Advent With The Holy Family | | La Sagrada Familia, by Nicolas Rodriguez Juarez, 1650-1700. Los Angeles County Museum of Art. | | Message From Our Executive Director | | |
Dear Friends,
The great Catholic convert GK Chesterton wrote: “the way to love anything is to realize it might be lost.” This quote compels pivotal reflection as we commence Advent. A possessive anxiety one experiences over worldly goods reveals our unhealthy attachment to cars, phones, and even sentimental possessions. All these things can serve useful purposes but, in the end, turn to dust. But Chesterton’s goal is to awaken our deepest desire and if cultivated, our deepest love: Jesus Christ. To live as if we could lose our Lord, whether through sin, through crowding out His presence via worldly attentions, or displacing Him with superficial earthly pleasures, is a wise context for approaching mental and emotional investment. We will instantly agree, intellectually, that our faith is our greatest possession. But the subsequent question - am I truly living this reality? - should govern sober assessment of our daily motives and actions.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who lived in a land of gloom a light has shone (Isaiah 9: 1). Light for one in the darkness initially blinds. We recoil, squint, and can turn away. Yet, once our eyes grow accustomed, we are glad for the clarity of sight. We are glad for the ability not just to see beauty, but to clearly see obstacles that block our path. When we see the obstacles, we then better prepare for overcoming them. This brings us back to Advent. Advent is not just about the first coming of Christ, it is about increasing our spiritual clarity for the second coming of Christ. How best we ask? The image of the Holy Family is powerful: keeping Christ at the absolute center, keeping the Blessed Mother intrinsic to nourishing our total love for the divine, and keeping St. Joseph intrinsic to guarding my soul from evil and using my earthly skills for the glory of God.
Our greatest possession is always God’s grace. No matter our life situation, the joy of knowing God’s birth, His infinite love for us, His mercy that gives me a hope the world could never give, is the ultimate Christmas gift! It never decays or expires; only through my sin is divine grace wounded. But even then, it is readily restored through a humble confession. There I am re-embraced another countless time by the Good Lord who loves me infinitely!
As we plunge into Advent, we prepare not only for a day in this world, but for an eternity in the next. Let us invest our heart, mind, and soul even more into worship of God, seeking His mercy, and loving Him by bringing others to His great mercy. The false prophets of our day promise us happiness by being ambiguous about God. The Holy Family teaches us happiness via unambiguous, unconditional surrender to the luminous wisdom of Christ and Holy Mother Church via “not my will, but Thy will be done. (Luke 22: 42).”
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Father Brian Gannon
Executive Director
| | | Donate to Our 2025 Annual Appeal | | |
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:
"Seeing the spiritual war taking place in our culture, we are reminded that every war has an army that continually requires provisions, medicine for the wounded, as well as a winning call to arms. This is the Courage and EnCourage apostolate. Your generous donation brings us the provisions of indispensable material needs that enable our modest but strongly capable and impassioned staff, like Gideon’s army, to reach many more people with SSA to the loving victory of Christ. Our call to arms is the Gospel message that Christ has conquered sin and death! Thus, Courage helps deliver God’s powerful hope and healing to a world so thirsty for them."
Thank you in advance for your help in continuing the mission of our apostolate!
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Please read this letter from Sister Gilmary Kay, RSM -
our Coordinator of Pastoral Ministries!
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"The value of life does not depend upon the place we occupy. It depends upon the way we occupy that place. My hope is in Jesus.”
Dear Brothers and Sisters of Courage International,
This quote of Saint Therese of Lisieux is a great reflection on this blessed Advent Season and on the Courage/Encourage Ministry. I have been deeply blessed to witness trust and hope alive in the Courage/EnCourage Apostolate. Circumstances do not mitigate our Hope, because Our Hope is in the Lord Jesus. Over the past eighteen months serving Courage International, I have come to see more clearly the hope in Christ to which we are called. Hope is not mere wishing for something to change, to be or to be different—wishing can be narrow and superficial. True hope is the assurance that Christ is near, He knows us and He has a place. In Advent, we celebrate His Incarnation, but also His daily coming to us and His promise to come again in glory.
| | | | As we enter this Advent season, we stand in expectant hope, confident that God’s promises are fulfilled. This truth became evident to me during two recent Days of Reflection for Courage and EnCourage members. In Kansas City, we heard powerful stories of hope in Christ, including how the persistent prayers of one devoted mother brought abundant grace and conversion to her family. In Atlanta, two moving testimonies revealed how the Lord’s touch and revelation of mercy brought our speakers new life, hope and joy. | | |
These recent experiences remind us how much we need to bring our brokenness before the Lord, allowing Him to heal and reassure us of His love. Our calling in this world is to trust and hope in Jesus—our true friend and the One who was promised. All of us need conversion and deeper knowledge of the Lord. This special time of grace is a gift to grow in faith, hope and charity in whatever space in life we find ourselves.
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Sister Gilmary Kay, RSM
Coordinator of Pastoral Ministries
Courage International
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| | 2025 Monthly Prayer Intentions | | Remember to Help Us Keep Chapter Information Up-To-Date! | | |
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 any person who reaches out can find help and support near them.
| | 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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Resources: Connecting With Family
During the Holidays
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We know that holiday gatherings can be hard when differences surrounding religion, values, and politics feel insurmountable.
Please take a look at the resources below for some
help and encouragement:
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Home for the Holidays
Former executive director Fr. Philip Bochanski addresses frequently asked questions from parents about adult children who want to bring their same-sex partner home. This video is part of the EnCourage: A Family of Hope
series on our YouTube channel.
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Moving From Grief to Hope
This letter written by an EnCourage mother explores the act of processing one's grief in regards to parent-child relationships, and surrendering to God so as to ultimately find hope and peace in Him.
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Visit our YouTube channel for lots of helpful content like these resources!
Subscribe, like, and share to spread the word.
| | For Spanish Speaking Members and Friends | | There's a lot going on in the Courage and EnCourage apostolate all over the world! Don't forget that our website can be viewed in Spanish, and that there is a Spanish language newsletter sent out on the same day as this, our English version! | | Gender Identity Discordance* | | |
This article from National Catholic Register is a response to the following question:
"I was recently at a Mass that was attended by many young families and their children. It was also attended by a young man who came dressed in women’s clothes and received Holy Communion. What should the response be from a parishioner who witnesses such a thing? More importantly, what should be the pastor’s response? Even if the young man received sacramental confession before Mass, wouldn’t this still be an issue?"
Take a look at the author's response as he explores three perspectives - the person in question, the parishioners at Mass, and the priest.
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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 Men's Retreat
January 30 - February 1, 2026
Southern Connecticut
Check out the events page! If interested in attending, email office@couragerc.org.
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2026 Courage and EnCourage Annual Conference
July 16-19, 2026
Mundelein, Illinois
Save the date! More information to come in the new year!
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Sexual Integration & Redemption Course
February 8-13, 2026
Black Rock Retreat Center, Quarryville, PA
"The Theology of the Body Institute is excited to partner with Desert Stream Ministries for a unique and immersive healing and training opportunity. In this five day retreat, you will experience a compacted version of the Desert Stream Ministries flagship 'Living Waters' program — an opportunity to apply the content of Theology of the Body personally and practically."
Learn more about this event here!
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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.
| | 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. | | | | |
