Message From Our Executive Director | |
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Dear friends,
The great GK Chesterton wrote: “Idolatry is committed, not merely by setting up false gods, but also by setting up false devils; by making men afraid of… alcohol, or economic law, when they should be afraid of spiritual corruption and cowardice.” As we enter Advent, we begin the great season of preparing for the birth of the King of kings. The second Person in the Trinity enters human flesh, to not only teach us, but to show us the extreme to which God demonstrates His love: to take upon Himself all the ugliness of sin in the Passion. To demonstrate to us the true horror of sin, but also the eternal and infinite love of God: that He would spare no suffering so as to rescue us from spiritual death. This then begets the great hope that anchors us: God never abandons us.
Chesterton, writing decades before political correctness, nevertheless foretells a great device of the devil to distract us: to focus on “cultural sin.” That ironically, a cultural “sin” today is actually daring to call evil… evil! Whether it be redefinition of marriage, the relativism of morality today, or even shaming people for speaking about Christ publicly!! Consequently, false devils are created that are meant to intimidate us into silence, then tempt us into the false virtue of social acceptance, and then waste our righteous anger on cultural sin rather than the true enemy: spiritual sin.
The devil is clever. We have an instinctive hatred of evil. Thus, if society redefines evil, then we spend our passions meant to fight evil chasing windmills instead, and true evil becomes unchecked and grows. Hence the great mission of Christ is not just to pop into the world and leave a Bible, but to give us Holy Mother Church as His Bride, to reveal and constantly remind us of true good and evil as defined consistently through the centuries. The deeper our relationship with Christ, the simpler our faith becomes. This then forges a greater purity of heart. To evangelize with love and truth, and to see the toxic nature of sin that only leads us to the cliffs of despair. This Advent, let us be forged by Christ into stronger disciples, to let ancient paths of fasting, prayer and almsgiving sharpen our commitment to Christ and His teachings. To love others in charity and in truth: they are inseparable. The greatest gift we can ever give one another, is to be a holy instrument of the authentic love of God in their lives!
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Father Brian Gannon
Executive Director
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Donate to Our 2024 Annual Appeal! | |
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Our Annual Appeal is well underway and we are in need of your support! As you plan your charitable donations during the Advent season, we humbly ask that you remember Courage International. As our executive director, Fr Brian Gannon, wrote:
Proverbs 16:32 says: “he who conquers the spirit is better than the one who conquers the city”. This is essential to understanding the true human desire for happiness and fulfillment. And it is why your support is not only critical, but so beautifully an extension of God’s incredible gift of mercy and love. Through your contribution, the first fruits of your labors go directly to bringing spiritual relief and hope that a man or woman who experiences same sex attraction, desperate to find their way out of the chains of worldly deception about sexuality, can turn to Courage and find great relief in God’s authentic love. Your donation will enable us also to support parents or relatives who have just learned that their loved one is experiencing same sex attraction or gender discordance so they can learn how to love their child without compromising their faith.
Thank you in advance for your help in continuing the mission of our apostolate!
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Help Us Keep Chapter Information Up-To-Date! | |
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Do you know if the information for your chapter is accurate on the Courage website? Do you know about a recent change in your chapter? Please take a look at your chapter listing on our website and let us know if there have been any changes. Chapters are organized by state and diocese for both Courage and EnCourage.
You can submit changes directly through our form. Thanks for keeping us informed! Keeping this updated and accurate means that those who reach out can find help and support near them.
Access the form here
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Courage Featured in The Georgia Bulletin | |
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An article in The Georgia Bulletin (published by the Archdiocese of Atlanta) interviewed two local members after attending the 2024 Annual Conference. The piece looks at Courage's mission and impact both locally and internationally, and gives the members opportunity to refute common misconceptions about the apostolate. Emphasized also is the importance of the Church's accompaniment for persons experiencing same-sex attraction.
Read the article in full here
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Don't Forget - Save the Date for Next Year's Annual Conference! | |
Monthly Prayer Intentions for Courage and EnCourage | |
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We invite our members to pray each month for a specific intention related to our apostolate. We encourage you to consider praying for these intentions at your local Courage and EnCourage chapter meetings.
