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The Return of the Prodigal Son (detail) by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo
Depicts the theme of Father Blatchford's message that
we are "beloved sons and daughters of the Most Holy Trinity."
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Message from Our Associate Director | |
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We have just begun the season of Advent in preparation for the birth of the Lord. Let me encourage you to explore the changes to the liturgy and to reflect upon them in your personal preparation of Our Savior’s Nativity. While Advent is a time of preparation, its true importance lies in its ability to draw us into reflection upon what it means for God to take on human flesh.
The mystery of the Incarnation is the mystery from which all other great mysteries have their origin, according to Thomas Aquinas and the Early Church Fathers: “For the Son of God became man that we might become God” (Athanasius of Alexandria). This belief is known as Divinization or Divine Filiation. If you wish to explore it a bit deeper, to see what Sacred Scripture and the Early Church have to say about it, or to have a few inexhaustible quotes to meditate on, I recommend looking up the aforementioned terms on Wikipedia. And if you are especially adventurous, the New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia very thoroughly covers the effects of Sanctifying Grace — the indwelling of the Trinity — and its chief effect, Supernatural Adoption.
Why is this important? Because while all of us, no doubt, know intellectually that God loves us and has made us His children, due to the effects of original sin, we struggle to live, body and soul, “You are gods, and sons of the most high” (Psalm 82).
Loving us into being and creating us in his image and likeness was not enough. The Trinity fell in love with man and desired him to be theirs alone, drawing the person into intimate communion with the divine nature.
When we speak of vocation, we often think of marriage or religious life. But the first vocation is to holiness, living as beloved sons and daughters of God. As we grow in our awareness of this reality, we discover the way in which we are being asked by God to love those in need around us as spiritual fathers and mothers. But our fundamental vocation is to make incarnational the Love of God in the world around us through love of those in need around me. During Advent take time to reflect upon your status as beloved sons and daughters of the Most Holy Trinity, give thanks to Our Father for this supernatural gift, and commit yourself to making at least one other person aware of God’s Love through your person.
Blessed Columba Marmion Doctor of Divine Filiation, pray for us.
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Father Colin Blatchford
Associate Director
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News
- Save the Date for Next Year's Conference: July 25-28, 2024
- Snapshot of What We've Been Up to in 2023
- Courage and EnCourage Get Big Introduction in Poland
- Interim Director Speaks to Czech and Slovak Bishops
- Diocese of Charlotte Introduces New Courage Chapter
- Catholic Media Promotes Father John Harvey Guild
- Update Your Profile for Messages Related to Your Interests
- New Chapters and Other Ways to Stay Connected
General Resources
- 2023 Conference Videos Now Available!
- How to Serve With the Heart of Christ
Courage
- "Chastity: An Outdated Virtue?"
- "Becoming a Good Man"
EnCourage
- A Father's Love is Tested and Deepened
- Help for the Holidays
For Spanish Speaking Members and Friends
- December Newsletter in Spanish
Pastoral Resources
- Authentic Pastoral Care and Sexual Identity Discordance
- “Coming out” at Christmas: Pastoral Response to Parents
Gender Identity Discordance
- The Fundamental Truth of Our Dignity & Identity
- EWTN Transgender Movement Series Has New Resources
- Faith and Science Join in Confirming Truth
Events
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Save the Date for Next Year's Conference: July 25-28, 2024 | |
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Be sure to mark your calendars for our 2024 Annual Courage & EnCourage Conference on July 25 –28, 2024. It will be held at the
University of St. Mary of the Lake seminary and conference center in Mundelein, Illinois. Details will be appearing in the events section of our website in the months to come.
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Snapshot of What We Have Been Up to in 2023
We couldn't have done it without you!
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Read a letter from our interim director, Father Kyle Schnippel, to our members and friends. | |
View a fact sheet that outlines the scope of the international outreach of our apostolate in 2023. | |
"Your investment in our work pays dividends into the future for those who come to know Jesus better through this apostolate" (Fr. Kyle Schnippel). | |
Courage and EnCourage Get Big Introduction in Poland | |
Our interim director, Father Kyle Schnippel, spent a week in Poland from November 16 to 22, spreading the good news about our apostolate. While he was there, he made a presentation via Zoom to about 100 Polish family counselors. At Jasna Gora in Czestochowa, he gave a talk about Courage and EnCourage to lay people and clergy at the Impuls Forum," followed by an extended time with Courage men and EnCourage families. And perhaps most significant, he also presented at a plenary assembly of the Polish Bishops' Conference. | |
Fr. Schnippel and Fr. Wit Chondowski, OFM (Polish Courage advocate and Fr. Schnippel's host for the week) visited the seminary and cathedral in Katowice before walking to the City Center. | |
Interim Director Speaks to Czech and Slovak Bishops | |
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On October 17, interim director, Father Kyle Schnippel, gave a live virtual presentation with simultaneous translation to an assembly of the bishops of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. He spoke about the history of Courage, describing the ministry of both Courage and EnCourage, and explained how to begin and maintain chapters. A key organizer of the meeting sent us a big thank you for the "clear and comprehensive speech, which frame[d] the complete picture of the apostolate."
