Latest Announcements
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Meetings
We organise events as and when seem appropriate.
Resources from New Ways Ministries
- Bondings 2.0: A daily blog with the latest Catholic LGBTQ news, opinion, and spirituality with an archive dating back to 2011.
- Parish Life Resources: A webpage that provides ideas and inspirations for parishes welcoming LGBTQ people. See Parish Life & Pastoral Care and Personal Stories sections.
- Journeys: A scriptural reflection series for LGBTQ people and allies. Each of the more than 20 prayer guides is based on a passage from Scripture and includes questions for reflection and a prayer. The guides are intended for both personal and communal use.
- Website: Their website includes “Issues” pages on numerous topics (criminalization laws, parish life, Catholic education, etc.) with resources on what people can do to be more inclusive, what church teaching says, etc.
- Trans-forming Love: Programming on gender identity in the church. They have a webpage with transgender-specific resources, as well as a workshop program we have done for parishes and religious communities.
About
The LGBTI group aims to provide a safe haven for the LGBTI Christian Community from all walks of life.
Our “core mission” is to provide emotional and psycho-social support to the marginalised gay and lesbian community from a Christian point of view. We meet every fortnight to discuss issues affecting the LGBTI people in this day and age. We also function as a referral point for this community to different service providers, be it legal or health issues.
We aim to inform and educate the world on being gay and a Christian. We strive to empower the LGBTI Christian Community. All are welcome.
If you would like to make contact with the LGBTI Christian Community at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, please email them at lgbti@trinityjhb.co.za.
Read more of Fr James Martin SJ’s interview at La Stampa and see his talk below.
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What is life like if you or someone in your family is gay, lesbian, bisexual, trangendered or intersex in their orientation?
“As a group that has suffered more than its share of oppression and contempt , the homosexual community has a particular claim on the concern of the Church.” – Catholic Social Welfare Commission, 1979.
At Holy Trinity we seek to be welcoming and inclusive to all and have a particular concern for those who, in any way, feel that they are on the margins of the Church.
Being welcomed and being invited to participate in their local faith community is the foundation of spiritual support that the Church offers to all baptised persons.
As a parish, what can we do? We can take a number of steps to ensure that individuals and families feel welcome. To begin:
- take time to inform ourselves of what the Church and read good Catholic writings on the subject
- be aware of how marginalised some individuals (and families) feel because of their (or a family member’s) homosexual orientation
- avoid stereotyping and condemning. It is so easy for us to do this and very painful to anyone who is stereotyped or condemned
- remember that homophobic jokes and asides can be cruel and hurtful; a careless words can mean another experience of rejection and pain. Reject homophobic jokes and refuse to be party to them in social circles and places of work
- help educate others, especially children, so as to stop homophobic attitudes and prejudice. Young people must know that these are not Christian attitudes and therefore not acceptable. Lead by example!
- assist in anyway you can to be welcoming to others, especially those who are near to our community. This helps us grow into a welcoming, friendly and sensitive community
“Church policies should explicitly reject unjust discrimination and harassment of any persons, including those with a homosexual inclination. Procedures should be in place to handle complaints.” – Ministry to Persons with Homosexual Inclination: Guidelines for Pastoral Care. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. November 14, 2006.
Resources for Reflection
- An excerpt from Father James Martin: L.G.B.T. Catholics have been treated like dirt. We can do better. an interview with Fr James Martin SJ by Ashley McKinless
A Prayer for when I feel rejected
I praise you and I love you,
for I am wonderfully made, in your own image.But when people make fun of me,
I feel hurt and embarrassed and even ashamed.
So please God, help me remember my own goodness,
which lies in you.
Help me remember my dignity,
which you gave me when I was conceived.
Help me remember that I can live a life of love,
because you created my heart.Be with me, loving God, when people hate me,
and help me to respond how you would want me to:
with a love that respects others, but also respects me.
Help me find friends who love me for who I am.
Help me, most of all, to be a loving person.And God, help me remember that Jesus loves me.
For he was seen as an outcast, too.
He was misunderstood, too.
He was beaten and spat upon.
Jesus understands me,
and loves me with a special love,
because of the way you made me.And when I am feeling lonely,
help me to remember that Jesus welcomed everyone as a friend.
Jesus reminded everyone that God loved them.
Jesus encouraged everyone to embrace their dignity,
even when others were blind to seeing that dignity.
Jesus loved everyone with the boundless love that you gave him.
And he loves me, too.One more thing, God:
Help me remember
that nothing is impossible with you,
that you have a way of making things better,
and that you can find a way of love for me,
even if I can’t see it right now.
Help me remember all these things
in the heart you created, loving God.
Amen.
James Martin, SJ