LGBT+ Catholics York
  • Home
  • Masses & Socials
  • Resources
  • Emailings
  • Contact

LAUNCH OF MIDDLESBROUGH DIOCESE’S LGBT+ MINISTRY

13/12/2017

8 Comments

 
​The Catholic Diocese of Middlesbrough’s Outreach Ministry to the LGBT+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) community launched with a Mass in York on 10th December 2017.
 
Despite a snowy weather forecast, some 60 participants travelled from across the diocese, with additional partakers from as far afield as Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield, and Birmingham. Catholic members of the LGBT+ community were joined by their families, friends, and “straight ally” supporters. A few Christians from other denominations also attended.
 
All gathered in the ‘hidden chapel’ of York’s historic Bar Convent, at the kind invitation of the Sisters of the Congregation of Jesus. It was noted in the words of welcome that the Bar Convent has a long history of offering sanctuary, and began its life to support minorities suffering persecution by civil and religious authorities at the time.
​The presider at Mass was Fr. Antony Lester, who is working to establish this ministry in Middlesbrough Diocese at the request of Bishop Terry Drainey, who sent good wishes for the launch. Father Tony was joined at the altar by Middlesbrough clergy Canon John Lumley and Deacon Peter Warren, together with Deacon Nick Baggio from Leeds Diocese.
Picture
Music for the beautiful Advent liturgy was led by the music ministry from Our Lady’s Parish in Acomb.
 
Mass began with a Litany of Welcome reminding those present that all people have a place in the Christian community because all belong to Jesus Christ, and it is his table the Church gathers around at the Eucharist. It is God who counts us worthy, and the welcome which the Church makes visible is God’s welcome to all in Christ.
Picture
One of the readers during the Liturgy of the Word was a human rights defender from Kenya. He is spending 6 months at the University of York as a ‘Protected Fellow’, because as an LGBT activist his life is in danger at home. Whilst in Britain he is learning ways to reduce the risks to his life, and to network with fellow human rights defenders. Sadly his baptismal and confirmation papers were publicly torn up by his parish priest in Kenya because of the work he was doing. Father Tony acknowledged that for many LGBT+ people their experience of Church is marked by pain. Pope Francis has said this is something for which Christians need to apologise.
After Mass the congregation socialised over coffee and mince pies, and a number of people shared something of their journey. Among the stories and experiences shared was that of a young man from Middlesbrough Diocese who stopped attending Mass as a teenager, not because he had lost his faith but because he felt his parish community would not accept him. He was very pleased at the launch of the new ministry which he felt gave him the opportunity to start attending Mass again.
 
Those who attended the launch were asked how they would like to see this ministry develop in the future. As an initial step, it was agreed that a Mass with an explicit welcome to the LGBT+ community, families and friends, will be celebrated at the Bar Convent on the second Sunday of each month at 3pm, commencing on 14th January. In time, a rotation of priests from the Diocese will preside at these Masses, and in due course the community that gathers will develop a broader programme that is spiritual, social, and supportive.
 
For further information, visit:
www.lgbtmiddlesbroughcatholic.org.uk
www.facebook.com/lgbtcatholic
8 Comments
Johan BAllen
13/12/2017 04:07:11 pm

It was a pleasure and privilege to attend the Mass launching this new outreach of the Diocese, and I'm so grateful to Bishop Terry, the CJ sisters, the clergy involved, and all those who made it such a moving and meaningful celebration of the Good News of God's love for all.

Reply
Jenni Howard
13/12/2017 07:42:01 pm

What a blessing to be at this beautiful Mass to launch the new outreach. Let us hope, with God's grace, we can share this message of love with more and more people who have felt excluded.
With true thanks to everyone.

Reply
CM Liverpool
13/12/2017 11:21:44 pm

Sorry to have missed this Mass due to snow. From Liverpool Archdiocese but would love to attend masses in York until similar is established nearer to home. Thank you God, for Catholic lives that were once forgotten are now being celebrated by the Catholic Church. X

Reply
Dave
13/12/2017 11:40:43 pm

Really enjoyed the Mass. It was over a decade since I had stepped into a Church. The Mass was very moving. People were friendly (the friendliest gay event I have ever been to) and really very welcoming and the mince pies were great afterwards. There is an acknowledgement that this is the beginning of a journey and the Mass was sensitive and pragmatic. Thanks to everyone involved.

Reply
Bill Scriven
14/12/2017 09:54:10 am

Such a powerful and important step shared with good people journeying together. It was a privilege to hear Fr Tony's words of wisdom and discernment.
A message so true to the scriptures, so full of hope and deeply rooted in our humanity.
Thanks to Bishop Terry for his leadership and the Sisters of the Congregation of Jesus for opening their arms again to Gods call.

Reply
Dom - Sheffield
17/12/2017 07:46:50 pm

What an incredibly graced filled occasion this was. The presence of God's Spirit was palpable from the moment we walked into this blessed place and the healing welcome of Christ reached deep into the soul. I thank God with all my being for having experienced in my own lifetime such an explicit welcome at a Catholic Mass as was extended to me, my sisters and my brothers. I cannot thank you enough for your pioneering work

Reply
CM Liverpool
14/1/2018 07:12:43 pm

Thank you for the welcome....and the coffee and cake! I am going to have a listen to the audible material mentioned by Fr Tony in the homily. Busy February but will join you again in March. 😁

Reply
Dom - Sheffield
14/1/2018 11:02:09 pm

Great to see such a good turn out once again at this first Mass of 2018. This was a truly moving and dignifying service where vulnerability was transformed into strength and rejection transformed into love. Only through the light of Christ can such raising to new life be found - Thank you to Fr Tony and everyone involved in making such vital work a reality

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    News

    This blog records news we think will be of interest to those involved in our ministry.

    Archives

    January 2018
    December 2017

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Safeguarding
Data Protection
Contact us
Thank you for your visit and support.
​
© LGBT+ York Catholics 2024

Links which appear on this site do not imply an endorsement by Middlesbrough Diocese.

​
​Middlesbrough Diocese  ​Registered Charity 233748
  • Home
  • Masses & Socials
  • Resources
  • Emailings
  • Contact