Put Out into the Deep
Aug 19 2025
What was it like?
What was our first Confident Witnesses retreat like? Take it from someone who was there—this was a truly new and beautiful experience:
"I definitely felt at this retreat what I often feel in LGBT+ Christian spaces: something like, I can breathe here, I am understood here. But I was also struck by a pretty unique boldness and confidence in BCF’s approach, one that empowers Catholic leaders to start the conversation, nourish the witnesses, tell good stories, showcase unnoticed vocations, and expect the unexpected. ...
This confidence also played out in the assumption that structured the whole retreat: because LGBT+ and same-sex attracted Catholics have not only unique needs, but also unique gifts and hard-won wisdom, it is normal for us to use these gifts to build up the Church. LGBT+ folks are not merely recipients of the Church’s support and guidance (we certainly are!), but also called to take part in the Church’s mission. This was particularly easy to notice toward the end of the weekend, when attendees discussed what it looks like accompany and mentor LGBT+ and same-sex attracted people in their journey of discipleship. How can we help to provide the support and guidance that we needed when we were younger? The retreat instilled in me the sense that LGBT+ and same-sex attracted people are not so much on the margins of the Church as we are at the forefront, on the cutting edge.
Grant doesn’t talk much about who else attended, but we noted that the majority of attendees had experience in many forms of ministry, including
They see the urgent need for guidance—they’re hearing from young people, parents, priests, and diocesan leadership who all want to understand how God and the Catholic Church see LGBT+ people. Our job at BCF is to equip them for mission that is bold and sustainable, grounded in trust in God and support from mentors and peers.
Wisdom is what emerges when eternal truths meet contemporary needs.
Witness is what happens when infinite Love speaks through individual lives.
Will you help us witness with the wisdom our communities need?
Eve & Keith