Rainbows of Hope

When Sister Eunice Antony was asked to join the staff at the Spirituality Center•Studium at Saint Benedict’s Monastery in 2007, she was asked to start a ministry to an underserved population. S. Eunice asked if I, along with Ann, another woman who has a gay child, would help her plan a meeting for Catholic parents of LGBTQ+ children. I didn’t hesitate to say yes because that is truly an underserved community. I had been working on behalf of LGBTQ+ people and their families since my older son came out in 1999.

S. Eunice, Ann and I met to do some brainstorming. We set a date and sent out an announcement inviting Catholic parents of gay children to come and share their stories. We had no set agenda and no idea if anyone would show up. We just wanted to give people a safe place to share their stories. Talk about hope!

Fourteen people came that first night, and we had a grace-filled evening getting to know each other and listening to our stories. That was the birth of our Rainbow Support Group. We never limited the group to Catholic families, and soon those of other faiths, as well as LGBTQ+ people and allies, also joined the group. We still meet the second Thursday of odd-numbered months, and the friendships that formed have lasted.

Several times over the years, we wondered if we had fulfilled our original mission, but each time we thought it might be time to disband, we would be contacted by someone new. Obviously, there is still a need! Even after 18 years, there are new people joining the group, and each one brings new gifts to all of us. While Pope Francis and many priests and bishops have been welcoming to gay and lesbian people, transgender persons face much hostility in society and condemnation in some sectors of the Catholic Church. For many, our group is the only Catholic space where they feel comfortable sharing their family’s beauty.

In May and September, we gather in person at the Spirituality Center•Studium. In the winter months, we meet by Zoom. That enables those who live at a distance to participate. One such person, Pat from Tennessee, works in special education, and according to Tennessee law, she can be arrested if she helps a questioning student. She says, “There is hope! I know you and Saint Ben’s, and your values, and you don’t give up. I can’t be up there, but for me, there is this invisible bridge that exists from my place to you and it keeps me sane … your rainbow makes it all the
way here.”

Myrna Ohmann

This article was featured on page 9 in the spring 2025 issue of Benedictine Sisters and Friends.