Sunday, December 22, 2013
Dignity USA chapter information part 1
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Dignity/Arizona
Dignity/Arizona
Dignity/ARIZONA was founded in 1977. we're celebrating our 36th Anniversary in 2013. We are a fully inclusive faith community serving LGBTQA Catholics, their families and friends. We're located in North Central Phoenix, if you're looking for a growing, loving and vibrant community, please visit and join us for Saturday Mass, invite your family and friends, all are welcome.
Welcome to Dignity/Arizona
It's official, we have a name!
St Damien
After Mass, registered members were handed ballots to vote on a complement name for our chapter.
The Proctor, Fr Michael tallied the all the votes including absentee ballots and St Damien has been selected by our members as our complement name. Congratulations to all!
To learn more about St Damien please click on the link below to visit Wikipedia.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Damien
Please join us for our most important and popular social event of the year!
Dignity/ARIZONA will provide the main entree, non-alcoholic beverages, plates and utensils. Please bring a side dish to share if you can but if you forget that's OK, the most important ingredient at our potluck is you!
Invite your family and friends to join us, the event starts at 2 PM at long time member and Dignity/ARIZONA supporter Bill Luke's home 115 West Marlette Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85013.
Bill's home is located North of Bethany Home Rd and South of Glendale Ave (& South of Maryland Ave) and just West of Central Ave.
BYOB, you're welcome to bring your own alcoholic beverages, an ice cooler is avaiable to keep bottles cool.
Stay for the always fun and antics filled Annual White Elephant Gift Exchange activity to top off the event. Be there!
Please stay after Mass for announcements on upcoming events and activities, after liturgy we take some time out for fellowship, treats and beverages. Members and visitors may decide to have a late dinner as a group at a nearby restaurant. We look forward to having you join us soon, please call us if you have questions and don't forget to suscribe to our Constant Contact emailing list to keep up with all the latest news.
All are welcome!
Saturday Mass
Please join us for the "Celebration of the Holy Eucharist" every Saturday.
Britt Chapel
7 PM
Church of the Beatitudes
555 West Glendale Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85021
On the Southeast corner of 7th & Glendale Avenues.
Click here for a map.
All are welcome!
User login
Log in
Chapter Activities
•Saturday Liturgy
•Pastoral Care
•Monthly Potluck Dinners
•Holiday Parties
•Movies
•Community Service
•Guest Speakers
•After Mass Fellowship
•Educational Forums
•Discussion Groups
•Cultural Events
Mailing Address & Phone
Dignity/Arizona
P.O. Box 34561
Phoenix, AZ 85067-4561
602-230-4191
Subscribe to our Constant Contact emails.
If you would like be placed on emailing list and be informed chapter activities, event and news please send an email to info@dignityarizona.com with the word "subscribe" in the subject line.
Copyright © 2013 - Dignity/Arizona Maintained by webpage volunteer: John Orta
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NEWS FLASHES
World Peace Day
World Peace Day is celebrated on Jan. 1 (New Years Day)
Officers Election
Click for the Notice of upcoming election of chapter officers.
Xmas Party
$600 was donated for Garvanza school gift at the party.
Discernment
Save the whole day Sun, Jan. 19 (lunch is provided) for this; see also President's article on this project.
Pastoral Pope
Pope Francis urges more pastoral Church, including for GLBTQs, and quotes Pope John XXIII: See everything; turn a blind eye to much; correct a little. See quote from Pope Francis, at the right.
Two Ordinations
Save March 22 for this event; more later.
Palm Springs
Anniversary Dinner
Postponed till Jan; watch for more info.
Records for IRS
Click here to read rules (at pp 18-20); & here for a summary.
Membership Application
To download a new- member application, click here.
Board Meetings
Generally chapter Board meets at 4 pm on the first Sunday of each month. Check on calendar to be sure.
Sunday Liturgy
The chapter Sunday Mass is celebrated at 5:30 pm each week at Dignity Center; click on Map in the banner above.
WELCOME TO DIGNITY
Dignity/LA is an independent lay organization that seeks to reform the Catholic Church and society in general, mainly on issues regarding the sexuality of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgender (GLBT) persons, and also to minister to the spiritual (and other) needs of GLBT persons. We are an affiliate of Dignity/USA, which is a nationwide organization with scores of chapters (including several such chapters in California, four of them located in southern California) and thousands of members.
Dignity/LA has the unique distinction of being the founding chapter of Dignity/USA. In 1969, a group of Catholics began to meet to discuss GLBT issues and to celebrate Mass. We took a statement of the then only recently completed Second Vatican Council (quote is in the box at the right) as our inspiration in the choice of a name for our organization. In only a very few years, the organization had developed into the high-profile nationwide advocate for all GLBT persons that Dignity is today.
During most of the pontificate of Pope John Paul II (1978-2005), Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI) was the enforcer of orthodox doctrine. Ironically, however, he had long ago vigorously defended (see quote in the box to the right) the primacy of conscience, even in the face of the contrary demands of the Pope or other church authority.
We urge you to get to know Dignity/LA better. We invite you (and bring a friend also, if you can) to attend one of the chapter's regular liturgies on Sundays at 5:30 pm (click for an index to some photos) at Dignity Center and the fellowship (i.e. a social) that follows the liturgy. Click for a map (equipped with a zoom-in/out feature) and for directions.
In the meantime, please do explore further on this website to learn more About Us. Any-
thing that is underlined (in the text of any page of this website or in either of the two rows that are found just below the banner at the top of each page of this website) links to still more information, on this website (or elsewhere): so just click on the link to go there.
We echo a saintly Philadelphia pastor who posted this welcoming message on his parish website: "Come into this house and bring all you are. No need to check your failures at the door. There are no perfect people here. You are invited, so come. Come in seeking, come in wandering, come in hurting. Come into this house of companionship and compassion. Come in. You are welcome here."
Bienvenidos: Para cosas en español, click aquí or on Hispanic in the banner at the top of each page of this website.
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Statement of
POSITION AND PURPOSE
of DIGNITY
Para leer en español, click aquí.
We believe that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Catholics in our diversity are members of Christ's mystical body, numbered among the People of God. We have an inherent dignity because God created us, Christ died for us, and the Holy Spirit sanctified us in Baptism, making us temples of the Spirit and channels through which God's love becomes visible. Because of this, it is our right, our privilege, and our duty to live the sacramental life of the Church, so that we might become more powerful instruments of God's love working among all people.
We believe that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons can express our sexuality in a manner that is consonant with Christ's teaching. We believe that we can express our sexuality physically, in a unitive manner that is loving, life-giving, and life-affirming. We believe that all sexuality should be exercised in an ethically responsible and unselfish way.
DIGNITY is organized to unite gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Catholics, as well as our families, friends and loved ones, in order to develop leadership and be an instrument through which we may be heard by and promote reform in the Church.
To be such an organization, we accept our responsibilities to the Church, to our Catholic heritage, to society, and to individual gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Catholics: • TO THE CHURCH: We work for the development of the Church's sexual theology, leading to the reform of its teachings and practices regarding human sexuality, and for the acceptance of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people as full and equal members of the one Christ.
• TO SOCIETY: We work for justice and equality through education and by supporting social and legal reforms.
• TO INDIVIDUAL GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER CATHOLICS: We reinforce our sense of self-acceptance and dignity and encourage full participation in the life of the Church and society.
As members of Dignity, we promote causes of interest to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Catholics. We have five primary areas of concern and commitment:
• SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT: We strive to achieve Christian maturity through sacraments, Scripture, prayer, an active love of neighbor as ourselves, and liturgical celebrations, especially the Mass.
• EDUCATION: We inform ourselves in all matters of faith and of interest to our communities, so that we may grow in maturity and nurture fulfilling lives in which our sexuality and spirituality are integrated.
• SOCIAL JUSTICE: As Catholics and members of society, we involve ourselves in those actions that bring the love of Christ to others and provide the basis of social reform in the Church and society. We are actively involved with:
◦ Individuals : We lead a life of service to ourselves and others, rendering visible the love of Christ and assisting in the creation of love-centered communities.
◦ Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Groups : We work with a variety of other groups to seek justice for all persons and to promote a sense of solidarity within the communities.
◦ Religious and Secular Groups : We work with many groups and organizations so that their members might better understand gay, lesbian, bisexuals, and transgender persons and thus recognize and eliminate present injustices.
◦ Health Care : We work to promote equal access and justice in all areas of health care and healing.
◦ Women's Justice Issues : We strive to eradicate sexism and patriarchy in all areas of Church and secular life so that women are wholly included, accepted, and welcome.
• EQUALITY ISSUES: We dedicate ourselves to develop the potential of all persons to become more fully human. In order to do this, we work toward the eradication of all constraints on our personhood based on the ascribed social roles of women and men and to promote inclusivity in all areas of liturgical and community life.
• SOCIAL EVENTS: We provide activities of a social and recreational nature in an atmosphere where friendships can develop and mature, and where our sense of self acceptance and dignity is affirmed.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Are all frequently-asked questions answered in this FAQs section of this website?
A. They are not even all asked here, let alone answered; but we do welcome any questions, for possible inclusion here. Some questions (including many regarding sexuality or morality) are addressed in some detail on this website -- but elsewhere on this website; click on sexuality to link to those topics.
Q. Are donations to Dignity/LA tax deductible?
A. Yes. It is a non-profit corporation; and it holds an IRS 501(c)(3) certificate attesting to deductibility of donations, to the extent permitted by law. Each year, a statement is issued to all donors required by the IRS to have proof of donations. Dignity/USA is also a non-profit corporation, and it also has such a certificate.
Q. Does someone have to be a gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender (GLBT) person to be eligible to become a member of Dignity?
A. No. We welcome all family, friends, loved ones and others who support the GLBT cause to become Dignity members (or if preferred, just a supporter). To learn more about how to become a member (and about categories of membership and other support), please click here. While donations are accepted from supporters regardless of membership status, one helps add strength to our voice calling for Church reform by joining us, as a member.
Q. Do you have a short explanation of the Dignity stand on the issues of concern to it?
A. Yes, we sure do. We call it our Statement of Position and Purpose (or the SP&P for short). Click here (or the "SP&P" link in the banner at the top of each page of this website) to read it (y para leerlo en español, click aquí).
Q. I cannot afford the dues to become a member (or to renew my membership); does that mean that I cannot be a member?
A. No. We urge that all contribute, in accordance with their means, even if the amount is quite small; but no one is ever denied membership or participation for financial inability.
Q. How does the chapter support itself?
A. Financially, our income is mainly from the following sources: membership dues, Sunday collection baskets, fund raisers, annual pledge drive, special donations from members (or even others), bequests from decedents, and income from investments. We also have an Endowment Fund Trust (that was formed specifically for the purpose of providing regular income from invested assets). There is more information on these subjects on the Support page of this website.
Q. Where are you located?
A. Dignity Center is in the Highland Park section of Los Angeles, just off the Pasadena Freeway and a few miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. To see a map (with a zoom in/out feature to help you, whether you are nearby or at a distance), click here (or click on the Map link found in the lines below the banner at the top of each page of this website). Also, detailed directions are available from the Directions link that is found on the maps themselves or by clicking on Contact Us (here or in the link lines below the banner at the top of each page of this website).
Q. Why are you not located closer to the center of GLBT activity, like in Silver Lake or West Hollywood?
A. For many years, we were located in the eastern part of Hollywood, between Silver Lake and West Hollywood. However, when the infamous Ratzinger Letter decreed that Dignity was no longer to be permitted to use Church property, we sought an affordable alternative. As a result, we moved to the Highland Park section of Los Angeles, in the Spring of 1990.
Q. Do you own your own building?
A. Yes, in 1990 the chapter bought the building that has served as Dignity Center since 1990. We take pride in the fact that the chapter was able to pay off the mortgage on the building in about eight years and even greater pride in the fact that the mortgage was itself a loan from a group of the chapter's own members.
Q. Do you have social activities as well?
A. Yes, we do indeed. Some are at the Dignity Center, such as the social right after Mass on Sunday, followed by dinner out on the town for all those interested. Others are excursions to -- you name it. Two examples: each summer we have an excursion to the Hollywood Bowl for a potluck picnic (followed by the Bowl concert itself) and at least one Summer Party as such.
Q. Does this website have info on other opportunities for activism?
A. Yes, there is an Activism page for events sponsored by others, but related to the chapter's mission; but access is limited to members.
Q. Who decides upon and organizes social activities?
A. There is a Social Committee; so some activities are organized by that Committee and its Chairperson. Others, however, are simply a groundswell of interest by members who undertake to propose (and organize) an excursion (or other event) under chapter auspices. One example of the latter is the Oscar Party night at Dignity Center, each year for several years now.
Q. Who presides at the celebration of Mass?
A. A priest.
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Q. Are they really priests?
A. Yes. All those who preside regularly at our Masses were ordained in and by the institutional Church -- though not all are still active as priests in the institutional Church. On occasion, we do have a presider who was ordained in another church; but all are priests ordained in churches recognized by the institutional Church as having bishops validly consecrated in the apostolic tradition.
Q. Have any of your presiders ever been involved in the clerical sexual abuse scandal?
A. No. Dignity has a national policy that prevents such priests from serving as a presider at any of our services.
Q. Do you now have (or ever had) any association with a North American Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) or any group favoring sex with minors?
A. No, never. In its Statement of Position And Purpose (SP&P), and otherwise also, Dignity is firmly committed to the principles "that all sexuality should be exercised in an ethical and unselfish manner." Sex with any underaged or otherwise vulnerable persons or taking advantage of any position of trust to procure sexual activity would be in clear violation of those principles.
Q. Does a person have to be (or want to be) a Roman Catholic in order to be a member?
A. No; but we do have a course of initiation very similar to that of the institutional Church for persons interested in learning more.
Q. Is the chapter a part of the institutional Church?
A. No. The chapter's By-Laws provide that the "chapter is an independent, self-governing corporation..." that "...is a lay organization, not an ecclesiastical organization; and it is not subject to ecclesiastical regulation."
Q. Are all members Catholics?
A. Not all are Roman Catholics. However, it would be safe to assume that all are Catholics in the sense that the Nicene Creed (used in the Mass) uses the term "catholic .. church," meaning a "universal" or "all-inclusive" church, since all of mainstream Christianity adheres to the Nicene Creed as adopted by one of the very earliest ecumenical councils (i.e. Council of Nicaea (convened first in Nicaea, Greece, early in the 4th Century)).
Q. Is the chapter the only place where GLBTs who are Catholic can meet as a faith community?
A. Some faith communities are more welcoming to a GLBT who seeks to associate with that faith community than others would be. Some Roman Catholic parishes, and other Christian churches as well, fall into this category. Indeed, some Dignity members retain an association with a parish, as well as take an active part in Dignity itself; but since parishes are a part of the institutional Church, some restrictions are likely to be encountered in even the most welcoming parish. We include on this website, however, information on some of the faith communities considered (by some) to have earned the honor of being considered welcoming faith communities in the greater Los Angeles area. Click here for general information on this subject and to reach a link to a listing of some faith communities in the greater Los Angeles area that are believed to fall into that category.
Q. Do you have funds to assist those who are suffering from HIV/AIDS?
A. Yes. At one time, the chapter's AIDS Fund assisted both needy individual applicants and institutions seeking monies with which they could assist such individuals. At this time, however, assistance is provided primarily to institutions, with occasional exceptions for individuals in special circumstances, primarily needy members of the chapter. See the Support page of this website for more info on this subject.
Q. Is this website protected by copyright or subject to conditions of use?
A. Yes. Click here for more information on the subject.
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News
Flashes
Xmas Schedule
Click for flyer.
World Peace Day
World Peace Day is celebrated Jan. 1 (New Years Day)
Annual Meeting &
Election
TBD: watch here.
Pope As Pastoral
Pope urges more pastoral Church, in re GLBTs also cit-
ing Pope John XXIII for: "See everything; turn a blind eye to much; correct (just) a little." See quote from Pope Francis in box to the right.
Austrian Priest
An Austrian priest leads reform effort. On Aug 2, he spoke in Pasadena. Click for flyer, for photos, for more on his tour.
Records for IRS
Click here to read (pp 18-20) the IRS rules; & here for the summary.
Council Mtgs
Council meets at 3 pm on 2nd Sundays in odd-numbered months; but check calendar to be sure.
Announcements
Click to read the Announcements.
KOA Fund
Ten percent each Sunday goes to the KOA Fund (former AIDS Fund). It helps members in need, regardless of cause.
Anointing
In odd-numbered months, a healing Anointing is held at 1st Sunday Mass.
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WELCOME TO DIGNITY
Dignity/Palm Springs is an independent lay organization that seeks to reform both the Catholic Church and society in general, mainly on issues regarding the sexuality of gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and transgender (GLBT) persons, and to minister to the spiritual (and other) needs of GLBT persons. We are an affiliate of Dignity/USA, which is a nationwide organization with scores of chapters (including several chapters in California, four of them located in southern California) and thousands of members.
In 1969, a group of Catholics began meeting to discuss GLBT issues and to celebrate Mass. We took a statement of the then only recently completed Second Vatican Council (the quote is in the box at the right) as our inspiration in the choice of a name for our organization. After just a few years, the organization had developed into the high-profile nationwide advocate for all GLBT persons that Dignity is today.
During most of the pontificate of Pope John Paul II (1978-2005), Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (but later Pope Benedict XVI) was the chief enforcer of orthodox doctrine. Ironically, he had long ago vigorously defended (see the quote in the box to the right) the primacy of conscience, even in the face of contrary demands from the pope or other church authorities.
In late 2008, there was a United Nations resolution pressing for the de-criminalization of homosexuality worldwide. The Vatican did not support the whole resolution, but it did explain (see the box at the right) that it does support de-criminalizing sex between consenting adults.
We urge you to get to know Dignity/Palm Springs better. We cordially invite you (and bring a friend also, if you can) to attend one of the chapter's regular Sunday liturgies, at 5 pm. In the wake of a fire in the building in which the chapter had been meeting, Mass is now at St. Paul of the Desert Episcopal Church at 125 W. Alameda, in Palm Springs (click here for map), and fellowship (i.e. a social) follows the liturgy. Meanwhile, please explore this website further to learn more About Us.
Anything that is underlined (in the text of any page of this website or in the two rows that are just below the banner at the top of each page of this website) is a link to more info, on this website (or elsewhere); so just click on it to go there.
We echo a saintly Philadelphia pastor who posted this welcoming message on his parish website: "Come into this house and bring all you are. No need to check your failures at the door. There are no perfect people here. You are invited, so come. Come in seeking, come in wandering, come in hurting. Come into this house of companionship and compassion. Come in. You are welcome here."
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q. Are all frequently-asked questions answered in this FAQs section of this website?
A. Not all frequently-asked questions are even asked, let alone answered, on this website; but we do invite you to submit your questions for possible inclusion on this website. Some questions (including regarding sexuality or morality) are addressed in detail -- but elsewhere, on this website. Click here to go to treatment of the topic of sexuality on this website. As you will see stated and explained in detail: We believe that we can express our sexuality in a loving, life-affirming manner that is in keeping with the teachings of Christ.
Q. Are donations to Dignity/Palm Springs deductible for tax purposes?
A. Yes. It is a non-profit organization; and it holds an IRS 501(c)(3) certificate that attests to the deductibility of such donations, to the extent permitted by law. Each year, all of the donors (who identify themselves when contributing) are issued a statement, as required by the IRS as proof of the donations. Dignity/USA is also a non-profit organization, and it also has such a certificate.
