“Many have known what it is to pause at the church door — wondering if the room inside can hold them, or whether the homily might condemn them.”

 

Rev. Joseph Morris, pastor of the Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, acknowledged the often arduous journeys of LGBTQ+ Catholics at the Archdiocese’s second annual Mass of Belonging on November 16, 2025. Before a near-capacity congregation at Atlanta’s oldest church, Fr. Morris honored the Shrine’s identity as a holy place where All Are Welcome and each person’s God-given dignity is celebrated.  But his message transcended parishes, dioceses and countries.

“In the Church, straight and LGBTQ+ alike need to know they have a home,” the pastor          proclaimed, “because welcome isn’t a trade-off. No one loses a place when another is

welcomed in.”

 

The Mass of Belonging was co-sponsored by Fortunate and Faithful Families, a lay organization for LGBTQ+ Catholics, their loved ones and allies; and the Archdiocesan Restorative Justice Ministry, headed by Jayna Hoffacker.

"As Pope Francis said, and Pope Leo XIV has echoed: ‘Todos, todos, todos,’” Hoffacker told the Bulletin.  “The Mass of Belonging embraces and exemplifies our core belief that all have a home in the Body of Christ, and more particularly, in our parishes throughout the archdiocese."

 

The Shrine draws members from across the archdiocese, many of whom travel an hour or more each Sunday (and many weekdays) for Masses and ministries. But the Mass of Belonging attracted Catholics who haven’t had a church home in years or even decades — not because they walked away, but because they felt disowned.  

"This is what Church should always look like,” one worshipper said.

"The joy and unity is palpable,” said another.

 

Dr. Craig Ford is a Visiting Assistant Professor of Christian Ethics at the Candler School of Theology at Emory University.

“Attending this Mass provided me with a glimpse of what our Church can become — indeed, what it must become — if we are to proclaim Christ's message of reconciling love,” Ford said. “Every outstanding doctrinal dispute over the lives and loves of LGBTQ+ people dissolves in the face of the more primary scriptural truth that ‘God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.’”

 

Professor Ford will be the keynote speaker at the Fortunate and Faithful Families 2026 retreat in March.  Details and registration will be available at fortunatefaithfulfamilies.org after the holidays.

    

Plans also are in the works for the 2026 Mass of Belonging but as Fr. Morris said,

“This shouldn’t have to be an extraordinary event. Every celebration of the Eucharist

should be a Mass of Belonging!”