Holy Family seeking lodging in Bethlehem by Joseph Anton Koch (1838)
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Message from Our Director |
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Dear Friends,
I trust that this blessed season of Advent has been fruitful for you so far.
This evening and tomorrow, the Church universal celebrates the great solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We profess our faith in the infinite mercy of God, who preserved our Blessed Mother from every mark and effect of the Original Sin from the very first moment of her life. The super-abundant grace that made this possible came from the same source as the grace that each of us receives in Baptism and the other sacraments; namely, the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In the case of Our Lady, who received this grace long before the historical events of Good Friday had taken place in time, the grace not only flowed from the Cross, but was given to her in preparation for the Cross of her Son. That is, God preserved Mary from every sin, so that when she was called by God to cooperate in the incarnation, the mission and the passion of Christ, she would be able to consent freely and fully. There would be no obstacles in the way of her embracing and living God's will with a sincere heart and a total gift of self.
The Immaculate Conception is therefore a powerful reminder to us that God never gives anyone a vocation without also bestowing on that person all of the graces that he or she will need to embrace and live God's plan. Although each of us bears the effects of the Original Sin, and the burdens of our own personal sins, we have been redeemed by the Passion of Christ, who has set us free to follow him. Through the sanctifying grace of Baptism, through sacramental grace and the graces that accompany our state in life, and through the actual graces that God freely offers us every day, we can find authentic freedom, conversion of heart, and everything we need to pursue a life of virtue and discipleship.
Tomorrow also marks the conclusion of the Year of Saint Joseph, whom we have been celebrating throughout the past twelve months as our Model of Courageous Love. He is a particularly good example to us in Advent, when we recall how many sudden changes he encountered as God's plan for him and for his family unfolded in the months before and after the Nativity of the Lord. He reminds us of the importance of strong faith, certain hope, and dedicated love as we strive to find and follow our vocation to holiness. And he certainly intercedes for all of us that we may become ever stronger in these virtues, and live them more fully each day.
May the Holy Family continue to inspire you throughout this Advent season, and through the weeks of Christmastide, which will be with us very soon! Please know that you are in my heart and in my prayers, especially at this time of year.
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Father Philip G. Bochanski
Executive Director
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News
- Could Your Chapter Welcome Virtual Members?
- May You Be "Safely Carried" to Paradise, Patrick F.
General Resources
- Introducing FrJohnHarvey.com!
- Same-Sex Attractions and Courage with Fr. Bochanski
The Upper Room
- "I Needed and Wanted This" by a priest who is a Courage member
- "How Fitness Helps Me with My Same-Sex Attractions" by a Courage member
Courage
- Only Our Infinite God Can Satiate Our Infinite Ache
EnCourage
- Be Prepared for Tough Conversations During the Holidays
- An EnCourage Mom: "EnCountering the 'Living Flame of Love' "
Courage Internacional — For our Spanish-Speaking Members and Friends
- Courage Latino Encounter reflects on Saint Joseph
- December Newsletter in Spanish
Pastoral Resources
- Mindless Work: The Formation of Habits
- Unity: Fostering Love and Respect Amidst Disagreement
Gender Identity Discordance
- Bishop Burbridge Offers Guidance on Gender Ideology
- Fr. Malachy on St. Joseph and Fatherhood
Events
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Could Your Chapter Welcome Virtual Members? |
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From time to time, we get inquiries from potential Courage and EnCourage members who do not have access to a local chapter but would welcome online support. If your chapter is meeting virtually or is having hybrid meetings and you are open to accepting a few new remote members, please let us know.
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May You Be "Safely Carried" to Paradise, Patrick F. |
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A friend of mine passed away last Friday [October 29].
Patrick was an artist, in all sorts of mediums: he sketched, he painted, he took photographs, he wrote poetry. He was extremely talented, and so much of what he created obviously came from his heart. He was a very hard worker, spending his last years as a landscaper, and undertaking often difficult tasks to help others. And he had a very dry sense of humor, and could be a very funny person with whom to have a conversation.
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Patrick's "Joseph, Foster Father of Jesus"
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He wasn’t just my friend, of course. He will be known to so many members of our Courage and EnCourage family, by face if not by name. For many years he generously assisted our dear Father Harvey, driving him to appointments, helping with the most simple and personal needs, especially in the last years when Father’s strength and health were waning. He was a constant presence at our conferences, often reading the Five Goals from the microphone to begin the event. And he stayed in touch, and joined in prayer, with many of our members and chaplains on a regular, sometimes daily, basis. ...
