Our April 4 Meeting - Stations of the Cross

Tuesday, April 4 in St. Matthew Church at 7:00 pm, St. Matthew's Church 672 Temple Ave, Long Beach

Dear Friends,

As Lent draws to a close and we prepare for Easter, we invite you to attend our monthly meeting on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. This month we will hold our annual Stations of the Cross program. We will meet at 7:00PM in the church followed by a soup supper in the Fr. Meisel Hall. Historically this has been a very meaning event for people as we weave the story of LGBTQ+ stories into the passion of Chris. What a wonderful way to prepare for Easter. We sure hope that you will be able to join us. Comunidad wishes you all the blessing this East Season offers. God Bless.

Our March Meeting - Bishop Marc Trudeau's Lenten Reflection

Tuesday, March 7 in Fr. Gerald Meisel Hall at 7:00 pm, St. Matthew's Church 672 Temple Ave, Long Beach

Dear Friends,

As we enter the season of Lent you are invited to attend our March 7th meeting in which Bishop Marc Trudeau will share his thoughts on Lent. Join us March 7 in the Fr. Gerald Meisel Hall at 7:00 PM for this inspiring discussion. Light refreshments will be served. Hope to see you there!!!

Our February Meeting - Mardi Gras

Tuesday, February 7 in Fr. Gerald Meisel Hall at 7:00 pm, St. Matthew's Church 672 Temple Ave, Long Beach

Dear Friends,

As we continue Ordinary Time and prepare for Lent, we invite you to join us for our February 7th meeting as we celebrate Mari Gras. Please join us at 7:00 in the Fr. Gerald Meisel Hall for an evening of fun and fellowship. Dress in your “finest” Carnival attire, bring your favorite international appetizer to share with others and participate in the festivities. Hope to see you there!!!

Our January Meeting - A Mass for Installation of the Comunidad Steering Committee

Tuesday, January 3 at 7:00 pm, St. Matthew's Church 672 Temple Ave, Long Beach

Dear Friends,

As we enter the Christmas season, celebrating the birth of our Lord, Comunidad hopes you had a wonderful Christmas surrounded by love of family and friends. May the New Year bring you much love, health and prosperity. We invite you to attend our January 3rd meeting as we hold an installation Mass in the church. Join us at 7:00 PM for Mass followed by a light reception in the hall.

Our December Meeting - Christmas Celebration

Tuesday, December 6 in Fr. Meisel Hall at 7:00 pm, St. Matthew's Church 672 Temple Ave, Long Beach

Dear Friends,

Happy Advent Everyone!! As we prepare for this most joyous season, Comunidad would like to invite you to our Christmas celebration which will be held on Tuesday, December 6th at 7:00 PM in the Fr. Meisel Hall. This will be an evening of fellowship, games, prizes/gifts and amazing food. The main dish will be provided and we encourage everyone to bring a yummy side dish or something sweet to share with the group. We hope you are able to join us. a

Our November Meeting - All Souls Remembrance

Tuesday, November 1 in Fr. Meisel Hall at 7:00 pm, St. Matthew's Church 672 Temple Ave, Long Beach

Dear Friends,

Hello everyone. You are invited to attend our monthly meeting on Tuesday, November 1 at 7:00 PM in the Fr. Meisel Hall. We will honor and pray for those who have gone before us during our All Souls gathering. Please bring a picture of your loved one(s) to place on our altar. This will be a time of remembrance, prayer and reflection, and sharing. We hope you are able to join us at this very special meeting. Light refreshments will be served. ALL OUR WELCOME

Our October Meeting - Our Faith Journey

Tuesday, October 4 in Fr. Meisel Hall at 7:00 pm, St. Mattew's Church 672 Temple Ave, Long Beach

Dear Friends,

Happy Fall everyone. You are invited to attend our monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 4 in the Fr. Miesel Hall at 7:00PM. This month, members will share their stories found in Comunidad’s upcoming outreach booklet. These “faith journey” stories will exam how members reconciled their sexual and faith identities. We hope you are able to participate in this very personal and meaningful experience.