Q. Is a receipt needed to deduct a donation?
A. Yes. Starting for tax year 2007, IRS has updated its rules governing deductions for contributions to charitable groups, such as Dignity. A contribution is deductible only if the taxpayer has a receipt (when the tax return claiming a deduction is filed), regardless of the amount; but your cancelled check can serve as a receipt. For any gift to a donee over $250, one must have an acknowledgement of the gift by the donee; but this may be one for each gift over $250 or an overall one that lists all such gifts for the year, showing date and amount of each. The chapter each year acknowledges the total of verified gifts made by an individual when the total for the year is in excess of $250, specifying the date and amount of each gift that is in excess of $250. No amounts given in an unverifiable manner (such as in loose cash in the collection basket at a liturgy) can be included. Those who want the ability to deduct their total donations should consider the annual pledge drive as the way to donate and then satisfying the pledge by check, so that the chapter can easily compute a verifiable total and acknowledge the total and each gift in excess of $250 promptly after the end of the tax year, in time for the tax-return season and meeting IRS rules.
Q. Does someone have to be a gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender (GLBT) person to be eligible to be a member of Dignity?
A. No. We welcome all family, friends, and allies supportive of the GLBT cause to become Dignity members (or if you prefer, just a donor). While donations are accepted from supporters regardless of status as a member, you can help to add strength to our voice when we call for reform of the Church by joining our roles, as a member.
Q. Do you have a short statement of the Dignity stand on the issues of concern to it?
A. Yes, we do. We call it our Statement of Position and Purpose (or our "SP&P" for short); please click here (or on "SP&P" in a Link line in the banner at the very top of every page of this website) to read our Statement of Position & Purpose (para leerlo en español, click aquí). The Vision Statement of Dignity also encapsulates our objectives in short form, as follows:
Dignity envisions and works toward a time when GLBT Catholics are affirmed and experience dignity through the integration of their spirituality with their sexuality and, as beloved persons of God, participate fully in all aspects of life within the Church and Society.
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Q. I cannot afford the dues to become a member (or to renew my membership); does that mean that I can not be a member?
A. No. We urge all to contribute, in accordance with their means, even if the amount is quite small; but no one is ever denied membership or participation for financial inability.
Q. How does the chapter support itself?
A. Financially, our income is mainly from the following sources: membership dues, Sunday collection baskets, fund raisers, annual pledge drive, special donations from members (or even others), bequests from decedents, and income from investments (even though they are very small).
Q. Where are you located?
A. Dignity Center is located at 758 Vella Road, Palm Springs. It is just south of Ramon Road on Vella Road, which in turn is just opposite the Kirk Douglas entry road to Palm Springs airport. For a map (with a zoom in/out features to help you, from nearby or from a distance), click here (or on "Map" in the Link lines found just below the banner at the top of each page of this website). Also, detailed directions are available from the "Directions" link that is found on the maps themselves or by clicking on Contact Us (here or in the Link lines found just below the banner at the top of each page of this website).
Q. Do you own your own building?
A. Not yet; but the Los Angeles chapter reached this goal several years ago, so who knows what the future may hold for this chapter as well.
Q. Does this website have info on other opportunities for activism?
A. Consideration is being given to having a page on this website for events that are sponsored by others but are related to the chapter's mission (but access to such a page would probably be limited to chapter members).
Q. Do you have social activities as well?
A. We do. Some are at Dignity Center, such as the social after each Mass on Sundays, followed by brunch or dinner on the town, for those who may be interested
in doing that. Others are excursions to -- you name it.
Q. Who decides on and organizes social activities?
A. There is a Social Committee. So some activities are organized by that Committee and its own Chairperson. Others, however, are simply a groundswell of interest by members, who undertake to propose (and organize) an excursion (or other event) under chapter auspices.
Q. Do you use inclusive language in your liturgies?
A. Yes, we do, to reflect the very nature and purpose of our community.
Q. Who presides at the celebration of Mass?
A. A priest.
Q. Are they really priests?
A. Yes. All those who preside regularly at our Masses were ordained in and by the institutional Roman Catholic Church -- although not all are still active as priests in the institutional Church. On occasion, we do have a presider ordained in another church; but all are priests ordained in churches recognized by the institutional Church as having bishops validly consecrated in the apostolic tradition. On occasion, no priest is available; and thus a lay-led liturgy, with pre-consecrated communion hosts, is substituted for the Mass.
Q. Have any of your presiders ever been involved in the clerical sexual abuse scandal?
A. No. Dignity has a national policy that prevents such priests from serving as presider at any of our services.
Q. Do you now have (or ever had) any association with a North American Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA) or any group favoring sex with minors?
A. No, never. In its Statement of Position And Purpose (SP&P), and otherwise also, Dignity is firmly committed to the principles "that all sexuality should be exercised in an ethical and unselfish manner." To have sex with any underaged (or otherwise vulnerable) person or to take advantage of any position of trust to procure any sexual activity would be in clear violation of those principles.
Q. Does a person have to be (or want to be) a Roman Catholic in order to be a Dignity member?
A. No; but we do have a course of initiation very similar to that of the institutional Church for persons interested in learning more.
Q. Is the chapter a part of the institutional Church?
A. No. The chapter is an independent, self-governing corporation that is a lay, not ecclesiastical, organization; and it is not subject to ecclesiastical regulation.
Q. Are all members Catholics?
A. Not all are Roman Catholics. However, it would be safe to assume that all are Catholics in the sense that the Nicene Creed (that is recited during Mass) uses the term "catholic .. church," meaning "universal" or "all-inclusive" church, since virtually all mainstream Christians adhere to the Nicene Creed as adopted by one of the very earliest ecumenical councils (i.e. a Council of Nicaea (convened first in Nicaea, Greece, early in the 4th Century)).
Q. Is the chapter the only place where GLBTs who are Catholic can meet as a faith community?
A. Some faith communities are more welcoming to a GLBT who seeks to associate with that faith community than others would be. Some Roman Catholic parishes, and other Christian churches also, are in this category. Indeed, some Dignity members retain an association with a parish, as well as take an active part in Dignity itself; but since a parish is a part of the institutional Roman Catholic Church, some restrictions are likely to be encountered in even the most welcoming parish. There is, however, an online organization called Gay Church that lists Christian faith communities that its website states are reported (though not verified by it) to be welcoming communities, with a geographical Church Directory to assist people in locating welcoming communities, area by area; click here to go to its website.
Q. Do you have funds to assist those who are suffering from HIV/AIDS?
A. Yes, we do have an AIDS Fund. Click here for more info.
Q. Is this website protected by copyright or subject to conditions of use?
A. Yes. Contact us for more information if you have an issue on which you need it.
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Todos son bienvenidos aqui
Roman Catholic Mass
celebrated every Sunday at 6 pm
at the First Unitarian Universalist Church
4190 Front St, San Diego 92103
(across the street from UCSD Medical Center)
(click here for map and directions)
.
Dignity/San Diego, a Chapter of DignityUSA, is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation
Click here to read Breath of the Spirit
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About Dignity
Dignity/San Diego, a Chapter of DignityUSA, is a Catholic organization providing a safe and supportive faith community for LGBT Catholics, and all who seek a healthy connection between their religious traditions and spirituality through weekly liturgy, social, and service activities. We celebrate the dignity of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Catholics.
Dignity is a voice of change within the Catholic Church, a beacon of light for all that seek justice & equality, and a place for peaceful reflection without bias.
Our Founder, Pax Nidorf
"When I started Dignity in 1969 in the eyes of the world it was probably a very small thing. However, in the microcosm of my own life, it was a monumental gamble. The fact is that we are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.
I think that is what Dignity is all about. Teaching people to dare to be themselves, to risk being open to love, to dare to open their hearts and let the world peek in.
Let us hold hands to share our strength, love and faith with one another. Let us challenge anyone who would question our validity."
Dr. Patrick X. Nidorf, Founder of DignityUSA
Patrick X. (Pax) Nidorf was born in the spring of 1932. He spent the first 20 years of his life studying art and other educational pursuits. The second 20 years were spent in intensive training in the Augustinian monastic order, and was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1962. During these years, he continued his art work and started Dignity, a ministry to gay & lesbian Catholics.
Pax retired from the priesthood in the 1973, was married, and began his private practice as a psychotherapist. Throughout his life, Pax has always had many ongoing creative projects. He has been a productive artist as an adult and has had many one-man shows throughout the West. He has a large following in Southern California with a waiting list for his commissioned works.
Pax Nidorf is an accomplished painter, illustrator, potter, and craftsman. Added to these gifts, he has also written several in-depth books on various topics. His intense psychic and spiritual insights are revealed in their pages. One such book is "Beyond Dreaming - Tools for Psychic Development"
see also:
Brothers Nidorf
Dignity/San Diego, a Chapter of DignityUSA, is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation.
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In the Beginning
Dignity began in San Diego in 1969 when an Augustinian priest, Father Patrick Nidorf, formed a support group for gay Catholics. The support group rapidly gained in popularity.
After a few months, Fr. Pat began conducting meetings in Los Angeles. Archbishop Manning learned of the group and ordered Father Pat to stop his work in that city. Instead of folding, the support group organized itself into the first official chapter of Dignity, and in the next several years, the idea spread like wildfire around the country.
Our Chapter is born
In 1972, San Diego formed a chapter within Dignity. Our first meeting took place in May in Santee. For awhile we met in homes and several other locations. Since that time, the chapter has worked within the local community, the state, and the nation to effect changes for the lesbian, gay, and bisexual Catholic. We provide a space where women and men can come together for worship, express their views, and grow.
Things have changed a lot since the early days, when many people feared for their lives and livelihoods if they came out. Some people adopted pseudonyms, like Gilgamesh, Evans, Fournier. But fears still remain today (especially for people serving in the armed forces).
New Beginnings
Dignity/San Diego met for many years at the Catholic Cardijn Center in Old Town. When the Center closed in 1981, we moved to Chiles Realty on 30th St. A year or two later, when MCC San Diego purchased its current church facility, we celebrated at their new location with them, moving our liturgies to their new building a few blocks south at 30th and El Cajon Blvd.
For several years, we also maintained our own Dignity Center, at Park and Adams, but eventually had to close it because of the expense and because it was not suitable for the large gatherings we have, such as liturgies and potluck suppers.
Our Story Continues
In the spring of 1994, we moved to the Universalist Unitarian Church in Hillcrest, where we celebrate the Eucharist every Sunday at 6pm.
For detailed histories go to:
Dignity/San Diego - The Pioneer Years (1972-1982)
DignityUSA history (1969-present)
Historic Documents/Newsletters
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Dignity welcomes all couples who wish to marry in accordance with California State Law and
Dignity/San Diego Marriage Policy
Required Forms:
## Premarital Information
## Premarital Declaration
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Additional Information:
## Dignity/San Diego Marriage Policy
## Frequently Asked Questions
##Frequently Asked Questions by Marriage Officiates
##California Marriage License, Registration and Ceremony Information
##Obtaining a Marriage License
##California Case Background
##Changing your name in California
##Couples Ministry Resource Guide
##The Call to Wed - Why Catholics Should Celebrate Same Gender Marriage
##A Catholic Defense of Same Gender Marriage
##Resolution on Same-Gender Marriage
##Make Change - Not Lawsuits | FindLaw.com
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Roman Catholic Mass
celebrated Saturdays 5:30 pm at
St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church
Mary Magdalene Upstairs Chapel
11031 Camarillo St, North Hollywood, CA
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We provide a safe environment for people to reconcile our God-given gifts of sexual orientation and our Catholic faith through gay-affirming liturgies. Being part of the Dignity/San Fernando Valley family means claiming ownership of our faith and living up to the responsibilities of that ownership
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Dignity/San Fernando Valley, a Chapter of DignityUSA, is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation
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St. Ferdinand
Patron Saint of Dignity San Fernando Valley
St. Ferdinand, the Patron of the Seventeenth California Mission, was a product of the Thirteenth Century,
Ferdinand of Spain, the third king of that name, was the son of Alfonso II, King of Leon, and of Berengaria, daughter of Alfonso III, King of Castile and sister of Blanche, the mother of St. Louis IX, King of France. He was born at Salamanca about the end of 1198. King Alfonso III, of Castile, having died in 1214, and his successor King Henry having passed away in 1217, young Ferdinand’s mother, Queen Berengaria, the legal heir to the throne of Castile, resigned in favor of her son Ferdinand, who thus at the age of eighteen became King of Castile, while his father, Alfonso II reigned over the kingdom of Leon. On the advice of his mother, Ferdinand, in 1219, married Beatrix, Daughter of Philip of Suabia, Emperor of Germany, a most virtuous and accomplished princess. Their happy union was blessed with six sons and one daughter. Ferdinand proved himself both a brave and remarkably prudent ruler. His wisdom and constant solicitude for the welfare of his people appeared most conspicuous in the happy choice of governors, magistrates and generals. Archbishop Rodriguez of Toledo, his chancellor of Castile for thirty years, ably assisted the king in all his deliberations. In order to curb the excesses of lower tribunals, Ferdinand established the court since called the Royal Council of Castile. This consisted of ten auditors to whom, sitting as a court, appeal could be made from all other tribunals. A code of laws which he caused to be compiled by the ablest lawyers, was called Los Partidos.
The highest aim of Ferdinand’s life was the liberation of Spain from the Muslims and the propagation of the Christian Faith. No necessity, however, could make him impose any heavy tax in his subjects. In all his wars with the Moors, therefore, when it was suggested to him to levy a heavy contribution for the raising the means required, Ferdinand would reject the proposition with indignation, and declare: “God will supply the means in other ways.”
His whole conduct in private or public life, and specially as leader of military troops, bore testimony to the truth of his solemn protestation with which he appealed to Heaven: “Thou, O Lord, Who searches the secrets of hearts, knows that I desire Thy Glory, not mine, and the increase of Thy Faith and Holy Religion, not of transitory kingdoms.”
Thus Ferdinand would set his men the most perfect example of devotion to his religious duties. He fasted rigorously, prayed much, wore a hair-shirt , and specially before battles would spend whole nights in earnest prayer. When victory was won he would give the glory to God. In his army he caused an image of the Blessed Virgin Mary to be borne along publicly, and he himself wore another small image of her on his breast.
From 1225, when he began to draw his sword against the enemies of his country and his Faith, till 1234 Ferdinand succeeded in wresting one petty kingdom after another from intruders until Seville was reached. Here the Moors had concentrated their forces and divided into seven fighting bodies each of which was stronger than the Christian army, which could muster but 1500 warriors. Yet the Muslems were defeated with the loss of Christians of only one knight and ten soldiers. The victory proved so crushing and remarkable that the Christian officers instituted a close investigation. They questioned Moorish prisoners and all that might offer trustworthy explanation. They finally came to the conclusion that St. James, the Apostle, had appeared at the head of a little Christian army in the armor of a knight mounted on a white horse. There after the battle cry of the Spaniards was Sant Jago! Or Santiago! (St.James).
While King James Of Aragon recovered the kingdoms of Majorca and Valencia from the Moors, Ferdinand captured the stronghold of Islam in Spain – Cordoba, which had been in the hands of the Moors for 524 years. The victorious king entered the city at the head of his army on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul, June 29, 1236. The great mosque was duly rededicated by the Bishop of Osma, and converted into cathedral under the invocation of the Mother of God.
During the three last years of his life, Ferdinand, since the death of his father, King Alfonso II, in 1230, also King of Leon, and therefore called Alfonso III, King of Castile and Leon, resided at Seville in order to institute the tribunals and to regulate the affairs of the two kingdoms, though not without continuing in a measure to recover territory from the Muslims. He thus demonstrated by his example that genuine piety is consistent with the duties of a Christian ruler and a military leader. Though severe with himself, he was compassionate and mild toward everybody else, and always master of himself.
Ferdinand was making preparations to carry the war into Africa when he was overtaken by his last illness. He recognized the call from above, and prepared for death by general confession. He then received Viaticum. After receiving the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, Ferdinand, the noble, the brave and beloved, calmly surrendered his soul to his Creator on May 30, 1252, at the age of 53.
In accordance with his wishes, his body was shrouded in the habit of the Third Order of St. Francis. Like St. Louis of France, he had been a faithful Franciscan. He was then buried at the feet of the image of the Blessed Virgin in the great cathedral of Seville. Pope Clement X in 1671 placed Ferdinand in the Catalogue of the Saints. The Franciscans celebrate his feast on May 30th.
Dignity/San Fernando Valley, a Chapter of DignityUSA, is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation
info@dignitysfv.org
Click here to read Breath of the Spirit
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Inclusive Language
Dignity San Fernando Valley continues to correct sexist language and be inclusive. We are incarnationally wholistic (body, mind, soul and spirit). We are open to diversity while maintaining the Roman Catholic tradition.
Here are some examples of how we practice inclusive language:
Variations on "The Sign of the Cross"
In the name of the Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier.
In the name of God, who is both Mother and Father to us, and of Jesus the Only-Begotten, and of the Holy Spirit.
In the name of the Ever-Creating Parent, the Divine Child, and the Holy Spirit.
In the name of the Ever-Creating Parent, the Only-Begotten One, and the Sanctifying Spirit.
In the name of God, our mother and father, and of Jesus, our brother and healer, and of the Holy Spirit, our wisdom and guide.
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, eternal, almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of all, the Only Begotten One;
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
lived and loved among us,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
who descended into hell,
and on the third day rose from the dead;
Jesus, Our Savior, ascended into heaven,
sits at the right hand of the loving God,
and will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the dead,
and life everlasting. Amen.
The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Creator,
the Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is seen and unseen.
We believe in one Redeemer, Jesus Christ,
the only Child of God,
eternally begotten of the Creator,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made,
One in Being with the Creator:
Through the Redeemer all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
Jesus Christ the Redeemer
came down from heaven:
(bow) by the power of the Holy Spirit
was born of the Virgin Mary, and became human.
For our sake Jesus was crucified
under Pontius Pilate,
suffered, died and was buried,
and, on the third day, rose again
in fulfillment of the Scriptures,
ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God.
Jesus Christ will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and the Reign of God will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Sanctifier, the Giver of Life,
who proceeds from God the Creator
and Jesus Christ the Redeemer,
who with the Creator and the Redeemer,
is worshipped and glorified
and who has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy
catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Dignity/San Fernando Valley, a Chapter of DignityUSA, is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit corporation
info@dignitysfv.org
Click here to read Breath of the Spirit
Pastoral, Liturgical, Teaching
and Social Justice Moments
Click here to view the QV - Quarterly Voice of DignityUSA
Click here to read Dateline Monthly
California Faith for Equality
Matthew Shepard Foundation ~ emabracing diversity
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For an in-depth look into what the Bible does NOT say about homosexuality read:
A True Translation of the Ancient Bible Concerning Homosexuality
by Ernest Camisa
A compendium of reasons why the Bible does not condemn homosexuality per se.
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Our Host Church
www.seventhavenuechurch.org
1329 7th Ave (at Irving)
San Francisco, CA 94122
Come in and join us!
Mass & Social every Sunday at 5:00 pm
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Information:
##California Case Background
##Changing your name in California
##Couples Ministry Resource Guide
##The Call to Wed
##A Catholic Defense of Same Sex Marriage
##Dignity Resolution on Same-Sex Marriage
##Make Change - Not Lawsuits
##FindLaw.com
##NCSL information
##PewForum.org
##Dr. Matthew Fox on Gay Marriages
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in California
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CME Statement on the Restoration of Marriage in CA
The majority of Catholics in California are compassionate, open-minded and deeply committed to the law of love that is the basis of church teaching. Indeed, love of God and neighbor compels us to recognize the dignity of every person and to labor together for a more just society based on human rights and a shared concern for the integrity of creation. Gay and lesbian relationships are integral to the human family and to the whole of creation. Marriage has meant many things to people in different times and places. Marriage equality provides a framework for our times in which God’s gift of sexuality can be understood, celebrated and accepted as intrinsic to our common good. As we understand it, marriage is a communion of just love between two people who in many cases will also become parents.
We congratulate the Court on its decision to restore marriage equality in California by upholding the lower court decision that overturned Proposition 8. Though intended by anti-gay activists as an instrument of exclusion, God has used Proposition 8 to sear the consciences of Californians and people across the country and around the world. Lay Catholics and many priests, nuns and brothers were especially offended by the campaigning for Proposition 8 by Catholic officials such as Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone. We have resisted, and will continue to resist hate, even and especially when it comes from spokespersons of our own tradition. Over the last ten years, numerous denominations have become more welcoming to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons. During the same period the Catholic institution has hardened its attitudes and has led numerous campaigns in opposition to LGBT civil rights in diverse parts of the world. We are hopeful that the new Pope will chart a new direction.