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Diocese of Charlotte Introduces New Courage Chapter | |
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The Diocese of Charlotte's Catholic News Herald featured a story about the new Courage chapter there. Monsignor Patrick Winslow, the vicar general and chancellor of the diocese, said, "It's important to provide support for everyone striving to live holy lives, and Courage reaches out to people who may feel particularly marginalized … . This ministry lets them know the Church is here for them.”
Father Peter Ascik, director of the diocese’s Office of Family Life noted that “there is ... an increased need for a ministry that models a truly Catholic response to our brothers and sisters who experience same-sex attraction. Courage provides accompaniment and addresses people’s questions and experiences in light of the fullness of truth revealed by Jesus Christ.” The story also includes comments from the Courage and EnCourage chaplains of the diocese.
Read "New Courage chapter offers support, understanding"
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Catholic Media Promotes Father John Harvey Guild | |
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The Father John Harvey Guild is drawing attention from national Catholic news outlets! Father John Francis Harvey, Oblate of St. Francis de Sales, was the founding director of Courage. The guild was created "to share [his] life, spirituality, and ministry …with the world and with the Church." Members pray "for the opening of Father’s cause for canonization." In the National Catholic Register story, Susan J., a Courage member, is quoted:
I can’t think of a better saint for our times. … Father Harvey’s approach provides our Church’s leaders with a great example of humble and holy spiritual fatherhood, and also of the virtue of courage. Father was faithful to the truth and shared the full truth about chastity, always with gentleness and compassion, even when forces within the Church were working against that message. My hope is that Father will be recognized far and wide as an apostle of charity and chastity, and that his holy life will be officially recognized and recorded in the Church’s canon of saints.
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Update Your Profile for Messages Related to Your Interests | |
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Would you like to be notified about special opportunities? We occasionally send messages to specific segments of our subscriber list. For example, we have sent emails to Courage men for Sports Camp, to EnCourage members for EnCourage retreats, and to clergy and others involved in pastoral care about opportunities to be equipped for ministry. Also, for regional events, we sometimes send emails to those who live in nearby states.
To ensure that you receive the messages you want, just click the "Update Profile" link at the bottom of this email and follow the instructions. When you get to the "Update your profile" page, be sure to add your country and state and check the boxes for all of your areas of interest.
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New Chapters and Other Ways to Stay Connected | |
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NEW COURAGE CHAPTER:
NEW ENCOURAGE CHAPTER:
MORE SUPPORT:
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Courage & EnCourage
around the world
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2023 Conference Videos Now Available!
Start with Fr. Paul Scalia on how the Eucharist leads to fruitful service
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Several of the videos of talks, homilies, and testimonies from our 2023 Courage & EnCourage Annual Conference are now available on our website. Just one example is the Thursday opening talk by Father Paul Scalia, "The Eucharist: Our Nourishment to Nourish Others." His presentation, given in light of the three year Eucharistic Revival in the United States, looks at how Eucharistic devotion not only benefits us as individuals, but also leads us to serve the poor, thus empowering us to live out the second goal of Courage which is "to dedicate our entire lives to Christ through service to others … ."
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How to Serve With the Heart of Christ | |
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Father Scalia's talk on the Eucharist and service is complemented by our recent post on social media about nine key things we can do to ensure that our service is carried out in the right spirit, in union with the Lord. If you follow us on Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram, you can count on regular doses of inspiration, like point #5 from this post:
Prayer and Reflection: Spend time in prayer, seeking guidance and strength from God. Reflect on your actions and motivations, ensuring that your service is aligned with the principles of love, compassion, and selflessness.
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Follow us on social media for the
latest opportunities, news, resources, and inspiration.
Then spread the good news
by liking, retweeting, and sharing.
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Panel Discusses "Chastity: An Outdated Virtue?"
Not just "no", but a positive virtue for everyone!
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Learn more about what chastity really means in the EWTN Vatican Bureau's tenth Roman Nights, an annual event which "brings together people of faith from Rome to discuss life, culture, and religion." The focus of this year's conversation was "Chastity: An Outdated Virtue?" The panel included Sister Anna Mirijam Kaschner, a religious sister from Denmark and a participant in the ongoing Synod on synodality; Bishop Erik Varden, a Norwegian Catholic bishop; and Vincenzo Bassi, the president of the European Catholic Family Association. The three participants represented three walks of life: a nun, a bishop, and a layman. "Chastity in any and every state of life is a virtue that provides a way of being human, a way of being whole. It is a virtue that the masses have forgotten; thus, its recovery is now more urgent than ever before."
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Paul Chaloux wrote a compelling narrative of the life of Courage member, Garrett Johnson, for Crisis Magazine. He covers Garrett's story from when he was a young boy being taunted by peers, through his identification as gay and captivity to addiction. Then we see how God broke into Garrett's life in all sorts of subtle ways that finally brought him to freedom from addiction and confidence in his identity as beloved son of the Father, now ready to help liberate others from the same "lies that kept him trapped in a false identity."