Ecumenical BBQ

Steven and Jim invite you to their annual Ecumenical BBQ. This year it will be held on Saturday, August 13th in Huntington Beach. Bring your favorite dish to share and come join the fun. There will be great food, games and fellowship. Last years game of Card Against Humanity was a Hugh hit!!! With recent rises in COVID, our host require all guests to be fully vaccinated and boosted or so proof of a negative test within 2 days. To RSVP send an email to steven@jimbocosw.com or text Steven at 714-536-5172.

Comunidad Annual Retreat

Divine Love and Mercy – don’t we all need that? Many may try to deny it to LGBTQIA+ Catholics. But we, too, are Children of God – a God who loves us and who is willing to share Divine Mercy with all God’s Children.

Now that the years of pandemic have become manageable, Comunidad is excited to again offer a fall retreat experience! You’re invited to: “DIVINE LOVE AND MERCY”: a Divine Mercy Retreat for LGBTQIA+ Catholics and Supporters”

Deadline to return your registration is October 4th. Please contact Steven at (714)536−5172 for more information or if you are having difficulty meeting the deadline.

Read the biography of our retreat director,Caterina Krai and Registration Details.

Long Beach Pride

Everything PRIDE. This year Comunidad will be participation in the Long Beach Pride events, July 9th and July 10th, in two ways. First, we will have a both on both Saturday and Sunday. Please stop by and say hello. Second, Comunidad will walk in the parade. If you are interested in participating with us for either of these please contact Mark Davis at 562-427-4558 for more information.

July Pride Mass

Sunday, July 24 at St Matthew CatholicChurch., 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach

Comunidad will be celebration our Pride Mass on Sunday, July 24 at St Matthew Catholic Church. Mass will begin at 3:00 PM. Please join us at the Table of Christ and we come together, as a family, to give thanks for all the blessings our Lord has given. There will be a reception to follow in the hall

Communion/Prayer Service

Tuesday, February 1, 7:00 pm in Fr. Gerald Meisel Hall, St. Matthew Catholic Church, 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach

You are invited to our February meeting which will take place on Tuesday, February 1, 2022 in the Fr. Gerald Meisel Hall at St. Matthew Parish. This month, we will have a prayer/communion service, led by Deacon George Mora, to inaugurate our 2022 Board Members. After the service, members of the board will share their experience with this ministry and invite feedback from the membership on topics that would be of interest for upcoming meetings/retreats.

Advent Wreathe Lighting

Tuesday, December 7, 7:00 pm in Fr. Gerald Meisel Hall, St. Matthew Catholic Church, 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach

You are invited to our December meeting which will take place on Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at 7:00 PM in the St. Matthew parish hall. This month, we will have a Virgen de Guadalupe skit and an Advent wreath lightening and prayer. Light refreshments will be served.

A Christmas Carol

Saturday, December 4 at the Long Beach Playhouse

There is still time to get your tickets for the Saturday, December 4th opening night of A Christmas Carol at the Long Beach Playhouse. Comunidad members will be seated section C for this performance and will gather afterwards in the reception area. Hope to see you there.

Sister Act

On Saturday, October 23rd members enjoyed an evening of theatre at the Long Beach Playhouse with the production of Sister Act. 24 individuals enjoyed fellowship before the performance with a meal (service was a bit bumpy-but the company made up for it) followed by a wonderful play. There was so much laughter, what a way to get-a-way from it all for a few hours. Many stayed after to enjoy the champagne reception, meeting of the cast and more conversation. Several even commented that they would like to see again. What a fantastic evening!

Remembering

Tuesday, October 5, 7:00 pm in Fr. Gerald Meisel Hall, St. Matthew Catholic Church, 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach

On Tuesday, October 5th at 7:00 P.M. we will meet in the parish hall for our October meeting. The theme “Remembering” will include reading poems from Leslea Newman’s published October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard. Newman uses poetry to tell the story of the beating death of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old homosexual college student at the University of Wyoming in October of 1998. She describes how Shepard was lured into a truck by his murders and how those men left him to die. There will be a discussion after reading each poem.

