Upcoming Events
Young Adult Theology of the Body Conference for Catholic Singles/Dating Couples/Engaged Couples/and Married Couples – February 6- February 8th in Chicago, Il (Price is 150.00- after Christmas it increases to 175.00). Groups of 10 or more people receive 15% off!
Join us for a transformative gathering of singles, engaged, and married couples committed to diving deeply into Theology of the Body — the profound teaching of Pope Saint John Paul II on the meaning of the human person, the body and sexuality, and the vocation to love and self-gift.
This conference offers a unique opportunity to:
-Explore how bodies, relationships, marriage, singleness, and vocation all point to a deeper truth about God and humanity.
-Engage with keynote addresses, breakout workshops, prayer and liturgy, networking and shared witness.
Who Should Attend
-Catholic singles and those who are dating, discerning dating, vocation, or marriage
-Engaged couples/married couples seeking deeper understanding of their gift to each other
-Anyone desiring to encounter more fully the dignity of the human person and how our bodies reveal divine truth
Key Themes
-Dignity & Image: Understanding how the body reveals the invisible God and meaning in being made male & female.
-Gift & Communion: How love, authentic giving and receiving, and the spousal meaning of the body lead us into communion.
-Vocation & Mission: We are called to live as a gift and to participate in the mission of the Church.
-Healing & Integration: How we respond to wounds in relationships, identity, and embodiment, and how TOB offers hope and a path of transformation.
-Practical Application: How to bring this teaching into parish ministry, formation programs, personal life, singles ministry, marriage prep, and youth work.
Format Highlights
-Opening and closing liturgies to ground us in the sacramental life of the Church
-Excellent featured speakers who will help unpack TOB from both theological and practical perspectives.
-Tracks organized by vocation or ministry focus: singles and engaged couples
-Opportunity for peer networking, small‐group reflection, and guided Q&A
Why It Matters Now
In a culture that often reduces the body to objectification, utilitarianism, or confusion around gender and identity, TOB offers a liberating vision that restores the body’s meaning, revisits our calling to love as gift, and invites a renewed vision for human flourishing.
Conference Outcomes
Participants will leave:
-With a renewed sense of the dignity of their own body and the bodies of others
-Equipped with practical tools to integrate TOB into ministry or personal life
-Empowered to share this vision with others—singles, couples, youth, the parish community
-Connected to a national network of like-minded men and women committed to living and promoting this rich catechesis
***Click here to register*** After clicking, it will take you to a Calendly calendar. Choose the date and time of the event to complete your registration.
Click here to book your rooms at the Allerton Hotel in Chicago
**Pictures will be taken. By registering, you agree to be photographed for potential marketing use.** By registering for this event, you agree to receive the Soul to Soul Coaching and Theology of the Body Educators newsletters and accept the terms and conditions.
Check out Instagram @monicabraun_soultosoulcoaching and TOB Educators to see videos of past events.
Weekend Highlights with Music and Dance
Friday night will begin with check in at the hotel, a Speed Dating Event hosted by Monica Braun (Soul to Soul Coaching) and two hours of dance taught by Matt Mordini (Theology of Dance). On Saturday night, Mike Mangione will host a concert during a gala.
Matt Mordini- Theology of Dance
Matt spent two years as a Carmelite seminarian, earning a Theological Certificate in Carmelite Studies. From 1999-2005 he was an adult leader on over 25 weekend retreats with the Happening in Christianity, a retreat program for high school and college students. In 2005 he was instrumental in getting a Spirit and Truth Young Adult Eucharistic Adoration community started and served as the area coordinator for Northern Illinois from 2009 to 2011. He also helped develop the Source and Summit Retreat for the group and served on leadership five weekends.
Matt started dancing in 2009 and teaching dance in 2012. While he had previously studied the Theology of the Body, learning to dance utterly revolutionized his understanding of this beautiful Catholic teaching. It was this experience that led him to found the Theology of Dance Institute. Through this institute, Matt has planned and led dances given presentations, lessons and retreats to youth, college students, young adults, couples. Matt has presented both locally in Chicago and around the country. From 2020-2023 he was the ballroom dance teacher Chesterton Academy of the Sacred Heart in Volo Illinois. He helped start and was the official dance teacher for the St. John’s Ball in 2017 & 2018, the Candlemas Ball in 2019 and the Ave Maria Ball in 2019. He has also been the official dance teacher for the National Conference for Catholic Singles in 2014, 2021, 2023.
Mike Mangione
Mike Mangione is an acclaimed singer-songwriter whose music weaves together heartfelt storytelling, rich acoustic textures, and a deep sense of human longing. With a voice that carries both warmth and weight, Mike creates an atmosphere that invites listeners into reflection, beauty, and hope. His unique blend of artistry and spirituality resonates long after the final note, offering audiences an experience that is as meaningful as it is memorable.
In addition to his musical work, Mike has spent the past 18 years collaborating with Christopher West to create and perform deeply immersive Theology of the Body events around the world. He also serves as the Chief Creative Officer for the Theology of the Body Institute and co-hosts the Word Made Fresh podcast alongside Christopher West and Bill Donaghy.