Catholics for Marriage Equality in California was established at a time when it was not clear whether we would need a ballot initiative to overturn Proposition 8. We knew only one thing—Proposition 8 had to go. Our organizing focused on fostering support for marriage equality through prayer, presence and education. We have carried out this mission in the streets, in the square of St. Mary’s, online and person-to-person in a network of Catholic parishes and allied groups in California and beyond.
Finally we can close this chapter of the struggle that began 12 February 2004 when then-Mayor Gavin Newsom acted in accord with his Catholic conscience and married two amazing LGBT civil rights pioneers: the late Del Martin and her longtime partner Phyllis Lyon. It has been a long journey, and our hearts are full. We resonate with the words of the prophet Simeon, who upon seeing the infant Jesus was inspired to say: Nunc dimittis servum tuum, Domine, secundum verbum tuum in pace:/Quia viderunt oculi mei salutare tuum/Quod parasti ante faciem omnium populorum. [Now dismiss your servant, O Lord, according to your word in peace/Because my eyes have seen your salvation/Which you have prepared before the face of all peoples] Luke 2:29-31.
CME Statement on the Voting Rights Decision
We are appalled and heartbroken at the decision of the SCOTUS to dismantle the Voting Rights Act, a hard-won and monumental political achievement of the Black Civil Rights struggle in the United States. Because of the Voting Rights Act, many citizens have been able to participate in political processes from which they had previously been excluded. When Congress reapproved the Voting Rights Act in 2006, it compiled thousands of pages of evidence of continuing discrimination, especially in Southern States. Structural racism endures, and must be vigorously opposed. We find it incomprehensible that a majority of the Court should take it upon itself to undermine this good and useful legislation. In the midst of our joy over judicial gains for LGBT equality, it is critical that we not remain silent and thus give our tacit assent to this intolerable setback for racial equality. We call specifically upon LGBT and allied Catholics to get involved and advocate as strongly for voting rights as we have done for marriage equality. As Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. reminds us, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
Catholics for Marriage Equality in California (CME-CA) was established by members and friends of Dignity/San Francisco in June 2009 to advance civil marriage equality through prayer, presence, and education.
On the Feast of the Assumption, August 15, 2009 we conducted our first public action—a rosary at St. Mary’s Cathedral in San Francisco. In September 2009 we co-organized a demonstration at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley to call attention to the anti-gay, anti-marriage activism of Oakland Bishop Salvatore Cordileone (The Father of Proposition 8).
In October 2009 we began a series of monthly Five First Saturday vigils that ran through February 2010, alternating between the cathedrals in Oakland and San Francisco. In January 2010 we started publishing Communion, a monthly newsletter you can download here, featuring contributions by religious leaders, scholars and activists. It is edited by Eugene McMullan and Kara Speltz.
►Final CME Newsletter
▼ Archived CME Newsletters:
2010:
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec
2011:
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec
2012:
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec
2013:
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul
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The Peace and Justice Rosary
If you are using a five-decade rosary, when you have finished the fifth decade, move to the center and announce the sixth mystery, then pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and one Glory Be. Announce the seventh mystery (Love Reigns), then proceed directly to the Salve Regina, et al.
SUNDAY: The Glorious Mysteries (1-5 traditional)
1. The Resurrection
2. The Ascension
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
4. The Assumption
5. The Coronation of Mary
6. The Wolf Lies Down with the Lamb (Isaiah 11:6)
7. Love Reigns
MONDAY: The Relational Mysteries
1. Ruth's Pledge to Naomi (Ruth 1:16-18)
2. The Parting of David and Jonathan (I Samuel 20:35-42)
3. Esther Intercedes for Her People (Esther 4:9-5:2)
4. The Raising of Lazarus (John 11:38-44)
5. The Two Encounter Christ on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35)
6. The Beloved Community Shares All Things in Common (Acts 2:44-45)
7. Love Reigns
TUESDAY: The Prophetic Mysteries
1. The Spirit Moves on the Face of the Deep (Genesis 1:2)
2. The Angel Appears to Hagar (Genesis 16:7-12)
3. The Parting of the Red Sea (Exodus 14:21-22)
4. Mary’s Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55)
5. Jesus’ Action in the Temple (Mark 11:15-17)
6. A New Heaven and a New Earth (Revelation 21:1)
7. Love Reigns
WEDNESDAY: The Joyful Mysteries (1-5 traditional)
1. The Annunciation
2. The Visitation
3. The Nativity
4. The Presentation
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
6. Jesus Becomes a Man (Luke 2:52)
7. Love Reigns
THURSDAY: The Luminous Mysteries (1-5 traditional)
1. The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan
2. The Wedding Feast at Cana
3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom
4. The Transfiguration
5. The Institution of the Eucharist
6. The Conversion of the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40)
7. Love Reigns
FRIDAY: The Sorrowful Mysteries (1-5 traditional)
1. The Agony in the Garden
2. Jesus Is Scourged
3. Jesus Is Crowned with Thorns
4. Jesus Carries His Cross
5. Jesus Is Crucified
6. Mary Magdalene Weeps in the Garden (John 20:11-18)
7. Love Reigns
SATURDAY: The Incarnation Mysteries
1. God Breathes Life into Adam (Genesis 2:7)
2. Moses’ Mother Gives Nurse (Exodus 2:7-9)
3. The Bride Opens to Her Beloved (Song of Songs 5:6)
4. The Word Becomes Flesh (John 1:14)
5. Jesus Feeds the Multitude (Mark 6:30-44)
6. Thomas Touches Jesus’ Side (John 20:24-29)
7. Love Reigns
Click here to read Breath of the Spirit
Pastoral, Liturgical, Teaching
and Social Justice Moments
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A Transparent Translation of the Ancient Bible Concerning Homosexuality.
( The Battle over Marriage for the sake of Love)
with original language text, pronunciation, and translation, in interlinear
form
prepared by Ernest Louis Camisa
Edited by Diana Wear M.Drv.
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Can you be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender and Catholic?
Yes! Many of us grew up Catholic or otherwise found ourselves in the Catholic tradition. And we also found ourselves GLBT. So over 35 years ago, we founded a community here in Denver for people like us. And we've been an advocate for integrating our spirituality and justice ever since.
We celebrate the authentic Catholic Mass with an ordained priest every Sunday. We welcome people of every sexual orientation and gender identity, those who have divorced & remarried, and anyone who has felt excluded from other faith communities. We accept seekers from every faith background.
We welcome the gifts of each person at our door. And we welcome you.
Join us at 1100 Fillmore Street each Sunday at 5 pm. Come early for social before Mass. (Easter and Christmas Mass dates and times vary - check this site.)
UPCOMING EVENTS
Christmas Eve Mass
Celebrate with your Dignity family on Christmas Eve Tuesday at 8 pm. Mass is followed by a Christmas Eve Cookie-luck downstairs in the social hall. What's a cookie-luck? It's the potluck of cookies! So bring some finger food desserts to share – we'll have hot water for tea and maybe eggnog.
PAST EVENTS
Dick Beebe missing
As most know, Dick Beebe, a long time member of Dignity Denver, has been missing since July 14. If you have any information about Dick Beebe's disappearance please contact Denver Police Detective John Brinkers.
Catholic Tipping Point. Dignity Denver hosted Fr. Helmut Schüller on Monday July 29th. From his native Austria to people around the world, Fr. Schüller calls for greater lay leadership and transparency in Church governance, and discussion about the admission of women and married people to the priesthood. The national tour is sponsored by 10 progressive Catholic organizations, including Future Church, Call to Action, DignityUSA, and Voice of the Faithful. Read an interview with Fr. Schüller in the National Catholic Reporter here.
Watch the event video by clicking this link. Skip ahead - the presentation begins at 9 minutes. Click the last dot on the right for maximum video size. The question & answer session was also very informative. Thanks to Larry Grimm of Live Connections and Capitol Heights Church for making this video possible.
Become a registered member of Dignity Denver. Applications are available at the church or online. The annual membership dues are $50 and a portion goes to Dignity USA. No one will be denied membership for inability to pay dues.
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Who we are
We believe that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Catholics, in our diversity, are members of Christ’s mystical body, numbered among the People of God. We have an inherent dignity because God created us, Christ died for us, and the Holy Spirit sanctified us in Baptism, making us temples of the Spirit, and channels through which God’s love becomes visible.
Because of this, it is our right, our privilege, and our duty to live the sacramental life of the Church, so that we might become more powerful instruments of God’s love working among all people We work for justice and equality through education and by supporting social and legal reforms.
We reinforce each person's sense of self-acceptance and dignity and encourage full participation in the life of the Church and society.
Bilingual Mass/Misa Bilingüe
DignityDenver celebrates the first Mass of each month with a bilingual liturgy featuring Spanish and English. Misa Bilingüe cada 1er Domingo de mes.
Aligning strongly with our mission is the work we do to be inclusive and shed oppression within our own organization. Toward this end, we celebrate Black History and National Hispanic Heritage Months.
We also continue these efforts through our monthly bilingual liturgy. There is something deeply enriching about experiencing the Mass in the language of one’s heritage, even if you are fluent in English. There is also something deeply welcoming from this experience that opens the door to full participation.
For non-Spanish speakers, it is an opportunity to enlarge one’s circle of awareness and acceptance of others; an experience from which we can all grow and ensure that God’s love becomes visible. Everyone who joins us for the liturgy and/or our activities has experienced some form of oppression throughout their lives. Some experience this more so than others due to the color of their skin, the language they speak or their heritage.
© 2003-2013 Dignity/Denver
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Dignity/Fort Lauderdale
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DignityUSA envisions and works for a time when Lesbians, Gay, Bisexual and Trans-Gendered Catholics are affirmed and experience dignity through the integration of their spirituality with their sexuality as beloved persons of God, participating fully in all aspects of life within the Church and society.
Directions: Take I-95 to Oakland Park Blvd and go east to NE 6th Avenue. Turn right and go about 100 feet. Holy Angels is in a small strip center on your right.
Services are Held At: Holy Angels Catholic Community in a storefront chapel located in the west shopping area just north of 6th Ave Wilton Manors bridge, every Sunday at 7PM.
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Our Building Address:
2917 NE 6th Avenue
Wilton Manors, FL 33334-2606
Our Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 22884
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33335
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Welcome!
You have found Dignity Palm Beach, a local chapter of DignityUSA, serving the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Catholic* community, their families, and friends. We meet on the first and third Sundays of each month (except for major holidays) at 5:30 PM at St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Lake Worth, Florida. We generally celebrate Mass, then go to a local restaurant for refreshments and fellowship. Please come and join us and worship God in an accepting environment with your sisters and brothers. You will feel "at home" here! We strive to be an inclusive community for LGBT and Straight people alike, welcoming all to a renewed experience of Church in the Roman Catholic tradition.
(Please use the "Calendar" link at left to find out when we will meet next.)
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NOTE: Dignity/Palm Beach is officially a club, not a church, and is not affiliated with the Catholic Church or any other Church. We are, however, a worship community that attempts to provide the sacraments and fellowship in the Catholic tradition.
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Dignity/Honolulu
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Dignity Honolulu
Dignity Honolulu has been providing outreach ministry for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Catholics, their families and friends in Hawaii since 1976. Join us for mass or lay-led liturgy every Sunday at 7:30pm at St. Mark's Episcopal Church 539 Kapahulu Ave Honolulu, HI 96815.
Upcoming events:
•Marriage Equality achieved 12/2/13. Roster of Wedding Officiants available
•Dignity Honolulu Movie Nite - "Out in the Dark" , 12/13/13
•St. Mark's Church Cleaning - 12/21/13
•Dignity Honolulu Advent Liturgy and Christmas Potluck - 12/22/13
•Dignity Honolulu Responds to Pope' Statement on LGBT
See more details in the Special Events section.
Dignity president Tim
And just in case you're still wondering where we are, here's a map:
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We provide a safe environment for people to reconcile our God-given gifts of sexual orientation and our Catholic faith through gay-affirming liturgies. Being part of the Dignity/Honolulu family means claiming ownership of our faith and living up to the responsibilities of that ownership.
Join Us
Join us at Weekly Liturgies and/or Special Events:
• Canned Goods Collection for People Living with AIDS (1st Sunday of the month)
• Monthly Video Nights, 7:30pm, First Christian Church in Makiki (2nd Friday of the month)
• Potluck Suppers (every 4th Sunday of the month)
• Bible Study
• Dine with Dignity
• Parade participants at the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade, the Annual LGBTQ Pride Parade, Kailua Independence Day Parade with PFLAG Oahu
Contact Us
Dignity Honolulu
PO Box 3956
Honolulu, HI 96812-3956
Ph: 808.352.7558
Email: dignity_honolulu@catholic.org
We Believe
that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Roman Catholics are members of Christ's mystical body, numbered among the people of God.
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Celebrate with Us
Special Liturgies throughout the year:
• February - Blessing of Relationships
• April - Chapter Anniversary Liturgy
• June - LGBTQ Pride Liturgy
• July - Feast of Mary of Magdala (honoring women)
• October - Solidarity Sunday
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We believe that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Roman Catholics are members of Christ's mystical body, numbered among the people of God.
We believe that we have an inherent dignity because God created us, Christ died for us, and the Holy Spirit sanctified us in Baptism, making us the temple and the channel through which the love of God might become visible.
We believe that it is our right, our privilege, and our duty to live the sacramental life of the Church, so that we might become more powerful instruments of God's love working among all people.
We believe that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons can exercise their sexuality in a manner that is consonant with Christ's teaching, and that all sexuality should be exercised in an ethically responsible and unselfish way.
We believe we are called to promote the cause of the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community by accepting our responsibility to the Church, to society, and to the individual LGBT Catholic.
We believe that we are called to build the reign of God in our time by being a voice for justice in the Church and in society, and by providing a ministry based upon the lived experience of LGBT people, the call of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the traditions of the Roman Catholic Church.
We believe we must bear witness to our faith among the LGBT community, the people of our parishes and dioceses, all Christian believers, and the people of all faiths with whom we live and work.
We believe this to be our mission, our call, and our faith. We are proud to profess it in Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen!
Join Us
Join us at Weekly Liturgies and/or Special Events:
• Canned Goods Collection for People Living with AIDS (1st Sunday of the month)
• Monthly Video Nights, 7:30pm, First Christian Church in Makiki (2nd Friday of the month)
• Potluck Suppers (every 4th Sunday of the month)
• Bible Study
• Dine with Dignity
• Parade participants at the Martin Luther King Jr. Parade, the Annual LGBTQ Pride Parade, Kailua Independence Day Parade with PFLAG Oahu
Contact Us
Dignity Honolulu
PO Box 3956
Honolulu, HI 96812-3956
Ph: 808.352.7558
Email: dignity_honolulu@catholic.org
We Believe
that it is our right, our privilege, and our duty to live the sacramental life of the Church, so that we might become more powerful instruments of God's love working among all people.
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Celebrate with Us
Special Liturgies throughout the year:
• February - Blessing of Relationships
• April - Chapter Anniversary Liturgy
• June - LGBTQ Pride Liturgy
• July - Feast of Mary of Magdala (honoring women)
• October - Solidarity Sunday
December
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Dignity/Chicago
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We Believe That …
•We are all made in God’s image and that God rejoices in our diversity: man or woman, straight or gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender or questioning.
•Same-gender relationships, including marriage, are a gift from God, and not something to be suppressed or be kept in the closet
•People of all genders, gender identities, and sexual orientations are called to serve and to lead in the Church
•That we are Catholics by Baptism and by God’s will, and no one can deny our place as God’s children
Dignity/Chicago is a chapter of Dignity/USA, and shares its mission to work for respect and justice for all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons in the Catholic Church and the world.
As independent organizations created to support LGBT Catholics and our families and friends, DignityUSA and Dignity/Chicago envision and work for a time when Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Catholics are affirmed and experience dignity through the integration of their spirituality with their sexuality, and, as beloved persons of God, participate fully in all aspects of life within the Church and Society. We minister through education, advocacy and worship and believe that same-sex relationships are loving, life-giving and life-affirming. We open our doors to all and welcome you to join us.
Weekly Liturgy
5:00 p.m. each Sunday
Broadway United Methodist Church
3338 N Broadway
in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood
Second Sunday of every month: monthly discussion group/lunch about chapter needs and goals at 3:00 pm
Last Sunday of every month: community dinner at a local restaurant after conclusion of Mass at 6:30 pm
For more information about Dignity/USA's mission and purpose, please visit their website here: http://www.dignityusa.org
DignityUSA is also a founding member of the Equally Blessed Coalition. The other members and their website addresses are:
Fortunate Families, http://www.fortunatefamilies.org
Call to Action, http://www.cta-usa.org
New Ways Ministry, http://www.newwaysministry.org
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Upcoming
• Sacrament of Penance/Fourth Sunday of Advent
12/22/2013 - 3:30pm
• Christmas Day
12/25/2013 - 10:00am
• Feast Day of St. Stephen
12/26/2013 - 10:15am
• Feast Day of St. John
12/27/2013 - 10:15am
• Feast Day of the Holy Innocents
12/28/2013 - 10:15am
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This is a link to a Windy City Times article about the impending change in leadership of the Chicago Archdiocese. Past Dignity/Chicago presidents, Marty Grochala and Chris Pett and DignityUSA Executive Director Marianne Duddy-Burke are quoted.
http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Whats-up-next-for-Chicagos-Catholics/45488.html
This discussion offers many insights into where and how Pope Francis plans to take the Church
Link to Queer Catholic Faith Webinar with Professor Richard Gaillardetz
https://www.anymeeting.com/WebConference-beta/RecordingDefault.aspx?c_psrid=EE58D7818548
GAY CATHOLICS CELEBRATE MARRIAGE EQUALITY
Illinois Becomes the 15th State to Achieve Marriage Equality
Dignity/Chicago joins with religious leaders and faith communities across the state of Illinois, and all those seeking justice for LGBT relationships and our families, in celebrating the passage of the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act, making Illinois the 15th state to achieve marriage equality for all people in Illinois.
This achievement is the result of an extensive and intensely collaborative effort involving hundreds of affirming clergy and thousands of people of all faiths across the state. These participants in the work of justice have consistently and faithfully raised their voices with ours at Dignity to speak about the truth and God-given value of LGBT relationships and families.
While celebrating this victory for all the people of Illinois, we are saddened and disappointed that the Catholic bishops of Illinois, and the Illinois Catholic Conference, have not joined the majority of Illinois Catholics in supporting equality and justice in our state. We invite them to truly live our Gospel call and become stalwart voices against injustice and intolerance, joining the voices of many thousands of Catholics across the state who have expressed their support for marriage equality.
As the prophet Amos has written in the Hebrew Scriptures, “But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” We can celebrate that today in Illinois justice is flowing more broadly and sweetly.
As independent organizations created to support LGBT Catholics and our families and friends, DignityUSA and Dignity/Chicago envision and work for a time when Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Catholics are affirmed and experience dignity through the integration of their spirituality with their sexuality, and, as beloved persons of God, participate fully in all aspects of life within the Church and Society. We minister through education, advocacy and worship and believe that same-sex relationships are loving, life-giving and life-affirming. We open our doors to all and welcome you to join us.
For more information about Dignity and marriage equality visit: www.dignity-chicago.org or www.dignityusa.org.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure for they will see God. - Matthew 5:8
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Dignity/Chicago is one of the city’s foremost and longest serving GLBT organizations and the only GLBT Catholic organization to publicly affirm our sexuality as loving, life-giving and life-affirming. We continue to work toward and celebrate change in our church, support those who are questioning how to reconcile their faith and their sexuality, provide educational opportunities for members of the community and provide an affirming place of worship for GLBT people our families and friends.
