EnCourage is a confidential support group dedicated to the spiritual needs of parents, siblings, and other relatives and friends of persons who have same-sex attractions SSA. Anchored in the spiritual and moral teachings of the Roman Catholic Church, EnCourage members support one another and their loved ones through discussion, prayer, and fellowship.
Four times a year, a group gathers to discuss a topic that each member attending has in common β their loved one has same-sex-attraction SSA. The group facilitator is Sr. Candace Fier, director of the diocesan Office of Family Life. The dignity and identity of Christian persons are not determined by their sexual attractions, but by their relation to Jesus Christ through faith, hope, and love.
Therefore, the overall goals of EnCourage are:. Help members themselves to grow spiritually through prayer, meditation, spiritual direction, frequent attendance at Holy Mass, and frequent reception of the sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist;.
Enable members to gain a deeper understanding of the needs, and issues experienced by men and women with same-sex attractions;. Help members establish and maintain a healthy and wholesome relationship with the loved one who experiences same-sex attractions;. Assist other parents and families to reach out with compassion and truth to their loved one with same-sex feelings and behaviors;.
Witness to their loved one by their own lives that a happy, wholesome life is to be found in union with Jesus Christ through His body, the Church. This is certainly a very challenging question. Parents in this situation want to support their son, but they puzzle over how do they do that? Parents usually know the teaching of the Church on human sexuality. However, repeating the teaching of the Church to their son usually falls on deaf ears. So, parents want to know what they should say and do that will be helpful to their son?
