Witness to Hope and Mercy | | Message From Our Executive Director | | |
Dear Friends,
The virtue of hope and gift of mercy are this year’s Courage Conference theme. The secular world banters about hope in varying ways. Hoping for pizza, a snow day, a Super Bowl win, a good job - each can be satisfying in time, but that is also why they still fall short! Each experience is concerned only with earthly experience in time. Supernatural hope, inseparable from mercy, is much more ontological and powerful; the graced knowledge that Christ died for us, rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and thus offers eternal (timeless) life to those who embrace His love. Supernatural hope gives us not fun anticipation, but essential purpose to life. It is not a mere morale booster but an anchor that holds me fast during stormy times. It substantively fuels my daily activities because it clarifies my deepest purpose in life.
What is the purpose of life, the happiness I seek? There is no more technological age in history than today. We are promised that technology will make us happier. And yet, there is broader unhappiness in the world. Technology is but a tool meant to serve the deeper purpose of life: unconditional love of Our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Only Divine Love and Mercy can give purpose, passion, and healing when we fall. Only the Source of all Love satisfies fully. And yet, God reveals not just love but demands of love. Why? So that our love can be purified, made strong, lasting, and truly satisfying because it imitates and intimates with His Divine love.
Thus ironically, it is the demands of love that when accepted, give us powerful hope! A practical obedience to God gives us grace, wisdom, self-mastery, clarity about who we are and Who He is. The world rages against this, but the great saints know better. The ultimate illustration of one who truly hopes in God is martyrdom: the ultimate obedience. As we prepare for the 2025 Courage Conference, let us thank God for the beautiful gift of Courage International; of holy friendships that facilitate and sustain our hope in mercy and salvation. Hope grows not when we rebel against God and abuse our freedom, but when we submit our freedom to God. Amidst a cynical world, Holy Mother Church untiringly teaches us that God always loves, never abandons, and is trigger happy with mercy and forgiveness. This is the true hope of humanity. This is the true hope to which our approaching conference will witness. This is the supernatural hope and mercy of the crucified and risen Lord.
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Father Brian Gannon
Executive Director
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Register for the 2025 Annual Conference - Deadline is TODAY, July 15!
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July 31 - August 3
Neumann University, Aston, PA
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Check out just a couple of the amazing speakers
who will be joining us at this year's conference:
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Sister Gilmary Kay, RSM
Sister Gilmary Kay, RSM joined the pastoral staff of Courage in 2024. Sister Gilmary is a member of the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan. She entered the sisters in 1997 and celebrated 25 years of perpetual profession last year.
Sister received a bachelor’s degree in biology and theology from Franciscan University of Steubenville, a master’s degree in theology from the Saint John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family and has completed graduate work in philosophy.
Prior to joining Courage, she completed 8 years of service as Delegate for Consecrated Life for the Archdiocese of Washington. Sister Gilmary has served in hospital ministry as a chaplain and patient advocate. She also served in formation as the Chairman of the Formators conference for the Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious.
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Father Philip Bochanski
Father Philip Bochanski, a native of suburban Philadelphia, received the degrees of Master of Divinity, and Master of Arts in Theology, from Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, and was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in 1999. In addition to several parish assignments, he served as a high school religion teacher, chaplain to cloistered nuns, and a spiritual director for seminarians.
In 2009, Father Bochanski began serving as chaplain for the Philadelphia chapter of Courage International. He was appointed associate director of the worldwide apostolate in 2015, and served as executive director of Courage International from January 2017 to June 2023.
| | Already registered? Keep an eye out for an email with additional details one week prior to the conference! | | |
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A Silver Jubilee- 25 Years of Sports Camp
A former participant once called Sports Camp “the most important sporting event in the world.” Others have described this occasion as “like a taste of heaven on earth.” Some may scoff at this claim- until they experience the sportsmanship, bonding, and healing of this event themselves. There is a reason that Sports Camp, despite its humble beginnings, has endured all these years.
Read the full reflection written by an organizer here.
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This year, Courage Philippines is celebrating their 30th anniversary! To mark the occasion, there will be a conference held in Mandaluyong City this August with the theme "Sharing the Pearl of Great Hope." This particular theme was chosen in effort to be in alignment with the Jubilee Year of Hope and to share with the rest of the Church the grace-filled experience of 30 years spent accompanying persons with same sex attraction. We are thrilled to share that our associate director, Fr. Colin Blatchford, will be joining the conference as a speaker!
Congratulations to our dear friends - our prayers are with you as you celebrate this great occasion!
| | 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. | |
| Resources We Think You'll Love | | |
This year, the USCCB released a 10th Anniversary Edition of the document Create in Me a Pure Heart: A Pastoral Response to Pornography. Developed by the Committee on Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, this document comes highly recommended by several Courage chaplains as a worthy read for all. It focuses on the beauty and dignity of the human person, how pornography violates that dignity and its impact on our culture, and individually addresses several groups who need pastoral attention in this regard (those exploited by pornography, those hurt by a spouse's use of pornography, parents, young people, and more). Filled with both acknowledgement of the dangerous realities of this industry as well as the hope and Mercy of Christ, this document is a worthy read for anyone seeking guidance in a world that only tells us to turn in on ourselves.
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Check out this latest reflection from former Courage International executive director Father Paul Check, “The Climb from Sin to God: A Re‑examination of Conscience.” This insightful article guides readers through a humble journey of honest self‑knowledge—recognizing personal sin, refining motivations, and embracing Christ’s grace—with practical steps drawn from scripture, the saints, and sacred tradition. Perfect for anyone seeking to deepen their prayer life and spiritual transformation, this piece shines a light on the pathway from sincere contrition to true union with God.
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Visit our YouTube channel for lots of helpful content like these resources!
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| | 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! | |
Courage Philippines 2025 Conference
August 21, 2025
Archdiocese of Manila
Courage Philippines is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year! Our associate director, Fr. Blatchford will be attending and speaking at their annual conference, whose theme this year is "Sharing the Pearl of Great Wisdom." You can check out their flyer here!
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Encuentro
August 29-31, 2025
For our Spanish-speaking members; this year, we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Courage in Mexico! For more information, you can email oficina@couragerc.org.
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Courage and EnCourage Southern CA Retreat
November 14-16, 2025
El Carmelo Retreat House, Redlands, CA (Diocese of San Bernardino)
Mark your calendars; more information to come 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.
| | 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. | | | | |
