Around the world LGBTQ folks, their families and friends celebrate June as month. It may not be shouted from church rooftops but it is surely spoken of in the pews. These days of coming out from COVID isolation have moved the hearts of many people who have been pushed to the margins of society – civilly and religiously – to stand up and be seen, to speak out and to be heard. There is a call to freedom that Jesus has placed in each of us and He has given us the example of how to speak that truth (Isaiah 42:3-4) in love. There are those who will refuse to see and hear, but His message is clear that we are all God’s children, created in God’s image and likeness … all of us … everywhere and for all time. We all have a place at God’s Table. One of the June events that our parish LGBTQ faith sharing group, In God’s Image, honors is not to forget the 49 victims (50 counting the shooter) of the 06.12.2016 Pulse shooting in Orlando, Florida. A small monument was set in place on the parish grounds five years ago and each year we remember their names and stories. Five years ago this was barely spoken of from any church pulpit but these brothers and sisters were being prayed for in the pews.
Yours in the Heart of Jesus, Fr. John
