Catholic LGBTQ Community
Pittsburgh, PA
The Welcome Table
You Are God's Beloved Child
The Welcome Table Catholic LGBTQ Community includes LGBTQ people who are active, struggling, and former Catholics, as well as families and allies. Led by the Holy Spirit we work to create a space of genuine hospitality and openness where questions may be asked, experiences shared, wounds healed, and spiritual lives deepened without fear of judgment based on one's sexual orientation or gender identity.
The Welcome Table is a community where we can bring our whole selves to God and each other as gifts to share in love.
We are so glad you found us! Peace and courage surround you.
The Welcome Table
Local gathering for those in Pittsburgh!
Spend the first three Tuesdays of Advent in prayer, conversation, caring for others, and sharing a meal with friends, new and old.
December 3 - Explore how Christ's Light always accompanies us in the darkness and how we can be that Light to others. We will assemble St. Nick's Day bags to bring to those who are sick, caregivers, mourning...and in need of a lift.
December 10 - What is Hope and where do we find it? We will share the Hope of human connection by writing holiday cards and letters to LGBTQ incarcerated people nationwide and youth incarcerated in the Allegheny County Jail.
December 17 - We desperately need the Peace of Christ in the world, our country, our Church, our communities, families and in our own hearts. How might a spirituality of conflict help us put aside the fear that keeps us from each other?
A psychologist’s tips for LGBTQ Catholics struggling with the holidays
By Mary Kate Roohan, PsyD, RDT Outreach
November 25, 2024
Excerpt: "Set and Enforce Boundaries
It is always important to set boundaries with family members and friends, and it is critical to set these limits when people in your life are engaging in behaviors that may cause you harm. Clear boundaries help protect your emotional well-being. I encourage people to be intentional about where their limits are before going home. For example, how much personal information are you comfortable sharing? How will you handle unsupportive or invalidating comments? What events are you willing to participate in?
If you need to discuss sensitive topics, such as your identity or boundaries, use the DEAR MAN technique. This method helps communicate effectively by focusing on describing the situation, expressing your feelings, asserting your needs and reinforcing your message in a way that fosters understanding and respect. If you know that you will need to have a challenging conversation with a loved one, prepare a DEAR MAN script ahead of time so that you will be prepared. (DEAR MAN stands for Describe, Express, Assert, Reinforce, Mindful, Appear Confident and Negotiate. You can read more about this technique here.)"
Join FutureChurch for this time of reflection as we explore how John of the Cross’s Dark Night can help us trust and cooperate with God. Register Today!
About our Retreat Leaders:
Laurie Cassidy, Ph.D. is a theologian and anti-racist activist and currently teaches in the Christian Spirituality Program at Creighton University. Cassidy was associate professor in religious studies department at Marywood University in Scranton. Her books include, Desire Darkness and Hope: Theology in a Time of Impasse (2022) edited with M. Shawn Copeland and most recently Praying for Freedom: Racism and Ignatian Spirituality in America (2024). Her activism is rooted in contemplative practice and for almost forty years she has engaged this connection through spiritual direction, retreats, and workshops across the United States. Cassidy also studied at the Mindful Awareness Research Center at UCLA and is a trained mindfulness facilitator. Her research, teaching and writing explore the political and cultural impact of Christian mysticism in personal and social transformation.
Elise Gower (she/her) is personally and professionally committed to cultivating intentional community around the tradition and values of Ignatian spirituality. Her career has been focused in ministry, community engagement, and leadership development. She has extensive experience working in Jesuit higher education and the USA East Jesuit Province. Elise is drawn to the art of sacred storytelling and its value in collective antiracism work and LGBTQ+ advocacy. Elise centers queer inclusion in faith spaces. She is currently pursuing a master’s in clinical social work to explore the interconnectedness of mental health and spirituality.
Hark! The stories behind our favorite Christmas carols
Podcast from: America Media
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The cookies, the mistletoe, the lights...oh, and the music! For Christians, Christmas carols mark a season of hope and the celebration of Jesus’ birth. Even in popular culture, these iconic jingles capture a warmth, a cheer and a nostalgia that transcends religious belonging. But where do these beloved yuletide songs come from? What inspired the people who composed them? How did they become popular and even mainstream? And what impact do their ancient Christian messages have on an increasingly post-Christian culture? America Media presents “Hark!” a podcast on the meaning and the making of our most beloved Christmas carols and their time-honored traditions. Podcast Episodes