20 June 2005

NOT THE ONLY GAYS IN THE PARISH !

For the second year running LGCM's Roman Catholic Caucus will be parading its eye-catching banner - PROUDLY LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDERED & PROUDLY CATHOLIC - at the Pride London parade on 2 July 2005. RCC members will also be staffing a stall at the Trafalgar Square Pride London Rally. They will be sharing their space with CATHOLICS FOR AIDS PREVENTION & SUPPORT, and also distributing information promoting the work of the Catholic development agency, CAFOD, to link with the G8 summit on trade justice.

The PRIDE LONDON MASS will be celebrated on Sunday, 3 July, 5.00 pm at St. Anne's Church, 55 Dean Street, Soho, London W1D 6AF. The Reverend John Foley will preside and the Mass will be followed by refreshments. The Mass will include the commissioning of the newly established Soho Mass Pastoral Council including six men and women active in this vibrant faith community and representing its diversity.

The Roman Catholic Caucus has sponsored Masses for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered Catholics, their parents, families and friends since 1999,the first Mass being celebrated the Sunday after the Admiral Duncan pub bombing. The Masses now attract an average attendance between 60 - 80 people twice a month, reaching over 100 on special occasions and, having gone from strength to strength, the RC Caucus now feels it is time to hand over organisation to members of the congregation itself.

Martin Pendergast, RC Caucus Liturgy Coordinator said:

" We've seen these Masses as a service to the wider lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered Catholic community, as well as to the Church as a whole. The Masses have become renowned for the quality of music, preaching and community welcome. The community has now reached a strong position of maturity and it's right that it should now take on fuller responsibility for its own future. We see this
as totally in tune with the proposals for future pastoral development and renewal throughout the Archdiocese of Westminster where its 'Green Paper' speaks of smaller vibrant communities committed to faith and justice."

The Soho Mass Pastoral Council will be independent of any other organisation. Its remit will be to continue to identify the pastoral and sacramental needs of lgbt Catholics, their parents and families, and to be responsible for the organisation of the twice-a-month Soho Masses. It also aims to try to improve communication with the Archdiocese of Westminster on matters of pastoral care for lgbt Catholics,their parents and families.

POSITIVE CATHOLICS TRY THE HABIT !

POSITIVE CATHOLICS, the support-group for Catholics living with HIV, are planning their own mini-version of the acclaimed recent BBC TV "Monastery" experience.

From 19 - 21 August this mixed group of HIV+ Catholics will be staying at an historic Benedictine abbey in the West of England. The weekend, planned and organised by themselves, will be supported pastorally by one of the abbey's monks and a London-based priest, Father John Sherrington CP, who has wide experience of HIV care.

The group, which includes gay men and heterosexual Catholics, is drawn from a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds. The Positive Catholics' group aims to celebrate this diversity - being catholic/universal with a small 'c' - over the course of the weekend.There'll be prayer, reflection and laughter, good country food and visits to the local pub for those who want to try famous West Country cider and ales!

Positive Catholics meet at a central London Catholic venue on the 3rd Saturday of every month from 2.00 pm- 5.00 pm. Further information is available from CAPS.

Please note this is not a service of UKC - this web page is offered as information to any catholics with HIV who might want to meet with others who share the same faith.