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Introducing FrJohnHarvey.com!
Remembering our founding director
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As we prayerfully remember Father John F. Harvey on the 11th anniversary of his death on December 27, we would like to introduce you to a brand new website that has been launched as a tribute to him. This site was created independently of the Courage office and aims to introduce the larger world to the person and priest who came to be the founding director of this apostolate. Those who have personally benefitted from Courage's ministry will learn more about it through this site, while all readers will be drawn deeper into the life of faith and charity that animated and motivated our beloved Father Harvey. Site features include an autobiographical essay, personal recollections from friends and family, a biographical documentary film, featured articles, a photo gallery, a special page on baseball (Father loved baseball), and lots more.
If Father Harvey positively impacted your life and you would like to share your experiences of him on the site, please send a message to the site creator.
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Same-Sex Attractions and Courage with Fr. Bochanski |
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Earlier this year, Father Philip Bochanski was a guest on the Inside Catholic Philly podcast, a production of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The show notes recount Father's discussion with host Gina Christian: "[M]odern culture seeks to label people by 'gender identity' and 'sexual orientation.' But human beings — made in the image and likeness of God — are far more dimensional and complex than their sexual inclinations. ... [T]he God-given gift of sexuality enables us to realize 'how we’re made, and how we’re called to love in imitation of Christ.' " They also talk about how the apostolate of Courage supports persons who experience same-sex attractions in tapping into the grace needed to live in harmony with God's universal call to chastity.
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"I Needed and Wanted This"
By a priest who is a member of Courage
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“Father, I need your help. I experience same-sex attractions.”
Hearing these words would be a familiar experience for many a Courage chaplain. It is a bit different, however, when the one speaking them is also addressed as “Father”. It certainly was for me, as a priest myself. But speak them I did — with great shame and desperation — in a time of great need several years ago. …
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Keep up with the latest blog posts on social media!
Follow us so you never miss a post!
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"How Fitness Helps Me with My Same-Sex Attractions"
By Manuel R., a member of Courage
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It has taken me a long time to understand how to face my feelings of same-sex attraction. Over time, I found that a lot of it involves keeping my mind in good spirits, and to do that I can see that sticking to The Five Goals of Courage really helps. I also added another one for myself: taking care of my mental and physical health. …
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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. Go to CourageRC.org > Resources (dropdown) > Blog.
Subscribe to the blog by clicking "Update profile"
at the bottom of this email.
If you would like to contribute to the blog,
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Only Our Infinite God Can Satiate Our Infinite Ache |
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Courage member, Hudson Byblow, had a great conversation with Father Josh Johnson on his Ask Father Josh podcast. They talk about the "Church's teachings on same-sex attractions, cultivating holy friendship, and healing from pornography." Father appreciated Hudson's story enough that he broadcast a special episode a few days later featuring Hudson's complete testimony as told to an audience. |
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Be Prepared for Tough Conversations During the Holidays |
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Father Philip Bochanski joined Father Robert McTeigue, S.J, on the Catholic Current radio show to talk about how to navigate some of the difficult conversations that may come up as loved ones come home for the holidays. They talk about how to have peaceful and productive conversations with loved ones about areas in which there is concern about choices they have made. They make recommendations for how to respond to familiar declarations like "The Church hates gays," or "Love is love." |
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Check out all of our original and curated content on our YouTube channel. |
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EnCountering the "Living Flame of Love"
by an EnCourage mother
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I was in such a fog of anguish that first night after our son told us that he was “gay” that I couldn’t sleep. All night long I just prayed “Veni Sancte Spiritus” (Come Holy Spirit). Early the next morning I began to look for help online. Surely my favorite Catholic radio priest would have something helpful to say on the subject of homosexuality. When I went to Father John Riccardo’s podcast site, the first thing I saw was a video of him preaching about Psalm 23. He spoke about how — when we find ourselves in the "valley of the shadow of death" — it is not enough to just know about God, but that we have to actually know God. […]
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For our Spanish Speaking Members and Friends |
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Courage Latino Encounter reflects on Saint Joseph
“Only chaste love is true,” says one of the speakers
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With meditations about the chaste and good St. Joseph, illuminated by a scriptures passage from St. Matthew the Evangelist, “When Joseph awoke, he did as the Angel of the Lord ordered and took up his spouse,” the 15th Annual Courage Latino Encounter was live-streamed from Mexico City from Saturday, November 13, to Sunday, November 14. The online event had more than 200 attendees including chaplains of the apostolate, members of Courage and EnCourage, and others from locations where a chapter does not exist who receive online spiritual accompaniment. …
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December Newsletter in Spanish |
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Mindless Work: The Formation of Habits
By Fr. Colin Blatchford on the Truth & Love Blog
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With Advent around the corner, I thought we might begin to look at how the human person is fallen and redeemed. We will begin by reflecting upon how the human person interacts with the world — his senses and internal powers that allow for knowledge to be extracted from things. At the same time, we shall talk about habituation and the human learning process. All of which will lead into discussion about good and evil, virtue and vice, and a practical guide to making a good confession. I hope to illustrate how the spiritual and theological reality of confession makes psychological and neuropsychological sense. […] |
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To subscribe click "Update profile" at the bottom of this email.