Dignity/Chicago was formed in January of 1972, the fourth Dignity chapter in the nation, approximately one year after Ms. Mary Houlihan, a member of the Legion of Mary, began a home Mass for the gay and lesbian community under the Legion’s aegis. Following Dignity’s formation, the chapter was asked to assume sponsorship of this Mass. Dignity then secured St. Sebastian Church for a weekly Sunday evening Mass which continued until 1988.
The 1970’s were an active time for the chapter. It played host to the national convention of DignityUSA in 1977, was a charter member of Call to Action, an umbrella organization for progressive Catholic groups, and co-sponsored the Orange Ball, a Chicago benefit to raise funds to combat Anita Bryant-backed anti-gay referendums around the country.
The 1980’s were challenging for Dignity/Chicago as the chapter grew to over 150 members. In May of 1988, after sixteen years of ministry, the chapter membership voted to remove its ministry from St. Sebastian Church and all church property rather than submit to a demand from Cardinal Joseph Bernardin to withdraw Dignity’s public statement affirming homosexuality which said “we believe that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons can express their sexuality in a manner that is consonant with Christ’s teaching. We believe that we can express our sexuality physically, in a unitive manner that is loving, life-giving and life-affirming.” After leaving St. Sebastian’s Dignity/Chicago began meeting in a series of welcoming Protestant churches before settling at Broadway United Methodist in 1992.
In the 1990s Dignity/Chicago reasserted its role as a Roman Catholic faith community ministering the needs of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Dignity has continued to protest the denial of its place in the life of the Church and has responded to statements issued from the Church that would encourage discrimination against LGBT people in both religious and civil life. In 1992 we brought our call for justice to the home of Cardinal Bernardin in a prayerful protest. In 1999, the chapter was reorganized to focus on the three core ministries that underlie its mission: Worship, Spiritual Growth, and Leadership and Advocacy. From this base, Dignity/Chicago continues to provide the Mass and other liturgical services while remaining involved in many social and social justice and educational events in the community. In the summer of 2001, Chicago again hosted the DignityUSA convention.
Today, we are the third longest-serving DignityUSA chapter continuing our work for respect and justice for all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons in the Catholic Church and the world and ministering through education, advocacy and worship. And we continue to gather for worship each Sunday at 5:00, as we have for nearly 40 years.
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Upcoming
• Sacrament of Penance/Fourth Sunday of Advent
12/22/2013 - 3:30pm
• Christmas Day
12/25/2013 - 10:00am
• Feast Day of St. Stephen
12/26/2013 - 10:15am
• Feast Day of St. John
12/27/2013 - 10:15am
• Feast Day of the Holy Innocents
12/28/2013 - 10:15am
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God blesses those whose hearts are pure for they will see God. - Matthew 5:8
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April 25, 2012
Dignity/ Chicago:
The 40th anniversary seems a good time to provide more information about Dignity/Chicago's beginnings for the chapter's records before it is lost for good.
In November 1971 five people-Jim Hogan, Steve Ryan, John Sattlmeier, Frank Surge and Jim Voepel-met with Father Max, Cardinal Cody's liaison to Chicago's gay and lesbian community to discuss the possibility of forming a Chicago chapter of a new national organization of gay and lesbian Catholics called Dignity. (The inclusive "LGBT" had not yet come into use.) They contacted the Dignity national office in Los Angeles and learned that one of the original Dignity/National board members, Fred Fisher, was then living in the Chicago area. They got in touch with Fred, and he became their contact person with the national office.
In February 1972 they called a meeting of anyone interested in forming a local chapter of Dignity. 24 people attended, 10 of whom volunteered to serve as a committee to lay the groundwork for the organization, with Fred Fisher as chairman.
In May 1972 Father Max called a meeting of participants in the mass for the gay and lesbian community to announce that he was turning the management of the mass over to Dignity/Chicago. Until that time it had been under the control of Mary Houlihan, who had originated it in 1970 under the auspices of the Legion of Mary, a Catholic outreach. Father Max believed it was the Legion of Mary's duty to step aside when those it was helping were ready to manage their own affairs. He believed the advent of Dignity provided a group of capable gay and lesbian people who could assume the responsibility. Mrs. Houlihan's strenuous objections to this decision offended many, who voted with their feet by joining Dignity. The chapter's numbers grew and the members were united in solidarity in the face of the continuing hostility of those who resented Father Max's move in spite of an open invitation to participate. Because these events were of great importance in the chapter's early history, the month of May was chosen as the appropriate time to celebrate Dignity/Chicago's anniversary.
In September 1972 the first election of officers was held. The plan was to elect a nine member board that would serve as a collective presidency, administered by a chairman. Frank Surge was elected chairman. In practice the duties and responsibilities of president fell to the chairman and in time the members recognized this reality by creating the office of president and choosing to refer to past chairmen as presidents. During the year following the first election, besides writing a constitution, the chapter focused on addressing the spiritual, social, and educational needs of the members and educating priests and theologians about the lives of gay and lesbian Catholics. At that time the atmosphere in the church seemed more conducive to hope for the possibility of change than it became during later papacies.
In September 1973 a sizeable contingent of Chicagoans attended the first Dignity/National convention in Los Angeles.
In October 1973 Dignity/Chicago had 100 members.
--Frank Surge
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Upcoming
• Sacrament of Penance/Fourth Sunday of Advent
12/22/2013 - 3:30pm
• Christmas Day
12/25/2013 - 10:00am
• Feast Day of St. Stephen
12/26/2013 - 10:15am
• Feast Day of St. John
12/27/2013 - 10:15am
• Feast Day of the Holy Innocents
12/28/2013 - 10:15am
more
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God blesses those whose hearts are pure for they will see God. - Matthew 5:8
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1969 Fr. Patrick X. Nidorf, an Augustinian priest and psychologist, formed a group of, “Catholic gay people”. He chooses the name “Dignity” for the group.
1971 Mary Houlihan of the Legion of Mary receives permission from Cardinal Cody to sponsor a Mass for the GLBT community. The first mass is at St. Sebastian in May. Previously Masses were held in homes.
1972 Dignity/Chicago chapter is chartered in November. Friction arose between the Mass Community and the D/C Chapter. The decision to celebrate the chapter anniversary in May was made in 1983.
1975 Dignity/Chicago participates in Chicago’s Gay Pride parade for the first time.
1977 The third biennial Dignity convention is held in the Bismarck Hotel. Fr. John McNeill, invited as a speaker, but sends a letter stating he will remain silent in obedience to a directive from Rome. A copy of the letter is spotlighted on an empty chair at the beginning of the convention and is then read to delegates. Jim Bussen serves as Regional Director for three years.
1978 Dignity/Chicago is a co-founder of Call to Action.
1980 In February, the Association of priests of the Archdiocese of Chicago honors Dignity/Chicago as “Organization of the Year”.
1982 Dignity/Chicago receives its non-profit 501 © 3 status with the IRS. Bill Seng is elected as Regional Director.
1984 Jack Delaney elected as Regional Director and to the National Board as a member.
1985 Jim Bussen and Jim Pilarski are elected as National Board officers at the New York convention.
1987 In the September 14 issue of People Magazine, an article appears entitled: “Nine Americans the Pope Won’t Want to Meet and Why”. Among the pictured nine was National Board President and Dignity/Chicago leader, Jim Bussen.
1988 In May, Cardinal Bernardin advises Dignity/Chicago that a new ministry to gay and lesbian Catholics would be formed at St. Sebastian’s. The ministry would be guided by several principles, one of which is that “homosexual acts” are “immoral”. Under the leadership of then-President Mike Savage, seventy percent of Dignity/Chicago’s membership voted to reject the idea of a Dignity chapter without control of its own Mass. Since then, Dignity-sponsored liturgies have been conducted at non-Catholic churches. During the 1980’s, most of the founding members of Chicago’s first AIDS hospice were members of Dignity.
1992 Dignity/Chicago members participate in a candlelight prayer service to challenge the Archdiocese’s silence on anti-gay violence. Chicago’s Advisory Council on Gay and Lesbian issues honored several Dignity/Chicago members by being inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.
1997 Dignity/Chicago observed its 25th anniversary with a year-long celebration of educational and social events.
1999 Dignity/Chicago re-organized into three core ministries: leadership and advocacy, liturgy and spiritual growth. During various times in the 1990’s, chapter leaders meet with Cardinal Bernardin.
2001 The biennial Dignity National convention is held in Chicago in July. Chapter members and delegates conduct a prayer vigil at Holy Name Cathedral.
2003 Marty Grochala joins the DignityUSA Board of Directors. A full-page ad appears in the November 12 edition of the Chicago Tribune calling upon the USCCB to respect the lives and faith of LGBT Catholics. The ad is later presented to Bishop Wilton Gregory at the USCCB meeting in Washington DC.
2005 The September issue of Chicago Magazine features chapter president Ramon Rodriguez as part of a special report, “The Catholics of Chicago”. Dignity/Chicago receives a Donor level contribution to fund the Equality Forum film project, “Saint of 9/11”.
2006 In December, Dignity/Chicago responds to the Community Challenge Phase of the Center on Halsted Street Capital campaign with a gift. It allows the chapter to create a legacy for the organization, our youth and community.
2007 Linda Pieczynski and Ramon Rodriguez join the DignityUSA Board of Directors. Members of the chapter’s leadership meet with Cardinal George at various times during the 2000’s.
2011 Dignity/Chicago welcomes two ordained women presiders. In December, the chapter’s leadership publicly responds to Cardinal George’s comparison of LGBT parade marchers to the Ku Klux Klan. The Cardinal subsequently apologizes.
2012 Dignity/Chicago celebrates its 40th anniversary. The chapter’s float is the leader of the LGBT faith community in the Pride Parade and is featured by name in a local televised broadcast.
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Upcoming
• Sacrament of Penance/Fourth Sunday of Advent
12/22/2013 - 3:30pm
• Christmas Day
12/25/2013 - 10:00am
• Feast Day of St. Stephen
12/26/2013 - 10:15am
• Feast Day of St. John
12/27/2013 - 10:15am
• Feast Day of the Holy Innocents
12/28/2013 - 10:15am
more
See Dignity/Chicago's 40th year anniversary history panel
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God blesses those whose hearts are pure for they will see God. - Matthew 5:8
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Dignity in the early days.
It was a warm August afternoon when I first walked up the steps of St. Sebastian Church in 1975 to attend a Dignity mass. I went to meet a friend that had promised to be there inside the church waiting for me. At that time you would not wait outside for fear of being seen by others. You must remember that even though Stonewall had happened in 1969 and a ray a hope was created by those brave actions in New York City, that was NYC and this was Chicago, and things were different then. Bars were still very clandestine destinations entered though dark alleys late at night. Bar windows were painted to make sure that no one was seen. Police still raided the bars in the Chicago of the early 70’s and names of those rounded up were printed in the newspapers for all to read about in the morning. We read of suicides committed by people finding their names in the morning paper. Somehow these justified the idea that the person was guilty. But of what? Being gay was still a disgrace and people lost their families and their jobs if discovered. So as a young man recently arrived in Chicago, going into a gay mass in broad daylight was frightening.
Once inside I met my friend and promptly took a seat for mass to begin. As I looked around I saw over 100 people in that church, men and women, ‘regular’ people who had all come together for the same reason: to worship at a Catholic Mass. It was incredible! Lights were on. People weren’t hiding in a dark bar but out in the open. I had never seen so many gays and lesbians in one place at the same time. The irrational fear of being discovered, outed, reported at work still lingered, but there I stayed. When the organ began the processional and everyone started to sing, it dawned on me that I really wasn’t in Kansas any more! Church congregations were mostly silent at that time with only a few making a feeble attempt to intone even the most well known songs, and here everyone was singing with strength and conviction. Yes, this was not going to be your everyday church!
The liturgy strictly followed the Church’s guidelines without any variations. It was a ‘real’ mass for ‘real’ gay and lesbian Catholics and there could be no divergence that would cause any criticism of its validity. Although the congregation was replete with a wide variety of clergy, I most remember 3 priests who were very influential in celebrating mass and working with Dignity Chicago in the beginning: Fr. Rick Woods, O.P. (currently River Forest, IL), Fr. Mario DiCicco, O.F.M. (currently San Francisco, CA), and Fr. Michael Jacobson (desceased). Each was so different and distinct; tall – short, large – small, witty – serious, intellectual – emotional, and yet they were there for us. They laughed with us and supported us in our pain. These were men saw the craving in the GLBT community to worship in a safe space and to have the opportunity to meet others like themselves and to know that they were not alone. Fr. Rick Woods, a prolific writer, used his experience with Dignity and a survey of the membership to write his book, “Another Kind of Love”, the back section of which contains quotes from our fellow Dignitaries of that time. Fr. Mario began the “Married Men’s Group” which met to discuss the integration of faith, sexuality and family among gay married men. This group widely represented a greater Chicago and comprised attorneys, doctors, judges, partners of major Chicago firms, as well as other professionals. Fr. Michael was broadly inclusive and forward thinking. Weekend Dignity retreats were well attended often having 40-50 participants, and as a leader at one of our retreats Fr. Michael led us to discuss the need for inclusive language and the feminine nature of the divine.
It was not until the 1980’s that I got to know the numerous Jesuits, Sacred Heart Fathers, Viatorians, other Franciscans and many other clergy that were among the congregation and sometimes celebrating mass. (They were there all along but I did not get to know them personally until later.) It was wonderful to have a place in which both laity and ordained ministers were comfortable being together and sharing their lives and beliefs together. There was a true sense of church and communal worship at St. Sebastian’s on Sunday evenings. After mass there was a social hour at which I met Dignity members who had been coming since the very beginning. One man, only a few years older than myself, told me of how he had come every Sunday for months and walked up and down the block trying to get the courage to come into the church. The fear of repercussions of being seen to enter the church during a ‘gay’ mass or of being recognized by someone inside had kept him in turmoil for all these months. When he finally had the strength to come inside, he said that he had met so many others who had done the same thing and knew of others that were still trying to make the breakthrough of entering. We talked about how many only came after the mass had started so that they could sit in a hidden back pew or left right after communion so as not to be seen. Being anonymous was still important and as in the bars, very few ever gave a last name. If you became a member of the organization you would get a membership card with a phone number to call on the back if you were picked up in a raid or needed bail money. It was a way that members could support members, and helped to allay the fears caused by raids on the bars.
I made some of my best friends at these social hours. At that time, St. Sebastian’s was the only place to meet others outside of the ‘bar scene’. Catholic or not, religious or not, they came for the safe space that Dignity afforded them. There were no ‘gay centers’, no ‘social clubs’, no sports leagues, no Internet ‘connections’ and so, many Protestants and even Jews came to St. Sebastian’s to find gay friends. Today none of my friends from the 70’s come to Dignity. Some have moved out of town, some are aligned with other organizations closer to their own beliefs, some have gone to their parishes and worship with their local GLBT groups, others have lost their connection to the Roman Church and others have passed on. But it was Dignity that brought us all together at the start of our ‘gay lives’ and became the bond that was forged our friendships of the past 40 years.
The late seventies ushered in many changes to Chicago. From Disco to The Bistro, everything was growing rapidly. Bars opened along Clark and Hubbard and Illinois Streets and that area of town was the gay Mecca for the young. The raids had stopped and gay life became more open, yet still not accepted nor legal. Dignity also grew. With weekly attendance over 100 and a soaring membership, Sunday mass now had greeters, lectors, Communion ministers, a weekly program/bulletin, choir director Patrick O’Hogan, organist, asocial committee, and an outreach committee. Dignity began to thrive and to discover its place not only as a refuge but also as an organization to be active in our church and community. Our mission was to “reconcile gays with the church” but it quickly extended beyond that. The early days of the eighties took Dignity to Wichita, KS to make a stand against the repeal of their gay rights ordinance. But that and other community activism I’ll leave for the person discussing the 80’s.
Although the number of women attending Dignity remained small, future leaders began to attend. Arlene Halko, a noted medical physicist, began attending Dignity along with me in 1975 and would become the first lesbian president of Dignity Chicago. She would serve two terms as president and be on the Board for five years. As president she hired our first female chaplain, Sister Lois, who became our first woman homilist at mass.
AIDS awareness came very personally to Dignity when in 1984, David, who had moved to NYC only the year before died suddenly of the disease. I had visited him only a few weeks before his death and we had talked about Dignity Chicago and all of his friends here. Fr. Carl Meirose S.J., offered our first mass for him and the victims of AIDS on the day of his burial. Then AIDS began to hit Chicago full force. In 1985 Arlene was one of the nine cofounders of Chicago House and as owner of Piggens Pub organized the first tag days and fundraisers for HIV/AIDS in Chicago. She, along with many other Dignity members, were on the front line when AIDS was still considered a ‘gay’ disease. The coordination and contribution of members from the lesbian community and Dignity Chicago were primary in Chicago’s response to this disease.
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• Sacrament of Penance/Fourth Sunday of Advent
12/22/2013 - 3:30pm
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Dignity Indianapolis
Dignity Indianapolis
Since 1981 – Over 25 Years of Faith and Service
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Welcome to Dignity/Indianapolis
We are more than just a Catholic Mass, we're a voice for change and acceptance. Dignity Indianapolis is part of DignityUSA, a lay movement of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered Catholics, their families, and their friends. We strive to build a more loving community for gay people within both the Catholic Church and society at large.
Everyone is welcome!
In our chapter we worship openly with other lesbian and gay Catholics and their families, socialize, share personal and spiritual experiences, and work together on educational and justice issues. Members gather at periodic regional meetings and biennial national conventions.
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Dignity Indianapolis
P.O. Box 431
Indianapolis, IN 46206-0431
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Dignity Indianapolis
Dignity Indianapolis
Since 1981 – Over 25 Years of Faith and Service
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Dignity Indianapolis is a local chapter of DignityUSA.
Our members come from Indianapolis and surrounding areas. Our chapter is made up of men and women, young and old, and people of many faiths. We welcome guests and new members. We strive to make our Liturgies affirming and inclusive.
What We Believe
An excerpt from Dignity's Statement of Position and Purpose:
"We believe that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Catholics in our diversity are members of Christ's mystical body, numbered among the People of God. We have an inherent dignity because God created us, Christ died for us, and the Holy Spirit sanctified us in Baptism, making us temples of the Spirit and channels through which God's love becomes visible. Because of this, it is our right, our privilege, and our duty to live the sacramental life of the Church, so that we might become more powerful instruments of God's loving work among all people.
We believe that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons can express their sexuality in a manner that is consonant with Christ's teachings. We believe that we can express our sexuality physically, in a unitive manner that is loving, life-giving, and life-affirming. We believe that all sexuality should be exercised in an ethically responsible and unselfish way."
Read DignityUSA's Statement of Position and Purpose
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P.O. Box 431
Indianapolis, IN 46206-0431
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A Gift of Thanks for 30 Years of the Friday Night Supper Program
The Friday Night Supper Program will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in March 2014. Dignity/Boston is starting the celebration early by setting a goal of collecting 30 pieces of a specific item each month until April 2014. We would like to start with 30 hoodies for the month of December.
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Dignity/Boston is a progressive, inclusive community of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered Catholics and our allies. We are a member chapter of DignityUSA.
We invite you to join us for liturgy and social hour every Sunday at 5:30 PM, Church of St. John the Evangelist, 35 Bowdoin Street, Boston, Massachusetts (on Beacon Hill between the State House and Cambridge Street).
DignityUSA News
• A Hopeful Advent
By Marianne Duddy-Burke, DignityUSA Executive Director As our Church begins its new year with the approach of Advent, we stand at that twilight moment, reflecting on...
• A Prayerful Response
By John Freml, DignityUSA member Cold temperatures and rain did not stop a group of intrepid Catholic marriage equality supporters from gathering outside the Cathedral of...
