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International apostolate of the Catholic Church ministering to persons with same-sex attractions

Courage & Encourage

Endorsed by the Pontifical Council for the Family, Courage seeks to help persons with same-sex attractions develop an interior life of chastity and move beyond the confines of the homosexual identity to a more complete identity in Christ.

Monthly Courage meetings provide members a place to share their concerns and struggles, to support one another and find support for themselves.

EnCourage is a ministry dedicated to the spiritual needs of parents, siblings, children and other relatives and friends of persons who have same-sex attractions.

Monthly EnCourage meetings provide members a place to find support and give support to one another and their loved ones with same-sex attractions.

Strict confidentiality is maintained.

LEARN MORE

Contact Us

Courage Contact:  Email courage@archbalt.org and a member of a team of priests will contact you.

EnCourage Contacts: 

EnCourage Spiritual Director:  Rev. Brian Nolan, Email brian.nolan@archbalt.org

EnCourage Facilitator:  Email encourage@archbalt.org or Lorraine at 443-414-3228.

For more information on Courage International, click here. 

Testimonial

“What matters to Christ is not whether our children consider themselves gay or straight, but whether they are living in holiness, according to his will. He loves them even more than we do, and this is our unceasing prayer for each of our sons and daughters.”

Pat Phebus
Founding member of EnCourage, Archdiocese of Baltimore

Resources

● Parent Novena for Perserverance

● Link to Church documents on same-sex attractions, testimonials of Courage/EnCourage members, prayers and more

● America Magazine published this reflection by a man who found support through Courage. 

FIVE GOALS FOR COURAGE

CHASTITY

Live chaste lives in accordance with the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching on homosexuality.

PRAYER AND DEDICATION

Dedicate one’s life to Christ through service to others, spiritual reading, prayer, meditation, individual spiritual direction, frequent attendance at Mass, and the frequent reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist.

FELLOWSHIP

Foster a spirit of fellowship in which all may share thoughts and experiences, and so ensure that no one will have to face the problems of homosexuality alone.

SUPPORT

Be mindful of the truth that chaste friendships are not only possible but necessary in a chaste Christian life and in doing so provide encouragement to one another in forming and sustaining them.

GOOD EXAMPLE

Live lives that may serve as good examples to others.

FIVE GOALS FOR ENCOURAGE

SPIRITUALITY

To grow spiritually through spiritual reading, prayer, meditation, individual spiritual direction, frequent attendance at Mass, and the frequent reception of the Sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist

UNDERSTANDING

To gain a deeper understanding of the needs, difficulties, and challenges experienced by men and women with same-sex attraction. 

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS

To establish and maintain a healthy and wholesome relationship with their loved ones with same-sex attraction. 

HELPING OTHERS

To assist other family members and friends to reach out with compassion and truth, and not to reject, their loved ones with same-sex attraction.

WITNESS

To witness to their loved ones by their own lives that fulfillment is to be found in Jesus Christ through His Body, the Church.

Videos

Does God Make a Person Gay?

Father Philip Bochanski discusses why this idea is incompatible with Catholic theology and the Church’s understanding of the human person and God’s plan for sexuality.

Homosexuality and the Catholic Church

Jason Evert, an international speaker on chastity, discusses the Catholic Church’s teaching on same-sex attractions.

AUTHENTIC TRUTH AND COMPASSION

Father Paul Check, former executive director of Courage International, speaks about ministry to persons with same-sex attraction.  Courage members share their experiences. 

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