At our November meeting we will be holding Steering Committee Member elections for the 2022 year. I encourage you to consider sharing your talents in YOUR ministry by volunteering for this opportunity. The committee meets once a month, typically the 3rd Tuesday, from 7:00 P.M. to 9:00 P.M. We discuss the upcoming monthly activities our ministry will participate in. Please feel free to contact me, 562-427-4558, for more information and/or add your name to the hat. God Bless, Mark

At the Movies

Saturday, August 18

Dear Friends,

Want to escape the heat for a few hours? Want to spend some time with your fellow group members? Join us as we view an afternoon movie in an airconditioned theater. We are planning to meet Saturday, August 14th at a local Long Beach theatre in the early afternoon. Since movies are constantly changing, we have not yet picked the movie/location/or time, but rest assured it will be fabulous. Those that are able may even grab something to eat afterwards to continue the festivities. If you are interested, please leave me (Mark Davis) a message at 562-427-4558 (won’t promise to answer as I may be enjoying the beaches in Maui) and I will call you back with more precise information on Thursday. August 12th. Hope you can make it.

Our July Meeting - A Potluck Picnic

Sunday, July 18 at 12:00 p.m. at El Dorado Park

Dear Friends,

Please join us Sunday, July 18th at noon for a potluck to celebrate summer. Comunidad members will gather at El Dorado Park, the South/East conner of Willow & N. Studebaker Road. There is parking on Studebaker Road as well as in the parking lot which is accessible from Los Arcos Street; go to the very end of the parking lot. Please look for the WELCOME HOME CATHOLICS and HOLY SPIRT banners. Since we are still testing the waters for post-COVID gatherings, everyone is encouraged to bring their own food and drink picnic favorites. Members will try to “secure” picnic tables earlier in the day, but bringing your own blanket and/or chairs is highly recommended. We hope to see you all there for a wonderful afternoon of fellowship.

Our June Meeting - Pride Mass

Sunday, June 13 at 3:00 p.m., In-Person and Virtual

Dear Friends,

You are invited to our Pride Mass which will be held on Sunday, June 13, 2021 at 3:00 PM in the St. Matthew's Parish. As we were not able to hold this Mass last year, we have a lot to make up for. With COVID this past year has brought much change, suffering and happiness; what better way to “re-awaken” from the pandemic then to bring all of it to the Lord’s table. We will also be streaming the Mass via Zoom and Facebook-Live. Please see below on ways to connect virtually if you are not able to participate in person.

Our February - Lent Prayer Service

Tuesday, February 2 at 7:15 p.m., Virtual Meeting with Zoom

Dear Friends,

Think back on your life and the lives of those close to you. Whenever we want to do something successfully (e.g., being good at our jobs, having a good relationship and/or getting married, having children, learning a new skill, singing in choir, dancing, playing a sport, having a financially secure and happy retirement, etc.) doesn’t it usually help to prepare?

Lent is a time of preparation for the glory of Easter. As Catholics we focus on prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We seek to improve our relationship with God (i.e., something we should always be doing anyway?!). While many of us may enjoy a good Mardi Gras party, we don’t suddenly become holier when we receive ashes on Ash Wednesday, February 17th this year. Since we’re in octave of Valentine’s Day and love, why not celebrate our love for God and God’s love for us in a special way this year? So, why not celebrate our love for God and God’s love for us in a special way this year?

Consider this brief reflection and praying this simple prayer by Vinita Hampton Wright:

Tell God, and yourself, every day, “I want to be open to the graces of this Lenten season.” Maybe you’re not open right now, or you’re not as open and willing as you’d like to be or think you should be. What else is new? We can always open our lives a bit more, let go of more stuff, listen better, and do more quickly and passionately what we know helps nurture God’s kingdom on earth.

Because we can be very good at fooling ourselves about how well we’re doing, why not quietly ask God, “What does my soul need?”

To prepare for our meeting we strongly encourage you to review and download February's meeting outline and spiritual resources which we uploaded to Dropbox.

God Bless, Mark and Bea

Our January Meeting - Prayer Service

Tuesday, January 5 at 7:15 p.m., Virtual Meeting with Zoom

Dear Friends,

Comunidad invites you to their first meeting of 2021. During this meeting we will have a brief Prayer Service to install our Board Members for the year followed by a “Meet our new Pastor” discussion. Father Randy will spend time with us sharing his story and answering questions to help us get to know him better. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 and will begin at 7:15 PM. The Prayer Service will begin about 7:30 PM.

