"I didn't know how to explain to people that my longing was to be with someone of the same sex.  I wanted to be held by another woman and to feel accepted by her.  There was so much hurt and pain behind those feelings, and I was looking for healing..."

"I often think that if I'd only had someone in the Church to help me deal with my homosexual thoughts and feelings when I was a teenager, maybe I wouldn't have turned to the gay community for support in my twenties.  No one ever taught me about chastity - all they ever talked about was 'safe-sex' - and then I became HIV-positive..."

My Brother's Keeper IV

CATHOLIC YOUTH LEADERS' CONFERENCE ON HOMOSEXUALITY

(sponsored by Courage, an Apostolate of the Archdiocese of New York)

This conference will enable Catholic Youth Leaders' to give moral guidance to those youth entrusted to their care who may be struggling with homosexual attractions and feelings.  Courage is aware of the critical need to provide such youth with pastoral care that is fully in accord with the teaching of the Church.

The speakers (Rev. John Harvey, Mary Beth Bonacci, Peter Rudegeair, Deacon John Singler) will address topics such as: A) the psychology of same-sex attractions during adolescence, B) a theological understanding of the same phenomenon, C) the need to clearly and effectively communicate the truth to young people who are being taught through the media and the schools that homogenital activity is morally acceptable, and D) the need for a pastoral program which embodies the best of theological and psychological wisdom and sound spiritual direction, in order to help our young people deal with same-sex attractions.

Courage members will also give testimonies and will attempt to answer any questions the attendees may have.

Your participation will be greatly appreciated because you, as a Catholic Youth Leader, have direct contact with young people.  You are in the position to reach out - with the love of Jesus Christ and the wisdom of His Church - to those struggling with homosexuality.  It is our hope that this fourth conference will aid us in our continuing effort to develop material which can be used by Youth Leaders.

Please keep "My Brother's Keeper IV" in your daily prayers, as the success of such a conference will depend upon it!  God bless you, and we hope to see you in May!

Rev. John F. Harvey, OSFS - Director of Courage

FOR A REGISTRATION FORM, CLICK HERE!!

 Where and When:

My Brother’s Keeper IV will be held at:

                   Bishop Molloy Retreat House   

                   86-45 Edgerton Blvd.

                   Jamaica, NY 11432

on Saturday, May 15th, 2004.

Deadline: May 8th, 2004 

Conference Cost:

$80 (includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and attendance at all talks)

The minimum payment for registration is $30, with the remainder due by May 8th, 2004.

* Please Note: We will not be accepting registrations at the door! All registrations must be made in advance.

The airport closest to Bishop Molloy Retreat House is LaGuardia Airport in Queens, NY. One may also arrive at JFK International Airport, also in Queens, NY.

We will send all registrants directions on how to get from the airports to the retreat center, as well as general driving directions and alternative transportation information (i.e. buses, taxis).

Overnight Accommodations

Those who are travelling in from a distance and are in need of overnight accommodation before or after the conference, please contact Bishop Molloy Retreat House directly to make those overnight arrangements.  Their phone number is (718) 739-1229

The Daughters of St. Paul will be selling books and videotapes at the conference, and will also be recording and selling tapes of the talks

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CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Saturday, May 15th

7:15 a.m. - Mass

8:00 a.m. - Breakfast

9:00 a.m. - Introduction: Fr. John Harvey

9:05 a.m. Speaker: Deacon John Singler

"The Need to Share the Full Truth with Youth"

9:55 a.m. - break

10:05 a.m. Speaker: Dr. Peter Rudegeair

"Same-Sex Attractions Among Adolescent Men and Women"

10:55 a.m. - break

11:05 a.m. - Speaker: Fr. John Harvey

12:00 p.m. - Lunch

1:00 p.m. - Speaker: Mary Beth Bonacci

"Modes of Communication With Adolescents"

1:50 p.m. - discussion

2:15 p.m - break

2:30 p.m. - Testimonies by Courage Members

4:00 p.m. - Q & A With All Speakers

5:30 p.m. - Dinner

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Rev. John F. Harvey, OSFS, STD is the Founding Director of the Courage movement. He is an international speaker and has been writing and lecturing for over forty years on the pastoral care of men and women with same-sex attractions. Father has authored two books: The Homosexual Person: New Thinking in Pastoral Care (Ignatius Press, 1987) and The Truth About Homosexuality (Ignatius Press, 1996). Father has also co-edited a book with Professor Gerard Bradley, entitled Same-Sex Attractions: A Parents’ Guide (St. Augustine’s Press, 2003). Father has written two pamphlets: "Pastoral Care and the Homosexual" (The Knights of Columbus) and "A Spiritual Plan to Redirect One’s Life" (Daughters of St. Paul). His articles have appeared in The Linacre Quarterly, Lay Witness, Catholic World Report, Crisis Magazine, The Turnaround, etc.

Mary Beth Bonacci has been giving talks on love, relationships and chastity to audiences across the United States andinternationally since 1986.  She is the Founder and Director of Real Love, Inc., an organization dedicated to promoting understanding and respect for God's gift of sexuality.  In 1993, she spoke to 75,000 youth at World Youth Day in Denver, Colorado.  She is featured in four videos, Sex and Love: What's a Teenager to Do?, Chastity: Just Do It, Freedom to Dump Losers, and Freedom to Love.  She is the author of two books, Real Love and We're On a Mission From God, and a regular syndicated column, as well as numerous freelance articles and brochures.  She holds degrees from the University of San Francisco and the John Paul II Institute.  Mary Beth also acts as consultant to the national Life Teen program.

Peter Rudegeair is a licensed psychologist who specializes in the treatment of addictive disorders. He has worked as a staff psychologist in an addictions hospital, and has worked in the office with Dr. Richard Fitzgibbons (Comprehensive Services, Conshohocken, PA). Peter Rudegeair has spoken frequently at Courage conferences and has also appeared on EWTN.

Deacon John Singler, from Our Lady Help of Christians parish in Staten Island, is a retired public school teacher who also served as principal of St. Rita’s School on Staten Island and taught religion at St. Patrick’s School. Besides his involvement in parish liturgical functions and organizations, he and his wife Judy coordinate natural family planning programs for Staten Island and run programs on teen sexuality for parents and their teens at different parishes.

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COURAGE and ENCOURAGE are respectively two spiritual support groups helping Catholic men and women - and their families - to live in accordance with the Catholic Church’s pastoral teachings on homosexuality.

COURAGE was founded in 1980 by His Eminence Terence Cardinal Cooke, Archbishop of New York, and continues to be sponsored by the Archdiocese of New York. There are now approximately ninety chapters of Courage and Encourage in the United States, Canada, and worldwide.

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COURAGE CENTRAL OFFICE

c/o Church of St. John the Baptist

210 West 31st Street

New York, NY 10001

Phone: (212) 268-1010

Fax: (212) 268-7150

e-mail: NYCourage@aol.com

website: CourageRC.org OR CourageRC.net