So Much to Be Thankful For!

“If “thank you” is the only prayer you say, that will be enough.”

                                                                                  –Meister Eckhart

Happy Thanksgiving to all Bondings 2.0 readers!   We hope that you have much to be thankful for this year.

At New Ways Ministry, we are very thankful for many things this year.  We are particularly grateful for all our blog readers and commenters who make this site a great place for discussion!

New Ways Ministry’s staff members have each offered their top three gratitude items below. What are you thankful for this year, especially items that may pertain to Catholic LGBT issues?  We invite you to share your items in the “Comments” section of this post.

Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director:

  1. The many people who support New Ways Ministry by donations, prayers, support, information, hospitality and encouragement.
  2. Catholic LGBT people and their families who continue to help to build a church of justice and equality, even when the odds seem impossible.
  3. The open discussion on LGBT issues that was started at the synod in October.  How wonderful to know that we have so many supportive Catholic leaders around the globe!

Sister Jeannine Gramick, Co-Founder:

  1. Three positive paragraphs about LGBT people were announced after the first week of the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops on the Family in Rome, but they did not receive the necessary 2/3 majority vote. I am grateful that Pope Francis added the three paragraphs to the official version to be discussed before the Bishops take up the issue again in October 2015.
  2. Kathleen Purcell was let go from her teaching job in an Oakland, California, Catholic high school for crossing out sections of the new teachers’ contract, which demanded that employees’ personal and professional lives conform to Catholic teaching. I am thankful for the courage and witness of Kathleen Purcell and others like her who put their beliefs about justice into action.
  3. So many LGBT people, their families and friends, congregations of women religious, and other justice-seeking people have supported the work of New Ways Ministry during the past year with their prayers, their time, and their financial support. I am so very grateful for all of them.

Matt Myers, Associate Director:

  1. Pope Francis and his deep concern for the poor and marginalized.
  2. LGBT employees of Catholic institutions.
  3. The innumerable Catholics who are working, in big and small ways, to create a welcoming and inclusive Church for LGBT people.

Bob Shine,  Social Media Coordinator:

  1. For real conversations among Catholics and open disagreements between bishops during the global church’s ongoing discernment about marriage and family life, especially those courageous voices calling for change.
  2. For a growing awareness of and commitment to trans justice among Catholics, especially students who are reforming more of Catholic educational institutions and the Filipino church’s response to Jennifer Laude’s murder.
  3. For the emerging generation of ministers I’m blessed to study alongside for whom LGBT justice is a given pursuit and constitutive aspect of being a disciple of Jesus.
4 replies
  1. David Kiester
    David Kiester says:

    Thank you for all you do to find social justice and Scriptural-based acceptance of all people. I’m sorry, I just ran out of perseverance. I joined a worship community where I am not constantly insulted and denigrated.

    Reply
  2. Ryan Sattler
    Ryan Sattler says:

    Allow me to share “4” things that I am THANKFUL for.

    1. For you Frank and your tireless commitment to the work of NWM.

    2. For you Jeannine and literally your life’s work of love, justice, and equality for the LGBT Community.

    3. For you Matt and your soft spoken and caring spirit. You have brought many gifts to your new role at NWM.

    4. For you Bob. Blessed with so many gifts! Remain open to the plan GOD has for you.

    For “these four” and so much more, I pause to pray and say THANK YOU!

    Reply
  3. Linda Karle-Nelson
    Linda Karle-Nelson says:

    I am thankful for Fr. Vic Clore of Christ the King parish in Detroit whose courage and determination to seek a welcoming home for LGBT Catholics has been a great blessing to the Detroit Archdiocese.

    I am thankful for Fortunate Families whose ministry has given hope and support to Catholic families with LGBT daughters and sons for over ten years.

    Reply
  4. Adam James
    Adam James says:

    I am thankful for all those who have read and given positive feedback on my novel ‘sacrifice to their gods’

    I am thankful for Pope Francis and the openness he has brought to our Holy Catholic Church.

    I am thankful for all those at New Ways Ministry and the many other organizations who have worked so hard for equal justice.

    Reply

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