There are three ways to join:

• Click on the below HTTP link, from your computer or smart phone, to be taken to the meeting using your device’s audio/camera features
• Click on the ONE TAP MOBILE, from your smart phone, to be taken to the meeting using your phone
• Call the Dial by Phone information and entering the meeting information to connect using a regular/non-smart phone

The follow is the Zoom meeting information for each of the upcoming monthly Comunidad Meetings, the 1st Tuesday of each month: December 1st, January 5th, February 2nd, March 2nd, April 6th, May 4th and June 1st.

The follow is the Zoom meeting information for December 1:

Topic: Prayer Service
Time: January 5, 2021
07:00 PM Pacific Time(US and Canada

You can contact Ed Short at 714-876-7414 or Mark Davis at 562-427-4558 and we will help walk you through logging into a Zoom meeting.
God Bless, Mark and Bea

Our January Meeting - Owning Our Faith

Tuesday, January 7, 7:00 p.m., Fr. Gerald Meisel Hall, St. Matthew Catholic Church, 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach

Comunidad would like to invite you the their January 7th meeting, to welcome the New Year, by watching the YouTube video “Owing Our Faith” followed by a group discussion on how our sexuality has intersected with our Catholic Faith. Comunidad is the Los Angeles Diocese’s Catholic Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Persons (CMLGP). Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome.

Our December Meeting - Annual Christmas Party

Tuesday, December 3, 7:00 p.m., Fr. Gerald Meisel Hall, St. Matthew Catholic Church, 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach

On December 3, Comunidad’s Steering Committee (co-chairs, Beatriz Cornejo and Mark Davis; Treasurer, Ed Short; Members at large, Marilyn Pries, Steven Nadolny, Joe Sacomani, Art Abril, Ray Ramirez, Lynette Aldapa, David Kennedy and Vickie Mendoza) invite you to celebrate a Comunidad Christmas. Thus, as is our tradition, Comunidad will be hosting a holiday party with lots of goodies and some classic Christmas tunes. So, keep the date free on your calendar. Comunidad will be supplying the main course and drinks. If you’re able, please bring a side dish or dessert to share with fellow partygoers. Members are encouraged to bring unwanted Christmas ornaments to help decorate. There will also be a White Elephant exchange (the gifts will be provided)

Our October Meeting: Movie - Stonewall Uprising

Tuesday, October 1, 2019, 7:00 p.m., St. Matthew Catholic Church, 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach

Remembering the Stonewall riots as St. Matthew’s COMUNIDAD marks the 50th anniversary with a screening of “Stonewall Uprising.”

This film explores the events which launched a worldwide rights movement. First hand stories revisit a time when homosexual acts were illegal throughout America and homosexuality was seen as a mental illness. When police raided Stonewall Inn on June 28, 1969, gay men and women did something they had not done before - they fought back. The collective anger announced the gay rights movement had arrived.

Please join us and invite your family and friends. We will meet in Classroom 2. “Movie food” and drinks will be provided.

Our May Meeting: Cinco de Mayo Fun—Potluck and Lotería!

Tuesday, May 7, 2019, 7:00 p.m., Fr. Gerald Meisel Hall, St. Matthew Catholic Church, 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach

Come join us for our annual Cinco de Mayo celebration! Once again, generous patrocinadores (patrons) will be supplying wonderful platos principales (main course) and bebidas (drinks). If you’re able, please bring a acompañamiento or guarnición (side dish) or postre (dessert) to share with fellow partygoers (enough to serve, say, 4 or 6 people). If not, don’t keep that from holding you back from attending.

Our handsome and decked-out bastonero extraordianorio (extraordinary Master of Ceremonies), Ray Ramirez, will entertain, first with the parade of the flags, and then, after dinner, as gamemaster for the main event, a lotería game.

To help put you in the mood, take a look at these loteria decks!

Our March Meeting - Shrove Tuesday Explained

Tuesday, March 5, 2019, 7:00 p.m., Fr. Gerald Meisel Hall, St. Matthew Catholic Church, 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach

Shrove Tuesday, Pancake Day, Pancake Tuesday, Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras are the various titles used to describe the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Shrove is derived from the word shrive which means to go to or make confession and confess one's sins. This is a far cry from the carnival—like celebration that is usually associated with the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. Confusing. Yes.

