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Mission Statement
Fortunate Families, a Catholic Family, Friends & Allies Ministry, supports LGBTQ+ sisters and brothers by facilitating respectful conversation with bishops, pastors and Church leadership, through sharing personal stories and by working to establish intentional Catholic LGBTQ+ Ministry Sites in dioceses, parishes, educational institutions, and communities.
Through accompaniment and bridge-building we seek to celebrate and safeguard the dignity of LGBTQ+ children of God.
History Highlights1992
March Eight religious and lay ministers, including Casey & Mary Ellen Lopata, parents of a gay son, from Rochester, NY begins meeting regularly and eventually becomes Catholic Gay and Lesbian Family Ministry (CGLFM).
November CGLFM facilitates a meeting of Rochester Bishop Matthew Clark and gay and lesbian Catholics and their family members to discuss the 1992 Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith letter, “Responding to Legislative Proposals on Discrimination Against Homosexuals.”1994
July National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian & Gay Ministries (NACDLGM) (Now: Catholic Association of Lesbian and Gay Ministries -CALGM) is founded at a meeting of representatives from thirteen dioceses. The Lopatas are among the 28 founding members. In 1995 Mary Ellen Lopata is elected to the first board of directors, serves on the executive committee from 1997-2003 and as president 2001-2. Since 1998,Casey has served on the Pastoral Resources Committee.
October The Lopatas attend and become charter members of the Catholic Parents Network.
December The first issue of the CGLFM Newsletter is published by Casey Lopata.1995-1996
The Lopatas are consulters to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Marriage and the Family on Always Our Children: A Pastoral Message to Parents of Homosexual Children –AND—Suggestions for Pastoral Ministers, issued in September 1997.1996
September CGLFM and the Diocese of Rochester formalize their relationship, stating that CGLFM does ministry with gay and lesbian Catholics and their families on behalf of the Diocese.1997
March CGLFM and the Diocese of Rochester celebrate a Mass with Gay and Lesbian People, Families and Friends, with Bishop Matthew Clark as presider and homilist. Over 1300 people attend.1998
September The Lopata's chair the annual NACDLGM conference. Held in Rochester, the theme is “Imaging Justice.”2001
July Seeds of Hope: Compassionate Ministry with Gay and Lesbian Catholics and Their Families—A practical resource manual published. Edited by Casey Lopata.2002
August More Seeds: A supplement to Seeds of Hope published. Edited by Casey Lopata.2003
October Fortunate Families: Catholic Families with Lesbian Daughters and Gay Sons, by Mary Ellen Lopata with Casey Lopata, published. (Trafford Publishing)2004
April The Lopata's leave CGLFM and start Fortunate Families
December Fortunate Families becomes a not-for-profit corporation.2005
January Fortunate Families adopts by-laws and elects its first board of directors: Mary Ellen Lopata (President), Tom Ferrarese (Secretary/Treasurer), James Buckheit, Jean Kearse, Casey Lopata, William Pickett, and Rosalie Muschal-Reinhardt.
April The Lopata's receive New Ways Ministry’s Bridge Building Award “For compassionate ministry, personal witness, and national leadership to promote justice for lesbian/gay Catholics, their parents, and families.”
May Fortunate Families, Inc. files 501(c) (3) application.2006
February Received 501(c)(3) exempt ruling from IRS.
July Parents Voice Project launches a survey of Catholic parents of LGBT Daughters and Sons.2007
March Fortunate Families Board of Directors attends New Ways Ministry Symposium in Minneapolis. They facilitate a listening session for parents to tell their stories to Bishop (Ret.) Joseph Sullivan of Brooklyn, and Archbishop (Ret.) Francis Hurley of Anchorage. July Parents Voice Project launches a survey of Catholic parents of LGBT Daughters and Sons
September Parents Voice Project Survey Report of Catholic Parents is sent to all U.S. Bishops.2008
November Fortunate Families is awarded a grant from the School Sisters of Notre Dame to help fund educational forums on LGBT journeys in faith.
