{"id":91213,"date":"2020-07-27T18:24:15","date_gmt":"2020-07-27T22:24:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/couragerc.org\/?page_id=91213"},"modified":"2020-12-03T12:20:55","modified_gmt":"2020-12-03T17:20:55","slug":"pressrelease07282020","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/couragerc.org\/pressrelease07282020\/","title":{"rendered":"PRESS RELEASE: Global Participation in Courage\u2019s 40th Anniversary Annual Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_column_text]FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Global Participation in Courage\u2019s 40<\/span><\/b>th<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Anniversary Annual Conference<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Announcement Made of New Associated Director, Revised Chaplain Handbook<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

(Trumbull, C<\/span>onn.<\/span>)<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u201cI consider you all to be spiritual giants,\u201d said\u00a0<\/span>Sr. Helena Burns<\/span><\/b>,<\/span>\u00a0FSP<\/span><\/b>,<\/span>\u00a0to the hundreds of<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Courage and Encourage<\/span>\u00a0members<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>gathered\u00a0<\/span>from around the world\u00a0<\/span>for<\/span>\u00a0th<\/span>is year\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>online\u00a0<\/span>Annual Confere<\/span>nce,\u00a0<\/span>an event\u00a0<\/span>which marked\u00a0<\/span>the\u00a0<\/span>launch of\u00a0<\/span>Courage International<\/span><\/b>\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>40<\/span>th<\/span>\u00a0anniversary\u00a0<\/span>celebrations<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Centered on the theme \u201c<\/span>40 Years of Courage: A Legacy of Hope<\/span><\/b>,\u201d r<\/span>egistered participants hailed from five continents, 35 countries, and nearly every US State.\u00a0<\/span>The\u00a0<\/span>July 25-26<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Zoom\u00a0<\/span>web<\/span>inar was a celebration of\u00a0<\/span>the apostolate\u2019s<\/span>\u00a0four decades of pastoral care for men and women who experience same-sex attractions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI have long followed the work of Courage,\u201d\u00a0<\/span>Sr. Helena<\/span>\u00a0said<\/span>\u00a0during her\u00a0<\/span>talk\u00a0<\/span>–\u00a0<\/span>entitled Brazen Chastity and the Gift of Self<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 and\u00a0<\/span>she\u00a0<\/span>admitted to being\u00a0<\/span>intimidated by the invitation,\u00a0<\/span>\u201cbecause I consider you all to be spiritual giants<\/span>.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>Why do I think\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0spiritual giants? Because you\u2019re all perfect and holy?\u00a0<\/span>No<\/span>:\u00a0<\/span>because you\u2019re trying.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

