A Mother's Heart - Part 1
This is the first of a four-part entry written by “Anonymous". Let me begin selfishly…by talking about me. I am an only child. My parents divorced when I was 7. I lived with my mother throughout my…
A Gift for Himself
It was strange that my friend invited me to his new home today out of all days. Especially after what happened three years ago. That was not a moment I want to remember. A dark and ugly scene of…
What Have I Received from Encourage?
A place to tell our story – When a family member first comes to our Encourage group, he or she is given as much time as needed to tell their story. In my case, I probably spent an hour or more on the…
Encountering "The Living Flame of Love"
By “Monnica” (not her real name), an anonymous EnCourage mother I was in such a fog of anguish that first night after our son told us that he was “gay”, that I couldn’t sleep. All night long I just…
Our Lord Sent Help
When we first sent him to college, Tommy was a very bright, nice young man, although socially behind his peers due to his Asperger’s tendencies. Throughout his time at college, my husband and I would…
We Fall Down and Get Up... Conclusion
Click HERE to read Part 1 of this entry “Who Are You?” In the early 00’s, my then-lover moved to San Francisco and I wept with sadness and joy. Ultimately all the things I was doing were for him.…
Finding My Spiritual Home
It was the summer of 2019, and I was at my first Courage Conference. I'd never expected to be able to attend a conference, with how far away it is (I live in Scotland) and the cost to attend. But…
A Father's Turmoil
My beloved wife has been encouraging me, an eighty-four-year-old father, to write my story for many years but sharing this about my son is very difficult for me. I feel I have been robbed of the love…
I Wanted My Retirement Years to Count
My almost 73 years as a Catholic priest have been exciting and challenging and joyous (with occasional heartbreak) but mostly filled with fun and wonder. 26+ of those years, at the invitation of…
A Turning Point
I have been involved with Courage for more than a decade, more than half of my priesthood, yet I never went looking for it or thought it would become my ministry. Sometime in 2009, a Courage member…
