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From rap to sacred art, Theology of the Body deep dive inspires

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Participants of the Theology of the Body course 2025. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2025

The last thing one would expect to hear is hip hop artist Lil Wayne on a five-day immersion course exploring the writings of St Pope John Paul II on gender, marriage and family. 

But a video clip from the rap star’s 2011 “How to Love” single is just one of the unorthodox pop culture references Bill Donaghy employs to unpack and “humanise” the writings of the great saint. 

The renowned speaker and Theology of the Body expert says he loves to “rock people’s worlds by his grace.” 

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I’m just trying to open up St Pope John Paul II’s beautiful vision with whatever speaks to peopleart, videos, music personal experiencesand we’re just kind of having fun while we’re growing in the faith,” he said. 

In this case, Donaghy shows the Catholic artist Lil’ Wayne’s video clip depicting the life journey of a lady down a destructive path of drugs and prostitution. It then rewinds and shows how her life could have been different if her mother had led a life attuned to the pillars of the former pope’s teachings on love, marriage, faith and family. 

Bill Donaghy. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2025

“Communicating for me isn’t just delivering information. We could easily sit in that classroom and read quote after quote through the whole thing, but it won’t penetrate the heart. And I find this humanises it, makes it real,” said Donaghy.  

Throughout the five-day course held at the Benedict XVI Retreat centre between 18 and 25 January, Donaghy used classic and modern art, music and poetry as well as his deep knowledge of theology to reveal the many wonders of St John Paul II’s teaching for his audience.  

In one instance, he projected the 2017 painting The Lily, depicting the Annunciation by Catholic artist Kate Capato on the wall. 

He used it to discuss the role of the feminine and how St John Paul II spoke about how nurture, trust and a desire to be receptive are all feminine qualities to be celebrated. 

“This looks like a dance, doesn’t it?” he asked the audience. “This is what Adam and Eve should have donetrust and receptivity.” 

Sydney priest Fr Adrian Simmons believes St John Paul II’s teaching is more relevant today than ever. 

“It explores the need for an understanding of gender and family life, both of which are things that are under attack in society today,” he said. 

theology of the body
Bill Donaghy with course participants. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2025

“He really understands beauty having been trained in the fine arts, which brings a very, very fresh way of looking at, theology of the body, very different to Christopher West and, and very different to the beautiful and sublime, but often very academic, writing of St John Paul II.” 

The opportunity for a week-long immersion course on these teachings have been demanding but rewarding for those in attendance. 

I think the way that he integrates art, music and film into the talks brings these often-dense writings from your head into your heart in a really beautiful way,” said 28-year-old Bethany Parrish. 

“It’s like you’re in a retreat. You can meditate on it. You can digest it,” reflected sixth year seminarian Pablo Parajo. “It just gives time for God to move because you get to just really sit in and soak in the teaching,” he said. 

“The richness Bill has opened up and unpacked over the week has been transformational for the people who have been here,” said organiser Hazel Lim from the Life Marriage Family team within the Sydney Centre for Evangelisation 

“And I think it’s great because he appeals to the young, with the media, with the videos. But he also balances it with rich, thick theology.” 

theology of the body
Bill Donaghy with the Theology of the body immersion course participants. Images by Giovanni Portelli Photography © 2025

As the young clamoured to get their photo taken with Donaghy after lunch, Fr Simmons observeed the number of young adults in attendance. 

“It’s good to see so many young people here because I think that these themes are really essential in our modern society today. They’re really being challenged and it’s so good that these are being reaffirmed in their minds about the dignity and the goodness of sexuality, of gender, and of course of family life,” he said. 

New mum Laney Olivera, attending with husband Alex and their baby son, two-month-old Elijah recalled one moment during the week that spoke volumes of the connection Donaghy had made with his audience. 

“There was a moment when he was referring to certain passages in the Bible where we were looking at the feminine qualities of God, like where the relationship to us is likened to a child nuzzling at the mother’s breast.  

“And I happened to be feeding him at that exact moment, and it was just this amazing awe of realising the love that a mother love for their child is the exact love that God has for us as well,” she said.   

Grace Rosario made the trip with her fiancé all the way from Brisbane to attend.  

“It’s easy to get overwhelmed but I’m feeling called to take on that challenge of JPII’s words to live the life of Christ in our married and family life,” she said. 

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