Join us for our March 5 meeting as Comunidad will shed light on the meaning and purpose of Shrove Tuesday. Light refreshment will be served.

Our February Meeting - Dr. Aaron Bianco: ‘Hate isn't Holy’

Tuesday, February 5 2019, 7:00 p.m., Fr. Gerald Meisel Hall, St. Matthew Catholic Church, 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach

The troglodytes don’t like us, well not only us but everyone who is different from them. Threats and harassment are their weapons. After two years of persistent harassment and threats, Vermont’s only black female state representative Kiah Morris resigned her post to protect her family. Comunidad has not been immune to hate mail. In my St. Matthew’s mail slot, I received a copy of a letter addressed to Archdiocese José Gomez. The author of the letter writes: “People have no moral right engaging with the same sex, just as they have no right engaging in rape.”

With those introductory remarks, I would like to introduce our speaker for our February meeting. He is Dr. Aaron Bianco. Dr. Bianco was a pastoral associate at St. John the Evangelist Parish located in the gay–friendly Hillcrest neighborhood of San Diego. Aaron said he had “endured physical and emotional violence from groups like Church Militant and LifeSite News for the past year and a half.” On Oct 14-15 the parish rectory was broken into and ‘no fags’ spray-painted on the conference room wall. On Oct. 17 posted on the internet were pictures of his family, including a picture of his deceased mother and his address. Aaron had no choice but to resign. The information for this was taken from an article in the National Catholic Reporter. Read complete article.

Please join us to hear Dr. Bianco speak on the powerful forces of hate extant in our society. Light refreshment will be served.

Our January Meeting: Pope Francis ‑ A Man of His Word

Tuesday, January 8, 7:00 p.m., Fr. Gerald Meisel Hall, St. Matthew Catholic Church, 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach

Note the date change: Since the first Tuesday falls on New Years Day. our meeting has been moved to Tuesday January 8.

On January 8 Comunidad is proud to screen the documentary, Pope Francis – a Man of His Word
German director, Wim Wenders, was granted unprecedented access to interview Pope Francis. The result was the documentary, Pope Francis ‑ A Man of His Word. Justin Chang, film critic for the Los Angeles Times writes: Wenders “films the pope in close-up, allowing the viewer to bask at length in the beatific warmth of his smile and his infectious, magnetic way with language. As the director notes in his own recurring voice-over, ‘Pope Francis has no weapons other than words.’ But what words! His rhetoric can be compassionate and humorous, fiery and bracingly down‑to‑earth. He extols the dignity of work, denounces a culture obsessed with material wealth and calls the global hunger epidemic ‘a scandal.” Read Justin Chang's complete review.

Light refreshments will be served. Please joins us to view this inspiring documentary. All are welcome.

Our March Meeting: Mary and the Passion

Tuesday, March 6, 7:00 p.m., Fr. Gerald Meisel Hall, St. Matthew Catholic Church, 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach

On Tuesday, March 6th for our Lenten program we will gather in the Church at 7:00 pm where the Stations of the Cross and the Rosary will be conjoined. We will concentrate on the five Stations which focus on Mary’s interactions with her son. Participants are encouraged to bring their Rosaries. We will also have some available.

Lent is a season of prayer, fasting and almsgiving in preparation for Easter. On Ash Wednesday we are called to “Repent and be faithful to the Gospel.” We look at what we need to change in our lives to help us get closer to God and to live more fully who God calls us to be. We are called to “Rend our hearts and not our garments” – to be true disciples.

As Catholics we see Mary as not only Jesus’ Mother, but as our spiritual mother as well. In our spiritual tradition as in life we often turn to our mothers for encouragement, consolation and support in times of need. Many of us often turn to Mary for strength, guidance and support. Our Mother Mary has a unique place in our Catholic faith as the faithful servant of God’s Plan, handmaiden of God and the first disciple. She also has a special place in the Way of the Cross. Please join us for a program of prayer and discussion.

After the program we will proceed to Father Gerald Meisel Parish Hall for a simple soup supper. All are welcome.

Our January Meeting: A Eucharistic Meal

Tuesday, Januray 2, 7:00 p.m., Fr. Gerald Meisel Hall, St. Matthew Catholic Church, 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach

This year and every year Comunidad begins the new year with a Eucharistic Meal. Our spiritual director, Fr. Bill McLean, will celebrate the Mass. Please join us on January 2 as Comunidad celebrates the Eucharistic Meal.

