Empowering Our Journey to Eternal Glory | | Mary Magdalene by Constantin Tzanes, c. 1650-1685. Hellenic Institute of Venice, Venice, Italy. | | Message From Our Executive Director | | |
Dear Friends,
Mid-July for Courage means the Annual Conference is upon us! Initiated by Fr. Harvey, it is our annual grace-filled powerhouse that strengthens, heals, and consoles us in our pursuit to imitate the saints in greater surrender to Jesus Christ, who patiently and lovingly accompanies us every step. This year’s theme is so timely for our culture at large: Chastity: The Virtue That Sets Us Free.
As we celebrate in the United States the 250th anniversary of our nation, we celebrate the freedoms given to us by Almighty God. The deepest freedom of all is the power through God’s grace to combat sin and to love God with a pure heart. Chastity is a vital part of that spiritual combat. As Proverbs 16 says: "he who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules the spirit is better than he who takes the city." The one who perseveres in the pursuit of chastity discovers the beauty of God and the peace of soul He wishes to lavish upon us all.
Chastity treats human intimacy as an extraordinarily sacred gift from God that recognizes God as sexuality’s author and definer. It is the lifelong conquest of the spirit over the flesh, the love of God over despair, the virtue that empowers true love to its deepest fulfillment. Chastity has nuclear effects: it mushrooms into deepening our authentic love for one another, it simplifies our hearts’ focus on God, it channels personal energy potentially used for sin and selfishness into energy for building up the kingdom of God. If one should fall, the 3rd, 7th and 9th Stations of the Cross remind us that Christ is there to lovingly pick us up again to refocus and stay on target.
Chastity is greater than military conquest because it facilitates love and self-mastery. It makes holiness the true objective of the gift of the body that God gives us. As we gather for the conference let us invoke the many great champions of chastity such as St. Augustine, St. Maria Goretti and others. Let us double down in rechanneling our God given energies within towards spiritual friendship, mutual encouragement in holiness, consolation in difficulty, and through the sacraments empowering our journey to eternal glory.
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Father Brian Gannon
Executive Director
| | | 2026 Annual Conference THIS WEEK | | |
Our 2026 Courage & EnCourage Annual Conference will be taking place in just two short days! If you registered, you should have received an email last week containing important information regarding the conference.
We can't wait to see you there!
| Not able to make it in person this year? | | |
Have no fear! As always, we will release videos of all of the various talks, homilies, etc. within a couple of weeks. Keep an eye on your inbox to know when they've been posted on our website! In addition, there will be an opportunity to watch the videos and discuss with other Courage and EnCourage members (in a member-led format). We will share any details when they are available.
You can check out videos from previous conferences here!
| | EnCourage Prayer Call's 10th Anniversary | | Diocese of Metuchen Celebrates 25 Years of Courage | |
The Courage chapter of the Diocese of Metuchen, New Jersey celebrated their 25th anniversary on June 28th! Members gathered to mark the joyous occasion, which was beautifully documented for us by an attendee:
"The spirit of fellowship was out in full force on Sunday, June 28th. The venue was the parish hall of beautiful St. Ann’s Church in Raritan, New Jersey and the occasion was the 25th anniversary celebration of the Metuchen Diocese chapter of Courage. Father Tom Odorizzi, the pastor of St. Ann’s and the chapter’s chaplain, graciously provided the space to commemorate the important milestone..." Read on here!
| Courage Member Writes Article for Catholic Medical Quarterly
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In May, Garrett Johnson wrote this article where he discusses Courage and the impact it has had on his life. It feels especially relevant this week, as he discusses attending the Annual Courage & EnCourage Conferences and how they particularly set him on a healing journey. We were very moved by Garrett's writing, and feel certain that you will be, too.
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| | 2026 Monthly Prayer Intentions | | |
Please join us again this year in praying together as a community for a specific intention each month.
Click here to save or print as a reminder to pray along with us!
“Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:19-20
July: That the participants of the Annual Courage and EnCourage Conference may strengthen their bonds of community and friendship and return home with renewed joy and hope.
August: For the EnCourage members, that the Lord may strengthen their faith, and fill their hearts with peace and joy.
| | 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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In this thought-provoking article, Tom Nash reflects on the observations from both secular and Catholic men who experience same sex attraction -- who both agree on the value of deep friendship rather than romance. Nash invites readers to consider how authentic friendship, rooted in charity and chastity, offers a deeper and more enduring foundation for human flourishing than relationships built primarily on sexual expression. Whether you are seeking to better understand the Church's vision of friendship or looking for a fresh apologetic perspective, this article offers much to ponder.
| | Catholic Identity and Pride Month | | |
You may have seen some nominally Catholic institutions acknowledging "Pride Month" in June. As Catholic schools and colleges seek to witness faithfully in today's culture, questions about identity, mission, and pastoral care continue to arise. In this article, Fr. Colin Blatchford, our associate director, reflects on why "Pride Month" celebrations are not compatible with the mission of Catholic educational institutions. He explains how Catholic schools can uphold the dignity of every person while remaining faithful to the Church's teaching and their evangelical purpose.
Read the full article for a thoughtful reflection on navigating these important questions with clarity and compassion.
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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! | | |
2026 Courage and EnCourage Annual Conference
July 16-19, 2026 (Clergy Study Day July 15)
Mundelein, Illinois (Archdiocese of Chicago)
We can't wait to see you there!
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Dawn of Mercy Healing Retreats
August 2026
Dawn of Mercy offers retreats for people who have experienced sexual assault (at any time in life) and are seeking emotional and spiritual healing. This August they will be holding retreats for women in both English (Aug 7-9) and Spanish (Aug 21-23). Here is a link to more information, both in English and Spanish.
To learn more, you can visit www.dawnofmercy.org.
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Courage and EnCourage Day of Reflection
September 26, 2026
Archdiocese of Atlanta, Georgia
"Join us for a daylong conference on faith, identity, and witness, including men
and women with an experience of same-sex attractions who are faithfully-and
joyfully!-living the call to chastity within the Catholic Church."
Check out the event page for more information, including a link to register!
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Retreat for Courage & EnCourage Chaplains
November 2-6, 2026
Malvern, Pennsylvania (Archdiocese of Philadelphia)
Join Fr. Brian Gannon and Fr. Colin Blatchford for a retreat especially for the chaplains of Courage & EnCourage. The retreat will be led by Fr. Herb Sperger, a priest of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Receive some time for rest and fraternity with fellow clergy who are serving those persons who experience same-sex attraction and those who love them. Register 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. | | | | |
