Stories of young Christians LGBT+ on the way to the retreat of Florence

Marco He is twenty -two years old, studies jurisprudence and lives in a city full of life and opportunities. But in his heart, he often feels alone. Raised in a Catholic family, he always believed in God, but the day he understood he was gay, everything became more complicated. He wondered if he was still welcome to the Church, if his faith and identity could coexist. He tried to talk about it with some friends of the parish group, but the answers were always vague, sometimes cold.

One evening, sailing on the internet, he discovered a group of young Christians LGBT+. He read testimonies, seen smiling faces, understood that he was not alone. He decided to participate in a meeting. That day, for the first time after a long time, he felt listened to. He had no longer had to hide, he no longer had to fight alone. That small step has rekindled his faith.

Clare He is twenty -four years old and teaches catechism to the children of his parish. She is a sunny girl, passionate about her mission, but something within her torments her. He has always had questions about faith, about the mercy of God, about love for each person. And for some years, these questions have become more urgent, because it has understood that it is lesbian.

One evening, speaking with a friend, he confided to him his doubts and asked him: "But can we really be part of a church that does not see us?". The answer came in the form of an invitation to a spiritual retreat for young Christians LGBT+. He decided to go, without knowing what to expect. There he found young people who, like her, were looking for God with all my heart. He listened to stories of faith, pain, hope. He understood that the Church is not a building, but the people who tend your hand and walk with you.

Andrea He is twenty -four years old and has always felt divided between two worlds: faith and his bisexuality. Growing up, he learned that certain things are not said, that the Church has rules, that to be accepted it had to be "in a certain way". But his heart told him more. He tried to suffocate doubts, to pray to change, but he felt more and more distant from God.

Then one day he discovered a group of young Christians LGBT+ on the net who spoke of welcome, love, a God who calls each by name. He decided to give himself an opportunity, to try to believe that there was also placed for him. Their spiritual retreat was a turning point. In the silence of prayer, in sharing, he felt that God did not ask him to be someone else, but simply to be Andrea.

If you like Marco, Chiara and Andrea, seek a space to pray, reflect and share your faith without fear, the LGBT+ Young Christian Project and the Kairós Gruppo Giovani Queer in Florence they invite you to Spiritual retreat for young Christians LGBT+ (18-35 years) that, from 4 to 6 April 2025, will take place in a suggestive monastery in the heart of Florence.

✨ Because the Gospel is encounter, non -exclusion.

✨ Because God call each by name.

✨ Because there is a place for everyone.

⏳ Registrations open only up to Sunday 23 February 2025. Therefore sliced.

Come and see. We are waiting for you.

📩 Info and registration a kairostavaniqueer@gmail.com or via Whatsapp at +39 350 084 8377

All participants in the retreat will be guests, on Saturday 5 April 2025, an event of the corner stones Cornerstone Project coordinated by La Tenda di Gionata where they can experience a church with open and listening doors.