DB In The News
• Pope’s remarks on gay priests welcome news locally; clergy say it's consistent with Catholic teaching
• Broadside: LGBT Catholic organization reacts to Pope Francis
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gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered Catholics & allies
Home
Who We Are
Our History
Membership
Groups
Links
Events
Contact Us
News
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Upcoming Events
A Gift of Thanks for 30 Years of the Friday Night Supper Program
The Friday Night Supper Program will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in March 2014. Dignity/Boston is starting the celebration early by setting a goal of collecting 30 pieces of a specific item each month until April 2014. We would like to start with 30 hoodies for the month of December.
Read more...
Our History
This chronology is adapted from Dignity/Boston 1972/1997: A Quarter Century of Faith, Hope, and Love, researched by Becky Burke, Michael Leclerc, and Chuck Provancher. Updated by Christopher Lawrence and Chuck Provancher. © 1997-2004 Dignity/Boston.
Sources: The Advocate; The Alyson Almanac 1994-95 Edition; Bay Windows; The Boston Globe; The Boston Herald; Dignity/Boston archives; Voices of Hope, edited by Jeanine Gramick and Robert Nugent; National Catholic Reporter; Time
1970's
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Copyright © 1996-2013 Dignity/Boston
Dignity/Boston PO Box 170428, Boston, MA 02117 | Tel: 617.421.1915 Email: info@dignityboston.org
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What We Are About
Dignity Detroit is a faith community of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Catholics, their families and friends who unite to celebrate God's love for all persons.
We are a community rich in diversity, that worships in an affirming and supportive setting. Ours is a ministry that speaks to us by offering an expression of faith and fellowship not experienced in other church situations. In this way, Dignity has helped many who have lost touch with the church to reaffirm and establish a relationship with God.
Dignity envisions and works for unity, equality, and an end to all forms of hatred. Most importantly, we are devoted to nurturing faith and love through Christ, the Sacraments, and one another.
Dignity Detroit Goals
Spiritual Development We strive to achieve Christian maturity through full participation in the sacramental life of the church.
Education We strive to grow continually in our knowledge of faith, and to promote a positive self image of our sexual orientation.
Social Involvement As Catholics, we strive to become involved in those actions which bring the love of Christ to others and which extend our justice ministry. We also encourage the People of God to accept gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals as full and equal members of the Church.
Fellowship Social and recreational activities are provided to promote an environment in which friendship can develop and mature, and in which the member's sense of acceptance and dignity can be strengthened.
Our Vision
Dignity Detroit: Spirituality, Equality and Justice
Nurtured in a Welcoming Catholic Community.
Statements of Principle
We will explore and initiate ways to be innovative with our ministry.
We will encourage ministry, community and social involvement.
We will support and expand membership.
We will network with other GLBT&S and social justice groups.
We will become a respectful voice on GLBT issues.
We will set goals, develop processes and monitor progress to accomplish our objectives.
Our History Since 1974
Dignity Detroit was founded in 1974 and met at Most Holy Trinity Church for 23 years before moving to Marygrove College in 1997. We are part of a network of Dignity chapters throughout the nation, all affiliated with dignity/USA, headquartered in Washington D.C.
What We Do
In addition to Mass every Sunday, our activities include and annual retreat in the fall, monthly women's group and seasonal prayer services. We volunteer at the Capuchin Soup Kitchen and support other charitable organizations, including those which directly impact the gay and lesbian community. There are after-Mass socials, an Annual Dinner Dance, and when the opportunity affords itself, we have a party.
The Dignity Detroit Team
Ministers - Lectors, Eucharistic ministers, acolytes, greeters, gift bearers and choir members are all drawn from the congregation.
Dignity Detroit Council- Dignity Detroit's Constitution provides for a democratic governing council elected from the membership, by the membership.
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Dignity Twin Cities
Who We Are
Dignity Twin Cities is a local chapter of Dignity USA. We meet at 5:00 pm on the second and fourth Sunday of each month at Prospect Park United Methodist Church in Southeast Minneapolis.
What Do We Do?
Dignity Twin Cities is a small Christian community that provides a spiritual base for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Catholics, their families and friends. We are also an activist organization that works to change the antiquated sexual theology of the Roman Catholic Church.
Why Do We Do This?
We work to create community and change within the Roman Catholic Church because we take our baptism seriously. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Catholics have been, and are now part of the Church at all levels and in all places. We think God calls all Catholics to work to create a better Church and a better world that celebrates the diversity of creation, including the wondrous, and glorious creation of lesbian women, gay men, bisexuals, and our transgender sisters and brothers.
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Christmas Eve Liturgy at Judson Memorial
Date:
Tuesday, December 24, 2013 - 7:30pm
Please join us for Christmas Eve Liturgy, Dec 24th at 7:30 PM
Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South
Dignity/New York wishes
you and your family a Blessed Christmas
We will celebrate our Christmas Liturgy on
December 24th at Judson Memorial
Dignity/New York Pride Liturgy 2013 YADs
Dignity New York Celebrating our 40th Anniversary June 23, 2012
Liturgy
Join us for a weekly celebration of the Eucharist as we rejoice in our lives as proud Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer persons and our friends.
Every Sunday, 7:30 PM, St. John’s in the Village Church, 218 W 11th St., (Waverly & West 11th Sts.), NYC.
Contact Us
Our mailing address is:
Dignity New York, Inc.
P.O. Box 1554
FDR Station
New York, NY 10150
For questions, comments, or concerns, contact (646) 418-7039
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Dignity NY Pride Parade 2010Sunday Brunch
Contact Sebastian Ribaudo (email: sebastianNYC at webtv.net)
Homiletics Group
If you are interested in exploring the possibility of helping our faith community break open the word through preaching at one of our Sunday liturgies, please come to our group meetings. For more information, please contact Jim Morris at 212-662-9088, or ask for him at the social after the liturgy.
Gay Priest Group
A monthly meeting in Manhattan for gay, Roman Catholic priests who may be in or out of active ministry, or in transition: sharing experiences, discussions or reflections. For information, contact: Jim Morris at 212-787-8600, ext. 230
Liturgy
Join us for a weekly celebration of the Eucharist as we rejoice in our lives as proud Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer persons and our friends.
Every Sunday, 7:30 PM, St. John’s in the Village Church, 218 W 11th St., (Waverly & West 11th Sts.), NYC.
Contact Us
Our mailing address is:
Dignity New York, Inc.
P.O. Box 1554
FDR Station
New York, NY 10150
For questions, comments, or concerns, contact (646) 418-7039
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Dignity/Columbus is a community of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Catholics and their friends who gather to experience God's unconditional love through worship and mutual support. We challenge the church and society to recognize and embrace the inherent goodness of all human sexuality and its expression in loving relationships
On Being Gay and Catholic
Official Catholic teaching requires that homosexual people abstain from sex. The Church also teaches that all moral decisions must be based on a well-formed conscience, taking into consideration official Church teachings. To do otherwise would be immoral.
It is our conviction that neither Scripture nor Tradition nor natural law theory nor human science nor personal experience convincingly supports official Catholic teaching about the immorality of homosexual acts. Accordingly, and after much soul-searching, we have formed consciences that respectfully differ from official Church teaching and believe our spiritual health depends upon the formation of intimate relationships. In this respect we are not unlike many married couples who do not accept the official teaching on contraception.
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Speak the Truth in Love: Write Your Bishop.
One of our dear members has been mentioned on a Gay Catholic blog, Queering the Church. The title of the article is Speak the Truth in Love: Write Your Bishop. The following is an from this artiicle.
If we lack the formal structures to speak to the institutional Church, we must create our own. One American Catholic, Joseph Gentilini, has found a way to do so himself, which all of us can follow. He simply writes to the bishops.
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Open Letter to Cardinal George
Cardinal Francis George, OMI
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
3211 Fourth Street, NE
Washington, DC 20017
Dear Cardinal George,
I recently read that in your position as president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, you issued a statement on February 5, 2010, saying that New Ways Ministry does not provide ‘an authentic interpretation of Catholic teaching.’ As a gay Catholic man, I humbly disagree.
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What qualifies priests to preach about marriage?
External Link: Read more of Norma's letter to the editor
Editor's Note: This is an letter to the editor written by a member of Dignity/Columbus:
All the Catholic priests in Ohio called to a two-day convocation on marriage. Wow! According to two Dispatch articles of Nov. 6, "Help for modern marriages" and "Priests seek ideas to help newlyweds," this conference, part of a national effort to strengthen marriage, offered "speeches from clergy, theologians and academics with advice."
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DignityUSA Mission Statement : Revised October 2009
"DignityUSA works for respect and justice for people of all sexual orientations, genders and gender identities especially gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons in the Catholic Church and the world through education, advocacy and support. DignityUSA is the Voice for the intersection of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience where it intersects with Catholic spirituality." [October 2009]
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Gay Spirituality
There are probably as many versions of "gay spirituality" as there are gay and lesbian persons. Some are fairly traditional and some are new age and beyond. All are on a journey to God, however this person or phenomenon is believed or visualized. I believe it is a journey to wholeness that we live. We are Radical Faeries, drag queens, dykes, fems, leathermen and women, Christians, Jews, Moslems, non-religious, and others. Ideally, we do not judge one another but instead give support in our journeys.
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Homily for the Seventeenth Sunday—Cycle A
Homily given by Mike Tynan on July 27, 2008
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Becoming intimate with ourselves and sharing this with God and others
The following is a talk written by Joseph Gentilini, given at the retreat on October 13, 2007.
Two Main Points:
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Spring Retreat
A time together to reflect where Dignity/Columbus has gone and where it is going.Please join members and friends of Dignity Columbus, the local chapter of Dignity USA, at their annual retreat for a time of reflection and renewal. The focus of this event will be two-fold:
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Commentary on Dignity's Pastoral Letter --AND-- Statement on Pope's Recent Edicts
Commentary by Chuck Colbert on the new "DignityUSA Letter on the Pastoral Care of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) People 2007" can be found at http://www.dignityusa.org/pastoral/colbert.html. "Sowing Division in a Divided World," A Statement from Catholic Church Reform Groups, can be viewed at http://www.dignityusa.org/news/2007/070720cor.html
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Look for the ad
The members of DignityUSA - Columbus Chapter has requested that the organization advertise in popular periodicals. The leadership team has listened. So, look for our ad in the May 3rd issue of Outlook Weekly. The topic of this issue is “Taking Back Our Faith”.
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Dignity Survey Results
Questions are rated on a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being least and 5 being most important.
1.Spiritual Development: “We strive to achieve Christian maturity through the sacraments, Scripture, prayer, an active love of neighbor as ourselves, and liturgical celebrations, especially the Mass.” ◦Sunday Liturgies 1 [0] 2 [0] 3 [0] 4 [3] 5 [17]
◦A Yearly Retreat 1 [1] 2 [2] 3 [10] 4 [6] 5 [1]
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Travelling Dinner Results
The final count for the Travelling Dinner has been done. We have collected $2700 for DignityUSA. We would like to thank all the contributors and volunteers who all made this event such a great success.
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Leadership Team Elections 2012
On Sunday, September 25, 2012, we will be having our bi-annual elections of our leadership team. Nominations are due by Sunday, September 18, 2012 and can be sent to nominations@dignitycolumbus.org.
There are four positions. The functions are interpreted for the 2010 - 2012 Leadership Team as:
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DignityUSA Group Discount for Call to Action Conference
The Call to Action Conference in Milwaukee, WI, November 3-5, 2006, will be held at the Midwest
Airline Center downtown. DignityUSA has secured the group rate for ten or more who register together. If
you register directly, Dignity¬USA does not get the discount rate nor credit for our number of
participants.
Please send your filled out Call to Action Conference registration form and your credit card info or check payable to CTA to DignityUSA, 1500 Massachusetts Ave., NW #8, Washington, DC 20005-1894, by mid-September. Those received in time will be mailed together (as required for the rate) for the early bird rate of $160 per person. Registration form is available at http://www.cta-usa.org/conference2006/registration.html.
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Promotional Committee Meeting - Aug 22, 2006
Present: Logan Bear, David Goldsmith, Mike Tynan
We began our discussion by talking about our purpose. We talked about describing Dignity as being ”Within the Catholic Tradition, But a Little Beyond.” We discussed our purpose as “reforming” the Church, out of justice and respect for ALL human dignity, but not necessarily “replacing” the Church. For some it is still important to participate in regular parish life, if for no other reason than to witness that GLBT persons have a right, and even a responsibility to be there, in the church and in the Church.
At the same time, coming on the heals of our gathering at Redeemer Lutheran, we felt it important to foster even more contact with Integrity, Lutherans Concerned, the Gay-Straight Alliance in Delaware, in an ecumenical effort that the hierarchical church has neglected. Again, in our liturgical gatherings, we have stepped “beyond” the Catholic tradition, by having, not only a celibate priest, but also a married priest couple and a woman presider. Ironically, this has come about by the restrictions the hierarchical church places upon us.
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Read moreabout Promotional Committee Meeting - Aug 22, 2006
Ecumenical Picnic
Dear Dignity Members,
Lutherans Concerned is pleased to host our "annual" ecumenical picnic on Sunday, August 20, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 1555 S. James Rd., Columbus 43227. We'll provide grilled meats of the hot dog and hamburger type (or something equivalent), beverages, and paper products. Everyone else is invited to bring a dish to share.
We've decided to have it at Redeemer so that numbers aren't an issue and we're OK rain or shine. I'm expecting to include King Avenue and the Delaware group in the invitation, but we decided against trying to contact all individual welcoming churches--just too much hassle.
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To Become a Member
To become a member of DignityUSA Columbus Chapter, just join through our national organization, DignityUSA. To get started, visit their membership page.
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Living Beatitudes Community
We meet in the lower level of Christ Episcopal church,
20 W First Street, Dayton OH.
Welcome
The Living Beatitudes Community is a group of friendly and caring Christians who gather to worship together, work together, and live our lives in emulation of the Spirit of the Beatitudes.
We are a welcoming and diverse spiritual community with weekly services that celebrate the freedom of the people of God and the dignity of people of all sexual orientations, genders, races and creeds.
What are “The Beatitudes”? The Latin word for blessed is beatus, from which we get “beatitude.” The beatitudes are eight statements taught by Jesus. They show us the values that he cares about. We believe that these values, if followed, can not only bring a believer into a state of peace but also into the Kingdom of God. The beatitudes are found at Matthew 5: 3-12.
P.O. Box 3304
Dayton, OH 45401
To contact us:
937.260.0407
Living Beatitudes Community
To contact us:
937.260.0407
Come Worship With Us
We are a diverse community from the Catholic tradition.
Come celebrate with us!
Mass: Sunday, 10:00 a.m.
Christ Episcopal Church
Lower level
Weather announcements that cancel Christ Episcopal worship services include Living Beatitudes Community, too. If Christ Episcopal is open, LBC will have Mass.
937-260-0407
Christ Episcopal Church
20 West First Street
Dayton, Ohio 45402
An Invitation
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Dignity/Philadelphia
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Welcome to Dignity Philadelphia
Please see the attachment link below to view the 40th Anniversary booklet from the dinner/dance on April 27 at The Mummers Museum
Please join us for
Liturgy each Sunday at 7:00 p.m.
at the Church of
St. Luke and the Epiphany
[330 S. 13th St. between Spruce and Pine]
a Caring, supportive community of gay, lesbian,
bisexual, transgender Catholics, our families and friends
Please Join Us
Liturgy each Sunday at 7:00 p.m. at the Church of St. Luke and the Epiphany [330 S. 13th St. between Spruce and Pine]
Contact Information
Dignity Philadelphia
P.O. Box 53348
Philadelphia, PA 19105
(215) 546-2093
Email: DignityPhila@aol.com
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Welcome To Dignity Pittsburgh
All Are Welcome In This Place
Mass Most Sundays at 7:00PM
Priest Schedule can be found in the events section
© 2005 Dignity Pittsburgh - All Rights Reserved
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Dignity is a national lay movement of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered Catholics, their families, and their friends. Dignity was founded in 1969 in Los Angeles under the leadership of Fr. Patrick Nidorf, O.S.A., Dignity became a national organization in 1973. Dignity's main office is located in Washington, D.C., and it now comprises about 75 chapters throughout the United States.
In local chapters, participants worship openly with other lesbian and gay Catholics, socialize, share personal and spiritual concerns, and work together on educational and justice issues. Members gather at periodic regional meetings and biennial national conventions.
At Dignity Pittsburgh you will find:
•Weekly Catholic Mass and Social
•Sacrament of Reconciliation
•Sacraments of Christian Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, First Eucharist
•Sacrament of the Sick (Public Annointing Service)
•Special Annual Liturgies
© 2005 Dignity Pittsburgh - All Rights Reserved
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Dignity Pittsburgh meets for liturgy every Sunday at 7:00 pm at the Church of the Redeemer 5700 Forbes Avenue, Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh Pa, 15217.
We can be reached via public transportation via any of the following bus routes eastbound from Downtown: 61-series(61a, b, c, and d) also the 64 and 74 buses (not from Downtown)
[ Yahoo! Maps ]
Map of 5700 Forbes Avenue
© 2005 Dignity Pittsburgh - All Rights Reserved
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Statement of Position & Purpose
We believe that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Catholics in our diversity are members of Christ's mystical body, numbered among the People of God. We have an inherent dignity because God created us, Christ died for us, and the Holy Spirit sanctified us in Baptism, making us temples of the Spirit, and channels through which God's love becomes visible. Because of this, it is our right, our privilege, and our duty to live the sacramental life of the Church, so that we might become more powerful instruments of God's love working among all people.
We believe that gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons can express their sexuality in a manner that is consonant with Christ's teaching. We believe that we can express our sexuality physically, in a unitive manner that is loving, life-giving, and life-affirming. We believe that all sexuality should be exercised in an ethically responsible and unselfish way.
DIGNITY is organized to unite gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Catholics, as well as our families, friends and loved ones in order to develop leadership, and be an instrument through which we may be heard by and promote reform in the Church.
To be such an organization, we accept our responsibilities to the Church, to our Catholic heritage, to society, and to individual gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Catholics.
1.TO THE CHURCH: We work for the development of sexual theology leading to the reform of its teachings and practices regarding human sexuality, and for the acceptance of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender peoples as full and equal members of the one Christ.
2.TO SOCIETY: We work for justice and equality through education and by supporting social and legal reforms.
3.TO INDIVIDUAL GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER CATHOLICS: We reinforce their sense of self-acceptance and dignity and encourage full participation in the life of the Church and society.
As members of Dignity, we promote causes of interest to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Catholics. We have five primary areas of concern and commitment:
1.SPIRITUAL DEVELOPMENT: We strive to achieve Christian maturity through the sacraments, Scripture, prayer, an active love of neighbor as ourselves, and liturgical celebrations, especially the Mass.
2.EDUCATION: We inform ourselves in all matters of faith and of interest to our communities, so that we may grow in maturity and may nurture fulfilling lives in which our sexuality and spirituality are integrated.
3.SOCIAL JUSTICE: As Catholics and members of society, we involve ourselves in those actions that bring the love of Christ to others and provide the basis of social reform in the Church and society. We are actively involved with: 1.Individuals: We lead a life of service to ourselves and others, rendering visible the love of Christ and assisting in the creation of love centered communities.
2.Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Groups: We work with a variety of other groups to seek justice for all persons and to promote a sense of solidarity within the communities.
3.Religious and Secular Groups: We work with many groups and organizations so that their members might better understand gay, lesbian, bisexuals and transgender persons and thus recognize and eliminate present injustices.
4.Health Care: We work to promote equal access and justice in all areas of health care and healing.
5.Women's Justice Issues: We strive to eradicate sexism and patriarchy in all areas of Church and secular life so that women are wholly included, accepted and welcome.
4.EQUALITY ISSUES: We dedicate ourselves to develop the potential of all persons to become more fully human. To do this, we work toward the eradication of all constraints on our personhood based on the ascribed social roles of women and men and to promote inclusivity in all areas of liturgical and community life.
5.SOCIAL EVENTS: We provide activities of a social and recreational nature in an atmosphere where friendships can develop and mature, and where our sense of self acceptance and dignity is affirmed.
