Posted on 06/29/2026 7:38:22 PM PDT by ebb tide
The church should be a place for healing and acceptance for all, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, Catholic ministry leaders in the Diocese of San Bernardino say.
The second annual Embrace Family Mass was celebrated by Bishop Alberto Rojas at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral on Saturday in San Bernardino.
“Jesus looks past labels and social barriers to see a human being in need of love, compassion and restoration to a family, to a community, and to our society,” Rojas, who leads the Diocese of San Bernardino, told those gathered at the cathedral Saturday. “Families, Jesus sees your tears; the love of your children is a reflection of His (love). You belong here. The house of God is your house.”
Although not formally known as a “Pride Mass,” the bilingual prayerful event was purposely planned for June, during Pride month, organizers say. The spirited event was mainly peaceful and joyful.
Some ministry members, choir members and clergy ministers wore rainbow colors, as the pews began to fill Saturday morning.
Bishop Alberto Rojas greets married couple Briana Ramirez, right and wife, Maria Ximena Vasquez Ramirez after the second annual “Embrace,” Mass honoring LGBTQ+ Catholics and the ministry at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral in San Bernardino on Saturday, June 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
In his homily remarks, Rojas shared a message of warmth and inclusivity toward all, especially the LGBTQ+ faithful, and acknowledged feelings of rejection and unworthiness they could also experience.
“We are called to follow the example of radical compassion that Jesus shows us … true strength is not found in building higher walls, but in the courage to embrace and love one another,” he said. “If our pews are not safe spaces for these brothers and sisters to experience the unconditional love of God, then we are failing to be the family of Jesus.”
The choir sang messages of love and support too.
“When terror and fear overwhelm us, courage and faith will sustain us, hold onto love,” they sang.
Embrace and the ministry’s counterpart Gifted & Called were formed in 1998 by the Diocese of San Bernardino for Catholic members of the LGBTQ+ community and their loved ones. The San Bernardino Diocese serves around 1.4 million in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
According to a report from advocacy group DignityUSA, 64% of surveyed LGBTQ+ former Catholics said they no longer identify with the faith, and 72% of those surveyed felt uncomfortable or directly discriminated against in a Catholic church or event.
Felicia Ramirez, right, with her child Moxie Ramirez attend the second annual “Embrace,” Mass honoring LGBTQ+ Catholics and the ministry at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral celebrated by Bishop Alberto Rojas in San Bernardino on Saturday, June 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
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Felicia Ramirez, right, with her child Moxie Ramirez attend the second annual “Embrace,” Mass honoring LGBTQ+ Catholics and the ministry at Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral celebrated by Bishop Alberto Rojas in San Bernardino on Saturday, June 27, 2026. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
While more Americans are reportedly leaving their religions, this ministry under the Diocese of San Bernardino hopes to turn those rates around.
While Embrace” focuses on serving Catholic families with queer and transgender children and other family members, Gifted & Called meetings are for LGBTQ+ adults seeking loving support in their faith, ministry leaders said. The latter ministry’s name stems from the U.S. Bishops’ 1997 statement on the church “lovingly” accepting and pastoring to those who identify as LGBTQ+.
Both groups, which meet at local churches in Fontana, Riverside, Palm Springs and around the region, are for those seeking prayerful, non-judgmental community, ministry leaders said. All are welcome.
The full ministry, including Rojas’ participation in Saturday’s family Mass, are in line with the Catholic Church’s teachings, which calls for chastity and does not allow for formal church marriage but still invites believers “to partake in the sacraments and in the ministerial life of the church,” the Rev. David Andel, liaison and diocesan delegate to Embrace ministry, said before the Mass.
“Some find themselves to be gay through no fault of their own,” Andel said. “It’s not a choice, and the church recognizes that. For some people, that’s a big step. We believe in the dignity of every human being made in God’s image and likeness, including LGBT individuals, as God’s children.”
Andel said the church’s teachings — especially with recent statements from Popes Leo XIV and Francis, and the rise of local and national LGBTQ+ Catholic ministries, including in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles — emphasize the need for more “pastoral outreach.”
The LGBTQ+ community “is another group we need to reach out to, just like immigrants or different cultural ministries,” Andel said. “These ministries don’t exist as a support group. … We’re here to build up our gifts in service of God’s kingdom. It’s not just talking about ‘what happened to me some years ago.’ It’s about healing in order to serve.”
Moxxie Ramirez, who attended Saturday’s Mass at the cathedral with her family members, said that Jesus Christ would have accepted, even “would be hanging out” with marginalized, LGBTQ+ Catholics in the church.
The 17-year-old, who identifies as LGBTQ+, said everyone deserves to have a welcoming space like this and appreciated having a faith “where people can come, feeling loved and wanted, too.”
The 28-year-old Embrace ministry was founded by Bishop Emeritus Gerald Barnes. The bishop was approached in the 1990s by parents with LGBTQ+ children, wondering how to grapple with the Catholic Church and biblical teachings, Andel and ministry leaders said.
Wanting to empower and build a space for parents to discuss, Barnes founded the Ministry to Families with Gay and Lesbian Catholics, made up of Catholic clergy leaders, along with others connected to the LGBTQ+ community. They regularly gathered to talk about concerns and began building resources for the growing ministry.
