Marianne Duddy-Burke challenges Chapter to look to the future.

“Rabbi, where would we go? you have the words of everlasting life!”

This compelling confession of faith heard from Peter in today’s Gospel narrative is a fitting introduction to today’s celebration, 49 years of faithful service and ministry offered by Dignity/Chicago. While we face many challenges in many aspects of our life, individually and communally, there is real clarity when it comes to our commitment to this mission and work; our response like Peter’s can be expressed in more modern words: “We believe, Lord, we’re all in!”

In August 2022, our chapter will be celebrating 50 years of prayer and community together.

Since 1972, we have been a trusted voice for LGBTQ Catholics in the Chicago area.

During this challenging time, if you are able, please consider making a contribution in support of Dignity/Chicago's Forward to 50 programs.

Make friends and think critically with Streetwise. Click/tap for the video link and call-in number, time 6-7:00 PM. (When safe, these socials will return to a restaurant.)

Discuss Love Tenderly: Sacred Stories of Lesbian and Queer Religious with its contributors and editor. Lesbian, bisexual, queer, transgender, non-binary women and their women-identified friends are welcome. Click/tap for the video link and call-in number.

Click/tap for the video link and call-in number* by the day before. (*You don’t need internet to participate.) Just bring bread for Eucharist.

Conversation and fun with members and friends from Chicago and across the country! Click/tap for the video link and call-in number.

The Ruler in the story is God, the feast is the Reign of God and the invited guests are us. This vision of setting a great feast is ours to reclaim as our own today.

Our host, Broadway United Methodist Church, has resumed services. So we will re-start our at Broadway on September 27, Sunday at 5pm on a trial basis.

Hunt explained that Dignity's message is sex and gender discrimination can never be separated from combating racism, xenophobia and Islamophobia as well as fighting for healthcare access, economic justice and the survival of planet Earth.

Freedom laps at the shore of discontent
And dissolves fear in its wake.
It rises up on life's storm ridden sea
Making waves wherever it's sent.

1969 Fr. Patrick X. Nidorf, an Augustinian priest and psychologist, formed a group of, “Catholic gay people”. 1971 Mary Houlihan of the Legion of Mary receives permission from Cardinal Cody to sponsor a Mass for the GLBT community.

In November 1971 five people met with Father Max, Cardinal Cody's liaison to Chicago's gay and lesbian community to discuss the possibility of forming a Chicago chapter of a new national organization of gay and lesbian Catholics called Dignity.

You must remember that even though Stonewall had happened in 1969 and a ray a hope was created by those brave actions in New York City, that was NYC and this was Chicago, and things were different then.

Dignity/Chicago had about 180 members and an even larger turnout for its Sunday evening Mass. Commonweal, a moderate lay-edited Catholic magazine, chided Dignity/Chicago for not cooperating with Cardinal Bernadin.