COURAGE is a spiritual support group for Catholic men and women who are striving to live chaste lives in accordance with the Catholic Church's teaching on homosexuality. COURAGE meets weekly in the Pittsburgh area. Each member's anonymity is carefully guarded.

Many Catholics today with homosexual tendencies or feelings are confused about their orientation and how they may "fit into" their faith. Often, these Catholics are fearful to step forward and seek help, support, and guidance. They are often surprised, too, to learn that they are not alone.

COURAGE is a Catholic organization with chapters all over the United States and Canada. It provides the opportunity for homosexual Catholics to meet with each other, share their feelings, pray together, and make progress in their faith in accordance with the teachings of the Catholic Church.

Each year, usually during the summer months, COURAGE holds a national conference where hundreds of men and women gather together to pray, study, and support each other.

You need not struggle with your problems alone!
For more information, call:

Fr. Paul Zywan
Pittsburgh Chapter of Courage
(724) 935-4343
(Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania)

All calls are confidential.

COURAGE NATIONAL OFFICE: (212) 421-0426

Goals and Purpose

Father John Harvey, OSFS, the Founding Director of COURAGE, has listed the goals and purpose of COURAGE as follows:

1. To live chaste lives in accordance with the Roman Catholic Church's teaching on homosexuality.
2. To dedicate one's life to Christ through service to others, spiritual reading, prayer, meditation, individual spiritual direction, frequent attendance at Mass, and the frequent reception of the sacraments of Penance and Holy Eucharist.
3. To Foster a spirit of fellowship in which all may share thoughts and experiences, and so ensure that no one will have to face the problems of homosexuality alone.
4. To be mindful of the truth that chaste friendships are not only possible but necessary in a celibate Christian life and in doing so provide encouragement to one another in forming and sustaining them.
5. To live lives that may serve as good examples to others.

Other Chapters

For chapters in other countries, please refer to the chapters' page at the central office web site.

NW Arkansas - SW Missouri
COURAGE in the Ozarks
Joyce Fink, Chaplain
(501)253-9080

California
Santa Ana
Contact:
Fr. Enrique J. Sera
Immaculate Heart of Mary Church
1100, South Center Street
Santa Ana, CA 92704
(714) 751-5335.

San Diego
Call: Fr. Richard L. Perozich
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Church
San Diego, CA 92105
(619) 280-0515

San Francisco
Call: Courage
(415) 422-4200
St. Ignatius Church

Connecticut
New Haven
Call: Fr. Carleton Jones
(203) 562-6193

District of Columbia
Washington
Call: Fr. Thomas Morrow
(202) 234-1488
St. Thomas the Apostle
2665 Woodley Road, N.W.

Florida
Miami
Call: Clint (954) 938-4367

St. Petersburg
Call: Msgr. John McNulty
(813) 343-6200

Illinois
Chicago
Call: Tom (630) 910-8328

Louisiana
New Orleans
Call: Pat (504) 288-6877
Write: COURAGE
P.O.Box 8074
New Orleans, LA 70182-8074

Maryland
DC/College Park
Call: Fr. Robert Keffer (301) 864-6223
4141 Guilford Drive

Massachusetts
Boston
Call: Fr. Kevin Mullen, OFM (617) 542-6440
St. Anthony Shrine
100 Arch St.
Boston
or write
WMS
PO Box 750045
Arlington, MA 02174

New Bedford
Call: Msgr. Harrington (508) 992-3184
Holy Name Church

Springfield
Call: Fr. Barnabas (413) 733-3101

Michigan
Grand Rapids
Call: Courage Group (616) 243-0491

Lansing
Call: Robert or Susan (517) 393-0806

Minnesota
Call Courage Central Office in NY
for further contact information (212)421-0246

New Jersey
Montclair
Call: Courage at (201) 509-7839
or call: Msgr. Timothy Shugrue (201) 744-6560
Immaculate Conception Church
30 N. Fullerton Ave.

New York
Brooklyn & Queens
Call Courage Central Office in NY
for further contact information at (212)421-0246

Buffalo
Call Fr. Paul Stellar (716) 632-8898

Manhattan and Queens
(Women's Group) - Call: (212) 421-0426

New York
Courage Central Office
(212)421-0426
St. Michael's Rectory
424 W. 34th Street

New York: St. Paul's
Call:Fr. James Lloyd (JBL)
(212) 307-1808
St. Paul the Apostle
415 W. 59th Street

New York: St. John's
Call: Fr. James Connolly
(212) 753-8418
St. John the Evangelist
348 E. 55th Street

Mid-Hudson Region
Call: Fr. Donald Timone
(914) 562-7664
Sacred Heart Rectory
301 Ann St. Newburgh

Rochester
Faith in Action
Call Central Office in New York City
for further contact information: (212) 421-0426

Staten Island
Call: Jim (718) 670-3686

Syracuse
Call: Fr. Jeffrey Keefe, OFM (315) 422-6233

White Plains
Call: Courage (914) 949-0439
St. John the Evangelist
148 Hamilton Ave.

Ohio
Steubenville
Call: Fr. Ron Mohnickey (614) 283-6403

Toledo
Call: Family Life Office (419) 244-6711

Pennsylvania
Erie
Call: Fr. James Peterson (814) 454-0891
1701 Parade Street

Harrisburg
Call: (717) 232-2169 Ext. 40

Lehigh Valley
Call: Courage (610) 866-8938
1861 Catasauqua Rd.
Bethlehem, PA 18018

Philadelphia
Call: John (215) 587-4505
St. Peter's Rectory
Corner 5th St. & Girard Ave. and Resurrection of Our Lord
Castor & Shelmire Ave.

Pittsburgh
Call: (724) 935-4343

Rhode Island
Providence
Call: Fr. John Randall (401) 421-6441
St. Charles Church
Providence, RI 02907

Tennessee
Memphis Write: Rev. Charles Bauer
2564 Hale Avenue
Memphis, TN 38112

Texas
Austin
Call: Fr. Robert Becker (512) 926-2552

College Station
Call: Fr. Dean Wilhelm (409) 846-5717

Killen
Call: Fr. Walter Matus (817) 634-7878

San Antonio
Call: Michele (210) 226-8381
St. Mary's Catholic Church
202 N. St. Mary's St.

Wisconsin
LaCrosse
Call: Rev. John Parr (608) 788-7700

Milwaukee
Faith in Action
Call: Fr. Paul Janette (414) 769-3345

For areas not listed, call the Central Office in New York at (212) 421-0426.