The upcoming monthly intentions are as follows:
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December: In thanksgiving for the gift of being God's children
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January: For a renewed hope that helps us bear witness to God's love and mercy
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Courage & EnCourage
around the world
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Lila Rose Podcast Episode "The Cause of Same-Sex Attraction" | |
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Check out this episode of The Lila Rose Podcast, as summarized in the video description:
Are people “born gay”? What do science, psychology and the Church tell us about the origins of same-sex attractions? Is there hope for men and women who are struggling with unwanted same sex attractions? Today I sit down with Michael Gasparro, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California. We discuss his personal journey with same-sex attraction and explore the insights and powerful healing stories he's gathered from supporting hundreds of clients. Plus, we discuss what parents can do to raise sexually healthy children. Join us for this important conversation!
Watch or listen here
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Exploring the Virtue of Purity | |
This 15-minute video by the Theology of the Body Institute explores the idea of purity being more than just the avoidance of lust. Have you ever felt difficulty viewing at the virtue of purity as anything other than negative, as you have to work against your desires? Here you can find some practical advice on finding a more positive mindset regarding purity, and some actionable steps to achieve it. | |
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Visit our YouTube channel for lots of helpful content like this video
Subscribe, like, and share to spread the word.
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This heartfelt article by Dr. Amy Hamilton shares the powerful testimony of her journey through same-sex attraction, pain, and eventual reconciliation with God’s love. She reflects on her struggles with identity, faith, and the effects of deep childhood wounds that shaped her early life. Through surrendering her sexuality to Christ and choosing obedience, she experienced profound spiritual transformation and healing. While this article is a great read for anyone, it is especially poignant for those who know and love someone with same-sex attraction as it emphasizes that true care involves guiding individuals toward truth and Christ, offering them the "bread of life" instead of the "stones" of cultural compromise.
Read the full article here
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For Spanish Speaking Members and Friends | |
December Newsletter in Spanish | |
Guidelines for Sexual Identity in Catholic Schools | |
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The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend has released new guidelines on sexual identity for its Catholic schools, grounded in Church teaching and the dignity of the human person. Spearheaded by Bishop Kevin Rhoades, the guidelines affirm the immutable nature of biological sex and the unity of body and soul, providing clarity on living in accordance with truth and love. They address practical issues such as names, pronouns, and access to facilities, always aiming to offer compassionate pastoral care. This document underscores the mission of Catholic education to form students in truth, fostering an environment where they can grow in both faith and reason.
Read the document in its entirety here
Read an article by Catholic Vote here
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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* | |
Guidelines for Sexual Identity in Catholic Schools | |
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Last year, the American College of Pediatricians released the Biological Integrity Initiative, which calls upon trusted medical voices in gender dysphoria to serve as a leader in the efforts against transgender interventions in minors. Their website offers a "wealth of resources for parents, teens, physicians, schools, and policymakers, including FAQs, latest research and data, fact sheets, videos, a map of current legislation, and ways to connect with doctors and therapists."
Take a look around their website here
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Courage and EnCourage and Gender Identity Discordance
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. For more resources, on the Truth & Love site, go to Resources > Health & Well-Being > Gender Identity Discordance.
* For an explanation of the expression, "gender identity discordance," and coverage of the subject, see the Handbook for Courage and EnCourage Chaplains starting on page 81.
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Courage Conference On Demand
December 14 and 21, 2024
Hosted via Zoom from the UK
Courage member George D. is hosting a viewing of the 2024 Courage Conference on Demand December 14 and 21. Members will have the opportunity to continuously share via the chat feature on Zoom while viewing conference videos. For those who remain in attendance until the end, the session will be followed by a Courage meeting on Zoom for final sharing. See times below:
UK: 1pm- 1am
EST: 8am - 8pm
EU: 2pm- 2am
Join us at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/5268896520?pwd=3q647WQgDU_aEIoQz3Vr-RIiD7GFgx.1
Courage ID: 526 889 6520
Passcode: 989571
If you need help determining the corresponding time in your time zone, click here. Please use your first name only on your screen so as to preserve your anonymity.
Check out the 2024 Annual Conference videos here
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Clergy Study Day
July 30, 2025
Neumann University, Aston, PA
Save the date; more information coming soon!
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Courage and EnCourage Annual Conference
July 31-August 3, 2025
Neumann University, Aston, PA
Save the date; more information coming soon!
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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. | | | | |
