Not every gay in this world can be ‘lucky’ to be wholly
embraced in their churches and parishes, even in their homes. Not every gay can
be given the opportunity to lead and to serve; to shepherd. I am lucky to be
one.
I believe it’s not really about luck. I had my shares of
struggles; I had my doses of rejections. I was stereotyped, maligned, discriminated
and judged. But at the end of it all, love prevailed. Love prevails. The reason
why I am still serving in our parish, the reason why I am surviving; it’s
really about love, not luck.
Last Sunday, that love was affirmed. We were in a meeting,
along with Parish leaders, members of the Parish Pastoral Council executive
committee led by our Parish Priest, Fr. Erik. We talked about emerging
ministries; about expanding our horizons in reaching out and serving. They
acknowledged the little steps we are doing in establishing LGBT Ministry.
Our LGBT Ministry is NOT founded to provide a pastoral care
for gay Catholics; it is not a rehabilitation center. We are not recruiting
anyone to ‘heal’ and make him straight. There is no magic factory that will
transform anyone to be a holy knight or a special minister. No lesbians will be
forced to wear below-the-knee skirts to be accepted. No gays will be asked to
remove their false eyelashes.
Our LGBT Ministry is giving all gays the opportunity to
serve their Church. Thus, it is not a pastoral care ministry that makes gays
automatic beneficiaries of programs; as a matter of fact, there is no program.
It is calling the flock to come home, to make them feel comfortable, and to
rediscover love, mercy and compassion taught by Jesus Christ.
To understand, to accept, to speak, to listen, to serve, to
shepherd: to be prouder to be gay Catholics.
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