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The virtual meeting brought together more than 40 groups and communities from various countries to pray together for the Feast of Pentecost. A prayer that asked for the special presence of the Holy Spirit in the lives of many LGBT+ individuals and their families
About the Author: Text adapted and translated from the original by Eric Mellado, member of Padis + in Chile. To view the original text in Spanish, click on the following link.
The pandemic that the world suffers did not prevent the breath of the divine Ruah from reaching the vigil called by different communities, pastoral care groups and LGBT + organizations in Latin America. The virtual connection allowed a meeting of faces and diversities around a deep prayer that invoked the Gifts of the Spirit. Thus, they revived the verse taken from the Acts of the Apostles 2: 1 “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all gathered together in the same place.”
This feast of the Church managed to unite countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Peru to request the presence of the gifts of Wisdom, Understanding, the Council, Science, Piety, Strength and Fear of God, in the lives of so many who try to build their lives as LGBT + people, especially in the lives of those who are persecuted.
The Latin American members of the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics (GNRC) and their allies managed to convene more than 100 people, reflecting the need to maintain contact in times of physical distance but united in faith of the Good News.
Without a doubt, today the gifts of the Spirit inspire the work of inclusion for LGBT + people and their families in the Church. At this vigil, a reflection was made around them, reflecting them as an opportunity to welcome to the lives of so many.
“We shared from our own reality: from our homes, from who we are. Without a barrier while speaking. We did not speak Spanish or Portuguese, but the language of love”, indicates Antonio Ortiz, who is the GNRC Regional Representative for Latin America. In this way, each Gift of the Holy Spirit was represented by a LGBT + Catholic community in the region (you can review in detail the groups that were present at the foot of this article). “Each participant showed a little of their culture in their symbols, in their reflections, in their songs and at the same time we all portrayed the same face of God’s love.” adds Antonio Ortiz.
Religious companions such as Father James Alison and Sister Flor (Missionary Carmelites of Saint Teresa in Peru) also participated in this vigil. In particular, Sr Flora shared a reflection for the community and recalled that it was the first time that such a meeting had been held, in the Latin American context, and that the Holy Spirit was surely its initiator. On this Spirit the religious asked the community: “Welcome him, live him, to be one.”
You can see the sending and closing time of the Vigil at the following link.
LGBT Catholics from Latin America celebrate a Pentecost Vigil – Audio File
Latin American Members of the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics and Allies
COMOCAD – Perú / Cristianos Inclusivos Py – Paraguay / Diversidade Católica – Brasil / Efetá – México / Espacio Seguro – Costa Rica / GAP SP – Brasil / Grupo lésbico Artemisa – Nicaragua / Colectivo TLGB – Bolivia / Padis+ – Chile / Red Católica Arcoíris Mx – México / Rede Nacional Grupos Católicos LGBT+ – Brasil / SIQUEM – Argentina