Supper of the Holy Family, by Josefa de Óbidos (Portugal, 17th century)

Dear Friends,

Growing up in the northeastern part of the United States, I have always found November particularly enjoyable. The weather is getting cooler, leaves are changing color, and Advent and Christmas are getting closer by the day. And, of course, the beautiful celebration of Thanksgiving Day is a powerful reminder of the importance of family and loved ones, and the boundless goodness of Divine Providence. God sustains us, even in times of trial and suffering, and it is essential to take time to pause and appreciate just how much we have received from Him, especially through the people he has put into our lives. As members, chaplains and friends of Courage and EnCourage, you and I certainly have received a great many gifts from Our Lord and His Church.

I am so grateful for my predecessor, Father John F. Harvey, O.S.F.S., and the founding generation of Courage and EnCourage. They have left us a rich legacy of spiritual gifts, especially the Five Goals that we pursue in our apostolates, that still form the plan and substance of the time we spend together. The month of November, dedicated to prayer for our deceased relatives and friends, and for all the Holy Souls undergoing the purification of Purgatory, is a perfect time to remember them and other Courage and EnCourage members and chaplains who "have gone before us marked with the sign of faith" (Eucharistic Prayer I). We will offer Mass and prayers for them in the Courage Office chapel on All Souls Day and throughout the coming month.

We likewise owe a debt of gratitude to the late Cardinal Terence Cooke and the many bishops who have welcomed our apostolate into their dioceses over the years. In mid-November I will take part in the annual meeting of the Episcopal Board of Courage International, a committee of seven bishops who set the direction of the apostolate and oversee our work on behalf of the Church. Please pray for them and for our meeting, as well as for the bishops of all the dioceses (now in 18 countries) where Courage and EnCourage chapters are located.

And where would we be without the many people, members and friends of the apostolate, who support us financially throughout the year? Gifts large and small make our work possible, allowing us to provide continuing formation for clergy, seminarians and others in ministry, as well as a range of resources for study, research and fellowship by means of the Internet and other media. Most importantly, from my perspective, the financial support we receive throughout the year allows us to give "scholarships" to members with limited resources to attend our Annual Conference and regional retreats, as well as to provide training for new chaplains at minimal cost to them. On behalf of the Courage Office staff, I offer a heartfelt "thank you" to all the benefactors of the apostolate, and promise you our prayers, especially at Holy Mass. I also ask you, most sincerely, to begin, to continue, or even to increase your financial support of Courage and EnCourage, especially on "Giving Tuesday" at the end of this month.

The Enemy of mankind cannot create anything, nor offer us anything that is truly good. The only weapon and strategy he has is his ability to distort God's gifts, or cause us to fear, to disregard or to reject them. He could not even recognize his own gifts as coming from God; he fell from heaven by his pride, and then "through the envy of the Devil sin entered the world" (Wisdom 2:24). He has no idea how to be grateful; thus, intentional acts of thanksgiving are an almost-infallible defense against the lies of the Evil One. I pray that throughout this month, as throughout your life, you will make time to recognize the gifts you have received from the hand of God, and to give Him adoration, praise and thanks. And I hope that you know that you are a powerful, life-changing gift to me, for which I will always be grateful.

On All Souls Day, also known as the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed, the Holy Mass will be offered in the Courage office chapel for all of the recently deceased members and chaplains of Courage and EnCourage. You may participate live at noon, Eastern time, on our Facebook page, and it will be saved there for later viewing if you are unable to make it.

Father Kowalski on EWTN's The Journey Home.

Father Kazimierz Kowalski, a beloved chaplain and advocate for Courage for over 30 years, died on October 4. We've collected some "snapshots" of Father Kaz's long history of contributions to our apostolate from James A. Beers' book, Courage: A Ministry of Hope.

We had our first meeting in Saint Bernard's parish house on November 2, 1990 [first meeting in at this location, not first Courage meeting ever]. It was a First Friday and the feast of All Souls, and Father Harvey celebrated Mass for us in the chapel before the meeting. …

Fr. Kowalski's obituary in Catholic New York

Our website is now available in Italian! To view the Courage Internazionale site, just click "English" on the menu bar and select "Italiano" from the dropdown menu. On the home page, you'll find a welcome video and a testimony with Italian subtitles. There are also Italian resources, listings for Italy's Courage and EnCourage chapters, and lots more Italian content. Be sure to tell your Italian friends!