The Gospel reading for January 2 depicts the Pharisees interrogating John the Baptist: “ Who are you?” John knew who he was and what his role was: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, Make straight the way of the Lord.” John’s role was to give testimony to the Christ. As LGBT persons we should ask ourselves: who are we, how do we give testimony to the Christ. By our baptism we receive the seal of Christ. However, we live in a world of sin. Have we ceased giving testimony to Christ, to our children, to our families, to the world? Have we become vectors of sin? The Church offers to us the sacraments to steer us along the right path.

Our October Meeting: Movie - Anyone and Everyone

Tuesday, October 3, 7:00 p.m., Class Room #2, St. Matthew Catholic Church, 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach

On Tuesday October 3 Comunidad will feature the 2007 documentary Anyone and Everyone. Coming out is often fraught with problems for both the person coming out and the parents. Anyone and Everyone depicts families connected by having a son or daughter who is gay. Individuals from such diverse backgrounds as Japanese, Bolivian, and Cherokee, as well as from various religious denominations such as Mormon, Jewish, Roman Catholic, Hindu, and Southern Baptist, share intimate accounts of how their children revealed their sexual orientation and discuss their responses. The parents also talk about struggling with the pain of their sons and daughters dealing with not being accepted by relatives or friends, and being ostracized by religious congregations (IMDB.com).
Light refreshments will be served. Please join us for this unique look at the coming out process. All are welcome.

Our April Meeting: Seven Last Words of Jesus

Jesus dies on the cross by Jessica Miller Kelley

Tuesday, April 4, 7:00 p.m., Fr. Gerald Meisel Hall, St. Matthew Catholic Church, 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach

On Tuesday, April 4th, our Lenten journey continues. Please join us as we examine ”The Last Words of Jesus“ through reading, meditation, prayer, reflection and sharing. While theses seven last statements of Jesus on the cross do not appear in any one Gospel account, together they explore the universal themes of forgiveness, salvation, relationship, abandonment, distress, triumph and reunion.

So that we can explore various translations, participants are invited to bring their favorite New Testament translations in print or via their smart phones. Light refreshments will be served.

Our February Meeting: Special Screening of the Documentary, Inspired - Voices against Prop 8.

Tuesday, February 7, 7:00 p.m., Fr. Gerald Meisel Hall, St. Matthew Catholic Church, 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach

Comunidad is proud to screen Inspired, The Voices against Prop. 8. INSPIRED is a documentary film chronicling several people's lives in the wake of the passage of Prop 8. Arresting live footage follows average people from all walks of life, inspired to action in ways they never dreamed. Experience the passionate rallies and defiant marches of the new gay rights movement as it swept through Southern California. Intimate interviews reveal all the ways the movement comes together, and the subtle and not-so-subtle ways it can be pulled apart from within. INSPIRED: THE VOICES AGAINST PROP 8 goes behind the headlines and propaganda to explore the real people who make up a movement. The producer of Inspired, Charlie Gage, will be present to answer your questions.

Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome.

Our January Meeting: Comunidad Prays a Special Mass of Trust in the God's Love.

Tuesday, January 3, 7:00 p.m., Fr. Gerald Meisel Hall, St. Matthew Catholic Church, 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach

The prophet Isaiah reassured the Israelites that God would always be with them: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you.”

As Isaiah reassured the Israelites of God's uncompromising love, in these uncertain times we need a reminder that God is with us. Comunidad will begin the new year with our chaplain Fr. Bill McLean celebrating a dialogue Mass focusing on the topic of Trust in God's Love.

Light refreshments will be served. All are welcome.

Our October Meeting: Remembering Matthew Shepard by screening the video October Mourning - A Song for Matthew Shepard

Tuesday, October 4th, 7:00 p.m., Fr. Gerald Meisel Hall, St. Matthew Catholic Church, 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach

October 6, 1998 is a date which still resonates with the Gay community. It was the date that Matthew Shepard, a gay, twenty-one-year college student was savagely beaten, tied to a remote fence and left to die. The account of his torture was oft depicted in the arts, mostly notably in the play The Laramie Project . For our October meeting, Comunidad will pay tribute to Matthew by presenting the video October Mourning-A Song for Matthew Shepard. October Morning was initially performed on October 17, 2012 at the First Congregational Church Long Beach. The book and lyrics was written by Lesléa Newman and the music was composed by Curtis Heard. A brief excerpt of this moving performance can be found by Clicking Here. Please join us.