In 2023, that ministry was renamed Embrace, with its mission to “listen to, accompany, and support LGBTQ+ persons and their families, friends, and allies on their faith journeys.” For nearly 20 years, the group has continued to meet regularly, even online during the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching out to those seeking support and community, leaders said.
Embrace is a “pro-life ministry,” said Sunny Sanchez, who helps lead the meetings and events. She said they include prayerful discussion, scripture-reading, guest speakers, fellowship events, and provide a nonjudgmental forum for parents and guardians.
For her, being called to serve in this ministry is personal, she said.
“We’re doing our best to advocate for a very inclusive, welcoming church, all within a Catholic context,” she said. “We don’t shy away from sharing what scripture and doctrine teach. We don’t weaponize the Bible, but we delve into the details and lead discussions based on that.”
Discussion topics have included self-loathing, isolation from others and from the faith; being harmed by and/or fearing clergy; youth grooming and abuse allegations, Sanchez said.
“We are paying attention to the rising statistics of suicide among LGBT+ youth, and (issues) like self-harm, addiction, those in abusive relationships because of family rejections,” Sanchez said.
Even faithful Catholics, especially youths looking for “a void” to fill, she said, can easily lead to sin for a kid who “goes through life not knowing God fully loves and embraces them.”
“How can we not do this work, of expressing love to one another in the church?” she said. “We need to make our church the most welcoming and accepting.”
Following the Saturday Mass was a lunch reception inside the cathedral hall, where ministry leaders were recognized, including Bishop Barnes, the Rev. John P. Kavcak, the pastor of St. Theresa Church in Palm Springs; the Rev. Al Utzig, the former pastor of St. Mary’s in Fontana; and Sister Mary Frances Coleman, who served the commission in its early years.
LGBTQ+ faith resources and materials and artwork were also given away.
Francine Bradley, one of the commission leaders who came to the Mass from Palm Springs, said the event — now in its second year, and for the first time at the cathedral, led by the bishop and other diocese leaders — was an “affirming” testament to the LGBTQ+ ministry’s overall growing support, “not hidden or a secret” in the Inland Empire.
“For people to feel welcome is so important, whatever their chosen faith is,” Bradley said. “It takes courage.”
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Yes, go more gay. See how that works.....
Oystir, here’s a special “good news” ping to folks like you and Jimmy Martin and Tucho Fernandez.
Unfortunately, you folks seem to be gaining great influence in the synodal “church”.
The Bible is pretty clear about God‘s attitude towards homosexuals who carry out the behavior.
This is what comes from having to homo commie popes in a row.
Leviticus 20:13
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.
It’s always sad when people give up heaven for this world.
CC
In the old days, Catholics observed June as the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ.
In the synodal “church”, June is Pride Month.
🔝🔝🔝
Leviticus 18:22
English Standard Version
22 You shall not lie with a MALE
as with a WOMAN;
it is AN ABOMINATION.
Leviticus 20:13
English Standard Version
13 If a MAN lies with a MALE
as with a WOMAN,
both of them have committed
AN ABOMINATION; they shall surely be
put to death; their blood is upon them.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Leviticus%2018%3A22%2CLeviticus%2020%3A13&version=ESV
Deuteronomy 22:5
New King James Version
5 “A WOMAN shall not wear anything
that pertains to a MAN,
nor shall a MAN put on a WOMAN’S garment,
for all who do so are
AN ABOMINATION to the Lord your God.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2022%3A5&version=NKJV
🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 🤦🤦♂️🤦♀️ 🤢🤢🤢 🤮🤮🤮
Romans 1:24-28
King James Version
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of
their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 FOR THIS CAUSE God gave them up unto vile affections:
FOR EVEN THEIR WOMEN DID CHANGE THE NATURAL USE
INTO THAT WHICH IS AGAINST NATURE:
27 AND LIKEWISE ALSO THE MEN, LEAVING THE NATURAL USE
OF THE WOMAN, BURNED IN THEIR LUST ONE TOWARD ANOTHER;
MEN WITH MEN WORKING THAT WHICH IS UNSEEMLY, AND RECEIVING
IN THEMSELVES THAT RECOMPENCE OF THEIR ERROR WHICH WAS MEET.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God
in their knowledge, God gave them over to a REPROBATE MIND,
to do those things which are not convenient;
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201%3A24-28&version=KJV
Romans 1:32
King James Version
32 Who knowing the Judgment of God,
that they which commit such things
are worthy of death, not only do the same,
BUT HAVE PLEASURE IN THEM THAT DO THEM.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%201%3A32&version=KJV
This Is not good Amigos...
What is “The Healing” from ?
SBdo. Lotta really bad stuff going on in that town.
San Bernadino used to be a decent place to live, with decent schools. Turned into a sheethole over many years after kicking out military and NAFTA.
Like all of us
they struggle with sin
But to boast and have
PRIDE 🏳️🌈 in one’s sin? 🤦♂️🤦🤦♀️
Near Reprobate if not
Reprobate already
🤯😲😱
🛐🛐🙏🙏✝️✝️
The full ministry, including Rojas’ participation in Saturday’s family Mass, are in line with the Catholic Church’s teachings, which calls for chastity and does not allow for formal church marriage but still invites believers “to partake in the sacraments and in the ministerial life of the church,” the Rev. David AndelAh, there's the "rub," as it were. True Catholic teaching calls for chastity for the unmarried, straight, gay, or whatever. Or is this "ministry" distributing the Blessed Sacrament to openly unrepentant sinners?
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