Building Catholic Futures

Put Out into the Deep

Jan 14 2025

Hello, and welcome to the Put Out into the Deep, the newsletter of Building Catholic Futures. This week: Tell us your story! We ask you about what has helped you to understand the intersection of Catholic faith and LGBT+ life.

To learn more and to get involved in BCF, you can send us a quick note via the Contact Us page at BuildingCatholic.org. And if you received this from a friend, and are not yet a subscriber, click Building Catholic Futures and fill out the Keep in Touch form to receive future updates.

A Storytelling Poll

BCF’s mission is “to equip Catholic institutions with the confidence to evangelize and catechize gay people of all ages.” Many people in our Church lack that confidence because they don’t know what good pastoral care for gay people looks like. They haven’t seen it!

So this week, we’re asking for your stories of pastoral care—especially any positive stories you may have to share. Whether you’re gay yourself, whether you have a gay child, whether you’re a priest or simply a layperson who wants to share the light of the Gospel, if you’re reading this newsletter you’ve probably had a few experiences that have helped you to understand God’s love for gay people.

Share these experiences at the link below. Your responses are confidential. Don’t worry about whether your experiences are common or representative. We know that what helps one person at one point in life may not be the right thing for someone else.

One thing we’ve heard over and over again is:

“We love how BCF sees gay people, and everyone responsible for the care of their souls, as people on a journey. We want to hear more about what helps gay Catholics and those who love them on their journeys of faith!”

If you’re a gay person, what’s it like to be understood, inspired, and guided? If you’re in pastoral care, where have you discovered a better way of caring for LGBT/SSA+ people?

Tell Us Your Story

Illustration of Philip in Samaria, courtesy of our friend, Gracie Morbitzer, at The Modern Saints

Samaritan Journeys

In our Journeys Workshops, we use Acts 8 as a model for what gay discipleship can be. In the Gospels and Acts, we never quite know what to make of the Samaritan community. They're neighbors to Judea but treated as strangers. They worship God but not at the Temple. Jesus seeks them out, but his apostles have reservations.

Where do you feel like a Samaritan, uneasily welcomed in a church that doesn't quite know what to make of you? Where do you struggle to be confident that you can proclaim God's mercy and hope? And who are your companions, as you share the Gospel?

Acts 8:4-8,14-17

Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to a city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ. And the multitudes with one accord gave heed to what was said by Philip, when they heard him and saw the signs which he did. For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice; and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city.

Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for it had not yet fallen on any of them, but they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Spirit.

Prayers

In this jubilee year of hope, know that doors open to good things. And please remember us in your praying and know that we are remembering you as well.

Eve and Keith

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