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Over 220 people attended the 12^th Annual Courage Conference, held at the Mont Marie Conference Center in Holyoke, Massachusetts, from August 24^th - 27th. Conference attendees included members and supporters of Courage and Encourage. Courage provides spiritual support for persons with same-sex attractions who are striving to live chaste lives in accordance with Roman Catholic teaching. Encourage, which also supports the Church’s teaching on chastity, provides spiritual support for parents, spouses, siblings, and friends of persons with same-sex attractions.

This year’s conference was also special because Courage was celebrating 20 years of ministry during the Jubilee Year! Main speakers included Rev. John F. Harvey, OSFS, the Co-founder and Director of Courage, Rev. Donald Timone who teaches spiritual theology at Mount St. Mary College in Newburgh, Rev. Rich Perozich, pastor of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in San Diego, Rev. Raymond Roden, a clinical psychologist from Brooklyn, and Dr. William Consiglio, psychotherapist, and founder and director of HOPE ministries.

Three bishops also celebrated daily Mass for the conference attendees: Auxiliary Bishop Robert McManus, Diocese of Providence, R.I., Bishop Thomas Dupre, Diocese of Springfield, MA, and Bishop Daniel P. Reilly, Diocese of Worcester, MA. Bishop Sean O’Malley from the diocese of Fall River, MA was unable to attend because of being delayed in Rome, and Monsignor Harrington, leader of the Courage group in that same diocese, said Mass in his place.

Workshop titles included: Developing Interior Chastity, Courage & Publicity, Women’s Issues, Isolated Members, Men’s Meeting, Encourage Members, and Intro to CMAC (Courage Members’ Action Committee).

The conference offered both spiritual and social opportunities. Mass was celebrated daily, confession was available, and the Blessed Sacrament was exposed for nocturnal adoration. Saturday night included two testimonies by Courage members, followed by a healing service, a charismatic prayer gathering, and finally a wine and cheese social, during which members of C-MAC performed a series of skits which brought the conference attendees together in laughter and song.

Robert, an Encourage member, said of this year’s conference "It was a real eye-opener. It is the beginning of a plan for my future." Angelo, a Courage member, said "It was a powerful experience - one filled with excellent fellowship, wisdom, and true Christian love."

Next year’s conference will be held at St. Mary’s on the Lake in Mundelein, IL, just outside of Chicago, from August 9^th - 12^th. For more information, please call (212) 268-1010.

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