In his gray hooded robe with its knotted cord belt, Father Bart Karwacki doesn't look the part of a lecturer preparing to teach people how to keep their "love tanks" full.
But the Franciscan friar will discuss that technique and others at a Valentine's Day workshop at the Shrine of St. Anthony. The event is based on the bestselling book The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate.
"These theories fascinate me, and I find they can be helpful to people in their relationships," Karwacki, 61, said.
Karwacki, who read the book last year, said he got hooked on it and decided to use it to help others.
The Catholic priest is teaching the seminar for the first time, though he's given homilies at weddings based on writing of the book's author, Gary Chapman. When Karwacki was choosing a Saturday to schedule the event, he quickly zeroed in on Feb. 14.
"People take the time to express their love to each other on Valentine's Day, so it seemed like perfect timing," he said of the workshop, which is open to the public.
Karwacki is not a monk, and he does not lead a solitary lifestyle. And the Ellicott City shrine isn't a monastery, either. Instead, the 12 friars live together as a brotherhood and venture out into the world to preach and give spiritual guidance, he said.
He joined other friars to root for the Arizona Cardinals in last week's Super Bowl, though the southern New Jersey native would have preferred to see the Philadelphia Eagles on the field.
Karwacki is working on developing more walking trails and positioning new benches for contemplation across the shrine's 230-acre property off Folly Quarter Road, which he said the friars don't intend to sell despite the revolving bevy of inquiring developers.
He is also a fan of Chapman's books on speaking the languages of love.
Karwacki will use the paperback to highlight ways to enhance emotional intimacy and spirituality at Saturday morning's session for couples and singles. A discussion will follow.
"Each one of us is searching for love - it's a very basic need," said the priest, who became a friar in 1965 and came to live at the 79-year-old Franciscan friary in 1988.
He is interested in helping others develop interpersonal relationships beyond romantic love, he said.
"Some people are addicted to romantic love, which they describe as 'magical' or 'extremely exhilarating,' " he said, paraphrasing a passage from Chapman's book.
