May 31, 2019
Your Eminence,
Your Excellencies,
Peace be with you!
As a follow up from the Pastoral Symposium for Persons with Same Sex Attraction in 2016, the Episcopal Commission on Family and Life, together with Courage Philippines, is hosting a National Conference on “Courageous Love: Journeying with Persons who Experience Same Sex Attractions”. This will be held in the Lay Formation Center, San Carlos Pastoral Formation Complex, Makati City on 1 August 2019, Thursday, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
The focus of this conference will be the actual accompaniment experience of the Courage apostolate. This will kick-off their 25th anniversary celebration next year. For almost 25 years, Courage has been silently dining the Church’s task of accompanying persons with same sex attraction towards faithfulness to the Church, deepening relationships with our Lord and growth in holiness. This conference will be a great opportunity for us to listen and learn as they share with us their accompaniment stories. In so doing, it is hoped that such pastoral support system will be made available throughout the entire Church in the Philippines.
The main talks are:
– Psycho-genesis of Homosexuality (Dr. Lucille Afable Montes MD PhD)
– Finding Christ in Homosexuality (Mr. Edwin Valles)
– Keynote: Accompaniment according to the Magisterium (Abp. Gilbert Garcera)
– The Courage Accompaniment Experience Forum (Courage priest-chaplains: Fr. Daniel Healy, Fr. Ernie Montuerto OCD, Fr. Eugene David, with testimonies from Courage members)
In this regard, I would like to invite you as well as your clergy, formators and pastoral leaders who are already involved in this apostolate or are in the best position to implement this support program.
To register:
1) Deposit P500 (covering simple lunch and snacks) to any of the following accounts:
Account name: CBCP-ECFL
Account number: 632-763202435-1
Bank: Metrobank
Branch Name: Intramuros-CBCP
Account Name: Episcopal Commission on Family & Life – CBCP
Account Number: 4951-0076-47
Bank Name: Bank of Philippine Islands
Branch Name: Intramuros
2) Please scan and email the deposit slip with the names of your delegates to Ms. Peggy Burgoyne, in charge of registration on or before July 15, Monday:
Email: ecflcbcp@gmail.com and peggy.burgoyne@gmail.com
Mobile: Globe – 0915-672-1579 and Smart – 0999-753-4667
As always, we look forward to your gracious presence and count on your generous collaboration.
Sincerely,
+ Gilbert A. Garcera, D.D.
Archbishop of Lipa
Chairman, Episcopal Commission on Family and Life