She added:\u00a0<\/span>\u201cAnd you\u2019re not just trying. We\u2019re not just trying. We\u2019re committed to the imitation of Christ<\/span>, the narrow path, the road less travelled, the royal road of the Cross, and you are pursuing God in holiness.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to the 40<\/span>th<\/span>\u00a0anniversary celebrations, two significant announcements were made over the course of the weekend<\/span>. The first of these was the launch of the newly revised Handbook for Courage and\u00a0EnCourage\u00a0chaplains; previously\u00a0<\/span>distributed\u00a0<\/span>only to those\u00a0<\/span>working\u00a0<\/span>within the apostolate, the\u00a0<\/span>new Handbook<\/span>\u00a0will be<\/span>\u00a0available to the public, and can be accessed on the Courage website.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On Sunday afternoon, members received the announcement that\u00a0<\/span>Father Colin Blatchford<\/span><\/b>, a priest of the\u00a0<\/span>D<\/span>iocese of Knoxville<\/span>,<\/span><\/a>\u00a0had been appointed as the new associate director, to work alongside Father Philip\u00a0<\/span>Bochanski<\/span>, Courage\u2019s executive director.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Courage apostolate was founded by Fr. John Harvey, OSFS in September 1980 at the request of the late Cardinal Terence Cooke, then the\u00a0<\/span>A<\/span>rchbishop of New York<\/span>. It was during those early meetings that members compiled the Five Goals of Courag<\/span>e \u2013 Chastity, Prayer and Dedication, Fellowship, Support, and Example<\/span>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>which<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>continue to be the pillars of the apostolate<\/span>\u00a0to this day<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fr. Sean\u00a0Kilcawley<\/span><\/b>, director of the Office for Family Life of the Diocese of Lincoln (Nebraska)<\/span>, delivered the\u00a0<\/span>webinar\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>opening talk on the Goal of Chastity. \u201cChastity becomes a foundation for the rest of the spiritual life,\u201d he told members during the webinar. \u201cIt becomes a foundation for our ability to encounter our Lord, to see Him, and to recognize that He sees us.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Speaking on the\u00a0<\/span>Goal of\u00a0<\/span>Prayer and Dedication,\u00a0<\/span>Father Glenn\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Sudano<\/span><\/b>, CFR<\/span><\/b>,\u00a0<\/span>one of the\u00a0<\/span>founding member<\/span>s<\/span>\u00a0of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, focused on the important of\u00a0<\/span>having structure as a means of avoiding temptation, and giving oneself ful<\/span>ly to God.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we look at ourselves, we can be grateful that there\u2019s a lot of light that\u2019s in us,\u201d he said, \u201cbut we always have to be careful where there\u2019s the dark area.<\/span>\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>He explained: \u201c<\/span>There can be a very small little area, a sort of fissure,<\/span>\u201d where this darkness can come in. \u201cAll of us are tempted.\u00a0So\u00a0we all have to be mindful of our weak area.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI<\/span>t\u2019s important that we bring all of ourselves to the Lord so that every part of us is healed, and also illumined<\/span>,\u201d Father\u00a0Sudano\u00a0said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Stephen Hopkins<\/span><\/b>, a Nashville-based psychologist who produced the film\u00a0<\/span>Portraits of Courage<\/span><\/i>, spoke on the Goal of Fellowship. \u201cWe are our brother\u2019s keeper,\u201d he said<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0\u201c<\/span>a<\/span>nd we will find salvation through the righteous love of each other. We come to know God\u2019s love of others.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile,\u00a0<\/span>Deacon Hilmar\u00a0Pabel<\/span><\/b>, Courage and\u00a0EnCourage\u00a0chaplain in the Archdiocese of Vancouver,\u00a0<\/span>showed how the Goal of Support is understood in the context of friendship. \u201c<\/span>You\u2019re my friend, and you are reason enough for me to be your friend. You are reason enough for me to love you. The reward of being your friend is the love that I bear for you. That is disinterested, unconditional friendship.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span>That\u2019s the friendship that God offers and gives us: Unconditional love. Unconditional friendship<\/span>,\u201d he said.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Finally, members heard witness testimonies from Courage members, Elena F<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0and Hudson B<\/span>.<\/span>, as well as\u00a0<\/span>EnCourage<\/span>\u00a0parents, Ed and Jean\u00a0<\/span>L<\/span>.<\/span>, who all spoke on the Goal of Good\u00a0<\/span>E<\/span>xample.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Like the in<\/span>–<\/span>person Annual Conferences, the weekend included private meetings for Courage and\u00a0<\/span>EnCourage<\/span>\u00a0members,\u00a0<\/span>a breakout session for those working in ministry,\u00a0<\/span>and the opportunity to take part in a virtual social<\/span>\u00a0gathering<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An annual event, this year\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>Courage and\u00a0<\/span>EnCourage<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>C<\/span>onference<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>was originally set\u00a0<\/span>to\u00a0<\/span>take place at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake (also known as Mundelein Seminary) in Mundelein, IL from July 23-26, 2020.\u00a0<\/span>The decision to move the conference online follow<\/span>ed<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the<\/span>\u00a0Illinois\u00a0<\/span>governor\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>plan\u00a0<\/span>to prohibit large gatherings until\u00a0<\/span>the identification of a vaccine\u00a0<\/span>for COVID-19.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Simultaneous translations\u00a0<\/span>were made available to Spanish-speaking participants<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

NOTES FOR EDITORS<\/span><\/b>:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Background on Courage International and\u00a0En<\/span><\/i>C<\/span><\/i>ourage\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Courage International, Inc<\/span><\/i><\/b>. is an apostolate of the Catholic Church which offers support to persons experiencing same-sex attraction who have chosen to live a chaste life. It was founded by Fr. John Harvey, OSFS at the request of the late Cardinal Terence Cooke. The first Courage chapter meeting was held in New York City in 1980, and it was this initial group which developed the Five Goals of Courage: Chastity,\u00a0<\/span>P<\/span>rayer and\u00a0<\/span>D<\/span>edication,\u00a0<\/span>F<\/span>ellowship,\u00a0<\/span>S<\/span>upport, and\u00a0<\/span>G<\/span>ood\u00a0<\/span>E<\/span>xample. Fr. Harvey was succeeded as executive director by Fr. Paul Check, who held the position from 2008<\/span>\u00a0to the end of<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>2016. Fr. Check was then succeeded by Fr. Philip\u00a0Bochanski\u00a0in January, 2017. Today, Courage has more than 150 chapters in eighteen countries. Courage and\u00a0EnCourage\u00a0received canonical status in the Roman Catholic Church as a diocesan clerical public association of the faithful on November 28, 2016.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

EnCourage\u00a0<\/span><\/b>is an apostolate under the Courage umbrella which provides support for families and friends of persons who identify as LGBT, and aims to teach them how to reach out to their loved ones with compassion and understanding. The group was first formed in 1987 by families in search of guidance for supporting their loved ones who experience same-sex attraction. In 1992, this group adopted the name\u00a0EnCourage. Currently, they have more than seventy-five chapters in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Italy, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For additional information, please visit our website at\u00a0<\/span>www.couragerc.org<\/span>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stay up to date with Courage International by following us on social media:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Twitter: @RCCourage<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Facebook: @CourageEnCourageRC<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Instagram: @<\/a><\/span>courageinternationalrc<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

Download PDF<\/strong><\/p>\n

Media contact:<\/strong>
\nAnn Schneible, director of communications
\ncommunications@couragerc.org<\/a>
\nOffice: +1 (203) 916-1156[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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