"Who am I? How should I live?" These two core questions of life often perplex even the most confident among us, but they are the central questions to Theology of the Body which contains Pope John Paul II's teaching on "the significance of humanity created male and family in the image and likeness of God." He originally shared this teaching in 129 Wednesday audiences during his papacy. TOB provides insight into the meaning of manhood and womanhood and the moral issues they present. The book, Man and Woman He Created Them: A Theology of the Body, translated by Michael Waldstein, contains the sum of what soon-to-be Saint John Paul II shared along with six other audiences from "Song of Songs."

This year we have begun teaching our 7th and 8th-grade students the Theology of the Body for Teens: Middle School Edition in cooperation with our parents. The program is more than an abstinence program, and it surpasses a traditional chastity program. It is an identity and evangelization program centered around the Catholic faith. "The key to healthy sexuality is a relationship with Jesus Christ, because He is the key to knowing oneself...By inviting middle school students into a deeper relationship with Him, we invite them into a healthy sense of self--and thus to a truly integrated sexuality."

The Leader's manual shares the following words of Pope John Paul II:

"Sometimes when we look at the young, with the problems and weaknesses that characterize them in contemporary society, we tend to be pessimistic. The Jubilee of Young People, however, changed that, telling us that young people, whatever their possible ambiguities, have a profound longing for those genuine values which find their fullness in Christ. Is not Christ the secret of true freedom and profound joy of heart? Is not Christ the supreme friend and the teacher of all genuine friendship? If Christ is presented to young people as He really is, they experience Him as an answer that is convincing and they can accept His message, even when it is demanding and bears the mark of the Cross. (Novo Millennio Ineunte, no. 9)."

Through this program our teacher Miss Nicole Henson and I have been able to teach God's intention of their sexuality in the context of their faith and their relationship with Him.

In addition, through the Archdiocese of Denver Catholic schools, we have also been presented the opportunity to share the Archdiocese of New York's, Parent Guide to Human Sexuality. We are able to give this booklet to our parents to continue this valuable and necessary education. As Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan states in his introductory letter, "Understandably, parents and guardians feel ill-equipped, unprepared, or completely overwhelmed by the daunting task of speaking to their children about human sexuality and have come to us searching for answers...This guide clearly presents God's plan for life, love, dignity, and human sexuality, and opens the door to honest communication with your child in a way that is appropriate to your child's age and development."

In this context, on April 2, 2014, all 8th-grade students in the archdiocese attended the Second Annual Chastity Rally hosted by Chris Stefanick and Jason & Crystalina Evert. One of our teachers, Mr. Luke Gregory, chaperoned our students to Holy Family High School in Broomfield for this day-long event and shared the following account.

"Jason and his wife, Crystalina, are absolute rock stars! Going into the day, the students thought it was going to be boring, but, with Jason's friendly and outgoing approach to teens, they thought he was funny and actually enjoyed being there. Chris Stefanick was really good, too. The speakers provided a 'real' approach to chastity and the importance of living a chaste life. They didn't 'water down' what they wanted to get across, but gave many personal, real-life situations on how deep sin can take root in one's life and how difficult it can be for one to try and get himself out from this pit. They emphasized the importance of the Sacraments, especially Holy Eucharist and Confession, and that healing can occur through these beautiful oceans of mercy and forgiveness that awaits to be poured out upon us. Also, spending time before the Blessed Sacrament in Eucharistic Adoration is crucial for healing if one has fallen into sexual sin, as well as praying the Rosary. To end the day, we were blessed to make a Holy Hour with over 800 students in the gymnasium while Confessions were taking place at the same time. As we drove home, the students and I prayed a Rosary together, and we also stopped at DQ for ice cream...it was a great day!"

In a time when the beautiful gift of human sexuality is distorted and state legislation dictates sex education in public school classrooms, we consider ourselves blessed that we provide an authentically Catholic education for the families of rural, northeast Colorado.