Mount Rainier, Maryland — Last week, na wey dem call for submissions from LGBTQ+ Catholics all over di world to share how dem dey experience di Pride Month as Pilgrimage of Hope. My people, na so we don receive plenty touching stories wey dey sweet for body like sugarcane for mouth! Today, we go gist about four of dem shining stars from Canada, Brazil, Czechia, and di United States.
First, make we look Michel Quintas. Dis guy no be small person o! As he talk, “I dey proud to be Catholic, a Latin American theologian and a bisexual man. Pope Francis don already remind us say, everybody gatz fit find space for di Church.” E dey talk how faith dey connect dem and di LGBTQ+ community to God, even as society dey throw shade. E sabi say na di oppressing social structures dey try hold people down, but mercy go one way or di other find way to shine light.”
Next on di spotlight na Stevie Schroeder wey dey stand as a proud lesbian and Catholic. Na wah! E say, “Being a lesbian and a Catholic don be confusing mix. Dem don push me deeper into all di kinds of questions wey I no suppose ask.” But guess wetin? Stevie come back to di church, and e realize say God create am exactly as she be. She sabi say, queerness dey connect her to di divine and she dey fight for love pure like rain. “Loving loudly and without shame na di most sacred thing wey fit happen,” she talk.
No forget Jeferson Batista and Luis Rabello wey be Brazilian couple. Jeferson dey carry di weight as a proud LGBTQIA+ Black man wey dey share his struggles while e dey find belonging through di Church. He talk say, “I find faith as struggle and rebuilding. Society fit show people bad side, but my faith dey remind me say I no dey alone. Together, we dey gather to make sure say LGBTQIA+ people get visibility and dignity for di Church.” Dis guy dey part of di National Network of LGBT Catholic Groups wey get over 20 collectives for Brazil — teamwork make di dream work, as dem dey say!
Lastly, na Vilem Zlamal from Czechia wey dey represent as a gay Catholic. E dey use June wey dey proud di Sacred Heart of Jesus to show say God loves him strong. Vilem say, “I don discover God since I be teenager, and I dey journey of faith wey be like pilgrimage, and Jesus love don dey guide me.” E dey respect di journey wey queer people dey take to find love and acceptance for di Church. Na true talk!
This Pride Month, dem dey invite all LGBTQ+ Catholics to show dia hope, no matter di wahala wey we face. If we fit blend our faith and our colors, e go light up di world. So, I beg, carry your hope like palm wine and join dis beautiful pilgrimage wey dey happen!
