Encourage

Encourage at St. Ignatius of Loyola

Encourage is a ministry dedicated to the spiritual needs of parents, siblings, children and other relatives and friends of persons who experience same-sex attractions, gender discordance or in some way identify as LGBTQ+.  It’s an apostolate that accompanies those seeking to love those who identify as LGBTQ+ without approving or condoning decisions, choices and lifestyles that are contrary to the Catholic faith.

Five Goals of EnCourage

• Help members themselves to grow spiritually through developing a vital relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ as authentically taught in our Roman Catholic Tradition.

• Enable members to gain a deeper understanding of the needs, problems, 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 not to reject but to reach out with compassion and truth to their loved one with same-sex feelings and behaviors.
• Witness to our loved one by our own lives that a happy, wholesome life is to be found in union with Jesus Christ and with His body, the Church.

There are several chapters in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, one that meets in Frederick County and one in Baltimore county.  Please contact Lorraine at encourage@archbalt.org for more information.