Reflections on our recent Pride Event by panellist and CLC Planning Group Member, Mark Guevarra

This special pride panel is significant in so many ways, besides being what we believe to be a first in Canada.

First, in this era of being a synodal church that listens and welcomes, this panel centres important lived experiences not normally heard in the broader Catholic community. Stephanie Nomellini, a mom of a gay child and founding member of St. Joseph the Worker parish’s LGBTQ+ parent group, shared the challenges of encouraging her child to keep the faith. This common experience of the parents in the Richmond, BC parish is shared by parents across the globe. Courageous pastors like those at her parish are few and far between. Many face obstacles from local bishops or even parishioners who believe that welcoming LGBTQ+ people means rejecting the church’s official teaching on homosexuality, even if it impoverishes the faith of their LGBTQ+ siblings. Ultimately for pastors like Fr. Jarek Pachocki, OMI, missionary discipleship means radical welcome.

Thankfully concerns of parents like Stephanie and LGBTQ+ Catholics like myself have been captured in synodal syntheses around the globe. The recently released Instrumentum Laboris also captures the cries of marginalized people like LGBTQ+ people. The panelists have hopes for the synod to enable opportunities to welcome LGBTQ+ instead of stifling them as is the case. Conversations like this are sacred opportunities to listen to the Spirit of truth and discern how to act faithfully.

Second, this panel has the potential of saving faith and saving lives. We know that LGBTQ+ youth internalize hated. This panel shares hope and Good News. The panel gives voice to the side of the church that celebrates the raising of the rainbow flag. The panel tells LGBTQ+ Catholics that they are loved and there are communities that strive to welcome them as they are. The panel encourages parents and family members to love their LGBTQ+ children. The panel shows that faithful and courageous missionary discipleship isn’t easy but it’s our calling as followers of Jesus.

Finally, the panelists express that there is much more that needs to be done to welcome LGBTQ+ people and their families. Much needed is a synodal faith formation of the laity and priests that humbly listens for the Holy Spirit rather than our own insecurities and the way things have always been. Authentic and compassionate encounter of LGBTQ+ people rather than speaking about the other as abstract theological concepts. There is a need to change official teaching that uses violent words such as ‘intrinsically disordered.’ Instead, the church must base its teachings on sound science, social science, and lived experiences, rather than interpretations that are no longer acceptable, just as interpretations that once supported slavery, racism, and sexism have been outright rejected.

As we walk the synodal path, we at CLC share this panel to inspire you to be an active sign of hope, healing, and welcome, especially to our LGBTQ+ siblings.