Read Garrett's story: "Becoming a Good Man"
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A Father's Love is Tested and Deepened | |
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EnCourage dad, Brian L., shared his story on Saturday evening at our conference this past July. He speaks about the challenging journey of learning to love his daughter without compromising his faith as she announced her same-sex attraction, introduced her partner to the family, and then "married" this woman. Brian found the strength and insight he needed through EnCourage, lots of conversation and study, prayer and the sacraments, and by God leading him through a variety of circumstances. It's a great story with some surprising twists that offers hope to EnCourage parents who are striving to love their children with truth.
Watch Brian's testimony
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The holidays are a particularly challenging time for EnCourage members as they struggle to discern how to warmly welcome their loved ones (and often their same-sex partners) for family gatherings, while at the same time setting appropriate boundaries and avoiding scandal. Here are some tried and true resources from Father Philip Bochanski on the subject:
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For Spanish Speaking Members and Friends | |
Authentic Pastoral Care and Sexual Identity Discordance
Shepherding the parish and caring for individuals
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An informative webinar on gender identity discordance was hosted by the Institute for Theological Encounter with Science and Technology. First Dr. Paul Hruz, a Catholic pediatric endocrinologist, gave an enlightening presentation on "Medical Approaches to Alleviate Suffering from Gender Dysphoria."
The second presentation was by Father Philip Bochanski, the former director of Courage, who discussed "Authentic Pastoral Care in Light of Sexual Identity Discordance." "The question of gender identity forms a significant part of our cultural and social conversations, so naturally it's going to loom large in the life of any parish or institution." Most people involved in pastoral ministry and Catholic education "feel, at the same time, compelled and unprepared to address these important issues." Father provides some valuable preparation in these areas:
- Adult faith formation (teaching and preaching)
- Authentic Christian welcoming (with love and truth)
- Participation in the social, liturgical, and ministerial activities of the parish
- Reception of the sacraments
View webinar on pastoral and medical care and gender identity discordance
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“Coming Out” at Christmas: Pastoral Response to Parents | |
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In more and more homes, when sons and daughters return home for the holidays, they come with an announcement like "Mom, Dad … I want you to know that I’m gay" or maybe even "trans" or some other sort of sexual identity descriptor. Father Philip Bochanski writes for the Truth & Love blog:
Priests, deacons and pastoral ministers should be prepared, especially at this time of year, to encounter parents who have just received this news from their children and are looking to the Church for answers and support. How can we help them? How should we respond?
Read “Coming out” at Christmas: A pastoral response to parents
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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 | |
The Fundamental Truth of Our Dignity & Identity
Key Insights for a Culture in Crisis
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Mary Hasson, Courage board member and the co-founder and director of the Person & Identity Project, was the keynote speaker at the Ruah Woods 2023 Dinner Banquet. Her presentation was on “The Fundamental Truth of Our Dignity & Identity for a Culture in Crisis.”
She reflected on what is happening in our culture as its narrative is based upon a false anthropology. She passionately affirmed the need to courageously speak the truth — with love and mercy — about God’s plan and purpose for the pinnacle of His creation (the human person) to flourish.
Watch “The Fundamental Truth of Our Dignity and Identity"
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EWTN Transgender Movement Series Has New Resources | |
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When it first came out about a year ago, we were eager to let you know about EWTN's excellent series, The Transgender Movement: What Catholics Need to Know. "This powerful five-part miniseries reveals the hidden cultural forces behind the 'gender affirming' campaign presently sweeping the nation." The episodes cover the cultural landscape, Church teaching, the implications of medical intervention, the impact on children, and pastoral care.
Now it is easier than ever to use this series for study in your parish and beyond. The Person & Identity Project has created a page of complementary resources which include short educational videos with Mary Hasson plus full transcripts of each episode.
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See transcript for Episode 5 with
Fr. Philip Bochanski,
former director of Courage:
Catholic Pastoral Care for Transgender Issues
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Faith and Science Join in Confirming Truth (with Love)
Theology and medicine on gender identity discordance
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The Institute for Theological Encounter with Science and Technology (ITEST) hosted a webinar entitled "Male and Female He Created Them: Understanding Gender Dysphoria." ITEST is "committed to a Catholic worldview in which faith and science collaborate in exploring the truth." The first speaker, Dr. Paul Hruz, a Catholic pediatric endocrinologist, spoke on "Medical Approaches to Alleviate Suffering from Gender Dysphoria." He was followed by Father Philip Bochanski, the former director of Courage, who gave a presentation on "Authentic Pastoral Care in Light of Sexual Identity Discordance." Then there was a generous time for thoughtful questions and answers.
View "Male and Female He Created Them: Understanding Gender Dysphoria"
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Courage Men's Retreat
Stamford, Connecticut
January 26–28, 2024
Contact office@couragerc.org for information and registration
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Courage & EnCourage Annual Conference
University of St. Mary of the Lake Conference Center
Mundelein, Illinois
July 25–28, 2024
Watch for details in events section of website.
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Watch our Events Calendar regularly for updates.
NOTE TO CHAPLAINS: You are encouraged and more than welcome to participate in all Courage & EnCourage events. Please feel free to reach out to the event organizer to see how you can be involved.
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Disclaimer: 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. | | | | |
