ABOUT:
TOB Network UK
In 2020 Fr David Marsden and Dr Christine Ward joined forces to launch,
The Theology of the Body Network UK.
Our initial aim was simply to try and connect anyone interested in Theology of the Body and the teaching of the Catholic Church, with particular respect to the meaning and purpose of the human person made in the image and likeness of God.
In September 2020 (during lockdown) we began an online study group via Zoom. Our first study text was 'Called to Love' by Anderson and Granados. After completing that we moved on to 'Men and Women are from Eden' by Mary Healy. Each on line session was lead by a variety of gifted TOB speakers from the UK and the USA.
Each Zoom session closed with Night Prayer.
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We were pleasantly, overwhelmed by the interest in the Network and our on line book studies. Since the launch we have been blessed with the wisdom and insight of some of the finest Catholic speakers both from the UK and USA.
including some from the TOB Institute, USA.
In 2021, as our numbers grew we elected to 'apply' the insights of Theology of the Body to a variety of human experiences: marriage, the single life, suffering, contraception, the religious life - to name but a few. As lockdown lifted we were able to host in person TOB days/week ends in London, Walsingham and Stockport.
September 2022 marked the beginning of our third year. The study topic for year 3 was Theology of the Body and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Further in person events took place in the Diocese of Shrewsbury in December 2022 and more are planned for 2023.
Welcome to our TOB Community - we are so glad you are here!
The Team
Fr. David Marsden
Co Founder - TOB Network UK
Fr. David Marsden is a qualified clinical psychologist, spiritual director and experienced retreat leader. He has worked as a psychologist and formation tutor in two national seminaries and expresses a passion for accompanying and mentoring young men into living the fullness of their Christian vocation. His License in Clinical Psychology was completed at the Institute of Psychology at the Gregorian University, Rome in 2007. He completed an MA in Theology at the Maryvale Institute in 2016 with the title of his dissertation being ‘The Priest as Spiritual Father.’ He has written a Theology of the Body (TOB) healing retreat, served as chaplain to the TOB Institute in the USA and co-founded the TOB Network UK along with Dr. Christine Ward in 2020. He is currently the spiritual director of the Men & Women of St. Joseph which is a national movement aimed at restoring a vibrant Catholic faith in England.
Dr. Christine Ward
Co Founder - TOB Network UK
Christine has been married for 33 years, has four children, one grand child and lives in North Yorkshire, UK. Christine completed an MA through the Maryvale Institute in Birmingham in 2011 and completed her PhD, also through Maryvale, in 2017. She teaches the Christian Anthropology and Sexual Ethics modules for the Master’s programme at Maryvale and she also lectures on the Sacrament of Marriage at Oscott Seminary in Birmingham.
An extract from her doctoral thesis: "An empirical study of the nature of the disconnect between faith and praxis: An examination of the sexual moral teaching of the Catholic Church in light of those electing to marry in the Catholic Tradition” has been published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. She has contributed a chapter to a recent publication, 'Human Nature: Moral Norm" published by Enroute Books and Media. She is the co-founder of the 'Theology Of the Body Network UK', an initiative that was launched in launched September 2020. The aim of the TOB Network UK is to connect all those interested in studying Theology of the Body/Magisterial teaching on marriage and sexuality. The Network has run several retreats and talks since its inception and has a data base of over 300 members from across the UK. Christine has given talks in many parishes, at Youth 2000, New Dawn and at Fisher House at Cambridge University.