Fr. John F. Harvey, OSFS Founding Director of Courage

Dear Friends of Courage and EnCourage, 

We are quickly approaching the one hundredth anniversary of the birth, on April 14, of Fr. John F. Harvey, OSFS, the founding director of Courage. Fr. Harvey was a gentleman-priest and scholar, like St. Francis De Sales -- the saint he most sought to emulate. Father's holy life, compassionate ministry, and clear writings laid a solid theological and pastoral foundation on which the Courage apostolate continues to grow and bear fruit today.

Throughout 2018, we will remember and honor Fr. Harvey in our regional retreats, conferences, pilgrimage, and other events. We will also dedicate a portion of our newsletter to his memory by sharing his legacy of writings and talks, including several installments of the Director's Corner, the column he penned for the early print version of the newsletter. We are asking those of you who knew Father personally to submit stories/anecdotes for a remembrance booklet to be made available at the Annual Conference (details below).  

We encourage all members and friends of the apostolate to invoke Father Harvey's intercession this Jubilee Year as we pray for many blessings on our lives and on the ministry. 

God bless you, 
The Courage Central Office 

Fr. Harvey's inspiration from St. Francis de Sales to "Live Jesus"

	St. Francis de Sales in Ecstasy   by Louis François Félix Musnier

The beginning and the end of both Courage and EnCourage rest in the interior lives of our members.  As we begin this Jubilee year, it seems most fitting to draw inspiration from Fr. Harvey by taking a look at "The Spirituality of Courage" which begins as follows:

Rooted in the priestly heart of Fr. John Harvey, OSFS, whose spirituality was born of a profound personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ and inspired by the Oblates of Saint Francis de Salesʼ fervent devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the spirituality of Courage reflects the urging of the Saint to "Live Jesus." In The Introduction to the Devout Life , St. Francis de Sales opens the way for persons living in the world to develop a Christian life founded upon the union of oneʼs heart with the Sacred Heart of Jesus and in a daily striving marked by a total offering of oneʼs life and all of oneʼs works in union with God.

Read the entirety of "The Spirituality of Courage"

More resources from Fr. Harvey

To commemorate Fr. John Harvey's 100th birthday, we are compiling a collection of stories/anecdotes about Father, written by those who knew him. The booklet will be a tribute in honor of the founding director of our apostolate.

Accordingly, we invite those of you who are interested to please submit entries of 500 words or less, to: [email protected]. Submissions may be slightly edited upon receipt. You may use your full name, a pseudonym, or just your first name to go with your entry. Entries must be received by February 28, 2018.

	Fr. Harvey kisses the ring of       Pope Saint John Paul I

Courage staff member Pat Size interviewed Fr. Harvey after his exhilarating visit to the Vatican in which he had multiple "thrilling" encounters with St. Pope John Paul II. This is Fr. Harvey's own account of one of these blessed meetings:

I thought it was all over and you just walk off the stage, but no, no ... we went up to the Pope again, and you knelt down. This time I really told him that I was the Director of Courage which is a ministry to Catholic men and women with homosexual tendencies. I said we have a very serious program of chastity, and he said 'Good!' and that was the end of my conversation - he just said one word - that's okay.  So I moved out again, walking on air.

Read entire interview with Fr. Harvey's about his trip to Rome

Many Courage and EnCourage members already appreciate Fr. Mike Schmitz for the compassion and clarity he offers in his From Love, For Love, By Love CD and in his videos of his talks to young people. Now Fr. Schmitz has fully developed his presentation in this new book published by Ignatius Press. Written especially for persons who experience same-sex attractions and those who love them, this book will be particularly valuable in providing authentic pastoral care to our hurting world. 

In Made for Love Fr. Schmitz "shows that the Church's teachings are rooted in the yearnings for authentic love that are shared by all who are made in the image and likeness of God." He writes about "genuine love: how we can truly love each other, how the Bible teaches us to love and how God is not simply loving, but love itself." 

Courage Executive Director, Fr. Philip Bochanski, writes in the foreword, "Made for Love is an important answer to ... questions about identity and sexuality. ... Made for Love proclaims one message loud and clear: 'You are who you are because God loves you!'"  

Order Fr. Schmitz's Made for Love 

Read Introduction to Made for Love 

Read interview with Fr. Mike Schmitz on our Truth & Love blog  

January 27 - February 2, 2018, in Calabasas, California

Mt. Crags Camp and Conference Center

With Andy Comiskey and Desert Streams Ministries  

More Information and registration

February 10, 2018, in Overland Park, Kansas

With Andy Comiskey and Desert Streams Ministries  

Information and registration

March 10, 2018, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

With Mr. Mark Houck, Founder of Kings Men

More information:  [email protected]