Fortunate Families

EVANGELIZATION MINISTRY READING LIST

This is a basic reading list for LGBTQ+ persons, families, friends,
and for those who minister with them.

Their being listed does not necessarily mean
that Fortunate Families agrees with all of the views presented in these materials.

Click here to access Reading List 


CHRISTINE ZUBA
ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Fortunate Families is delighted to announce the election of Ms. Christine Zuba to the Board of Directors.

 
Christine Zuba lives in Blackwood, New Jersey, near Philadelphia.  She received her BS in Electrical Engineering from Penn State University, and an MBA from Rutgers University. Christine is employed as a television and radio broadcast equipment sales manager to both regional and national networks. Christine is a member of the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE) and the Association of Federal Communications Consulting Engineers (AFCCE).
 
A lifelong Catholic born and raised in northeastern Pennsylvania, Christine has lived in southern New Jersey for over 30 years.   Christine has two grown children, a daughter and son.. 
 
Christine has been a longtime parishioner of Saints Peter and Paul Church in Turnersville.  As a Transgender Catholic she serves as a facilitator of her parish LGBTQ ministry, Together in Prayer.  Christine is also a Eucharistic Minister, and a member of the hospitality committee.  Christine also participates in other ministries such as Out Catholics of Philadelphia, One In the Spirit (Marlton, NJ), and in the NJ-PA Consortium of Welcoming Parishes, a group of similar ministries across New Jersey and Pennsylvania. 



Fr. James Martin, SJ,
Honorary Board Member

We are honored to announce that Fr. James Martin, SJ, has accepted our invitation to become the first Honorary Member of the Fortunate Families Board of Directors. His prophetic ministry is a gift to our ministry and to the church.

Fr. Martin, accepting our invitation, said "I'm honored to be part of a ministry that has helped so many Catholic families over the years. Please join me in prayer for all the families with LGBT members who have been ministered to by Fortunate Families."

Our New Logo!



READ OUR LATEST
OCTOBER 2019 NEWSLETTER
THIS LINK!
https://conta.cc/2pFB0EO



February 2019

WELCOME to our NEW Board Members

ANITA CAPILLO (KY)
BETTY DIRR (OH)
DEACON STEVE HESTER (RI)
JANICE SCHWEGMANN (KY)
FR. MARIO SERRANO, OFM CONV. (TX)
JASON STEIDL (NY)

We are delighted to announce that Bishop Thomas Gumbleton
has become an Episcopal Advisor to the Executive Director of Fortunate Families.
His prophetic voice and ministry is a gift to the Church.
Welcome Bishop Gumbleton!

Dear sisters and brothers,

Building the culture of encounter together, we begin with prayer. Please join me in praying every day, "God, make my heart like yours. Help me love like you love."  And, let's pray daily for our church leaders, too -  pope, cardinals, bishops, priests, deacons and lay - "God, make their hearts like yours. Help them love like you love."  

Rooted in prayer, trusting in the Spirit, and working together, we'll soon be standing in awe at the miraculous and wonderful things God will accomplish.

Our LGBT+ sons and daughters, sisters and brothers, have a place in the Church. Their dignity as Children of God must be safeguarded and celebrated. Their call to ministry, issued at baptism, must be acknowleged, discerned and respected. It is up to you and me to facilitate conversations and help create the culture of encounter.

Fortunate Families' mission calls us to dialogue so that respect, compassion, justice  and sensitivity for every LGBT sister and brother - and every sister and brother - become the hallmarks of our dioceses and churches.

We are living in an exciting time in the Church's history; the dialogue already begun is lifegiving, if difficult; the Spirit's movement is palpable.  To move forward, we must be respectful, loving and kind when we tell our stories and in our discussion; we must presume goodwill even when words sting or downright hurt us. We must not react, but pray every single day, "God, make my heart like yours. Help me love like you love." 

It is our duty, our sacred obligation,to pray for our church leadership. For them we pray,  "God make their hearts like your heart. Help them love like you love." If this one prayer, alone, is answered, then hearts will be tranformed and all will be miraculously well. We don't need to pray for anything else. If we all learn to love like God loves, it will be heaven. May it be so.

When you pray, pray for me, too. And, please, consider supporting us financially, so that this ministry can continue and grow. 

Your brother,

Stanley Francis "JR" Zerkowski


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Click here to access our new reading list

https://www.addictioncenter.com/addiction/lgbtq/