On June 15, I will bike 135 miles from Boston to Provincetown with the goal of raising $10,000 for Building a Catholic Future's Confident Witnesses retreat.
Over the past several years, God has led me on a journey through professional success, illness, healing, friendship, faith, and discernment. Along that journey, one of the greatest gifts I received was the opportunity to participate in the inaugural Confident Witnesses cohort.
Confident Witnesses is a mission formation program for gay, same-sex attracted, Catholics who embrace Church teaching in full. Through study, prayer, fellowship, workshops, and one-on-one mentoring, Building Catholic Futures builds up LGBT/SSA+ people as mentors, missionaries, and leaders.
Participants discern the gifts their experience of being gay and Catholic can bring to the Church, explore the challenges of leadership in this area, connect their own stories with the Gospel, share conversation about their experiences of discipleship as gay Catholics, and commit to the mission of the Church.
Confident Witnesses helps gay disciples be the trustworthy mentors and thoughtful voices their communities need. As someone who has personally walked that path, I know how isolating the journey can sometimes feel. I also know the transformative power of encountering a community where faith, friendship, authenticity, and hope come together. The Confident Witnesses retreat gave me that experience.
Every dollar raised will help support future Confident Witnesses retreats and provide formation, and community for Catholics seeking to grow closer to Christ. My goal is to raise $10,000 to help make the next retreat possible.
Whether you are able to donate, share this page, or simply offer a prayer, I am deeply grateful for your support. Thank you for helping build a Catholic future and raise up confident witnesses to Christ.
Pax,
Fernando
Organizer
B
Building Catholic Futures
Beneficiary