Begotten Not Made Seminar | Family Life International

Every person bears the image of God (Gen 1:26-28).
This divine reality establishes the cornerstone for all Catholic teaching, including the Church’s understanding and approach to human sexuality.

FATHER SHENAN J. BOQUET

Understanding the Church’s beautiful vision
of human sexuality & life

Begotten Not Made is a special seminar exploring the Catholic understanding of human sexuality, conjugal love and the transmission of human life, and how that understanding helps us navigate some of the most challenging questions facing individuals, couples and families today.

Our speakers will consider questions surrounding chastity, contraception, infertility, IVF, surrogacy and other interventions, looking not only at what the Church teaches, but most importantly why.

THURSDAY 24 SEPTEMBER 2026 | 1PM – 9PM
St John Vianney Parish Hall, 317 Hillsborough Road, Hillsborough

Join us for the entire seminar or come for afternoon or evening sessions only.

What ethical principles should guide us?

Which interventions respect conjugal love and human dignity?

How can we respond with truth and compassion?

Who should attend?

The Begotten Not Made seminar is for anyone who wants to understand the Church’s teaching more deeply and be better equipped to respond to the questions confronting families and society today.

➤ Parents & Families
Understand the principles that underpin the Church’s teaching and become better equipped to form and guide your children.

➤ Educators & Youth Leaders
Gain greater confidence in explaining Catholic teaching on sexuality, fertility, marriage and the dignity of human life to young people.

➤ Clergy & Pastoral Leaders
Deepen your understanding of increasingly complex ethical questions encountered in pastoral life.

➤ Anyone seeking answers
Whether these issues are new to you or you want to go deeper, the seminar will provide a strong Catholic foundation.

Especially valuable for educators
Young people are increasingly encountering questions about sexuality, infertility, IVF, surrogacy and the meaning of parenthood. This seminar will help teachers, school leaders, catechists and youth ministers understand not only what the Church teaches, but the anthropology and ethical principles that explain why.

Hope for the World Conference Speaker Fr Shenan Boquet

FATHER
SHENAN J. BOQUET

President of Human Life International. Father Boquet travels the world proclaiming the Gospel of Life and training clergy, seminarians, and lay people.

LIGAYA
ACOSTA, PHD

Regional Director for Asia and Oceania for Human Life International.
Dr. Acosta once promoted contraception as a government official until she had a change of heart.

BRIAN
CLOWES, PHD

Director of Education and Research at Human Life International. Dr. Clowes has extensively written and spoken globally on life and family issues.

Programme

1:00pm – 5:00pm

Bearing Witness:
To Human Dignity and Family Life
Dr. Brian Clowes

The Beauty of Human Sexuality:
Meaning and Purpose
Fr. Shenan Boquet

God’s Gift: Marriage, Vocation and Life
Dr. Ligaya Acosta

6:30pm – 9:00pm

Knowing Truth:
Defending and Serving Conjugal Love
Fr. Shenan Boquet

Cultivating Authentic Love
Role of Parents
Dr. Ligaya Acosta
Role of Society
Dr. Brian Clowes
Role of the Church
Fr. Shenan Boquet

DINNER 5:00pm – 6:30pm – Please bring your own

For the greatest benefit, we encourage you to attend the full seminar. Each session builds upon the foundations established throughout the programme. If that is not possible, you are very welcome to attend the afternoon or evening programme only.