Join us as we celebrate four decades of pastoral care, fellowship, and prayerful, mutual support.

COURAGE & ENCOURAGE ANNUAL CONFERENCE
July 25 – 26, 2020
ONLINE THIS YEAR!
Click here to view the conference flyer

Important update for our members regarding COVID-19 and the
Annual Courage & EnCourage Conference


Due to the ongoing safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, we are unable to gather in person for this year's Courage and EnCourage Annual Conference, which was originally scheduled to take place late July at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Illinois. The State governor's plan to reopen Illinois business and institutions will not permit large groups to gather until a vaccine is identified, thus prohibiting us from moving forward with our plans for this year's conference.

Over the years, our Annual Conference has become our yearly family reunion. It is where our members can freely express their joys, struggles, and successes with those who understand their experience, and who share their commitment to growing in holiness. It is an understatement to say that we are disappointed by these developments, especially since it means we will not be able to celebrate our 40th anniversary with you in person.

However, thanks to modern technology, we will be able to move forward with our Annual Conference online, featuring keynote speakers on each of the Five Goals, witness testimonies, and time for shared prayer and discussion. We also invite regional chapters to consider hosting Annual Conference "viewing parties" for local Courage and EnCourage members.

Know that you remain in our thoughts and prayers, and we look forward to finally seeing you in person next year!


CONFERENCE PRESENTERS

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED

Registration:  All registrants will be screened for approval and will receive an email notification once approved, usually within 24 hours. If you do not receive this email after 24 hours, please check your spam folder. If the email isn’t there, contact us here. Registrants must be 18 or older.

REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.

Donation: In these trying times, we know that cost may be an obstacle. We are happy to announce, for this year only, a «pay what you can» conference fee.  Registrants may click on the PayPal button below and select One Time Donation. Please write «2020 Conference» in the «Write a note» section of the donation form.

Suggested Conference Donation:
US$ 25.00 per person or per household
You are welcome to donate more, if you wish.
Amounts over $25 will be issued
a tax acknowledgment letter.

Registration deadline is July 22.

Problems registering online?
Please contact us here.

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

Download PDF of schedule here.

*Times are listed as EDT.

**Important note: Due to limited space and privacy considerations, breakout sessions are reserved ONLY for members of Courage (adults 18 years and older who experience same-sex attractions and choose to live by the Five Goals of Courage) and EnCourage (families and friends of those persons who identify as LGBT, who choose to live by the Five Goals of EnCourage). Thank you for your understanding.

Saturday – July 25, 2020

TIME*

ACTIVITY

SPEAKER
12:00 – 12:15 pm Introduction Fr. Philip G. Bochanski
12:15 – 1:00 pm Goal 1: Chastity Fr. Sean Kilcawley, STL
1:15 – 2:00 pm Goal 2: Prayer & Dedication Fr. Glenn Sudano, CFR
2:15 – 3:00 pm Break
3:00 – 4:45 pm Breakout Sessions**
(Each breakout is exclusively for those indicated by breakout title.)

• Courage Men

• Courage Women

• EnCourage (General)

• EnCourage Gender Identity Questions

• Ministry Personnel Networking/Discussion (3:15 – 4:15 pm)

• Courage Español

• EnCourage Español

 Moderators
• Fr. Donavan Labbe and Fr. Paul Scalia

• Fr. Raphael Salzillo, OP

• Fr. Dave Leon, Fr. Nathan Reesman, and Fr. Eric Rodrigues

• Deacon Patrick Lappert

• Margaret Hendricks

• Fr. Victor DeLuna

• Fr. Richard Samour
4:45 – 5:30 pm Goal 3: Fellowship Dr. Stephen Hopkins
8:00 – 10:00 pm Activities (Prayer room, Social room, etc.) Various Hosts – TBD

Sunday – July 26, 2020

TIME*

ACTIVITY

SPEAKER
12:00 – 12:15 pm Introduction Fr. Philip G. Bochanski
12:15 – 1:00 pm Goal 4: Support Deacon Hilmar Pabel, Ph.D.
1:15 – 2:00 pm Goal 5: Good Example Member Testimonies
2:15 – 3:00 pm Break
3:00 – 4:45 pm Breakout Sessions**
(Each breakout is exclusively for those indicated by breakout title.)

• Courage Men and Women

• EnCourage (General) – Love in All Seasons

• EnCourage and Courage Men (ALREADY FULL)

• EnCourage and Courage Women (ALREADY FULL)

• Courage Español

• EnCourage Español

 Moderators
• Fr. Philip G. Bochanski and Fr. Colin Blatchford

• Mary Rice Hasson

• Fr. Peter Ryan, SJ

• Rilene S.

• Fr. Victor DeLuna

• Fr. Richard Samour
4:45 – 5:30 pm Brazen Chastity and the Gift of Self

Español: The Importance of the Five Goals of Courage in Our Pursuit of Holiness

 Sr. Helena Burns, FSP

Fr. Richard Samour

The conference will be held in English with simultaneous interpretation into Spanish.

Zoom Instructions

We encourage attendees to familiarize themselves with the Zoom webinar platform by reading Zoom Basics for Webinar Attendees. Each registrant, upon approval, will be emailed an Annual Conference Webinar Confirmation which will include a unique access link for online attendance and participation. This approval/confirmation email will be emailed to you within 24 hours of registering. If you do not receive this email after 24 hours, please check your spam folder. If the email isn’t there, contact us here.

Celebrating 40 Years of Ministry!

This year, the Courage Apostolate is celebrating a very special milestone of 40 years of ministry.  We humbly thank God for the solid foundation He has laid in this apostolate through the faithful, tireless ministry of its founding director Fr. John F. Harvey OSFS, and through the dedicated, generous leadership of both Fr. Paul Check and our current director Fr. Philip G. Bochanski. We’re grateful for all who have served and participated in this Christ-centered, sacramental community and who continue to do so, especially the members of Courage and EnCourage, whose quiet lives of virtue, holiness, and commitment to both truth and love set an example to all the world and the Church. May the Lord continue to bless our apostolate for another 40 years!