Helping people live chaste lives
Courage begins chapter in Diocese of Madison

MADISON -- For more than 27 years, Courage has offered outreach to men and women, offering them support and the assurance there is a place in the Catholic Church for those who struggle with homosexual temptations.

	More information For more information on Courage, visit the link under "Outreach" on the Diocese of Madison homepage, www.madisondiocese.org or go to couragerc.net for information on the international organization. The dedicated Courage hotline for the Diocese of Madison is 608-821-3018. E-mail is courage@straphael.org
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Its philosophy is simply to help people to live chaste lives, said Fr. John F. Harvey, an Oblate of St. Francis de Sales and the first national director of Courage.

Spiritual support group

The Courage apostolate, according to Father Harvey, "is a spiritual support group which reaches out to persons with same-sex attractions who desire to live by the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church."

Founded in 1980 by Cardinal Terence Cooke, it began with a meeting with a handful of men attending. But now this Vatican-approved organization has grown to more than 101 chapters in dioceses around the country and the world.

Father Harvey recently visited the Diocese of Madison on the invitation of Bishop Robert C. Morlino to work with priests to start a chapter here.

To live chastely

According to Catholic teaching, explained especially in the letter On the Pastoral Care of Homosexual Persons (1986), same-sex attraction is not sinful. But acting upon those attractions and engaging in homosexual activity is not a morally acceptable option.

Therefore Courage helps those who experience same-sex attraction strengthen their interior life and live chastely, just as all of us are called to live chastely, Father Harvey said.

"We want to bring people from a 'white-knuckle chastity' to a chastity of the heart, where they've reached a place in their spiritual development where they really want to be chaste," he said.

The group makes no pretense of bringing about a psychological healing. Instead, "we do everything possible to bring about a spiritual healing," Father Harvey said. "Our work is the spiritual healing, to bring them back to a state of grace, teach them to practice virtue."   Full story ...

From Portage to Haiti
One woman's journey encourages parish twinning project

Operation Rice Bowl By Susanna Herro Office of Justice and Pastoral Outreach, Diocese of Madison Each week of Lent, Operation Rice Bowl, sponsored by Catholic Relief Services, highlights various countries to help us, in the United States, learn about others, pray with them, and share with them. This week, the country is Haiti and we are fortunate that St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Portage gives us a first-hand account of their on-going relationship with some of the poorest people in the Western Hemisphere. What a difference one person's dedication can make. Your contribution to Operation Rice Bowl and Catholic Relief Services provides people like the Douces with tools, education, seeds, and support to move from poverty to new lives, new homes, and new futures for their children. Please be generous in your contribution to Operation Rice Bowl and Catholic Relief Services. See more at orb.crs.org

PORTAGE -- Nancy Hibbard has been in Haiti, working as a missionary, for a little over three years.

Her journey actually began 15 years ago when she heard a talk given by the former director of the Portage Chamber of Commerce. This former director gave up a prestigious position and moved to Chiapas, Mexico, in order to help the poor. A seed was planted in Nancy's soul.

Friend's experience in Haiti

Five years later, Nancy's friend, Jane Zander, felt led to go on a mission trip to Haiti. Jane describes her 12 days in Haiti as phenomenal and life-changing.

"What struck me most," says Jane "was how joyful the Haitian people were. Being joyful is different than being happy. They had this deep, pervasive joy that just filled every part of their lives."

Jane recalls seeing hundreds of sick people making their way to the clinic. "They waited in line for hours to be seen by one of the medical staff. These people were sick and hurting, some of them very badly, and they had walked for hours and days with little or no food."   Full story ...