January Fortunate Families introduces Listening Parents Network, a group of Catholic parents of LGBT children who field phone calls and e-mail messages from other Catholic parents who may be struggling and “just need someone to talk with” in a safe and confidential way.
April Fortunate Families celebrates its 5th anniversary.
September The Listening Parents Network is nearly doubled in size to number 94 parents (in 66 households) – now present in 26 states, three Canadian provinces and 50 dioceses. Mary Ellen Lopata resigns as prsident of the board.2010
September Fortunate Families joins with Call To Action, Dignity USA and New Ways Ministry to form the Equally Blessed coalition.
October “Joining Hands-Reaching Out,” the first parents’ conference sponsored by Fortunate Families, is held in the North Chicago suburb of Techny. More than 50 parents and allies from 15 states and Ontario, Canada, attend a program highlighted by nationally prominent speakers.2011
March As an Equally Blessed partner, Fortunate Families co-sponsors the first-ever Congressional Briefing that presented positive Catholic perspectives on LGBT equality to federal legislators and their staffs.2012
September Letters are sent to more than 400 Catholic campus ministers. Casey Lopata develops Fortunate Families’ “Talking Points for Catholic Parents with LGBT Daughters and Sons.”
December Fortunate Families is awarded a $25,000 grant from the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation to “support programs networking Catholic parents with LGBT children.”2013
January Newsletter is published for the first time under its new name Voices for Justice. The creation of “Stakeholder Action Teams” is announced as a new initiative to identify individuals willing to assist us through personal involvement and/or financial support.
April The first of five “Parent Gatherings,” is held in Pleasanton, CA
September A new every-other-month electronic communication The Families Forum is introduced.
November Fortunate Families is awarded a $21,000 grant from the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundtion to support the expansion of outreach to parents of LGBT children through gatherings across the country.
December The board contracts a management company to provide administrative and management services effective January 1, 2014.2014
February Fortunate Families is included in the Equally Blessed Arcus two-year grant proposal for $15,000 each year.
March Fortunate Families headquarters officially moves from Rochester to 136 Everett Road in Albany, NY.
May A retirement gala for Mary Ellen and Casey Lopata is held in Rochester.
June The Lopatas officially retire from the Fortunate Families Board of Directors.
August The Board holds a face-to-face planning retreat and hosts a parent afternoon of reflection at the Cenacle Center in Chicago.
2017
October Stanley Francis "JR" Zerkowski is hired as first Executive Dorector
November Advisors to the Executive Director are invited to be part of the Fortunate Families Team. Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv., serves as Episcopal Advisor.
December First time an electronic-only newsletter and donor campaign is employed with excellent results.
2018
February Board Weekend is held in Lexington, KY, where formal headquarters of Fortunate Families is relocated. Welcome fellowship is held at Historic Saint Paul Church and meetings are held at the Pastoral Center for the Diocese of Lexington. Board votes to amend mission statement, begin actively working toward Ministry Sites, change tag in Fortunate Families to "Catholic Family, Friends & Allies supporting the LGBTQ+ Community" broadening the scope from parents to family, friends and allies. Listening Parents Network is renamed "Accompanying Friends, Family & Allies." Following Fortunate Families Detroit, Fortunate Families Lexington is formed as 2nd Ministry Site from the Catholic Family, Friends & Allies Ministry there.
JR is invited to present a talk about homophobia at the Youth Summit at a Catholic High School, beginning a relationship/collaboration on initiatives to foster Gospel-centered inclusion among high school students.
March JR is invited to be a speaker at Oblate School of Theology Renewal Center, San Antonio, for the ACTS HOPE community. A relationship facilitated by friar Mario Serrano, OFM Conv., is begun for collaboration between Fortunate Families and ACTS HOPE.
