By Shelby Siegfried
for the Register
Father Sean Kilcawley, a priest of the Diocese of Lincoln, brings his expertise in Theology of the Body to Bishop Barron’s Word on Fire Institute in a compelling three-part series.
Now available for streaming on the Word on Fire app, the series invites viewers to delve deeper into Pope St. John Paul II’s profound reflections on human love and divine purpose.
“The Theology of the Body series really began as a course for our diocesan teachers back in 2014,” Father Kilcawley explained. “It was developed to help our Catholic school educators understand Pope St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body and how it can guide them—and ultimately their staff and students—toward a deeper understanding of what it means to be created in the image of God.”
Initially offered on YouTube, the course gained national attention, leading to increased speaking engagements for Father Kilcawley. Its availability through Word on Fire Institute expands its reach even further.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity to begin this curriculum here in our diocese, and it’s great to see Pope St. John Paul II’s message of love and hope continuing to be shared,” he said. “The series teaches the basics of Theology of the Body and fundamental truths about human and divine love. We’re all created in the image and likeness of God, called to grow in our identity as beloved sons and daughters of the Father. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body reflects on the theological meaning of the body, marriage, love, and their connection to the Catholic faith.”
Father Kilcawley’s lectures are among others selected by the Word on Fire Institute to be featured in recognition of Pope St. John Paul II. Word on Fire Catholic Ministries was founded by Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester, Minn. Now a global platform for evangelization, Word on Fire reaches millions annually through podcasts, videos, books, articles, and other resources available at www.WordOnFire.org.
A nationally recognized speaker on the Theology of the Body, human love, and pornography addiction, Father Kilcawley was ordained a priest in 2005 for the Diocese of Lincoln. Before entering seminary, he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1996 and served as an infantry officer for three years.
After ordination, he served as an assistant pastor at St. Joseph and North American Martyrs parishes in Lincoln, and taught Theology of the Body at Pius X High School from 2005 to 2009.
In 2013, Father Kilcawley earned a license in sacred theology from the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family Studies in Rome.
Father Kilcawley has also completed certification as a Pastoral Sexual Addiction Practitioner from the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals. He has provided continuing education and formation in more than 40 dioceses and served as a faculty member for programs such as the Institute for Priestly Formation, the Avila Institute’s High Calling propaedeutic program, and the Sexual Addiction Treatment Professional certification program at MidAmerica Nazarene University.
Father Kilcawley currently serves as pastor of St. Leo and St. Martin parishes in Douglas/Palmyra, as well as director of the Freedom from Pornography Apostolate, while continuing to share the message of Theology of the Body with audiences nationwide.