© 2005 Dignity Pittsburgh - All Rights Reserved
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Verse of the Day
Luke 2:8-11
“And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and keeping watch by night over their flock. And an angel of the Lord stood by them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people: for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.”
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Weather for
Dallas, TX
Current Conditions:
Fair, 37 F
Forecast:
Sun - Clear. High: 43 Low: 28
Mon - Sunny. High: 49 Low: 28
Tue - Sunny. High: 52 Low: 32
Wed - Cloudy. High: 57 Low: 35
Thu - Partly Cloudy. High: 55 Low: 33
Full Forecast at Yahoo! Weather
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Board Meeting 5:15pm, December 1st
Open to All
Here’s the Board Meeting agenda for discussion:
•Can the Chapter find a way to radically rethink its mission and ways of being together so as to be a more vital presence?
• Can we begin to live by our own By-Laws and find leadership among so small a group?
•Can the Chapter find community partners to meet and share with to become more dynamic and attractive to others in the reform Catholic movement?
•At what point do we pursue disbanding the Chapter and revoking our non-profit status?
We are contacting anyone who has or had a stake in this forty-year-old organization to come together at this time and discuss these vital issues.
Entrance to the Cathedral Chapel is through the front entrance and then to the right to the Center building.
Communion Service celebrating the First Sunday of Advent 6pm, December 1st
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As a Catholic Christian faith community committed to the teachings of Jesus and intent on imitating his love for all people, these are our core values:
•We value active participation in the Eucharist. The celebration of the Eucharist is the "source and summit" of our Christian life, and all are welcome to join us at 6 p.m. every first Sunday of the Month.
•We value all life and have particular concern for the poor, vulnerable and disenfranchised. We support ministries and services to the sick and the grieving, to the needy and those living with HIV/AIDS.
•We value good stewardship of our time, talent and treasure. God has blessed us in many ways, and our members are encouraged to show their gratitude to God for those blessings by sharing part of what God has given to them.
•We value a worshiping community that is open and welcome to all. We are a diverse community of faith and we welcome all to worship with us and to journey in faith with us.
•We value creating and caring for a sacred space that enhances our connection to God and to one another. The Congregational Life Center Chapel of the Cathedral of Hope has been our hallowed ground since 2006. We are grateful to our host congregation, and plan for a bright future in the Interfaith Peace Chapel.
•We value ourselves, and see each other as a powerful beacon of hope for a Church in transition. For more than 35 years, we have given witness to the wholeness and holiness of our lives.
If these core values strike a chord with you, we invite you to join us as we journey in faith, hope and love. BECOME A MEMBER today!
Click below to access the newest content quickly and easily:
•The U.S. bishops have rolled out a new Web portal detailing the changes that will come with the new English-language translation of the Roman Missal.
Dignity/Dallas is a community of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Roman Catholics, their family and friends. We are members of DignityUSA, a national organization that speaks on behalf of GLBT Catholics everywhere.
Dignity/Dallas
PO Box 190133
Dallas, Texas 75219
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About Dignity >
About Dignity
Dignity/Dallas is a chapter of DignityUSA, a national organization that works for respect and justice for all gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in the Catholic Church and the world through education, advocacy and support. While local chapters weave people together in meaningful, caring relationships that are the heart of communion, the national organization speaks with a single, informed, authoritative voice for GLBT Catholics everywhere.
Dignity/Dallas is a spirit-filled community, recognized for simple, traditional weekly and special-occasion liturgies that nourish and sustain its members to live the Gospel of Jesus. The worship environment provides a safe haven for members, their family and friends to grow in the love of God and to give faithful witness to the sacredness of their lives.
Members are challenged to work for justice for and acceptance of GLBT persons, in partnership with similarly focused organizations, both religious and secular. They also provide social and recreational activities in an atmosphere of friendship and love.
We meet at the Cathedral of Hope, the world’s largest liberal Christian church with a primary outreach to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Dignity/Dallas has been warmly welcomed to this “seat” of gay Christianity since August 2006. The Congregational Life Center, completed in 2002, is a 22,000-square-foot multipurpose building with classrooms for children and youth, space for Christian Education classes and meetings, and office space for Cathedral staff.
The Cathedral of Hope is located at 5910 Cedar Springs Road in Dallas. The Congregational Life Center Chapel can be accessed via the garden walkway to the right of the cathedral’s bell wall.
WHY DOESN'T DIGNITY/DALLAS WORSHIP AT A CATHOLIC CHURCH?
Initially, Dignity chapters were welcome at Catholic churches. In fact, some bishops supported Dignity as an "unofficial" ministry to gay and lesbian Catholics. On Oct. 30, 1986, the Vatican issued a "Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons." This document instructed the bishops to withdraw all support, or even the semblance of support, from any group that was vague on the immorality of homogenital acts. Surely the Vatican had Dignity in mind. And many found the letter harsh and uninformed. At DignityUSA's national convention in 1987, the organization declared that it believes lesbian and gay people may indeed engage in loving, life-giving, and life-affirming sex, always in an ethically responsible and unselfish way. By proclaiming publicly what Church teaching does allow — but only in the privacy of conscience — bishops began evicting local chapters for rejecting Church teaching and, most important, for opposing ecclesiastical authority.
WHY DID DIGNITY TAKE SUCH A PUBLIC STAND AGAINST CHURCH TEACHING?
Dignity felt called to a prophetic stance, which, simply said, is to be honest about the matter. After nearly 20 years of ministering to hurting Catholics, Dignity members were aware of the harm that the Church's repeated condemnation of homosexuality does to individuals. One statement from a pope or bishop can throw devout gay Catholics back into guilt and self-deprecation that they may have spent years trying to overcome. Dignity wanted to go on record as a group of homosexual but self-affirming and practicing Catholics, thereby giving hope to other GLBT Catholics.
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What is a miracle?
What is Vatican II?
What is the Church's history?
What does the Church say about homosexuality?
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Visiting Dallas >
Catholic Dallas
In just 120 years, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas has grown to more than 1.1 million Catholics in nine North Texas counties (30 percent of the population). The diocese's 175 secular and religious priests and 134 religious men and women serve in 67 parishes, a university and a seminary, eight high schools and 31 elementary schools.
CATHEDRAL PARISH
Located in the Dallas Arts District, the Cathedral Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe is a Victorian Gothic jewel. Dedicated in 1902, Nicholas J. Clayton's masterpiece was completed in 2005 with the installation of a 224-foot tower with a 49-bell carillon. The Cathedral Shrine, with 25,000 registered households, is the second largest cathedral congregation in the nation, second only to St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York. It also has the largest Latino congregation in the U.S., so you can expect a rich, vibrant liturgical experience.
HOLY TRINITY PARISH
For more than a century, Holy Trinity Catholic Church has served the Oak Lawn community, and many GLBT Catholics continue to find a home there. Established as a mission of the Vincentian Fathers, the parish is still staffed by members of that order.
CISTERCIAN ABBEY
For a truly unique liturgical experience, visit Our Lady of Dallas Cistercian Monastery. This small community of Cistercian monks from Hungary came to Dallas in 1954 to establish a Catholic university and, later, a prep school. Expect joining a worshiping community steeped in Benedictine spirituality, with liturgies that are simple yet soaring.
DIGNITY/DALLAS
Although we have no formal connection with and no resources provided by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas or any other Church office, we invite you to join Dignity/Dallas for Mass. Our community celebrates an inclusive and affirming Eucharistic Liturgy with ordained Roman Catholic priests each weekend. While Holy Trinity parish may be considered gay-friendly and the Cathedral parish may provide a comfort zone of anonymity, our community goes beyond mere tolerance and acknowledges and celebrates our lives as gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Catholics.
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Contents © 2013 Dignity/Dallas | Church Website Provided by mychurchwebsite.net | Privacy Policy
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About Dignity
About Dignity
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This Week's Homily - Breath of the Spirit
Ministries
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News/Events
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Do you celebrate a "real" Catholic Mass?
What do Catholics believe?
What do Catholics say about the Bible?
What do Catholics believe about prayer?
What are sacraments?
What do Catholics believe about sin and reconciliation?
What do Catholics believe about Mary?
What is a miracle?
What is Vatican II?
What is the Church's history?
What does the Church say about homosexuality?
Links/Resources
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Visiting Dallas >
Gay Community
Take the nation's second-most popular domestic pleasure travel destination, add a city with the sixth largest gay population in the U.S., blend in a vibrant nightlife, a thriving arts district, unparalleled shopping opportunities, some of America's greatest sports teams and an array of gay-friendly accommodations and what do you get?
Dallas.
It's known as Big D — not because of the big drama people associate with the '80s-era TV show, but because in Dallas, everyone lives large and thinks big. Dallas' gay community is known for its cohesion and hospitality; its gay scene for its diverse assortment of bars and clubs; its restaurants for their eclectic mix of southern, Mexican and international influences.
Speaking of restaurants, did you know that Dallas has more restaurants per capita than New York City? Even the most discerning traveler is sure to find something to please the palate.
The center of Dallas' gay culture is in Oak Lawn and its surrounding neighborhoods. For more than 25 years, Oak Lawn has offered a bustling mix of unique shops, distinctive dining and energetic clubs. Each year, Oak Lawn has several free outdoor events that attract thousands of people. Easter in the Park invites everyone and anyone to picnic on the grounds of Lee Park and watch the Pooch Parade to the sounds of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. In September, the Alan Ross Texas Freedom Parade runs down Cedar Springs Road from Wycliff Avenue to Turtle Creek Boulevard, culminating in a lively Pride Festival in Lee Park. And the Oak Lawn Halloween Street Party is legendary for drawing thousands of participants who revel in the streets and show off their costumes.
If you're planning a trip to Dallas, don't overlook Oak Cliff, just to the southwest of downtown. Although one of the oldest parts of the city, it's also one of the newest hot spots for the gay community. With galleries, restaurants and shops, the Bishop Arts District and surrounding neighborhoods offer a laid-back alternative to the hustle and bustle of Oak Lawn.
A quick 30-minute drive from Dallas is Fort Worth, "Where the West Begins." Also known as Cowtown, Fort Worth has a proud Western heritage, on display at places like Sundance Square, at the Historic Stockyards and the National Cowgirl Museum. Yet this city of nearly 1 million residents also has a burgeoning gay nightlife, as well as a gay and lesbian film festival that's been gaining national recognition for almost a dozen years. The city's Cultural District offers three world-class museums, as well as performance venues for homegrown talent (like Tony winner Betty Buckley) and traveling shows. The Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, held every four years at Bass Performance Hall, shines the spotlight on some of the world's most promising young musicians.
Because Dallas-Fort Worth is served by two major airports and numerous airlines, North Texas is an easy, economical destination. Climate-wise, you can't beat it — winters are cool while spring and fall are a perfect blend of mild and balmy. But remember, the mercury also flirts with the century mark during most of the summer — the perfect excuse for lazing around at pool and patio.
So whether you’re looking for fun, excitement, relaxation, culture, fine cuisine or just good ol’ southern hospitality, Dallas has much to offer.
site administration
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Contents © 2013 Dignity/Dallas | Church Website Provided by mychurchwebsite.net | Privacy Policy
Home
About Dignity
About Dignity
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This Week's Homily - Breath of the Spirit
Ministries
Become a Member
Visiting Dallas
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Gay Community
Shopping
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Entertainment
News/Events
News/Events
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Member Directory
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Prayer Requests
FAQs
Do you celebrate a "real" Catholic Mass?
What do Catholics believe?
What do Catholics say about the Bible?
What do Catholics believe about prayer?
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Yes! We welcome all to the Eucharistic table, regardless of faith tradition.
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Are the Priests who Minister to Dignity/Dallas Validly Ordained?
Yes! Our presiders are not assigned by the Diocese of Dallas or any other Roman Catholic religious community, but are active members of our community whose ministry to us is affirmed by the community. We embrace the ordination of those who are no longer in official Church ministry due solely to their sexual orientation or partnered status.
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Does Dignity/Dallas Celebrate a "Real" Catholic Mass?
Yes! Our community celebrates an inclusive and affirming Eucharistic Liturgy with ordained Roman Catholic priests each weekend. While some parishes may be considered gay-friendly, our community goes beyond mere tolerance and acknowledges and celebrates our lives as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Catholics. There is no formal connection with and no resources provided to Dignity/Dallas by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas or any other Church office.
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The Top Twelve
WHAT DO CATHOLICS BELIEVE?
1.Jesus Christ is the fullest revelation of God. That revelation is available in Scripture and tradition alike, not as two separate and distinct sources, but as rooted in a single source, which is the word of God. The response to this revelation is what we mean by faith. Catholicism rejects fideism (the belief that faith has no rational component) as well as rationalism (the view that we can believe only what can be rationally demonstrated to be true).
2.God created the world, so it is good. There is no question of an ongoing battle between two coequal (or nearly coequal) forces: God and Satan. The forces of evil have been overcome once and for all in Jesus Christ. The created order, although fallen and wounded by original sin and the actual sins of humankind, is nevertheless redeemed by Christ and renewed by the Holy Spirit.
3.Although God alone saves us, we cannot be saved without our own cooperation. This teaching is encapsulated in a formula attributed to Ignatius of Loyola (d. 1556); namely, that we should pray as if everything depended upon God, and work as if everything depended upon ourselves.
4.Grace really transforms and sanctifies us. Our sins are not simply covered over. We have become new creatures in Christ and temples of the Holy Spirit.
5.Jesus Christ is our Redeemer, who is truly divine and human. Because he is divine, his suffering, death, and Resurrection on our behalf are of infinite value. And because he is human, we are taken up with him into the mystery of redemption.
6.The God who created us and who redeemed us is a triune God: creator, redeemer, and sanctifier; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each person is God, yet there is only one God.
7.Mary is the Mother of God and the Mother of the Church. She is the firstborn of those who have been redeemed and is a type, or symbol, of the Church through her faith in, and readiness to abide by, the word of God. The Church does not place Mary on a coequal basis with her Son, nor does it require its members to believe in any of the apparitions attributed to her by others.
8.The Church is necessary for salvation because it is the Body of Christ, continuing his mission for the sake of the coming reign of God. Although it will not come about until the end of history, God’s reign is already present in mystery, in the Church and in the world. God wills the salvation of all.
9.The Church is essentially sacramental, signifying and celebrating the presence and activity of God through the seven sacraments, especially the Eucharist.
10.We are called to live in accordance with the gospel in our own individual lives and also to contribute to the common good in the world around us. The sources of morality are to be found not only in the Bible and the official teachings of the Church, but also in every human heart (natural law).
11.We are all destined for eternal happiness in heaven, but it is at least conceivable that some few may totally and with full deliberation reject the gift of salvation. Hell is for them the state of eternal absence from God. For others a period of purification, called purgatory, may be necessary to prepare them for the vision of God. The once-popular belief that infants who die without Baptism enter a state of natural happiness known as Limbo is not an official teaching of the Church, and no Catholic is bound to hold it.
12.The Catholic Church has assumed many different organizational forms throughout its history. Although there is a fundamental equality of members by reason of Baptism, some are given special ministerial responsibilities. For Catholics, the Bishop of Rome has a unique ministerial function: to stand in Peter’s place as the proclaimer of faith to the universal Church and as an instrument of unity.
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Catholics and the Bible
WHERE DOES THE BIBLE COME FROM? AND HOW DID IT GET FROM THERE TO HERE?
Many of us think of the Bible as one book. But it’s actually more like an entire library. In fact, the word bible literally means little library. So if you set out to read the Bible like a novel, you’ll probably grow frustrated, because it would be like trying to get through all the books in the local library. And, as in any library, the Bible has many different kinds of writings, including prayers, genealogies, histories, poetry, letters, short stories, love songs, historical narratives, dramatizations, parables, and on and on.
What the Bible actually contains are the records of 4,000 years of Judeo-Christian history and culture. Even before writing materials were invented, the many stories included in our Bible were handed down from generation to generation by word of mouth. We call this the oral tradition.
As time passed, the ancient Israelites began to write down their stories about God and God’s people. We have some writings that date back 1,000 years before Jesus. But most of the Old Testament was written between 300 and 500 years before the time of Jesus. Whenever he himself referred to the Scriptures, he meant these writings. The first biblical writings were put on scrolls made of papyrus. Papyrus is a type of paper that’s made from reeds that grow by the Nile River.
The oldest scrolls we have date from the century before Jesus was born. They were discovered in 1947 in caves near the Dead Sea. Papyrus isn’t very durable, but the Dead Sea scrolls were sealed in stone jars that preserved them. They contain many of the books that we now know as the Old Testament.
The stories of Jesus and the apostles that we call the New Testament were also first written on papyrus scrolls. The oldest copies of these scrolls date to the third century. We actually have only a few fragments of these early scrolls, but we know that they existed. The oldest fragment we have is just a scrap from the Gospel of John. It was found in Egypt, and dates to about 130 years after Christ. Written on this tiny papyrus fragment is Pilate’s infamous question, “What is truth?”
Almost 300 years after Jesus, a new way of making books was invented. It was called acodex. A codex consisted of manuscript pages made of animal skins and held together by stitching. Several books could be bound together in this way. The Codex Sinaiticus is the oldest such codex, and it was found preserved in the monastery of Saint Catherine in the Sinai Desert in the 19th century. At the time it was discovered, the monks there were using it as a platform for their lectern.
BUT ISN'T THERE JUST ONE BIBLE?
Actually, no.
Once people began collecting various manuscripts into a codex, they had to determine which of the stories were to be accepted as the true revelation of God’s word and which were to be rejected. The books that were accepted became part of the canon of Scripture. The word canon means rule, and it originally referred to a measuring rod. So, the books in the canon are those that measure up to some standard.
For example, there were a lot of sacred books circulating in the early centuries after Jesus. Nearly everyone wanted to tell the story of Jesus in their own way, with their own slant or purpose. Eventually, Church authorities had to decide which books contained the authentic message of Scripture.
For a long time the canon was kind of flexible. In fact, it actually varied from group to group in the early Church. In the first four centuries there was no formal canon and people were often confused as to which books to use.
In the year 150, for example, a prominent theologian named Marcion came up with his own canon. He hated the Jewish people, so he decided to throw out the Old Testament. He believed that Jesus, the Word of God, had sprung from the head of God. He accepted the letters of Paul in his canon, but he rewrote the Gospel of Luke. And he even included some books of his own!
Marcion's canon brought a reaction from other leaders in the church. St. Ireneus of Lyon, who discovered that many of the women in his congregation who had fallen under Marcion’s influence were leaving their husbands, wrote five volumes against heretics. Then he came up with his canon, which included the four Gospels we now have. But his criteria for having four Gospels was rather curious: he carefully explained that there could be only four gospels since there were four corners of the world and four winds!
At Rome, the canon included the four Gospels, the thirteen letters of Paul, the letter of Jude, 1 Peter, 1 and 2 John, the Wisdom of Solomon, the Book of Revelation and something called the Apocalypse of Peter.
Other canons in other churches included the Epistle of Barnabas, the Shepherd of Hermas and the Acts of Paul. At Alexandria, they used the letters of Clement of Alexandria. Several churches (including the churches at Alexandria and Antioch) would not include the Book of Revelation. The Letter to the Hebrews was accepted in the East, but not in the West. And there were many gospels.
The word gospel actually means God-story. One of these God-stories is the gospel of Thomas. It consists of sayings attributed to Jesus. But because it wasn’t included in the original canon, it was lost to us until the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in 1947. At that time, archeologists and scholars were amazed to find 54 other titles, including the infancy narrative of James, the gospel of Peter, the gospel of Philip, the gospel of Mary, the Acts of Paul and Techla and a host of others. While there’s no question that these texts are as old as the Scriptures we have in our canon, they were not and still are not included in our canon. The reason is that they presented a theology that was and continues to be opposed to the theology of the mainstream Church. And because they were written by groups of people who were in opposition to the mainstream Church, they were buried by the writers when church authorities finally agreed on a canon at the beginning of the fourth century.