Our 30th Anniversary Mass

A photo of the altar at Blessed Sacrament Church in Hollywood taken a few years ago, just prior the start of the mass celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Los Angeles Archdiocese’s Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Catholics (now called Catholic Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Persons)—which Saint Matthew’s was a founding member of back in 1986.
Credit: Gretchen German.

Sunday, June 26th, 3:00 p.m., St. Matthew Catholic Church, 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach

Saint Matthew’s Church in Long Beach is proud to be a parish that offers a welcoming attitude to gays and lesbians. This year our Annual Pride Mass has a special significance since it celebrates our 30 Anniversary as a Catholic LGBT outreach group. The Mass follows Los Angeles County’s two major gay pride festivals. This year’s mass will be held in the church sanctuary and will be followed with a reception in the parish hall, which will include food, drinks, and an opportunity to celebrate our 30 years together as a community that openly and happily includes all of God’s people—gay and straight alike.

We hope you’ll join us!

Comunidad’s 2016 Long Beach Pride Plans

Pride weekend is Saturday and Sunday, May 21st and 22nd. We’ll be hosting a booth at the festival. Stop by and say “Hello!”

The relationship between the LGBT community and most Christian Churches has been decideldly strained. The following two remarks emphasize the strain. They are taken from the Gay Christian Network as quoted by the Huffington Post:

“This time last year I was standing in my closet with a noose around my neck wondering what it would be like to just end it all. I didn’t really have any hope.”
“My number one question I’ve asked everyone in one way or another was if I was good enough. I asked God if I was straight, could I be good enough?”

Comunidad member-at-large Anna Totta received the following text message for Irma J.

“Hi Anna! We finally set a date to baptize our daughter. It will be Sunday April 24 at 2pm at St Matthews. We would love it if you and any other Comunidad members can join us. Comunidad is an instrumental part of why we are able to have this baptism for her.”

The theme of this year's Long Beach Pride is “Solidarity through Pride.” As Catholic Christians we also have mystical solidarity, Solidarity through Baptism.

Adapting the Long Beach Pride website definition:
SOLIDARITY: unity or agreement of feeling or action, especially among individuals with a common interest; mutual support within a group.
THROUGH: moving in one side and out of the other side of (an opening, channel, or location).
BAPTISM: infusion of the grace by the Spirit which binds us to each other by becoming a full member of the Mystical Body of Christ.

Does not the shepherd care for all of his sheep? God created us in the womb, and declared us acceptable. No one has the right to deny us our full inheritance as children of God, or to make our membership provisional. For 30 years this has been the constant message of Comunidad.

Every year at the Long Beach Pride festival Comunidad sponsors the "Welcome Home, Catholics" booth. Comunidad proclaims our message and our life in the Church. If you attend the festival, drop by our booth and say "Hello" to Comunidad members-at-large David Kennedy or Steven Nadolny. If you would like to spread the Comunidad message, join David and Steven and help staff the booth, please contact David Kennedy at this e-mail address.

Our October Meeting: Celebrating National Coming Out Day with a screening of the film Pride

Pride directed by Matthew Warchus, screenplay by Stephen Beresford, and staring Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, Dominic West, and Paddy Considine, was nominated, among many other awards, for the Golden Globe (Holywood Foreign Press Assn.) best picture of the year, and it won many others, incl. Best British Independent Film of the year (British Independent Film Awards) and LGBTQ Film of the Year (Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association).

Tuesday, October 6th, 7:00 p.m. sharp!, Fr. Gerald Meisel Hall, St. Matthew Catholic Church, 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach

A reminder that our October meeting is tonight. We’ll be screening Pride, Matthew Warchus’ debut film of last year that turned heads and delighted audiences everywhere. Its subject is the inspiring, surprising, and true story of Thatcher-era LGBT advocates from London who took up the cause of out-of-work miners from Wales and improved the lot of both groups in the process. If you’ve never seen the film, please come, for you’ll be glad you did. It’s a terrific film. If you’ve already seen it, you’ll no doubt want to see it again. The film runs just under two hours, so we’ll be starting tonight’s meeting right on time at 7:00 p.m. Doors will be open a few minutes early and, as we do at each of our monthly gatherings, complimentary light food and drinks will be served.