April Fortunate Families Lexington, in partnership with Lexington Catholic LGBT Ministry and the University of Kentucky LGBTQ* Resource Center, hosts Fr. Bryan Massingale who spoke about "LGBT Persons in the The Age of Pope Francis & Social Ethics." Fortunate Families announced our withdrawl from the Equally Blessed Coalition as of June 30, 2018. JR participated in a panel about faith, the Church and LGBTQ+ persons at Trocaire College in Buffalo, NY., and spoke to a group of Catholic high school students. JR addressed the faculty of Lexington Catholic High School in Lexington, KY about the Gospel call to intentionally accompany our LGBTQ + students, defend and uphold their dignity, and create a safe space for them.
May We concluded our 10K Match Grant for Mission and Ministry Sites successfully.
June Executive Board and Executive Director work on restructuring plan for Fortunate Families. Fortunate Families has representation at Pride Festivals/parades in several cities, reaching out to LGBTQ+ Catholics.
July Fortunate Families leaves Equally Blessed Coalition. Board of Directors approves the restructuring plan for Fortunate Families. Day of Discernment and Visioning is held in Lexington, KY, for leaders from the Archdioce of Cincinnati, Archdiocese of Louisville, Diocese of Covington, Diocese of Lexington, including 12 faculty members who teach in Catholic high Schools to discern a path forward for alienated LGBTQ+ Catholics, families, allies and friends. -- The plan for restructuring Fortunate Families was approved by the Executive Committee confirming our new ministry of working with parishes, pastors, educational institutions and Catholic family and friends of LGBTQ+ persons to establish intentional Ministry Sites.
August We provided every theology teacher at a Catholic High School with Fr. James Martin's book, and two Catholic High School support groups with his book. We partnered with a Catholic High School to provide rainbow buttons with "Catholic" on them so teachers can identify themselves as "safe persons" for LGBTQ+ students. We provided the guidance office of a Catholic High School with prayer cards, buttons and "Always Our Children" pamphlets which are all readily available for students who come into the guidance office. -- The Chicago October retreat officialy sold out. -- We provided a 3x8 rainbow banner that proclaimed "Catholic LGBTQ+, Family, Friends and Allies - All Are Welcome" like the one that gained interantional attention in Lexington, KY, for a Catholic LGBTQ+ Parish Ministry in North Carolina.September Bishop Thomas Gumbleton joins Fortunate Families as an Episcopal Advisor to the Executive Director. -- Newly formed LGBTQ+ support groups in a Catholic High School begins a new season of formally recognized ministry: one group for Freshman and another for Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors.
October JR held a Day of Discernment for Fortunate Families Detriot. Two weeks later, a follow-up meeting took place at Christ the King Parish where Fortunate Families Detroit has found a home and a faith community that is supportive. A new leadership team has been established by virtue of the Day of Discernment. Linda Karle Nelson is the Chair of the Leadership Team. Subsequently, a Zoom meeting with Detroit Fortunate Families Leadership occured which brought their ministerial outreach into clearer focus prior to an entire ministry meeting there. -- More than 50 people attended our weekend retreat at the Cenacle Retreat Center in Chicago. Attendees included LGBTQ+ persons, parents, family members, friends, deacons, vowed religious women and priests from throughout the United States. Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv., offered Holy Mass for the retreatants and Mr. Jeremy Kiolbassa, Music Director at St. Benedict Parish, Chicago, together with an ensemble of singers provided exquisite music and song for the Sacred Liturgy.
November JR spoke visited the ministry site and spoke with the leadership team of OUT @ St. Paul in New York City, including meeting with Fr. James Martin, SJ. Fr. Martin wrote about his experience meeting JR and shared his thoughts about Fortunate Families on his Facebook page and Twitter account. JR facilitated a meeting with a group of priests (pastors & campus ministers) to discern how to move forward, intentionally, to minister to LGBTQ+ persons.
December Fortunate Families received a grant to be used to build parish toolkits. -- At the December Board meeting, and in reponse to inquiries, the Board and executive director discerned that a new commission regarding Trans sisters and brothers will be formed in 2019 to help Fortunate Families better serve and respond to the needs of the Trans community. -- A Christmas letter and appeal was sent to our friends and benefactors.
Vision Statement (click here)