This past Sunday, Outreach hosted a regional event, the “Mass of Belonging: More than Welcome,” in Atlanta, Georgia, with Fortunate and Faithful Families and the Restorative Justice Ministries of the Archdiocese of Atlanta at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Atlanta. Outreach’s executive director, Conor Reidy and I gathered in the sanctuary before the Mass to help with any preparations, greet individuals as they came into the church and prepare ourselves for this festive event.
As people crossed the doors and the opening procession began, this Mass grew to mean a bit more for me personally. I was born at Piedmont Hospital in midtown Atlanta and baptized a little north of the Shrine at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, where my family were parishioners up until I was ready to receive first holy Communion. Later, we began attending Mass closer to home at St. James the Apostle Catholic Church, a parish in McDonough, Georgia. It was here that I received first holy Communion and later received the sacrament of confirmation and where my relationship with Jesus began and was nurtured.
Throughout this time of my life, I remember vividly struggling to accept my sexuality. I knew I was different from the rest of my peers, and I truly thought God hated this part of me. So, I attempted to suppress my sexuality, running to confession every time I had a “gay thought” about a crush and rushed to adoration to pray that these thoughts would indeed just be a “phase.”
This celebration continued the message that Outreach and the church in Atlanta wants LGBTQ people and their loved ones to know that God loves them deeply.
It wasn’t until I left the city of Atlanta, moving to the midwest for school, that through this gift of faith and the sacraments, I discovered how much Jesus truly loved me and called me to serve—all of me.
This regional event proclaimed this same call for all who joined in prayer with us. Outreach regional events seek to introduce people to the work of Outreach, continue the conversation following Outreach 2026 and celebrate the LGBTQ Catholic experience in local communities. As our first event in the Southeast, this celebration continued the message that Outreach and the church in Atlanta wants LGBTQ people and their loved ones to know that God loves them deeply.
About 300 people gathered at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on Sunday, October 18 for this celebration of the Eucharist the week following Atlanta Pride on October 11. Drew Denton, Director of the Restorative Justice Ministries of the Archdiocese shared a word of welcome from the Archbishop of Atlanta, Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer. In his welcome, Archbishop Hartmayer reflects on the call of Pope Leo, an invitation that means “more than welcome” and to remember that “what unites us is stronger than what threatens to divide us.” Fr. Joseph Morris, the pastor of the Shrine, reflecting on the Gospel for the day, proclaimed welcome and unity for LGBTQ Catholics as all bear God’s image for “the spirit…is full of life. You belong to God.”
“What unites us is stronger than what threatens to divide us.”
The excitement and joy from this Mass continued downstairs in the reception hall. Our executive director, Conor Reidy and I had the opportunity to speak with many people from across the Southeast and hear what this event meant to them. One individual from Alabama shared how there is nothing like the Mass of Belonging or Outreach near them or even explicit welcome made for LGBTQ people. This event brought them hope for the future of the church.
Other congregants from across Atlanta—trekking through Atlanta Falcons-related traffic—made similar comments, expressing a desire to bring something like the Mass of Belonging and the ministries of Outreach and Fortunate and Faithful Families to their parishes. I spoke with a group of young adults who were attending from St. Thomas More, the local Jesuit parish. They shared with me how joyful they felt that all the music at Mass was composed by LGBTQ composers and allies, and that an LGBTQ person served in each of the lay liturgical ministries at the Mass as well, such as lectors and altar servers. For them, this sign of welcome lived up to the “more than welcome” sentiment of this Mass of Belonging: that LGBTQ people have always contributed to the life of the church.
You do not need to leave this city to discover that God loves you, exactly as God created you to be.
The image that remains in my mind is from the recessional hymn at the Mass. As the trumpet blared, the organ roared and the choir sang out, I noticed an older gentleman in front of me with arms outstretched and singing. At the end of each verse, the refrain rang throughout the church, “Here I am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night. I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.” As we sang the refrain, I looked over and saw this individual wiping away tears from his eyes, attempting to hold the hymnal and sing loudly at the same time.
As the music continued, I also grew a bit emotional as I felt that this celebration reached full-circle for my own faith life. As we sang, “I will go, Lord, if you lead me,” I felt proud at the continued growth of ministry to and inclusion of LGBTQ people in the Archdiocese of Atlanta—especially with partners like Fortunate and Faithful Families and the Restorative Justice Ministries of the Archdiocese. At this Mass, LGBTQ Catholics and those who love them in Atlanta heard a message that I am continually grateful to hear: You do not need to leave this city to discover that God loves you, exactly as God created you to be.