Speakers
Nicholas Koeppel grew up in southeast Missouri, USA. After attending seminary for 4 years, he obtained a bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 2014, and “discerned out” of seminary and went to study a Masters of Marriage and Family studies in Austria at the International Theological Institute, graduating in 2019. He worked for 4 years in Youth Ministry at Parishes in Missouri. He worked for half a year as the Manager of the Family Life Office at the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana. Since 2020, he has served on the leadership team for “Theology of the Body Educators” seeking to teach and share Theology of the Body all over the world through online and in person talks, conferences, courses and retreats. He has taught semester-long courses in Theology of the Body for college students in Lviv, Ukraine at Ukrainian Catholic University and the Pontifical John Paul II University in Krakow, Poland. In 2025, he began working fulltime for TOB Educators as “Executive Director” and “TOB Missionary” living in Krakow, Poland seeking to share the message from St. John Paul II with people anywhere in the world. He obtained his Theology of the Body certificationfrom the TOB Institute in USA in 2025.
Fr. Thomas J Loya, is currently the pastor of Annunciation of the Mother of
God Byzantine Catholic Parish in Homer Glen, IL. He is also the host of the
long running radio program, “Light of the East” which can be heard in
more than 60 cities across the United States on several Catholic radio
networks including EWTN Radio as well as a regular guest on the Dr.
Gregory Popcak radio show – More2 Life.
Before entering the seminary Fr. Loya earned a degree from the Cleveland
Institute of Art and pursued a career in commercial art and design. He
later completed his studies for the priesthood in both Pennsylvania and
Rome where he attended the North American College earning an STB
from the Angelicum University. While in Rome, he emersed himself in the
history and deep riches of our Catholic culture. Fr. Loya was ordained in
1982 and later added to his Bachelor of Fine Arts by earning a Masters in
Counseling and Human Services in 1993. He has directed many retreats
and has been a guest speaker at several international conventions
including World Youth Day 2002. Using his background in art, counseling,
and Eastern Catholic spirituality, Fr. Loya masterfully portrays the mystical
understanding of the human experience in all aspects of life and culture.
Maria has a double major in elementary education and special education and currently teaches at a grade school in the suburbs of Indianapolis. She has completed ten courses in Theology of the Body at the Theology of the Body Institute. Over the past twelve years she has given talks in seven dioceses in the United States and one internationally as well as taught Theology of the Body in a grade school and high school setting. Maria has also written Theology of the Body curriculum for Sophia Press and Ruah Woods, both of which are currently being used in grade schools in the United States.
Melissa is a lover of Jesus, wife, and home-educating
mother to 5. She has a passion for intersecting truth with
beauty while building community and connection within the
Church. She and her husband, Anthony, are the founders of
The Abundant Catholic: an online Apostolate that helps the
intentional Catholic journey into deeper healing,
restoration, and freedom through Christ.
Together with their team, they offer services of Catholic
coaching, couples mentorship, and a free inner healing
ministry to help others reclaim & restore who God made
them to be. She is the host of The Abundant Catholic
Podcast and is a Catholic mentor, content creator, & writer.
Monica Braun is a Christian Relationship Coach for single men and women and the founder of Soul to Soul Coaching, a ministry dedicated to helping singles cultivate soul-centered, Christ-focused relationships.
Drawing from her own experiences of healing and learning to date with intention, Monica created the Intentional Dating and Discernment Method, a framework that guided her from singleness to meeting her now husband. She now teaches this transformative approach to others seeking purposeful, holy relationships.
In addition to coaching and matchmaking, Monica hosts Speed Dating events and socials across the country, creating joyful and intentional spaces for singles to meet, connect, and build Christ-centered relationships.
A devout Catholic, Monica lives in Southeastern Wisconsin with her growing family. She is the author of From Toxic to Soulmate Love and holds a degree in English and a master’s degree in Education, with 10 years of experience teaching secondary and college-level English.
The schedule is outlined below. We will have optional Speed Dating on Friday evening. If you prefer not to participate, no worries — we’ll also have other fun social activities taking place at the same time!
Schedule
Registration Details
-Dates: February 6-8th
-Location: Chicago, Il at the Allerton Hotel
-Cost: 150.00 for the weekend. This is an EARLY BIRD SPECIAL. After Christmas, prices will go up to 175.00. (Price does not include accommodation or meals—other than Saturday night’s dinner—which participants cover independently.)
If you have a group of 10 or more interested in attending, we’re happy to offer a 15% group discount. To arrange group registration, please email Monica at soultosoul@monicamariebraun.com and she will provide Venmo payment details and assist with booking.
Click here to register After clicking, it will take you to a Calendly calendar. Choose the date and time of the event to complete your registration.
**Pictures will be taken. By registering, you agree to be photographed for potential marketing use.** By registering for this event, you agree to receive the Soul to Soul Coaching and Theology of the Body Educators newsletters and accept the terms and conditions. Check out Instagram @monicabraun_soultosoulcoaching and TOB Educators to see videos of past events.
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