Regards,

After a generous contribution from a well-wisher, Aloysius Gonzaga Club (AGC), a group of gay and lesbian catholic clerics and religious members here in Kenya, will hold their first ever retreat and short seminar on 13th September to September 15th. The retreat is only open to members of AGC and any invited cleric(s).

The theme of the retreat will be ‘Year of the Priest: A Gay Priesthood’ and will be directed by a reputed spiritual director/retreat director, Fr. John Peter*. Confirmed reservations is of around thirty members and will focus not only on spiritual renewal of these men and women but also through the seminar slatted at the end, come up with concrete ways of how they can engage the Church’s processes and formulate ways of pastoral care of gay Catholic lay persons here in Kenya. One session has been specifically set to see how gay Catholics and other gay laity from different denominations and/or churches can work together. It is hoped that they will come up with a comprehensive working document (that will be communicated later) and which will be touch on the major areas of their lives, ministries and vocation as gay and lesbian religious.

The Letter announcing the Year for the Priest by Cardinal Claudio Hummes, and the Kenya Episcopal Conference’s Letter to the Priests (Paulines Publication) will be read and shared among the retreatants.

Also to be noted is that the retreat is coming when the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVII, announced a Year for the Priest starting June 19th 2009 to June 19th 2010 to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the death of St. John Mary Vianney.

The Programme for the short seminar is as follows:

8am: Year of the Priest: A Gay Priesthood. By Fr. John Peter*, Retreat Director

11am: Talk: A Lesbian Nun’s Spiritual Journey. By Sr. Mary Joseph*

14pm: The Gay Movement in Kenya: The Gay Catholic Laity. By Denis Nzioka**

**There will be a session by Denis Nzioka, a prolific gay writer and founder of several gay organizations who will give a topic entitled ‘The Gay Movement in Kenya: The Gay Catholic Laity’ and also update the members on Nouwen Catholics-Kenya, the group of LGBTI Catholics here in Kenya. He will do a two hour session during the seminar and will afterward hold a consultative meeting with the officials of AGC in order to formulate the working document.

* Names changed.

Thanks,

Denis Nzioka

Nouwen Catholics-Kenya will soon release another statement. Watch this space!