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Unity: Fostering Love and Respect Amidst Disagreement |
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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 4 in this section, "Unity," elaborates on the fourth of the Goals of EnCourage: “To assist other family members and friends to reach out with compassion and truth to, and not to reject, their loved ones who experience same-sex attractions.”
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It is common … for EnCourage members to relate that other family members — the spouse, their children, their parents or extended family — are not supportive of their faith or the way that they are trying to relate to the loved one who identifies as LGBTQ. Whether the relatives take the “total acceptance” route, or simply prefer not to talk about the situation at all, they can bring tremendous pressure to bear on the EnCourage member. At times this pressure can seem worse than the disagreements they are having with the loved one who experiences same-sex attractions. They can begin to doubt themselves and whether staying true to the Church’s teaching is worth it in the midst of family turmoil. … |
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Truth & Love, an initiative of Courage International, is a multifaceted Catholic resource for anyone seeking the tools to support men and women who experience same-sex attractions.
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Gender Identity Discordance |
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Bishop Burbridge Offers Guidance on Gender Ideology |
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In August Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Diocese of Arlington released a document entitled “A Catechesis on the Human Person and Gender Ideology” in response to the "growing acceptance of transgender ideology" which "presents a serious challenge for all members of the Church because it presents a view of the human person contrary to the truth." Here are some excerpts from the opening paragraphs:
Situations involving gender dysphoria must always be addressed with pastoral charity and compassion rooted in the truth. Any unjust discrimination or needless insensitivity in addressing such situations must be avoided and/or corrected. …
At the same time, in responding to this question justly and charitably, one cannot deny or obscure the truth of our created nature and human sexuality. Indeed, charity always requires the clear presentation of the truth. …
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Fr. Malachy on St. Joseph and Fatherhood |
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Father Malachy Joseph Napier, CFR, gave a remote presentation for the gender identity discordance track at our annual conference. He spoke about the indispensability of fatherhood in the light of Saint Joseph's role in the Holy Family. He emphasized the goodness of the distinct natures of male and female, the two unique God-given sexual identities which are "two different incarnations … of the same human being created in the image of God" ( Saint John Paul II).
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While the primary mission of Courage and EnCourage remains supporting people living with the experience of same-sex attractions and those who love them, we thought it could be helpful to our readers to occasionally set aside some space in our newsletter to address this topic.
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We hope to move forward with the in-person events listed on our calendar, 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. |
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Living Waters Leadership Training with the Theology of the Body Institute
January 30–February 4, 2022, in Quarryville, Pennsylvania
Equips participants for effective ministry to the sexually and relationally broken.
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Courage and EnCourage Florida Day of Recollection
March 5, 2022, in Winter Park, Florida
Save the date!
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EnCourage California Retreat
March 11–13, 2022, in Menlo Park, California
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Courage Clergy Study Day
July 27, 2022, in Mundelein, Illinois
Save the date!
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Courage and EnCourage Annual Conference
July 28-31, 2022, in Mundelein, Illinois
Save the date!
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Courage does not necessarily fully endorse all of the ideas included in resources that are not produced by Courage, but we still like to share items that we and our members have found to have considerable helpful content.
Photo credits
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