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The LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Transgender) Initiative, an issue team of the MSJC, responds to the Church’s call to be welcoming and compassionate by offering effective pastoral care and spiritual support for LGBT Catholics and their families. We foster dialogue, education and understanding among the diverse communities and institutions affiliated with the Marianist family. Our goal is to fully welcome our Marianist LGBT members into all aspects of our communities. Through our work, we hope the Marianist family becomes a prophetic witness to the Church and the world on how to welcome and embrace LGBT people and their gifts.

Our Mission

LGBT Initiative 

Working to make the Marianist Family, and the community at large, more welcoming and inclusive of LGBT persons.

Young people today are growing up in a complicated world that presents a constant tug of war between Gospel values and cultural pressures. This is especially true for LGBT youth, many of whom feel isolated and excluded because they are seen as “different”. This booklet offers a Catholic and Marianist rationale, perspective and orientation for assisting LGBT youth as they come to understand their sexuality. It outlines strategies for assuring that our institutions and ministries promote understanding, respect and acceptance for all young people, regardless of their sexual orientation. For more information, the resource is located in the “Resources” below. 

Addressing LGBT Issues with Youth – A Resource for Educators

LGBT Initiative Email List

LGBT Advocacy Subcommittee

A Place at the Marianist Table 

Addressing LGBT Issues with Youth – A Resource for Educators

Annual LGBT Retreat

Coming Soon: Marianist LGBTQ+ Video

This is one of our signature programs, giving witness and leading dialogue about the experience of LGBT persons and family members in the context of their faith.
This program is for communities (lay and religious) who would like to discuss LGBT issues. The program includes prayer, witnessing by LGBT individuals and/or their loved ones, and conversations in small and large groups. To inquire about the program or schedule it for your community please fill out our interest form here.

A Place at the Marianist Table

LGBT Initiative Email List

LGBT Advocacy Subcommittee

A Place at the Marianist Table 

Addressing LGBT Issues with Youth – A Resource for Educators

Annual LGBT Retreat

Coming Soon: Marianist LGBTQ+ Video

Recently, we have created our own subcommittee to work specifically on LGBT advocacy. Right now, this subcommittee is entering dialogue with our Marianist universities.

LGBT Advocacy Subcommittee

LGBT Initiative Email List

LGBT Advocacy Subcommittee

A Place at the Marianist Table 

Addressing LGBT Issues with Youth – A Resource for Educators

Annual LGBT Retreat

Coming Soon: Marianist LGBTQ+ Video

We are now offering the opportunity for those interested in our ministry to receive email blasts from us when we find news stories related to LGBT persons and church issues. To get on this list (identities protected), fill out our interest form here.

LGBT Initiative Email List

LGBT Initiative Email List

LGBT Advocacy Subcommittee

A Place at the Marianist Table 

Addressing LGBT Issues with Youth – A Resource for Educators

Annual LGBT Retreat

Coming Soon: Marianist LGBTQ+ Video

The LGBT Initiative Team has hosted an Annual Retreat for LGBTQ+ Catholics, their families, and allies the last four consecutive years. This retreat is a signature program for us and has had extremely positive responses! 

In the fall of 2019, we held our 4th annual LGBT Retreat in Menlo Park, California. The retreat speaker was Rachel Bundang, PhD, who shared stories, art, and theological snippets with the group of 29 people gathered.

Participants enjoyed praying together, sharing ideas in small groups, wandering the beautiful retreat grounds during our free time as well as being guided by Rachel's thought-provoking questions. Everyone went home with a deeper understanding of who we are as the Community of Saints and hungry to share this appreciation with others!

Stay tuned for our next LGBT Retreat location and registration for 2021.

Annual LGBT Retreat

LGBT Initiative Email List

LGBT Advocacy Subcommittee

A Place at the Marianist Table 

Addressing LGBT Issues with Youth – A Resource for Educators

Annual LGBT Retreat

Coming Soon: Marianist LGBTQ+ Video

Our team is working with a video designer to record stories and perspectives from LGBT persons, family members, and allies in the Marianist world. We hope this video will raise awareness of the presence and role of LGBTQ+ people in the Catholic Church and in the Marianist Family.

Coming Soon: Marianist LGBTQ+ Video

LGBT Initiative Email List

LGBT Advocacy Subcommittee

A Place at the Marianist Table 

Addressing LGBT Issues with Youth – A Resource for Educators

Annual LGBT Retreat

Coming Soon: Marianist LGBTQ+ Video

Our Current Projects

• Pain and Possibility – Being a Catholic Parent of Gay Children Reflection by LGBT Iniative Team Member Beth Garascia 
• Addressing LGBT Issues with Youth – A Resource for Educators
• Always Our Children 
• Catechism of the Catholic Church
• New Ways Ministry



Resources 

Whether you check out the documents posted below or sign up to join or help with our projects, we hope you’ll gain valuable insights and find support regarding coming out, the role of faith and conscience, how to love LGBT children/family/friends, and ideas for making our world more accepting of LGBT persons. Links and resources are meant to provide information for our readers. Their appearance here is not an endorsement of everything for which the organizations/creators stand.

As one lay Marianist once said: “What is unique about the Marianists is the spirit of family, that I am always welcome; that I am part of the community; that my presence and my input are valued; and that I am invited to help shape the future of the Marianists.” The LGBT Initiative Issue Team wants to provide opportunities for all Marianist communities, with their goals of justice and hospitality in mind, to continue to strive to become places where all members feel as this person does. We want to foster a community where persons with different sexual orientations can dialogue with others honestly, listening to one another’s hopes and concerns. Our desire is to promote a community where all can be truthful with one another without fearing negative responses and where members of the LGBT community can feel comfortable self-identifying. Our hope is that the Marianist family be a prophetic leader in achieving this goal within the larger Church family.

The Marianist Charism

We, as Marianists, are committed to supporting one another in the challenges of daily living and in working for the coming of the reign of justice where the oppressed go free. It has become clear that there are LGBT members of the Marianist Family, as well as the broader Church community, that do not feel free to be themselves; persons who have a deep spirituality but feel alienated from their communities. This team answers that by responding with a commitment to ongoing dialogue and collaboration. We remember that each of us have been called to carry the Marianist charism into the world and to make the true Marianist vision and dream a reality on Earth. It is not just we as a community who can help transform the lives of our LGBT brothers and sisters, but our lives together can be enriched by intentionally welcoming others who bring additional gifts, talents and backgrounds.

Lived Experience

Mary said at Cana: “Do whatever He (Jesus) tells you.” How does Jesus tell us what to do today in respect to our LGBT brothers and sisters? Both through the official teaching of the Church and the working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of our community members He is telling us to “Love one another as I have loved you.” One of the essential tests of social justice within any Christian community is its abiding spirit of inclusion. The building of a family demands that we reach beyond ourselves in order to accept and learn from all the members of our community.

Gospel

“Always Our Children“, a pastoral message from the Bishops’ Committee on Marriage and Family to parents of homosexual children and suggestions for pastoral ministers, states that “every person has an inherent dignity because he or she is created in God’s image.” It goes on to say that “the Christian Community should offer its homosexual sisters and brothers understanding and pastoral care.” Homophobia is prejudice based on the belief that LGBT people are sinful, immoral, sick, and inferior to heterosexuals. It is experienced as feelings of fear, discomfort, dislike, hatred or disgust with homosexuality. We believe that homophobia exists in our Marianist family just as it does in the broader Church and culture. We also believe that positive attitudes come from knowledge. The LGBT Initiative Issue Team is committed to providing our Marianist family with this knowledge and invite you to join us.

Catholic Social Teaching

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