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.
Living Our Marianist Charism: Embracing the LGBTQ+ Community offers a collection of stories and perspectives from LGBTQ+ persons, family members, and allies affiliated with the Marianist family. The purpose of this video is to raise awareness of the presence and role of LGBTQ+ people in the Catholic Church and in the Marianist Family. Our goals, through this new resource, are:
• To discover our call of inclusivity towards LGBTQ+ persons
• To better understand how LGBTQ+ Catholics experience God’s call to remain in the Church and in the Marianist Family
• To raise awareness and appreciation of the presence and gifts of LGBTQ+ persons in the Church and in the Marianist Family
• To challenge the Church and our Marianist Family to consider ways of being a prophetic voice on matters pertaining to the LGBTQ+ community
We hope that many people in the Marianist family and the larger Church have an opportunity to watch the video and enter into dialogue with their community. We wish to engage in communal dialogue and discernment with the Church and our Marianist family through the sharing of personal stories and experiences. We believe it is crucial, when discussing these teachings, to take into consideration findings in biology, anthropology, and psychology. Most importantly, we believe we are called to be prophetic on the profundity of God’s love toward everyone and our call to be witnesses who embody God’s love toward LGBTQ+ people. We have created a Video Resource Guide to help you facilitate dialogue in your local community, (which can also be found in the Resources section below).
VIDEO - Living Our Marianist Charism: Embracing the LGBTQ+ Community
A Place at the Marianist Table
Addressing LGBT Issues with Youth – A Resource for Educators
2021 LGBT Retreat - July 30th - August 1st (Philly Area)
VIDEO - Living OUr Marianist Charism: Embracing the LGBTQ+ Community
Trans in the Eyes of God Podcast and Discussion Series
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
A Place at the Marianist Table
Addressing LGBT Issues with Youth – A Resource for Educators
2021 LGBT Retreat - July 30th - August 1st (Philly Area)
VIDEO - Living OUr Marianist Charism: Embracing the LGBTQ+ Community
Trans in the Eyes of God Podcast and Discussion Series
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
A Place at the Marianist Table
Addressing LGBT Issues with Youth – A Resource for Educators
2021 LGBT Retreat - July 30th - August 1st (Philly Area)
VIDEO - Living OUr Marianist Charism: Embracing the LGBTQ+ Community
Trans in the Eyes of God Podcast and Discussion Series
As the Marianist Social Justice Collaborative's LGBT Initiative grows and
reaches more people, folks who are aware of the "LG" and "B" may be curious
to broaden their understanding of transgender (or simply trans) identities - the
"T". The LGBT Initiative Issue Team, in light of this, created a Trans in the Eyes of God Podcast and Discussion Guide for Marianists, small-faith community, parishes, and anyone else introduced to use to foster discussion. The team decided to highlight 3 podcast episodes
of Trans in the Eyes of God by the Interfaith Voices Podcast, each accompanied by two reflections.
We hope you enjoy these three trans-themed offerings and share them with others to help open conversation. Having a common frame of reference can help us think about and discuss trans identity with friends, family, and community members of faith. These dialogues can also be a beacon of hope for our trans community
members, holding space through education in an effort to foster a welcoming
Marianist community they can be a part of.
Trans in the Eyes of God Podcast and Discussion Series
Trans in the Eyes of God Podcast and Discussion Series
A Place at the Marianist Table
Addressing LGBT Issues with Youth – A Resource for Educators
2021 LGBT Retreat - July 30th - August 1st (Philly Area)
VIDEO - Living OUr Marianist Charism: Embracing the LGBTQ+ Community
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!
Save the date for our next retreat July 30 -August 1, 2021 at Daylesford Abbey located 20 miles west of Philadelphia in Paoli, in Chester County Pennsylvania. We welcome you to join us as we dialogue how we can become a prophetic witness to the Church and the world on how to welcome and embrace LGBT people and their gifts. Check back here or check our Get Involved page to be notified when registration opens for the retreat.
2021 LGBT Retreat - July 30th - August 1st (Philly Area)
A Place at the Marianist Table
Addressing LGBT Issues with Youth – A Resource for Educators
2021 LGBT Retreat - July 30th - August 1st (Philly Area)
VIDEO - Living OUr Marianist Charism: Embracing the LGBTQ+ Community
Trans in the Eyes of God Podcast and Discussion Series
• Living Our Marianist Charism: Embracing the LGBTQ+ Community Video Resource Guide
• Trans in the Eyes of God Podcast and Discussion Guide
• Pain and Possibility – Being a Catholic Parent of Gay Children Reflection by LGBT Initiative Team Member Beth Garascia (Nov, 2009)
• Addressing LGBT Issues with Youth – A Resource for Educators
• Always Our Children
• Catechism of the Catholic Church
• New Ways Ministry
• Fr. James Martin, SJ
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.
