On Oct. 15, members of LGBT Catholic group Dignity/Chicago kicked off the organization's 40th-anniversary year with a party at the home of Daniel Bender in Rogers Park.
Past chapter president Ramon Rodriguez was the guest speaker. He encouraged the chapter to continue to embrace change and to always be open to new ways to serve the community.
Current chapter president Chris Pett spoke about plans for the year, which will include special programming throughout Advent and Lent; a history panel in January to highlight the impact of religious organizations on the LGBT community; and a celebratory dinner and Mass May 19-20, 2012.
Pett remarked, "Dignity/Chicago is one of the oldest organizations still active in our community. We are also one of five Dignity chapters (including San Diego, Boston, New York and Washington, D.C.) celebrating 40 years of ministry to LGBT Catholics, our families and friends. During these forty years we have journeyed from being one of the few places where LGBT folks could gather for spiritual and social support to one of many religious communities where LGBT people fully integrate their spirituality and sexuality."
Photo and text courtesy of Martin Grochala
