[vc_row row_height_percent=”75″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”2″ top_padding=”4″ bottom_padding=”4″ back_color=”color-jevc” back_image=”66333″ back_repeat=”no-repeat” back_position=”center top” overlay_color=”color-jevc” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_use_pixel=”yes” position_vertical=”middle” align_horizontal=”align_center” gutter_size=”3″ style=”dark” font_family=”font-762333″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″ column_width_pixel=”800″][vc_custom_heading text_font=”font-406094″ text_size=”bigtext” text_weight=”400″ text_space=”fontspace-781688″]COURAGE[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_custom_heading text_font=”font-577019″ text_weight=”300″ text_space=”fontspace-781688″]Encounter Christ. Discover yourself. Grow in holiness.[\/vc_custom_heading][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”50″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”0″ top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ equal_height=”yes” gutter_size=”0″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”0″ override_padding=”yes” column_padding=”0″ back_image=”44800″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=”50″ back_color=”color-lxmt” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ limit_content=””][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ override_padding=”yes” column_padding=”4″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h3″ text_font=”font-406094″ text_size=”h1″ text_space=”fontspace-781688″ separator=”yes” separator_color=”yes”]About:[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=”yes”]Courage International, Inc. is an apostolate of the Catholic Church which offers pastoral support to men and women experiencing same-sex attractions who have chosen to live a chaste life. Founded in 1980 by Fr. John Harvey, OSFS, at the request of the late Cardinal Terence Cooke, it has since expanded to over 175 Courage chapters worldwide.<\/p>\n

On November 28, 2016, Courage International, received canonical status in the Roman Catholic Church as a diocesan clerical public association of the faithful, making it the only canonically-approved apostolate of its kind.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”0″ override_padding=”yes” column_padding=”0″ style=”light” back_color=”accent” overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=”50″ overlay_alpha=”50″ equal_height=”yes” gutter_size=”0″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ limit_content=””][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ override_padding=”yes” column_padding=”4″ style=”dark” back_color=”color-rgdb” overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h3″ text_font=”font-406094″ text_size=”h1″ text_space=”fontspace-781688″]The Spirituality of Courage[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=”yes”]Rooted in the priestly heart of Fr. John Harvey, OSFS, whose spirituality was born of a profound personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ, and inspired by the Oblates of Saint Francis deSales\u02bc fervent devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the spirituality of Courage reflects the urging of the Saint to “Live Jesus.”[\/vc_column_text][vc_button button_color=”accent” size=”btn-lg” radius=”btn-square” border_width=”0″ link=”url:http%3A%2F%2Fcouragerc.org%2Fspirituality-of-courage%2F||target:%20_blank|” icon=”fa fa-file-pdf-o”]READ MORE[\/vc_button][\/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ position_vertical=”middle” gutter_size=”3″ override_padding=”yes” column_padding=”4″ style=”dark” back_color=”color-wayh” back_image=”66335″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”0″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”0″ top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”0″ back_color=”accent” overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ back_color=”accent” overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″][vc_row_inner limit_content=””][vc_column_inner width=”1\/1″][vc_custom_heading text_color=”color-xsdn” heading_semantic=”h3″ text_font=”font-406094″ text_size=”h1″ text_space=”fontspace-781688″ separator=”yes”]Find a Courage Chapter Near You[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”50″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”0″ top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”0″ back_color=”color-xsdn” overlay_alpha=”50″ equal_height=”yes” gutter_size=”0″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=”50″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ limit_content=””][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ override_padding=”yes” column_padding=”4″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h3″ text_font=”font-406094″ text_size=”h1″ text_space=”fontspace-781688″ separator=”yes” separator_color=”yes”]The 5 Goals of Courage[\/vc_custom_heading][vc_column_text text_lead=”yes”]The Five Goals were created by the members themselves, when Courage was founded. The goals are read at the start of each meeting and each member is called to practice them in daily life. Here are the Goals in their entirety:[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=”50″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ limit_content=””][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ override_padding=”yes” column_padding=”4″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″][vc_column_text text_lead=”yes”]<\/p>\n

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1. To live chaste lives in accordance with the Roman Catholic Church\u2019s teaching on homosexuality (Chastity);<\/li>\n
2. To dedicate our entire lives to Christ through service to others, spiritual reading, prayer, meditation, individual spiritual direction, frequent attendance at Mass, and the frequent reception of the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist (Prayer and Dedication);<\/li>\n
3. To foster a spirit of fellowship in which we may share with one another our thoughts and experiences, and so ensure that no one will have to face the problems of homosexuality alone (Fellowship);<\/li>\n
4. To be mindful of the truth that chaste friendships are not only possible but necessary in a chaste Christian life; and to encourage one another in forming and sustaining these friendships (Support);<\/li>\n
5. To live lives that may serve as good examples to others (Good Example\/Role Model).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

   [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row row_height_percent=”1″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”0″ top_padding=”3″ bottom_padding=”3″ back_color=”color-gyho” overlay_alpha=”50″ equal_height=”yes” gutter_size=”0″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ desktop_visibility=”yes” medium_visibility=”yes” mobile_visibility=”yes”][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″][vc_custom_heading heading_semantic=”h3″ text_font=”font-406094″ text_size=”h1″ text_space=”fontspace-781688″ separator=”yes” separator_color=”yes”]Featured Articles[\/vc_custom_heading][uncode_index el_id=”index-141470″ index_type=”carousel” carousel_lg=”3″ carousel_md=”3″ carousel_sm=”1″ gutter_size=”3″ post_items=”media|featured|onpost|original,title,category|nobg,date,text|excerpt|100,link|default” carousel_interval=”3000″ carousel_navspeed=”400″ stage_padding=”0″ single_back_color=”color-xsdn” single_overlay_opacity=”50″ single_padding=”2″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”50″ override_padding=”yes” h_padding=”0″ top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ equal_height=”yes” gutter_size=”0″ shift_y=”0″][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=”50″ overlay_alpha=”50″ equal_height=”yes” gutter_size=”0″ shift_y=”0″ limit_content=””][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ override_padding=”yes” column_padding=”4″ style=”dark” back_color=”color-wayh” overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ shift_y_down=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/1″][vc_icon icon=”fa fa-chat” icon_color=”accent” size=”fa-5x” text_font=”font-406094″ text_size=”h2″ css_animation=”zoom-out” animation_delay=”400″ align=”left” title=”JOIN THE CONVERSATION” uncode_shortcode_id=”748232″ icon_color_type=”uncode-palette”]Participate in our online chat groups and connect with other men and women around the world who share your experience and commitment to faith.[\/vc_icon][vc_button button_color=”accent” size=”btn-lg” radius=”btn-square” border_width=”0″ link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fcouragerc.org%2Fchat-groups-overview%2F” icon=”fa fa-map-pin” button_color_type=”uncode-palette” uncode_shortcode_id=”887132″]CONNECT WITH OTHERS[\/vc_button][\/vc_column_inner][\/vc_row_inner][\/vc_column][vc_column column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ shift_x=”0″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ medium_width=”0″ mobile_width=”0″ width=”1\/2″][vc_row_inner row_inner_height_percent=”50″ overlay_alpha=”50″ equal_height=”yes” gutter_size=”0″ shift_y=”0″ limit_content=””][vc_column_inner column_width_percent=”100″ gutter_size=”3″ override_padding=”yes” 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