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Faith in Action - EnCourage
| The mission of EnCourage is to help families, friends
and children of homosexual persons deal with their concerns in this regard. It is open to all people, regardless of their loved one's lifestyle. It conforms with the Catholic Church's teaching on sexuality and reflects the Church's approach of helping the homosexual person to lead a chaste lifestyle without promoting the necessity of his/her changing sexual attraction. |
- To promote a spirit of compassion and acceptance among members so they may share with one another their thoughts and experiences, and so ensure that no one will have to face the problems of homosexual loved ones alone.
- To foster the practice of service to others, spiritual reading, prayer, meditation, individual spiritual direction, frequent attendance at Mass, and the frequent reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist.
- To encourage loved ones in the development of chaste friendships.
- To witness by good example to others who have homosexual loved ones.
At monthly meetings, newcomers are welcome after a brief introduction to the program, given prior to the meeting, either in person or by phone. In addition to individual counseling, the support groups often conduct their sessions with the assistance of the 12-Step format developed by Alcoholic Anonymous. When appropriate, individuals are referred to Catholic therapists.
For
more information on regularly scheduled meetings please call
the Office for Marriage, Family and Life at 651-291-4438.
Please read a recent response about those
Experiencing Same-Sex Attractions
EnCourage
Meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month at the Archdiocese.
http://couragerc.net
For more
information and resouces contacted the National Courage Office.
Courage,
an apostolate of the Roman Catholic Church, ministers to those
with same-sex attractions and their loved ones. We have been endorsed
by the Pontifical
Council for the Family.
Catholic teaching
"The human person, made in the image and likeness of God, can hardly be adequately described by a reductionist reference to his or her sexual orientation. Every one living on the face of the earth has personal problems and difficulties - but challenges to growth, strengths, talents and gifts as well. Today, the Church provided a badly needed context for the care of the human person when she refuses to consider the person a 'heterosexual' or a 'homosexual' and insists that every person has a fundamental identity: a creature of God, and by grace, His child and heir to eternal life."
Letter from the Congregation of the Doctrine of Faith (Oct 1986)
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