Gay+ at Old St. Pat’s.
Gay+ is a celebration of our individual journeys in faith as LGBTQ+ Catholics. Inspired by the radical hospitality here at Old St. Pat’s, we are an inclusive community, welcoming to all sexual orientations, gender identities, and allies! We are a place for peace, support, conversation, and faith sharing. Please email Kevin Funk (kevfunk@gmail.com) if you have any questions!
A Letter of Welcome from Gay + Co-Chair, Kevin Funk
There is little question that the community of Old St. Pat’s is built upon the firm conviction that, “All are welcome here.” In fact, those were literally the first words I heard as I first attended a mass here in this special place. Radical hospitality is not just an empty saying between these walls; it is something that you feel when you come here to pray, to learn, to rejoice, and to mourn. This is where the Spirit renews us with hope and love; with challenge and peace; with perspective and, if necessary, a way forward. To be present at Old St. Pat’s is to acknowledge our brothers and sisters and to embrace them, celebrating all that makes them different as we come together to praise the God who makes us one.
All are welcome here.
As a gay Catholic, I fall short in trying to explain what those words mean. It cannot be put to paper because it is a feeling so profound as to give pause to time itself, if only for the span of a heartbeat, to think, “Does that mean me?” It’s a moment of reckoning that I experience specifically because I am a gay Catholic; a moment in which I experienced the voice of God in a way uniquely my own. As children of God, we are men, women, old, young, gay, straight, tall, short, transgender, cisgender, large and small. Our skin is every shade and our voice is every note; yet we are all called to be one with God and through God.
All are welcome here.
Old St. Patrick’s Gay and Lesbian Friends & Family Outreach has been transitioning to the new Gay+ at Old St. Pat’s! Gay+ (“Gay Plus”) is a celebration of those moments that shaped our individual journeys in faith as LGBTQ+ Catholics and it is a space to share in these experiences together. In the spirit of embracing the “+” in LGBTQ+, this new name reminds us that we are more than the letters of the alphabet. The Spirit is working in all of us and through all of us to be ministers of God’s love, compassion, and mercy. Gay+ is an inclusive community, welcoming to all sexual orientations, gender identities, and allies! We welcome you to be among friends here as we come together for casual discussions and refreshment on the first Thursday of each month (something we call, That Thursday Thing).
All are welcome here.
We hope to see you at That Thursday Thing and future programs; please keep an eye out for our space in the bulletin for upcoming events! And, as I’ve come to learn, to love, and hope to have expressed to you:
All are welcome here!
Frequently Asked Questions
I’m curious about getting involved with Gay+, how can I check it out?
We get together in a casual setting on the first Thursday of each month (something we call, That Thursday Thing) to explore and discuss the unique ways we experience and live out our faith. This is an excellent place to come and participate in discussions about our unique and shared experiences in faith in a safe and welcoming environment. This regular monthly program varies in topic and tries to provide attendees with a casual atmosphere in which they can share as much as they wish or feel comfortable enough to simply come and listen.
I’m not gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. Can I still attend programs or events?
Absolutely! We welcome and encourage friends and allies regardless of sexual identity.
I have a friend from another parish that is LGBTQ+, would (s)he be able to attend?
Yes, we welcome OSP members as well as members of other parishes.
I’m a parent of a LGBTQ+ child/adult, and I have questions about my new experiences as a Catholic, are there people for me to talk to?
Yes, we sponsor a program of peer companionship called the Listening Parent. Please contact Maureen Schuneman at listeningparent@gmail.com for more information.
MEETINGS
That Thursday Thing – We meet on the first Thursday of every month from 7:00pm-8:30pm. The topic varies month to month, so please check our upcoming events for details on the next That Thursday Thing! We meet at:
Fr. Jack Wall Mission Center
Library, 3rd Floor
711 W. Monroe Street
Chicago, IL 60661
Gay+ Planning Committee meetings – Our planning committee gets together once per month to plan the upcoming That Thursday Thing, discuss outreach opportunities within and beyond Old St. Pat’s, and plan out different events our committee may be hosting or co-sponsoring. Please contact Kevin Funk (kevfunk@gmail.com) to get involved in our planning committee!
