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Who are we?

An institute of research scholars – priests, teachers, artists, religious, laypersons, each with a doctorate or master’s in theology or philosophy – who gather from around the world to formulate a theology of masculinity and femininity.

The Institute was born out of Dr. Jennifer Morel’s mission to harvest the richness of global cultural wisdom, in the light of Scripture, on the reality of gender. On a world tour including four continents and 15 cultures, in every country she visited, she conducted interviews collecting personal stories, made connections, and shared her research. She also found everywhere a hunger and demand for this work of discovering, clarifying, and spreading the meaning of gender. In these early stages of research, she brought together trusted friends and theologians as a community to foster this task. As the Institute took shape formally, this group became the first research scholars to constitute IICGS, which has grown to 10 scholars and several international collaborators, leading Catholic intellectuals in various continents.

Is gender important?

The experience of masculinity and femininity as lived in one’s culture and community is central to human life.

For each of us, unfolding the mysterious meaning of masculinity and femininity through individual and cultural experience is vital to the deep, persisting question: how am I supposed to live out what I am, in the way that will make me the most happy and fruitful? The question of identity, and therefore the question of gender it contains, is thus ultimately tied to our search for happiness. And who could imagine the world or the Church without the feminine courage of St. Joan of Arc or the masculine tenderness of Pope St. John Paul II?

Why now?

We stand at a unique point in history.

While the problems and issues of understanding gender have never been more numerous or widespread, humanity has also never been more ready to address them with the richness of Catholic theology and tradition, especially with the added wealth of Pope St. John Paul II’s theology of the body. As the work of theology is the constant unfolding of revelation, we can always begin to develop the undeveloped by building on all that has come before. And possibilities for communication, translation, education, and travel are only expanding. WhatsApp, Zoom, and social networks allow us to teach, learn, and collaborate in ways that were unthinkable 10 years ago.

Where do we begin?

Everywhere human culture is found.

Where do we begin to find a response to a question as old as humanity, and to today’s varied answers? In short, internationally: everywhere human culture is found. IICGS has already begun to search out the 'the treasures hidden in the various forms of human culture' (Gaudium et Spes, 44) on Lame Deer reservation in Montana, in southern Louisiana, and in Mexico (the Americas); in Vietnam and India (Asia); in Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya (Africa); in Israel; and in France, Italy, and Poland (Europe). Like white light into a prism, the beauty of human nature is refracted into masculinity and femininity; these genders are further refracted into varied cultural expressions, and unique individuals. By bringing these particular “colors” together, patiently and attentively, we start to build the fuller picture of the whole: what it means to be man, woman, and human. On the other hand, in each culture and individual we see the potential hidden in the universal, like one wavelength of color hidden in the white light.

What are we doing?

Online courses, presentations, blogs, books, and more!

Thanks to the generosity of people who want a more developed theology of masculinity and femininity and a louder voice of truth in the world, we are giving presentations at retreats and parishes, presenting formation conferences for faculty and other groups, developing curricula for catechesis and for forming catechists, offering a live online course engaging catechists and teachers from over 13 different countries, and writing books, blogs, and other content for various needs. On behalf of the thousands of leaders, teachers, parents, and individuals who have already shared the fruits of our work (and from whom we have also learned), thank you for reaching them with healing truth – your support makes our work possible!

Will you help?

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