Dear Friends,

 

The OPEN ARMS MINISTRY for the Resurrection/St Paul Pastorate was started a few years ago by a group of parishioners who wanted to express their love and support for the LGBTQ community and also for those in the LGBTQ community to know of the love of our two parishes for them. For we certainly want every person who walks through the doors of our churches to know of our support and love.

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At the same time our two parishes are always asked by the Universal Church to promote the teaching of the Church. And so of course it can be a challenge to figure out how to handle the issue of ministry with LGBTQ brothers and sisters and their friends and family.  And I must be honest – I end up making people unhappy on both sides of the issue – people who would like me to do more in promoting LGBTQ Catholics in our pastorate and also those who feel that we are doing too much. 

 

In the end I am trying to make sure I am following the lead of our Archdiocese and of the Catholic Church. But I also do consider that the OPEN ARMS group is an important sign to LGBTQ Catholics and their family and friends that, even with disagreements at times, it is worthwhile to try to navigate the various issues and to still have this group exist.

 

And so my prayer is that the OPEN ARMS group can help all to know better of the love of Jesus and Mary and Joseph and all the saints – and of all of us here at Resurrection/St. Paul. At the same time, of course again, it’s always a challenge to try to figure out how to stay loyal to the Church while still being loving towards every person.

 

All of this takes a lot of prayer and love….for myself personally and for all of our parishioners. Please know of my prayers for you in this process and please also pray for myself and all the staff here at Resurrection and St. Paul as we try to face these challenges.

 

In Christ, Fr. Andy Aaron, Pastor of the Resurrection/St. Paul Pastorate