experience of religious life. I benefited greatly from the excellent library resources of books, articles and audio-visual materials on various aspects of human sexuality, not forgetting the wisdom of co-participants and program co-directors, Kevin & Grace. The most important gift that I received from this course was not the graduation certificate but the important lesson that befriending, nurturing, and celebrating my sexuality and responding to God's invitation to pray, love, and serve as a Jesuit.”
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