At that time, the pope commissioned St. Jerome to translate both the Old and New Testaments into Latin. The books to be included in the New Testament canon were only those that were actually connected to the apostles and those which conformed to the faith of the Church. Those books in the first official canon were the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the Book of Revelation, 13 letters attributed to Paul and eight other letters. Although they were subsequently disputed, these books are still known to us as the New Testament. What Jerome produced (after 25 years’ work) was called the Vulgate (a word which means the language of the people) and it contained not only the New Testament, but a version of the Old Testament known as the Septuagint.
The Septuagint
The earliest versions of the Old Testament were written in Hebrew. But many Jews spoke Greek and wanted to read the Scriptures in their own language. So, a couple centuries before Christ, the sacred scrolls were been translated into Greek.
Legend has it that 70 Jewish scholars went from Jerusalem to Alexandria, a great center of learning, and spent 70 months translating the texts. The resulting Greek version was called the Septuagint, which means 70. This translation also included seven books originally written not in Hebrew but in Greek: First and Second Maccabees, Judith, Baruch, Tobit, Sirach and Wisdom.
Having a Greek as well as a Hebrew version of the sacred books wasn't a problem until the temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 C.E. Jews were scattered from their homeland, carrying their sacred scrolls with them.
In an attempt to return some kind of order to the Jewish community, scholars gathered at Jamnia in 90 C.E. There they formed a canon of 39 books of Scripture, chosen from the Hebrew collection. This created a problem for Greek-speaking Jews living in Alexandria because they wanted to keep the Greek books that hadn’t been included. So two Old-Testament canons were in circulation at the time Saint Jerome made his Latin translation, the Jamnian or Hebrew canon and the Alexandrian or Septuagint canon. Since the New Testament books had all been written in Greek, and so many early Christians had relied on the Septuagint when they wanted to read the sacred Scriptures from their Jewish heritage, St. Jerome used the Septuagint in the Latin Vulgate.
Finally, an English translation
Throughout the Middle Ages, the Latin Vulgate was used by the entire Church. But, as Christianity spread throughout Europe, fewer and fewer people understood Latin. So scholars produced translations from the Vulgate into the language of the people around them. That meant that they were working from translations that were, by that time, several times removed from the original language: from Hebrew into Greek into Latin into whatever language came next.
An English version of the entire Bible was produced by John Wycliffe between 1380 and 1382. By that time, the Vulgate had been used for almost a thousand years. Wycliffe’s translation was condemned by the Church, and its copies were burned. In 1525, William Tyndale completed a translation of the New Testament. He had the audacity to work not from the Latin Vulgate but from the original Greek text. His version was suppressed and Tyndale was put to death.
When English Protestants requested an English-language translation of King Henry VIII, Sir Thomas Cromwell officially approved an English translation made by Miles Coverdale. It was based on the work of Tyndale.
On February 10, 1604, King James I of England ordered that a new and better translation of the Bible be made, and a group of scholars was named to begin the work. This “new” Bible was to be translated directly from the Hebrew and Greek. The result was the most influential English translation used by Protestants and Anglicans, the King James Version of 1611.
But English-speaking Catholics were not to be denied. When Church authorities discovered what the protestants were doing, they arranged for an English translation of their own. It was made from the Latin Vulgate, and was completed by George Martin, an Oxford biblical scholar, under the sponsorship of William (Cardinal) Allen. Cardinal Allen was forced by the Protestants to leave England in 1565. He established a college in Douay, France, to train Catholic missionary priests for the conversion of England. The English translation appeared in two French cities, Douay and Rheims, at almost the same time as the King James Version of 1611. This English version is known as the Douay-Rheims Bible. This translation was used by English-speaking Catholics for over 350 years, until the New American Bible replaced it gradually in the early 1970s!
By the 20th century, nearly every biblical scholar and translator relied on the original Hebrew and Greek manuscripts for new translations into modern languages. Today, we can find several English translations from the original texts. They are all accurate translations and the meaning is the same, but the English phrasing varies.
BUT WEREN'T CATHOLICS DISCOURAGED FROM READING THE BIBLE?
While personal interpretation that departed from Church tradition was discouraged, the Church has always encouraged the reading of Scripture, and has even provided for its reading. The Church instructed people from the Scriptures through readings and singing in the liturgy, through mystery plays, through artworks, through altarpieces and stained-glass windows that depicted scenes from the Bible.
Throughout the Middle Ages, monks hand-copied the entire Bible. Some of the most beautiful copies were made in Irish monasteries. Ireland, in the Middle Ages, was at the edge of the known world, and literate people fled there when barbarian hordes raced through the rest of Europe, burning and looting everything in their path. The most renowned copy is the Book of Kells, which was produced in the ninth century.
But hand-copying Bibles was a lengthy and demanding task. It often taking many years to complete, and only the very rich could afford such expensive books. A German inventor by the name of Johannes Gutenberg changed the world in 1460 when he invented movable type for the printing press. Bibles could not only be mass-produced, but could also be made available, less expensively, to anyone who could read.
WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC BIBLES?
In the 16th century, a Catholic priest and Augustinian monk by the name of Martin Luther protested against the Church over 95 different things he didn’t like. He loved the Scriptures, and thought that the Church had long-neglected its relationship to God’s word. When he left the Church, he had a German translation of the Bible made, and even did some of the translation himself. But it was a selective translation. What Luther did was to actually establish his own canon. He left out books of the Bible he didn’t agree with. In addition to that, he used the Hebrew version of the Old Testament, rather than the Greek. He may have deliberately done this so that he could exclude the Second Book of Maccabees, on which the Catholic Church founded its doctrine of purgatory. One of Luther's major criticisms of the Catholic Church was the practice of buying and selling indulgences, an abuse of the teaching on purgatory.
Luther omitted from the New Testament the Letter to the Hebrews and the Letter of James. The Letter of James is that book which states that faith without good works is dead, and Luther claimed that faith alone was necessary for salvation. The Letter to the Hebrews emphasized the priesthood of Jesus.
The New Testament letters were restored to the Protestant canon in 1700, but Protestant Bibles still exclude those seven books from the Greek Old Testament (although many print them in a separate section called the Apocrypha, a word that means of dubious value).
For Catholics, the Council of Trent (1545) wanted to protect the Bible from further depletion or abuse, so it formally closed the canon and forbade the reading of translations not approved by the Church. The Douay-Rheims English translation was approved and circulated from 1635 on. Catholics used this translation until the mid-20th century. Translations into other European languages were likewise approved.
Today, Catholics and Protestants accept the same 27 inspired books as making up the New Testament, but not the seven disputed books of the Old Testament. Even Catholics call Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch and 1 and 2 Maccabees, and some sections of Esther and Daniel deuterocanonical. Essentially, that means they are sort of canonical.
Interpreting the Scriptures
Reading the Bible today not only raises problems of language and culture, but also ofscience and history and even morality. The Bible can be accurately quoted to promote war and domination of one race over another, to endorse slavery and anti-Semitism, to prop up patriarchal structures and blatant sexism. All of these problems beg for interpretation.
Unfortunately, too many Catholics, in their enthusiasm for Scripture, are attracted by a fundamentalist approach that is familiar to some charismatic Protestant denominations. Fundamentalism claims that the Bible is literally the word of God, that every word of the Bible was virtually dictated by God to the sacred authors in much the same way that a boss would dictate a letter to a secretary. Therefore, it is to be taken literally as completely free of any kind of error and it has absolute authority. This kind of approach requires no interpretation.
Equally unfortunate are other Catholics who are attracted by a kind of radical liberalism associated with secular studies. They tend to look at the Bible as only a book just like any other book. Faith and Church tradition are essentially irrelevant to them. They fail to see in the Bible an encounter between God and humanity, it and becomes nothing more than a source of historical knowledge about ancient Israel and the first Christian communities.
Fundamentalism so overemphasizes the divinity of the Bible that it denies the text’s real human character. Liberalism so overemphasizes the human character of the Bible that it empties it of all divine revelation. The Catholic Church, by contrast, holds that the Bible is like the Word of God made Flesh in Jesus...it is both fully human and fully divine. Yes, the Bible is a witness to divine revelation. But it’s also a human text. It is not divine dictation.
Most of the Old Testament texts were composed gradually, often over centuries, by generations of people who wrote and revised material they first received as oral tradition. The New Testament texts were composed over a much shorter period of time, but they also began as oral traditions about Jesus told and retold in the first Christian communities. These traditions were gradually written down amid specific circumstances that determined what was included, emphasized or reshaped in the telling.
The biblical texts, then, bear all the marks of human composition: historical conditioning, prejudice, factual error and moral limitation, as well as deep theological and religious insight into the mystery of God’s relationship with humanity. It is this twofold character of the biblical text, its mysterious divine depths expressed in humanly fallible language, which makes interpretation necessary.
SO WHAT ARE WE TO MAKE OF SO MUCH DISAGREEMENT ABOUT THE BIBLE?
Remember, both the Old and the New Testaments developed only gradually and after much debate among both Jews and Christians. Once the canon was determined, squabbles over translations followed. Believe it or not, today there is far more agreement over the Biblical texts than at any other time in history.
While Christians agree on the composition of the New Testament, we do not agree on how to interpret these texts. There will always be tension between extremists. Most Catholics strive to stand in the middle.
There’s no question that we find in the New Testament four portraits of Jesus in the Gospels, a vision of the emerging Church in the Acts of the Apostles, keen insights into the development of Christian identity in 21 letters from St. Paul and others, and a Book of Revelation that presents, in fantastic and sometimes unimaginable images, that which awaits us all. Christians have always believed that, in the Old and New Testaments, God has completely revealed everything that is necessary for our salvation.
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The Gospels
WHAT ARE THE GOSPELS AND HOW DID THEY COME ABOUT?
Jesus was a Galilean peasant who wrote nothing. His native language was Aramaic, whereas the records of what he said, created later by others, exist only in Greek, with a few texts in further translation preserved in Latin, or Coptic, or other ancient language. The tradition has preserved only a few Aramaic words attributed to Jesus.
Accordingly, if Jesus spoke only in Aramaic, his original words have been lost forever. The words of Jesus recorded in the gospels are thus at best a translation from Aramaic into Greek or some other ancient language.
Surviving records
The original copies of written sources have completely disappeared. In fact, the oldest fragment of any portion of the New Testament now in existence dates from about 125 C.E., one hundred years after Jesus’ death. It is a tiny fragment of the Gospel of John. The next oldest fragments of Matthew and Luke date to about 200 C.E. The first complete copy of the Greek New Testament originates from the fourth century C.E.
Thus, three full centuries separate Jesus from the earliest complete surviving copies of the gospels. One full century separates him from the earliest surviving fragment. Furthermore, no two copies or fragments are exactly alike.
Before the Gospels
Written records of words attributed to Jesus undoubtedly go back well into the first century, perhaps even to a date as early at 50 C.E., a mere two decades after Jesus’ death, although neither copies nor fragments from those early years have been discovered. However, before the gospels were written, and even after they were written, the stories about Jesus circulated among his believers in oral form. Oral reminiscence rather than written record was the principal vehicle of transmission. The cultures and communities in which Christianity arose were essentially oral — all cultures were oral prior to the invention of writing, and most cultures, particularly those of the lower classes, continued to be oral until the invention of the printing press. In oral cultures and communities tradition is not fixed in writing, but is passed on as talk, and, as common experience proves, talk is more liquid, so to speak, than writing. The fluidity of talk is restrained only by two factors: the structure of the stories or sayings, and the use of fixed words or phrases. Otherwise, in oral communities those who passed on the tradition felt free to omit, invent, modify or enlarge the stories.
We no longer have access to the oral tradition that was alive in the first hundred years or so after Jesus’ death. But we do have immediate access, in Greek and related tongues, to the written deposit left by that tradition.
The Gospel of Mark
An anonymous author composed the Gospel of Mark shortly after the destruction of the temple in 70 C.E. Mark is responsible for forming the first chronological outline of the life of Jesus. He may also be responsible for the first connected account of Jesus’ passion (Mark 14-16). He reflects the early Christian view that God was about to bring history to an end in a apocalyptic conflagration.
The Gospel of Mark is attributed to John Mark, a companion of Paul and perhaps an associate of Peter. This attribution, like others in the ancient world, is the product of speculation.
Mark became quickly established in the Christian community as indicated by the fact that Matthew and Luke made use of his text in creating their gospels a few years later.
The Gospel of Matthew
An anonymous author compiled the Gospel of Matthew after the fall of Jerusalem in 70 C.E. and sometime before the Council of Jamnia in 90 C.E. This is the period when the Christian community was seeking its own identity over against Judaism, and when Judaism was attempting to recover from the loss of the center of its worship, the temple. Matthew can be dated to about 85 C.E., give or take a few years.
Matthew was composed in Greek and, in addition to its own unique material, contains material from Mark and Q*.
The Gospel of Luke
Luke and The Acts of the Apostles form a two-volume work by a single author which depict the emergence of Christianity on a world stage. It was composed around 85 C.E., during the same period as Matthew. Whereas Matthew was concerned with the Jewish reaction to Christianity, Luke is preoccupied with developments among the Gentiles.
The tradition that Luke the physician and companion of Paul was the author of Luke-Acts goes back to the second century. However, it is improbable that the author of Luke-Acts was a physician and it is doubtful that he was a companion of Paul. As in the case of the other canonical gospels, the author is anonymous.
*German scholars first proposed that Matthew and Luke drew upon the same source materials for some of the sayings they attribute to Jesus. These scholars began referring to this source as “Q”, which is simply the first letter in the word “Quelle,” German for “the source.”
The Synoptic Gospels
The principal sources for the sayings of Jesus are these three Synoptic Gospels. Synoptic means that they share a common view of Jesus, as distinguished, for example, from the Gospel of John. When laid out in parallel columns in a gospel parallels or synopsis, the similarities between and among them are striking. One form of similarity is the extensive verbal agreement involving all three.
A second type of similarity among the three Synoptics lies in the order of events and sayings. Matthew and Luke in general follow Mark’s order when they are copying from him. By contrast, when Matthew and Luke are taking their material from Q, they disperse the material in their gospels in very different ways.
To be sure, Matthew and Luke also have knowledge of still other traditions about Jesus which they incorporate into their gospels. For want of a better name, scholars refer to this material as special Matthew and special Luke. They do not necessarily represent written sources; the special material known to Matthew and Luke probably derives from oral traditon.
Mark and Q
A clear pattern emerges from the verbal agreements between and among the three synoptic evangelists.
•Matthew and Luke incorporate nearly all of Mark in their gospels. When copying Mark, Matthew and Luke generally follow his order of events and sayings.
•Mark contains very little material that Matthew and Luke have derived from Q and their special sources. Mark apparently does not know the other sources used by Matthew and Luke.
•Matthew and Luke incorporate large blocks of sayings material that are absent from Mark. Verbal agreement between Matthew and Luke is often high. This material does not appear in a common chronological order.
Since both Matthew and Luke are dependent on the chronological outline of Mark, Mark is responsible for whatever chronology we have of the life of Jesus. Matthew and Luke have no independent knowledge of that chronology. This is supported by the fact that when they draw on Q, they do not agree about where items should be placed in the Markan outline.
The Q-source lacked chronology. Q was probably a collection of the sayings of Jesus arranged much like the Book of Proverbs. It contained very little biographical material; it had no birth or childhood stories and no passion narrative.
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Reading the Bible
When reading the Bible, Catholics are encouraged to take an intelligent, spiritual approach.
Listed here are 10 points for fruitful Scripture reading.
1.Bible reading is for Catholics. The Church encourages Catholics to make reading the Bible part of their daily prayer lives. Reading these inspired words, people grow deeper in their relationship with God and come to understand their place in the community God has called them to.
2.Prayer is the beginning and the end. Reading the Bible is not like reading a novel or a history book. It should begin with a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to open our hearts and minds to the Word of God. Scripture reading should end with a prayer that this Word will bear fruit in our lives, helping us to become holier and more faithful people.
3.Get the whole story! When selecting a Bible, look for a Catholic edition. A Catholic edition will include the Church's complete list of sacred books along with introductions and notes for understanding the text. A Catholic edition will have an imprimatur notice on the back of the title page. An imprimatur indicates that the book is free of errors in Catholic doctrine.
4.The Bible isn't a book. It's a library. The Bible is a collection of 73 books written over the course of many centuries. The books include royal history, prophecy, poetry, challenging letters to struggling new faith communities, and believers' accounts of the preaching and passion of Jesus. Knowing the genre of the book you are reading will help you understand the literary tools the author is using and the meaning the author is trying to convey.
5.Know what the Bible is – and what it isn't. The Bible is the story of God's relationship with the people God has called to Godself. It is not intended to be read as history text, a science book or a political manifesto. In the Bible, God teaches us the truths that we need for the sake of our salvation.
6.The sum is greater than the parts. Read the Bible in context. What happens before and after – even in other books – helps us to understand the true meaning of the text.
7.The Old relates to the New. The Old Testament and the New Testament shed light on each other. While we read the Old Testament in light of the death and resurrection of Jesus, it has its own value as well. Together, these testaments help us to understand God's plan for human beings.
8.You do not read alone. By reading and reflecting on Sacred Scripture, Catholics join those faithful men and women who have taken God's Word to heart and put it into practice in their lives. We read the Bible within the tradition of the Church to benefit from the holiness and wisdom of all the faithful.
9.What is God saying to me? The Bible is not addressed only to long-dead people in a faraway land. It is addressed to each of us in our own unique situations. When we read, we need to understand what the text says and how the faithful have understood its meaning in the past. In light of this understanding, we then ask: What is God saying to me?
10.Reading isn't enough. If Scripture remains just words on a page, our work is not done. We need to meditate on the message and put it into action in our lives. Only then can the word be "living and effective."(Hebrews 4:12).
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The Biblical view of Homosexuality
WHAT PART DOES THE BIBLE PLAY IN DETERMINING THE CHURCH'S TEACHING ON HOMOSEXUALITY?
Unlike some other Christian churches, the Catholic Church does not rest its teaching on the Bible alone. But the Church does appeal to the Bible to support its teaching about natural law. Church documents have claimed that, from the book of Genesis to the end of the Christian Testament, there is constant opposition to homogenital acts.
However, contemporary Bible scholars raise many questions about the matter. Read within the context of their own historical and cultural backgrounds, the Bible texts do not address adult, loving homosexual relations as we understand them today.
WHAT WAS THE POINT OF THE BIBLE TEXTS IF NOT TO CONDEMN HOMOSEXUALITY?
It is not easy to summarize briefly the body of research on homosexuality in the Bible. But these are the interpretations that some scholars propose:
◾The story of Sodom in Genesis 19 is about offense against the sacred duty of hospitality. That is how Ezekiel 16:48-49 and Wisdom 9:13-14 interpret this text. The attempted male rape only heightens the atrocity of this offense.
◾Leviticus 18:22 does forbid male-male sex as an "abomination." But the word simply means an impurity or a religious taboo — like eating pork. As in the case of Catholics who used to be forbidden under pain of mortal sin to eat meat on Friday, the offense was not in the act itself but in the betrayal of one's religion. The ancient Jews were to avoid practices common among the unclean Gentiles.
◾Romans 1:27 mentions men having relations with men. But the terms used to describe them are "dishonorable" and "shameless." These refer deliberately to social disapproval, not to ethical condemnation. Moreover, according to Paul's usage, different from the prevalent Stoic philosophy of the day, para physin ("unnatural") would best be translated "atypical" or "beyond the ordinary." So it bears no reference to natural law. And it can imply no ethical condemnation because in Romans 11:24 God is said to act para physin. Paul sees gay sex as an impurity (see Rm. 1:24), just like uncircumcision or eating forbidden foods. He mentions it to make the main point of his letter, that purity requirements of the Jewish Law are not relevant in Christ Jesus.
◾1 Corinthians 6:9-10 and 1 Timothy 1:8-10 list arsenokoitai among those who will be excluded from the Reign of God. This obscure term has been translated "homosexuals" but its exact meaning is debated. It certainly does not include women but only some kind of male sexual offenders. If it does refer to men having sex with men — which is dubious — it must be interpreted in light of the abuse and licentiousness commonly associated with male-male sex in the Roman Empire.
