You know the drill: It’s the week of Thanksgiving, and every single nonprofit on Earth is in your inbox saying, “We’re Thankful For You!” And every single one of them would be especially thankful to get a little of your money.

Look—we are thankful for you. We’re thankful for all those who have already donated to our fall fundraising campaign, helping us share a message of hope and possibility with people across the country and the world. We’re thankful for the parents who share their vulnerability, the educators who share their questions, the diocesan leaders who give their trust, and the retreatants who show their courage as they step out boldly in leadership.

But when we asked a friend of BCF, “What should we say we’re thankful for?”, she thought for just a second before saying, “You’re thankful to be gay! And for the gifts gay people bring to the Church.”

And we think that’s an important message too.

We’re thankful for…

* the many amazing people we’ve met because we were open about our orientation and our faith.

* the opportunities we’ve had to witness in places and with people whom “straight” Catholics might not reach.

* the trust others have placed in us when they shared their stories of faith, doubt, anger, and hope.

We’re thankful for the gifts of gay and same-sex attracted evangelists, teachers, liturgists, singers, nurses, priests and religious, and more. We’re thankful for the ways our experiences have shown us the truth and beauty of Catholic understandings of spiritual motherhood and fatherhood, brotherhood and sisterhood.

We help the whole Church to receive and nurture these gifts. We have seen Catholics in ministry discover these gifts in their community and leap up with hope, ready to build the future—as John the Baptist leapt in Elizabeth’s womb when he encountered the Christ Child in Mary.

So yes, we would be deeply grateful if you prayerfully considered what you can give. But that’s because we want others—future generations, and people hoping and questioning today—to share our gratitude. And to know the joy of the Gospel.

St Paul says, in the First Letter to the Thessalonians, “In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” Please pray today to thank God for the clergy, religious, and laypeople who have supported BCF’s work. And pray for one another: for all those in BCF’s prayer community! We could not do this without you.