LGBTQIA+ Ministry

Holy Trinity’s commitment to accompany one another in Christ invites us to be more deeply aware of the diversity of our community and more welcoming to those who are marginalized by society or the Church. Our lay-led ministry embraces individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning/queer, intersex, asexual and their families and friends.

In Support of Our LGBTQIA+ Community

As pastoral ministers, parish leaders and parishioners at Holy Trinity, we have listened to the pain and frustration — and have experienced our own pain and frustration — caused by last week’s statement regarding the blessing of same-sex unions by the Vatican. This statement opened yet another wound that leaves our LGBTQIA+ parishioners and their families and friends wondering: what is my place in the Church?

Unequivocally, Holy Trinity affirms that LGBTQIA+ individuals have and always will have a valued place in our parish community. We have learned that our community must take steps to ensure the inclusion, voices and perspectives of those our society and Church often push to the margins. In Christ, there are no margins. In Christ, we make up one body, where all matter and all belong.

To our LGBTQIA+ friends, we want to stress that Holy Trinity is enriched by your presence, ministry and leadership. Our parish is honored to baptize your children, accompany you in grief, celebrate your love and grow in holiness with you. This community sees you, values you, and recognizes that you are a gift of God, beautifully and wonderfully made.

Holy Trinity Pastoral Staff
Parish Pastoral Council

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Archbishop Gregory had this to say about LGBTQIA Catholics at a 2019 Theology on Tap event:

“You belong to the heart of this Church. And there is nothing that you may do, may say, that will ever rip you from the heart of this Church. There is a lot that has been said to you, about you, behind your back, that is painful and is sinful… We have to find a way to talk to one another. And to talk to one another, not just from one perspective, but to talk and to listen to one another. I think that’s the way that Jesus ministered. He engaged people, He took them where they were at, and He invited them to go deeper, closer to God.”

Questions?

Upcoming Meetings 2024

General Meetings 2023-24:
Third Sunday of the Month at 1pm in the Neale Room and on Zoom, unless indicated otherwise.
Register here for the Zoom link.

April 21: 10:15 in Trinity Hall:
Belief, Belonging, and Betrayal: A conversation with the creator of "Dear Alana"
“Dear Alana,” named one of the best podcasts of 2023, tells the story of Alana Chen, a young woman whose experience in the Church highlighted the unique binds faced by queer Catholics. Host Simon Kent Fung joins us to talk about the spiritual and creative journey of making "Dear Alana," the insidiousness of contemporary conversion therapy within the Church, and how we might learn from Alana's story. This event will be in-person only.

May 19

Discussion Groups

Women & Marginalized Genders:  Monday, April 15 at 8pm on Zoom. Register here.
Topic: Art that Inspires. Join to discuss the various forms of art that inspire and encourage us on our faith journey. Feel free to bring an example to share – art, poetry, music, whatever speaks to you!
Contact Leah and Darby at lgbtqia+women@trinity.org for more information.

Men's Discussion Group: Monday, April 15 at 8 pm in the Upper Room and on Zoom. Register here.
Topic: Easter: The Joy of Crossing Over. Join to continue our discussion from March - are there times in our lives we may be called to find community outside of what's familiar?
Contact Joey and Adam at lgbtqia+men@trinity.org for more information.

Family & Friends Ministry: Sunday, April 28, 10:15am, Neale Room
Topic: Follow-up discussion on Simon Fung's April 21 talk (see above).

Resources

Outreach: An LGBTQ Catholic Resource

Ignatian Spirituality Resources: scroll down for LGBTQIA+ resources

Articles

Fiducia Supplicans: On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings, Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith

Pride Mass welcomes LGBTQIA+ Catholics at Holy Trinity, Washington Post

Pastoral Care of Transgender Persons Must Emphasize Human Dignity and “Embodied Freedom,” Outreach

Pope: God Does Not Disown His Children, Crux

This Pride Month, Catholic Church shows clear, if subtle, shifts toward LGBTQ welcome, Religion News Service

Holy Trinity Church Fosters Inclusion of LGBTQ Members, The Hoya

Videos
Outreach 2020: Catholic Leaders Speak with the LGBTQ Community

Pride Month Message from Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv., Bishop of Lexington

Spiritual Insights for LGBT Catholics, America: The Jesuit Review

Podcasts
Showing Respect & Welcome to LGBT Catholics, Fr. Jim Martin, S.J at Holy Trinity, 20 October 2019

Plague: Untold Stories Of AIDS & The Catholic Church, Michael O'Laughlin, America Media podcast