◾Finally, Genesis 1-3 shows Adam and Eve created for mutual companionship and procreation. These accounts use the most standard of human relationships to teach a religious lesson. The point is the love and wisdom of God, who made all things good and wills us no evil. Nothing suggests the biblical authors intended a lesson on sexual orientation.
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The Meaning of Prayer
HOW DO CATHOLICS DEFINE PRAYER?
A simple definition of prayer is: turning one’s attention to God. Catholics are encouraged to pray frequently — not only when they’re in church but at other times as well: at home or out walking or in a favorite quiet place. Prayer is like a friendship. If you asked friends why they spend time together they’d probably say it’s because they just like being together. That’s how it is with prayer. At its heart, prayer is a relationship - our relationship with God. Saint Teresa of Avila once said, “Prayer in my opinion is nothing else than an intimate sharing between friends; it means taking time frequently to be alone with God who loves us.” Thus, prayer isn’t valuable because of what it’s able to accomplish. It’s valuable just because of what it is.
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The Language of Prayer
WHY DOES THE CHURCH PRAY IN LATIN, GREEK AND ARAMAIC? WHAT IS THE BEST LANGUAGE FOR PRAYER?
Quite simply, the best language of prayer is the language of the heart. Whatever we would talk about with our closest friends is what we can talk about with God. Using our own words to say what we want and need with sincerity and honesty is the most effective way of talking with God. We can thank God, compliment God, tell God we’re sorry, talk about our lives. Sometimes we might even grumble to God.
But there’s another essential element of prayer — listening. We need to talk with God but we also need to listen. We may not hear with our ears, but we can hear with our hearts. Inspirations and feelings about the closeness of God are some of the ways God speaks to us.
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The Beginning of Prayer
WHAT IS THE SIGN OF THE CROSS AND WHY DO CATHOLICS BEGIN EVERY PRAYER WITH IT?
The Sign of the Cross is a prayer that dates to the second century, when Christians would trace it on their foreheads with their thumbs so that they could recognize each other during times of persecution. The present Sign of the Cross has been in use since the 13th century. It is made by taking the right hand and touching it to your forehead, breast, left shoulder, and then right shoulder. The Sign of the Cross is accompanied by the verbal formula honoring the Trinity of persons in one Godhead. It is the traditional way Catholics begin and end their prayers.
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When Words Won´t Come
WHAT IF I CAN'T EXPRESS MY PRAYERS IN MY OWN WORDS?
Catholics have a treasury of many different prayers. Repeating a prayer helps to focus attention on God and quiet our minds. Different prayer forms also help us when we don’t know what to say. Many people say, “I love you” to show feelings for those they care about. Millions have used the same words, because those words are often the best way to express a feeling. Catholics repeat certain prayers because they’ve found those prayers to be the best way to express certain thoughts to God. Another advantage to repeating prayers is that doing so allows people to join together, speaking to God in the same words, expressing a beautiful union as a Church and as sisters and brothers in Christ.
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Prayers of Intercession
WHAT ARE INTERCESSORY PRAYERS?
All who are baptized are charged to offer constant prayer to God for the world, the Church, the poor, all in need and those who have died. This intercession is a part of morning and evening prayer and of the Sunday Eucharist. The most familiar type of intercessory prayer is the “Prayer of the Faithful” at the Mass. Probably the best known prayer of Christianity is a prayer of intercession: The Lord’s Prayer.
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Prayers of Praise and Thanksgiving
WHAT IS THE GLORY BE?
Praise and thanksgiving are frequently woven together in Christian prayer. This is seen most clearly in the Eucharistic prayer. Prayers of praise and/or thanksgiving include The Little Doxology, or “The Glory Be” prayer. The Greater Doxology is the Gloria we pray at the Mass:
The "Glory Be"
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.
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Litanies
WHAT IS A LITANY?
The litany is a way of praying found among many peoples. It is a prayer made to be repeated: one phrase coming over and over again so that the person praying is caught up in the prayer itself. Often litanies are chanted. The Litany of the Saints is part of the Church’s liturgy on occasions like baptism and ordination. It may be lengthened to include the names of other saints.
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Psalms and Canticles
WHY IS THE PSALTER CALLED THE PRAYER BOOK OF THE CHURCH?
The psalms are the basic prayer texts of Jews and Christians. For the Church, they are the core of daily prayer. At Sunday Eucharist the psalms are the song and reflection of the assembly. The Psalter — the Bible’s collection of 150 psalms — is our prayer book and the touchstone of all our other prayers.
Canticles are psalm-like texts that occur outside the Book of Psalms. Christians pray each morning the Benedictus or Canticle of Zechariah; each evening the Magnificat or Canticle of Mary; each night the Nunc Dimittis or Canticle of Simeon. All three are found in the gospel of Luke; all are filled with the images of older psalms and canticles from the Hebrew Scriptures.
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Mass Prayers
ARE THERE PRAYERS I CAN SAY BEFORE OR AFTER HOLY COMMUNION?
In addition to the Eucharistic prayers of the Mass and the texts of the communion rite, the Church has many prayers that are appropriate before and after holy communion. Most of these, like the one given below, date from the 12th century or later.
Anima Christi
Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, heal me.
Blood of Christ, drench me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
Good Jesus, hear me.
In your wounds shelter me.
From turning away keep me.
From the evil one protect me.
At the hour of my death call me.
Into your presence lead me,
to praise you with all your saints
for ever and ever.
Amen.
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Prayers to Mary
DO CATHOLICS PRAY TO MARY?
No, Catholics pray through Mary. From its first generations, the Church has invoked Mary in prayer. The Hail Mary is the most well-known Marian prayer, and is the basis for The Angelus and The Rosary. It begins with two biblical verses, translations of the words of the Archangel Gabriel in Luke 1:28, and the words of Elizabeth in Luke 1:42. In concludes with a petition for intercession that acknowledges Mary as the Mother of our Savior. From prayer texts of the earliest centuries, the Hail Mary gradually became a popular prayer by the end of the twelfth century, and its recitation was officially urged and encouraged.
The Hail Mary
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you!
Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.
The Rosary
The rosary is another prayer that, in its repetition, draws us into contemplation of the mysteries of our salvation. The rosary begins with the Apostles’ Creed, followed by the Lord’s Prayer and three Hail Mary’s. Each of the five decades is made up of ten Hail Mary’s, preceded by the Lord’s Prayer and followed by the Glory to the Father. The rosary concludes with the “Hail Holy Queen”. Each decade has traditionally been given to pondering one aspect of the paschal mystery. Most often, the rosary is prayed with beads that denote each prayer.
It is traditional to pray the five decades of one of the mysteries of the rosary. According to custom, the joyful mysteries are used on Mondays and Thursdays and on the Sundays of Advent; the sorrowful mysteries are used on Tuesdays and Fridays and on the Sundays of Lent; the glorious mysteries are used on Wednesdays and Saturdays and on the remaining Sundays of the year.
1. Make the Sing of the Cross and say the Apostles’ Creed.
2. Say the Our Father.
3. Say three Hail Marys.
4. Say the Glory Be; announce the First Mystery.
5. Say the Our Father.
6. Say ten Hail Marys while meditating on the Mystery.
7. Say the Glory Be; announce the Second Mystery.
8. Say the Our Father.
9. Repeat steps 6, 7, and 8, continuing with the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Mysteries.
The Joyful Mysteries
1. The Annunciation (Luke 1:30-33)
2. The Visitation (Luke 1:50-53)
3. The Nativity (Luke 2:10-11)
4. The Presentation (Luke 2:29-32)
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:48-52)
The Sorrowful Mysteries
1. The Agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:38-39)
2. The Scourging at the Pillar (John 19:1)
3. The Crowning with Thorns (Mark 15:16-17)
4. The Carrying of the Cross (John 19:17)
5. The Crucifixion (John 19:28-30)
The Glorious Mysteries
1. The Resurrection (Mark 16:6-8)
2. The Ascension (Acts 1:10-11)
3. The Coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4)
4. The Assumption of Mary (Song of Songs 2:3-6)
5. The Coronation of Mary (Luke 1:51-54)
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Prayer in Other Languages
WHY DO CATHOLICS SOMETIMES PRAY IN OTHER LANGUAGES?
The Scriptures that Jesus and his disciples knew were written in Hebrew. The spoken language of that time was Aramaic, another Semitic language. Greek became a common language of Christians as Paul and others preached the gospel to non-Jews. The gospels and letters of the New Testament were written in Greek. Latin, the language of the common people in Rome, gradually took the place of Greek for the Western Church. While the Scriptures and liturgies of the Church are now read and celebrated in hundreds of languages, some words and phrases from these beginnings remain as a witness to our history, to put into our lips some of the same words spoken by our ancestors.
Alleluia
From the Hebrew for “Praise the Lord!” Saint Augustine wrote, “Here we chant in hope, there, in possession; here it is Alleluia en route, there it is Alleluia on arriving home.” Jewish and Christian liturgies make use of the alleluia as an acclamation. In the West, Christians do not use this acclamation during Lent.
Amen
A Hebrew word meaning “It is true!” or “So be it!” Revelation 3:14 makes “Amen” a title of Christ. With this acclamation, Jews and Christians commit themselves to what has been spoken in prayer.
Hosanna
An expression that, in its Hebrew origin, was an acclamation praying for safety or salvation. It has been used in both Jewish and Christian liturgy.
Kyrie eleison
A Greek prayer that is translated, “Lord, have mercy.” This litany response was retained in Greek even after the liturgy of the Western Churches came to be celebrated in Latin. As an acclamation of God’s mercy, it is a word of joy and praise.
Veni, Domine Jesu
Latin for “Come, Lord Jesus.”
Gloria in excelsis Deo
The first Latin words of the hymn sung by the angels in Luke 2:14. In a longer form, the Gloria became a morning prayer of Christians and today is often part of the introductory rites at Sunday Mass.
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The Seven Sacraments
WHAT IS A SACRAMENT?
We are a sacramental Church. We believe that the sacraments are celebrations of a reality that already is. These celebrations recognize that God’s grace is present always and everywhere, and they make that grace more real to us. The sacraments enable us to taste and see, to touch and hear and smell the very presence of God.
As ritual celebrations of something that already is, the sacraments make the “already is” more present, more intensified, more sacred. Think of your own birthday. On your birthday, you go about your routine and the people who know it's your birthday may acknowledge that reality with kind wishes. But it doesn't really feel like your birthday until friends and loved ones gather together and carry out the customary birthday rituals: they bring out the birthday cake and sing the birthday song; they ask you to make a birthday wish and blow out the birthday candles; then they give you birthday cards and gifts. In other words, the rituals surrounding your birthday — a reality that already is — help to make the “already is” more of a reality.
So it is with sacraments. They are ritual actions — not things — that intensify the presence of God. To be sure, these actions have things that are associated with them, but sacraments are more about actions. They may appear, at first glance, to be very ordinary actions such as bathing or eating or drinking or touching. But what makes them sacraments is that they put us in touch with the sacred or divine presence within our life here and now. At the same time, they give us a glimpse of what the fullness of God’s presence will be like in the world to come.
HOW DO THE SACRAMENTS DO THAT?
Remember that sacraments are more than things like water and bread and wine and oil. Sacraments are our encounter with the divine through the way we use those things. So, we enter into the waters of baptism, we break the bread and pour the wine, we anoint with oil. When these actions are celebrated by us who share a common faith, they reveal that God is right here with us and for us.
And it’s not just any God we meet in the sacraments. Not some generic Higher Power in the sky. We meet the Father of Jesus in the sacraments, because the sacraments are actions that unite us to Jesus. They unite us to the love of God that Jesus revealed in his own presence, and they unite us to the trust that Jesus had in God’s love. That trust was strong enough to take on even our greatest fear — death — and reveal life beyond death.
IS THE CHURCH THE ONLY PLACE TO FIND THESE SACRAMENTS?
The Church teaches that Jesus is the primary sacrament. It is Jesus, by his life, death and resurrection, that forever makes God present to us. And from Jesus we have a community of believers. This community, then, is a kind of secondary sacrament. When we gather as Christ’s Body, with Jesus himself as our head, we move from being a scattered and fragmented bunch of individuals to being a more focused, more intensified, more holy people of God. The community gathers and remembers by the power of the Holy Spirit, and in so doing, becomes the Church. When we are truly Church we reveal that Jesus is still present in our world.
WHY ARE THERE SEVEN SACRAMENTS?
It’s important to remember that our ancestors in the faith understood that the number seven represented limitless or infinite. In developing the sacraments, the Church simply tried to ritualize what Jesus did in his life. So, for example, we know that Jesus did certain things in his life. He welcomed people into his life of love, and he welcomed them openly. So the Church celebrates God’s welcoming presence through BAPTISM. Jesus also strengthened people who were weak. The Church celebrates God’s strengthening spirit in CONFIRMATION. Jesus nurtured the lives of others. And the Church celebrates God’s nurturing in the EUCHARIST. Jesus forgave unconditionally. So, the Church celebrates God’s unconditional forgiveness in RECONCILIATION. Jesus healed those who were sick in body, mind or spirit. The Church celebrates God’s healing presence in ANOINTING. Jesus led his people with complete devotion. The Church celebrates God’s devoted service through HOLY ORDERS. And Jesus loved without limit. The Church celebrates God’s unlimited love in MARRIAGE.
These are the sacraments of the Church. They are moments when we celebrate belonging to God and to each other, moments of healing, moments of commitment and service. They help us to live as a larger sacrament for the world, so the world may discover that God is with us. And we do these sacraments together — as a community of believers. Because in each sacramental celebration, we experience a personal and a corporate encounter with the Lord Jesus.
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Reconciliation
WHY IS THERE A SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION? CAN'T I JUST TELL GOD I'M SORRY FOR MY SINS AND BE FORGIVEN?
Reconciliation is perhaps the primary “good work” of Christians. Before anything else can be accomplished, we must be reconciled to one another. Jesus himself talked about how important is the work of reconciliation when he instructed his followers that they were not even to worship God before they had reconciled. The witness of his own life was one of complete dedication to the work of reconciliation.
Scriptural foundations
The scriptural basis for the SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION is the fact that Jesus came to forgive sins and to heal people of the wounded relationships which sin causes. The Gospel of John provides the scriptural basis for the Church to continue Jesus’ ministry of healing and reconciliation in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Jesus tells his disciples: “If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you retain anyone’s sins, they are retained.”
A brief history of the sacrament of reconciliation
The Sacrament of Reconciliation has a rich history in the Church. In the early centuries, it was received only once in a person’s lifetime and only for the most serious sins. It involved a long period of penance so that the sinner experienced the seriousness of being separated from God and others. Over the centuries, a second way of celebrating the sacrament developed and became standard practice: repeated, private, individual, devotional confession to a priest.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation today
Today, the Sacrament of Reconciliation has developed even further. Those who celebrate God’s forgiveness in their lives begin with a brief proclamation of God’s Word. Then, penitents confess their sins, express their sorrow and their desire to do better. Priest-confessors invite the penitents to give evidence of their desire to do better by performing some kind of penance — anything from a simple prayer to a good deed. Finally, the priest, in the name of the entire Church, proclaims God’s forgiveness - absolves the penitent of sin. This individual absolution is a unique moment in the celebration of Reconciliation, for it is Christ who absolves the penitent’s sins through the person of the priest. Jesus loves each of us as individuals; and as individuals, we need to hear the Lord speaking directly to us. Finally, penitents are sent forth in peace. It’s a simple as that.
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The Liturgical Year
WHAT IS THE CATHOLIC LITURGICAL YEAR?
Quite simply, the Catholic liturgical year is a sacred way to organize our faith life. There are others. For example, we have a school year that extends from September to May. The fiscal year begins on July 1. The Church’s liturgical year begins on the First Sunday of Advent.
Even though we may have different ways of measuring time, the liturgical year contains a richness not found elsewhere. It offers us the possibility of seeing certain days and times as inspirational...as sacred...as ways of enlivening all the other aspects of our lives.
In the Beginning: Advent/Christmas
Just as the solar year is divided up according to seasons, the liturgical year is seasonal in nature. It begins with the season of ADVENT, which generally lasts about four weeks. Advent is a time of anticipation and preparation for the final coming of Jesus. It is the time when we recall that Jesus has come and will come again. So it is a time for yearning...a time to lament the fact that the kingdom has not yet come in its fullness...a time to face the reality of evil in our world.
The CHRISTMAS season comes next, lasting about three weeks. It’s a time to rejoice in what we already have, a time to remember that the kingdom we long for is being born in our midst, a time to celebrate the light of grace that shines through the darkness of sin.
Not So-Ordinary Time
Then comes a block of what we call WINTER ORDINARY TIME. To be sure, all of life has its rhythms. High points and low points alternate, special times give way to periods of routine. So too, in the liturgical year, there are high moments and more routine times. The great seasons of Advent/Christmas and Lent/Triduum/Easter make up about half of the liturgical year. The rest of the time is Ordinary Time. It is a quieter time, a time for reflection on the meaning of God’s saving deeds. Ordinary doesn’t mean common or dull, because for Christians no time is really ordinary. All time belongs to the Lord, and all time is sacred time. The term Ordinary Time comes from the word ordinal, which means counted. It is simply the way in which the Church organizes its calendar, assigning each Sunday a number, counting each week one after the other.
Lent/Triduum/Easter
Around the middle of February we enter the season of LENT. Lent extends for 40 days, and then ends quietly on Holy Thursday afternoon. These days are filled by the preparation: our catechumens prepare for baptism, and the rest of the baptized prepare to renew their baptismal commitment. These preparations open us to experience the conversion of heart that the Lord has made possible for us.
On Holy Thursday night, the Church begins a time of prayer and fasting, a time of keeping watch that lasts into the great Easter Vigil. Holy Week is concluded by what we call the TRIDUUM, or the Three Days. These days are the hinge of the year, the central moment around which all else revolves. These days give meaning to Lent, which preceded them, and to the Fifty Days of Easter, which follow them.
Then the season of EASTER begins. Our celebration of Easter is so important that it lasts 50 days. These are the days when the Church reflects on what it means to be church. We reflect on the meaning of our baptism and we ponder what baptismal living looks like. These 50 days of feasting challenge us to live the resurrected life of Christ..to live as a people who have been shaped by the resurrection.
We conclude our liturgical year with a long block of SUMMER & FALL ORDINARY TIME. This is a season of Sundays...covering almost six full months of the calendar. It is time for us to reflect on the teachings of the Lord, to dwell upon God’s word and see how well we are living out the great mysteries we celebrate.
Our Most Important Days
How do we prioritize our celebrations throughout the liturgical year? Well, the night on which we celebrate the Easter Vigil is the most important night of the whole year. It is the night when we recall how the people of Israel were freed from slavery, how the pillar of fire destroyed the darkness of sin, how Christians everywhere are restored to grace, how Jesus broke the chains of death. Just as we believe that the death and resurrection of Christ is the axis on which the history of the world turns, so too we believe that the Easter Vigil gives meaning to all the other nights and days of the year. It is the center of our liturgical year.
For Christians, Sundays are seen and celebrated as the first of all feasts. Sunday is the most ancient feast day of the church. Every Sunday we celebrate the day of creation and resurrection, the eighth day when the fullness of God’s kingdom is tasted. The Lord’s Day is our day to gather and give thanks and praise to God. We give thanks and praise, first of all, when we recall God’s gifts in creation and, most importantly, when we remember God’s saving deeds in Jesus Christ Our remembering is done according to a certain ritual, a liturgy, if you will, of word and Eucharist. And we value this gathering so much that we believe we can’t live without it.
Sprinkled throughout the year are about 150 other days on which we celebrate solemnities and feastivals, saints days and holidays. Some days even commemorate two or three separate saints. But they all draw us more profoundly into the life of the Lord, and they help us find a healthy rhythm of work and festivity, penance and rejoicing in the course of the year.
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