NEWS PROVIDED BY
Courage International
Sept. 24, 2025
TRUMBULL, Conn., Sept. 24, 2025 /Standard Newswire/ — On September 26, Courage International, a Catholic apostolate serving men and women who experience same-sex attractions and who freely choose to live a chaste life, will celebrate the 45th anniversary of its first meeting. The meeting took place in New York City in 1980 under the leadership of the founding director Father John Harvey, OSFS, with the support of Terence Cardinal Cooke, then Archbishop of New York.
Marking the occasion, current executive director Father Brian Gannon reflected on Psalm 125: “The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy!” He continued,
“We thank God for the pastoral courage of Father Harvey, who, reading the signs of the times, began this beautiful apostolate. Over the years it has helped so many men and women to persevere on the path of holiness.”
This milestone year also sees Courage celebrating 30 years of pastoral work in the Philippines and 20 years in Mexico with Courage Latino, a branch of Courage International. Members in both countries recently gathered in thanksgiving for the abundant blessings received through this apostolate.
Expressing gratitude for the dedication of Courage chaplains around the world, Father Gannon added: “I pray the Holy Spirit will continue to guide their service, as we strive to bear witness to truth, authentic love, and mercy for the Church and the world.”
NOTES FOR EDITORS:
Background on Courage International and EnCourage
Courage International, Inc. is an apostolate of the Catholic Church which offers support to people who experience same-sex attractions who have chosen to live a chaste life. It was founded by Fr. John F. Harvey, OSFS, at the request of the late Cardinal Terence Cooke. The first Courage chapter meeting was held in New York City in 1980, and it was this initial group which developed the Five Goals of Courage: Chastity, Prayer and Dedication, Fellowship, Support, and Good Example. Fr. Harvey was succeeded as executive director by Fr. Paul Check, who held the position from 2008 to the end of 2016. Fr. Check was then succeeded by Fr. Philip Bochanski from 2017 to May 2023. The current executive director is Fr. Brian Gannon.
Today, Courage has more than 160 chapters in 15 countries. Courage and EnCourage received canonical status in the Roman Catholic Church as a diocesan clerical public association of the faithful on November 28, 2016.
EnCourage is an apostolate under the Courage umbrella which provides support for families and friends of persons who identify as LGBT and aims to teach them how to reach out to their loved ones with compassion and understanding. The group was first formed in 1987 by families in search of guidance for supporting their loved ones who experience same-sex attractions. In 1992, this group adopted the name EnCourage. Currently, there are more than 100 EnCourage chapters in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Ecuador, Guatemala, Philippines, Australia, Spain, Singapore, the United Kingdom, among others.
For additional information, please visit our website at CourageRC.org
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SOURCE Courage International
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