TRANSGENDER MINISTRY OF ACCOMPANIMENT
FORTUNATE FAMILIES INC ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL MINISTRY FORMATION SESSIONS FOR AFFIRMING TRANSGENDER ACCOMPANIMENT AND EDUCATION.
Fortunate Families Inc, of Lexington, KY, is launching additional ministry formation sessions using a series of 15 videos on the lives of transgender and non-binary persons. The facilitated program is designed for the formation of individual pastoral ministers to enable the participants to affirmingly accompany transgender persons as they embrace their lived reality in the context of their Christian faith. Sessions will be facilitated by Fortunate Families, Inc. Integral to the program is discussion among cohort participants and discernment of recent events and resource materials.
The program can also be designed for groups (dioceses, schools, parishes, medical, parish LGBTQ+ ministries, etc.) to help understand the many issues that affect the personal and spiritual well being of transgender and non-binary persons and of their families. Interested groups should contact Fortunate Families directly.
Recorded between 2021 and 2025, the videos were created by Sister Luisa Derouen, OP and Fortunate Families. Having served the Catholic Church for over 50 years, for over 2 decades Sister Luisa has been an advocate on behalf of transgender and non-binary persons Upon her retirement Sister Luisa has documented her life’s work and to share her years of knowledge, experience and professional relationships, so that these sessions can be used to help educate and train those who wish to be a supportive presence of God in their lives.
Topics Include:
- Words Matter: Language and Terms
- Transgender History in the U.S.
- Spiritual Companioning, Counseling, and Spiritual Direction
- Our Sacred Bodies: Medical Realities for Trans People
- Conscience, Development of Doctrine, and Catholic Teaching Related to LGBTQ+ People
- Transgender Children
- Psychological Considerations
- What is Non-binary?
- Theological, Moral, and Pastoral Issues In Spiritual Accompaniment of Trans People
- Faith and Spirituality
- Workplace Inclusion for Transgender and Non-Binary People
- Family Dynamics
- Legal Challenges of Transgender Individuals
- Cis-Gendered Partners/Spouses
- Parenting a Transgender Child
To help defray program costs, there is a $200 per person fee for the ministry program, as you are able. We also ask you to consider making a recurring donation to Fortunate Families, via our website or by sending a check. Donations for any Groups who wish to register,will be based upon a sliding scale. The deadline to register for these sessions is July 11th. Sessions will begin in August. To Apply Click HERE. For additional information visit the Fortunate Families Inc. website at www.fortunatefamilies.com; or contact:
Stan “JR” Zerkowski, Executive Director
Fortunate Families
PO Box 22317
Lexington, KY 40522-2317
859-327-1047
Info@fortunatefamilies.com
FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/FortunateFamilies/
WEBSITE: www.fortunatefamilies.com
INSTAGRAM: fortunatefamilies
ACCOMPANIMENT ON THE JOURNEY
The Ministry of Accompaniment to transgender and non-binary persons is an expression of our commitment to them as members of the Body of Christ.
Essential to this commitment is an understanding of the many issues that affect their personal and spiritual well-being and that of their families.
Sister Luisa Derouen is a Dominican Sister of Peace and has been ministering among transgender people and their families nationally for decades. It has been the greatest privilege of her life to know hundreds of transgender people and give witness to the sacredness of their lives. It is her desire that these formation sessions be used in service of those who wish to be a supportive presence of God to transgender and non-binary persons in their journey to wholeness.
THE PROGRAM
The full program consists of 15 videos, each approximately 60 minutes in length recorded via zoom during formation of a group of pastoral ministers in 2021/2022, and in 2024. Each video examines a different aspect of the lives of transgender and non-binary persons. Additional reading materials for each video will be recommended by the program facilitator.
Presenters include religious, subject experts, spouses, parents, and transgender and non-binary persons themselves.
TRACKS
The program options include two similar but different tracks.
The primary track is the formation of individual pastoral ministers to better accompany transgender and non-binary persons as they embrace their lived reality in the context of their Christian faith. This track is designed for individuals who currently serve as spiritual directors, counselors/therapists, vowed religious, educators, ministry directors/facilitators and pastoral ministers. Each formation group will ideally consist of 9-12 persons, facilitated by Fortunate Families, and requires a commitment to study provided resources, to actively accompany a transgender or non-binary person, and to be present for group discernment and discussion. Each twice monthly program session lasts 90-120 minutes and participants should be prepared to devote 4-5 hours of time per month to the program.
Individuals who apply for the program will need to be approved through an additional interview by phone or zoom by Fortunate Families.
The second track is Group educational in purpose, designed for dioceses, schools, parish councils, parish LGBTQ+ ministries, medical associations, or similar organizations, who support and desire to understand more about the lives of transgender and non-binary persons. Groups should have their own facilitator, and can select all, or a subset of, the available videos.
Groups will need to be approved for the program. Group representative(s) should contact Fortunate Families directly by phone or email: Stan “JR” Zerkowski, Executive Director 859-327-1047; Info@fortunatefamilies.com
SESSION TOPICS
- Words Matter: Language and terms. What is Different and Similar for Trans/Gay and Lesbian persons
- What is Non-binary?
- Transgender History in the U.S.
- Theological, Moral, and Pastoral Issues In Spiritual Accompaniment of Trans People
- Spiritual Companioning, Counseling, and Spiritual Direction
- Faith and Spirituality
- Medical Realities for Trans People
- Workplace Inclusion for Transgender and Non-Binary People: A Primer
- Conscience, Development of Doctrine, and Catholic Teaching Related to LGBTQ+ People
- Transgender Children
- Family Dynamics
- Psychological Considerations
- Cis-Gendered Partners/Spouses
- Legal Challenges of Transgender Individuals
- Parenting a Transgender Child
PROGRAM COST
To help defray program costs, there is a $200 per person fee for the ministry program. We also ask you to consider making a recurring donation to Fortunate Families, via our website or by sending a check, as you are able. Education Groups will be asked for a group donation based upon a sliding scale.
APPLICATION
For additional information and to submit an application for the ministry program as an INDIVIDUAL seeking to accompany transgender and non-binary persons and become part of a small group of future pastoral ministers, click here.
Groups interested in the education program should have their representative contact Fortunate Families directly by phone or email: Stan “JR” Zerkowski, Executive Director 859-327-1047; Info@fortunatefamilies.com