Join us and the GLBT & Friends Groups from St. Luke’s and St. Wilfred’s Episcopal Churches in the 11th annual National Coming Out Day Service

Sunday, October 11th, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Santuary/Church, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 525 E. 7th Street, Long Beach

The program include testimonies by LGBTQ persons of faith, family members, and other supporters, and it will also include music and prayers. What is especially wonderful about the serivce is that, as it has for the past ten years, it is held as potent witness against the anti-queer violence and hate-filled messages that permeate our society, too much of it from religious organizations. A reception follows in the parish hall. For additional information, contact Tom Crowe at (562) 436-4047 or tomcrowelb@gmail.com.

A note about parking: St. Luke’s (map) has two parking lots, one just north of the church on the Atlantic Avenue side, the other on the back side of the church at the intersection of 7th Street and Linden Avenue.

Our October Meeting: Exploring Franciscan Spirituality with Fr. William “Rusty” Shaughnessy, ofm

Tuesday, October 7th, 7:00 p.m., Fr. Gerald Meisel Parish Hall at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach

Detail from stained glass window at Demindere Franciscus Museum in Sint-Truiden, Belgium

This October we’re partnering with the parish’s Faith Formation committee to host an evening of learning and understanding about Franciscan spirituality. It’s one of three events that the parish is holding this fall to explore this important, rich, and ancient tradition within Catholic life.

It’s hard to underestimate the profound effect that St Francis has had on the Church. His vision of a more harmonious and Christ-like life has contrasted, sometimes wildly, with other spiritual philosophies. And, yet, the Church continues to come back again and again to Francis’s writings and teachings and be inspired by Francis’s example (witness the Holy Father today) and the Franciscan Order continues to serve as an attractive, viable, and meaningful way of living in community with others. Born in 1181 or 1182, Francis did not show any serious interest in ministry until about 1208, when he was 25 years old, and he died a short 20 years later. Nevertheless, so remarkable, widespread, and positive was his re-imagining of what lived Christianity could be, which he and the Order he founded carried out, that Gregory IX canonized him, in 1228, only two years after his death. Indeed, it’s not far reaching to say that Francis’s teachings and example revolutionized the Church in his own day. But for those of us living in the twenty-first century, just what is “Franciscan Spirituality,” and how does it contrast and compare with other popular and still-present Catholic traditions such as Benedictine, Jesuit, and Dominican prayer, service, and devotional practices? And how can lay persons implement various features of Franciscan spirituality into their own lives?

That is in part, the topic of our program. And we are blessed to have as our speaker Fr. William “Rusty” Shaughnessy, ofm—a Fransciscan friar—of Ss. Simon and Jude parish in Huntington Beach.

Please join us for what will surely be an interesting and informative presentation. As is Comunidad’s custom, drinks and light food will be available.

A Note about parking for those that have never been to Saint Matthew Church: There are three entrances to the parking lot, one off Temple Ave. (to the right of the rectory/parish office building, which is just to the right of the church building), and two others off Theresa St (which parallels 7th St.).

Our February Meeting: Prayers for Bobby

Tuesday, February 4th, 7:00 p.m., Fr. Gerald Meisel Hall, St. Matthew Catholic Church, 672 Temple Ave., Long Beach

Marie Cartier joins us this month for an important discussion about the intersection of religious convictions, family life, and homosexuality. Our program will begin with an introduction to these themes, and then move into a screening of the powerful and award-winning film Prayers for Bobby that stars Sigourney Weaver, Ryan Kelly, and Henry Czerny. In universally praised performances, Prayers for Bobby depicts the real-life story of Mary Griffith, a devout, suburban housewife from Walnut Creek, California who comes to realize, struggle, and come to terms with the fact that her son is gay. As insightful and entertaining as the film is, it's the discussion after the film, which Marie will facilitate, that will permit us to consider some of the film's messages and how they might prove useful in our lives.