GLBT Ministry at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church 2210 Lincoln Way ::: Ames, IA 50014 515-292-3810 ::: www.STAParish.Net       Belonging Home     Schedule & Events     Resources & Links     Contact Information     Welcome! Belonging provides support, prayer, outreach, education, and open dialogue to create a welcoming environment at St. Thomas Aquinas for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (GLBT) people of faith, their families, and allies. For more information, please click the links below: How did Belonging start? What is the purpose of Belonging? What are some examples of Belonging's work? How does Belonging fit in at St. Thomas? How can I get involved?     How did Belonging start? Belonging originated at St. Thomas Aquinas during the spring of 2002 under the guidance of Fr. Everett Hemann, pastor. Fr. Ev led some educational seminars to explore and explain the Church's teachings concerning homosexuality. At those meetings, it was realized that St. Thomas could do more to reach out to GLBT persons of faith and to open our doors to all. A core group of volunteers has worked to expand on those first few meetings and to ensure that GLBT persons are not forgotten in our parish and are, indeed, made to feel welcome within our parish community. In addition to GLBT persons, we welcome allies, friends, family members, and non-Catholics to all of our events. Top   What is the purpose of Belonging? Belonging seeks to create a space for GLBT people, their families, and allies, so they may feel welcomed at St. Thomas Aquinas. We act as a point of entry to St. Thomas Aquinas and the Catholic Church for GLBT people and, thus, provide a way to bring in new and returning people, their skills and talents, to the parish and Church. Top   What are some examples of Belonging's work? April 2002: Sponsored a follow-up discussion to Fr. Richard Sparks' presentation, What the Church Teaches About Homosexuality     Fall 2002: Initiated a bi-weekly, peer-support group     Spring 2003: Sponsored a panel discussion, "Being Gay, Being Christian"   Ongoing: Peer-support group bi-weekly meetings (see schedule for current dates) Purchase of resources Maintain an e-group for online discussions/contact Encouraging the use of Safe Zone stickers by STA staff members     Testimonials: "Belonging is the table that welcomed me to sit down and enjoy the nourishment of the Catholic faith. There are other tables in our church, but Belonging is the one at which I've been able to be myself and state who I am. Belonging, and the people in it, are helping me to become whole, to live my Christian faith, and to fulfill God's calling." "St. Thomas' support of Belonging has renewed my faith in and love for the Catholic Church." "Belonging has provided me with a way to give back to the Catholic Church and to make myself available to other GLBTA persons." Top   How does Belonging fit in at St. Thomas? Belonging is a member of the Parish and Family Life Commission. As stated in the STA Mission Statement, the people of St. Thomas: Strive to be a spiritual community of welcoming, growing, sharing, and witnessing Christians in the Catholic tradition Encourage all to active participation and spiritual growth Embrace differences, forgive offenses, seek justice, overcome oppression, and promote peacemaking Serve the needs of others in the student, family, parish, local, and international communities, through a variety of individual responses and group programs Nurture and support one another Belonging wants to help St. Thomas Aquinas achieve its Mission by being the arm that reaches out to GLBT people, their families, and allies. We will work to welcome, invite, include, serve, and support these members of our parish community. Top   How can I get involved? If you would like to get involved in Belonging, please contact Fr. Ev Hemann (Ev@STAParish.net or 515-292-3810) or Heather Brumm (HBrumm@netins.net). To attend a peer-group meeting, check the schedule for upcoming dates, times, topics, and locations. To learn more about the STABelonging e-group, an online way to build our community, please visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/stabelonging. Top

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