
by Deacon Dana Nearmyer
I invite you to have passion for further developing and sharing a Catholic viewpoint of reality.
According to Peter Kreft: “A technical but profound point . . . is that the soul really contains the body. The body does not contain the soul. It contains the physical heart and the physical brain but not the soul’s heart and mind.”
Our worldview informs our priorities and our understanding of our successes and failures. According to Kreft, and a Catholic worldview, our soul is not a subset of our bodily reality, our soul is our preeminent reality. Do you and I approach our priorities from that lens?
2025 is a worldwide Jubilee Year calling us to recognize and prioritize the formation of our eternal souls by unwrapping and exploring our relationships, starting with God, and then cascading down through all of our relationships and attitudes. Our archdiocesan website — archkck.org/jubilee — explains the jubilee and opportunities for those of all ages to see life through God’s eyes and perspectives.
Additionally, Camp Tekakwitha in Williamsburg will be unpacking the jubilee in youth and family sessions this summer; Encounter Ministry will be hosting a powerful summer intensive for adults. City on a Hill, Young Catholic Professionals and St. Paul’s Outreach offer deep spiritual support and encounters for young adults. Parishes are offering jubilee experiences and preaching.
Kreft offers us an illuminating comparison to a theatrical play, helping us to understand the deep connection between the body and the soul from a Catholic viewpoint.
“Physically, the setting of a play, the stage set, contains the play, but the meaning of the play, the point of the play, contains the setting as one of its dimensions. The soul is the meaning of the body, the reason for the body, not vice versa. That’s why bodies are holy.”
As we form our children and grandchildren, teaching them to listen to and talk to God about their thoughts and concerns is crucial. We should be in dialogue with them about what God’s general desires are for us, but also what are his specific promptings for them.
This process demands prayerful patience from us, just as God is so lovingly patient with us.
I highly recommend that you watch and discuss the free series Evangelization 101 — archkck.org/oe/ evangelization-101 — to build your skills in sharing the gift of faith. This five-part series offers a solid vocabulary, tools and a Catholic approach to sharing the peace, comfort and authenticity of seeing the world through God’s eyes.
Every 25 years the church offers us the gift of a jubilee. Be sure and unwrap your gift, explore our faith and discern God’s promptings for yourself.