In June 2024, we are hosting Imago Dei: Embracing the Dignity of LGBTQ+ Persons, an assembly for the Catholic LGBTQ+ community. Imago Dei aims to celebrate the 50th anniversary of a 1974 groundbreaking conference centered on LGBTQ inclusion and ministry which was held in Dayton at the Bergamo Center. We hope to honor those who foresaw the importance of developing pastoral care and outreach, and to envision how we can continue to respond to the needs of the LGBTQ+ community within our Church and world.
When: June 27-30, 2024
Where: Bergamo Center for Lifelong Learning in Dayton, OH
Right Now: Our call for proposals is open through December 31st! Please submit a concurrent session or prayer experience proposals today.
All other details, including schedule-at-a-glance, plenary session leaders, sponsorship opportunities, can be found at the link below!
MSJC's LGBTQ+ Initiative frequently plans and hosts a weekend retreat for LGBTQ+ persons, their families, and allies. The retreat is filled with opportunities for spiritual renewal, teachings of the faith, and time for building community, faith sharing, and fellowship--all with the LGBTQ+ person in mind. See the chart below for information on our past retreats. The team is planning the next retreat for 2025.
Young people today are growing up in a complicated world that presents a constant tug of war between Gospel values and cultural pressures. This is especially true for LGBT youth, many of whom feel isolated and excluded because they are seen as “different”. This booklet offers a Catholic and Marianist rationale, perspective and orientation for assisting LGBT youth as they come to understand their sexuality. It outlines strategies for assuring that our institutions and ministries promote understanding, respect and acceptance for all young people, regardless of their sexual orientation.
We hope, through the projects above or resources below, you’ll gain valuable insights and find support regarding coming out, the role of faith and conscience, how to love LGBT children/family/friends, and ideas for making our world more accepting of LGBT persons. Links and resources are meant to provide information for our readers. Their appearance here is not an endorsement of everything for which the organizations/creators stand.