Visit the Courage Internazionale Italian site

The Upper Room blog is where Courage and EnCourage members and chaplains share stories of God's work in their lives. The latest posts can be found in this newsletter.

We'd invite you to prayerfully consider how you might be able to give glory to Him and encourage the Courage family by submitting a post for the blog. It doesn't have to be long (just 750–950 words); a simple account of a turning point, a significant incident, or a moment of inspiration would be great! It's fine if you wish to remain anonymous.

Our YouTube channel has expanded to include several curated playlists that we've carefully selected from a variety of sources for your benefit. Check back often, as new videos are being added regularly. Here are some of the playlists:

Courage member, Paul Darrow, tells the story of transforming grace in his life in a podcast featured in the Courage in the Media and Testimonies playlists.

A great way to reflect on the importance of Saint Joseph, as we draw toward the December 8 conclusion of a year dedicated to him, is to listen to the series of talks by Father Ricardo Piñeda of the Fathers of Mercy from our 2021 annual conference.

Fr. Philip Bochanski, the executive director of Courage, joined Father Josh Johnson on the Ask Father Josh podcast to talk about same-sex attractions and how the Catholic Church ministers to people who experience these attractions so they can live in the freedom of Christ’s love. The two priests offer hope and encouragement to people who live with same-sex attractions, as well as wise counsel for those who love them and minister to them.

Listen to Fr. Bochanski on Ask Father Josh

Subscribe to The Upper Room blog by clicking "Update Profile" at the bottom of this email.

Our beloved founding director, Fr. John Harvey, OSFS, liked to say, "Our members are our best ambassadors." The Upper Room blog is where members and chaplains share their stories of God's work in their lives. Don't miss a single post! Subscribe by clicking "Update profile" at the bottom of this email or visit CourageRC.org > Resources (dropdown)> Blog. If you would like to contribute to the blog, send us an email.

View Living with Courage, Episode 5

Check out Living With Courage playlist

Father Philip Bochanski offers guidance by responding to some important questions often asked by Catholics who live with same-sex attractions:

Visit our YouTube channel, and click the "Subscribe" button today.

Then "like" and share our videos to help others find us.

Some of the most challenging practical matters faced by EnCourage families are those surrounding family gatherings to which their loved one would like to bring their same-sex partner. Father Bochanski addresses some common difficult questions in the newest installment of our EnCourage video series:

Check out the entire EnCourage: A Family of Hope playlist

Manny Gonzalez is a member of Courage. He worked as an intern with Courage over the summer and is now a senior at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. Listen to Manny telling his story with Jason Evert.

Courage member, Manny Gonzalez, responds to another question from EnCourage members: " What are some of the most helpful things an EnCourage member can say to or do for their loved one?"

Courage Internacional website in Spanish

Much of the discussion in the Ask Father Josh podcast recommended earlier in this newsletter was directed toward priests. In particular, starting at about 13:43, Father Josh Johnson asks, "How can a priest accompany [a young person who experiences same-sex attractions] that is going to help them become a saint and to flourish in their walk toward eternity?"

The essence of Father Bochanski's recommendations is to communicate the following: "I love you. I want to hear your story. I believe God has a plan for your life. I want to walk with you." The two priests go on to discuss how to talk with these persons about their identity, their vocation, God's plan for sexuality, and more.

Listen to Ask Father Josh podcast with Fr. Bochanski

Courage associate director, Father Colin Blatchford, concluded his series on the meaning of key words that are misunderstood in our culture with a discussion of freedom using a metaphor from Fr. Louis Merosne:

See lots more on the Truth & Love blog.

The second half of the Handbook for Courage and EnCourage Chaplains focuses on EnCourage, an apostolate that provides pastoral care for families and friends of people who experience same-sex attractions or gender identity discordance. Chapter 3 in this section, "Charity," elaborates on the third of the Goals of EnCourage: “To establish and maintain a healthy and wholesome relationship with their loved ones who experience same-sex attractions.”

We are beginning to get back to in-person events, while being mindful of the health and wellbeing of our members. Please be aware that, as the situation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, we may be required to postpone, cancel, or move these events online. If you have any questions or concerns, you may review our statement, or contact us here. Watch our events calendar for updates.