A Great Gift

I first met Father Harvey at a Day of Recollection in Toronto in June, 1992 - I had just joined Courage a few months before that, at age 24. After that I would see Father Harvey at the annual conferences that I would attend - mainly on an annual basis.

Fr. Harvey & Bob in 2009 in Toronto, Canada

I found him very approachable and very understanding. He was always charitable and deeply spiritual - you could see how his relationship with Christ came first in his life. He also had a good sense of humour - I know he liked my jokes. 🙂 While I was attending the 1993 conference, Father asked me to give what would be the first-ever Courage conference testimony the following year - which I did, with his support and help. He was great! He really had a good understanding of homosexuality and its impact on people's lives.

Father Harvey was inspired by the Holy Spirit to start and lead Courage when Cardinal Cooke asked for his guidance in assisting the faithful in the Archdiocese of New York. Father’s work with people with same-sex attraction (i.e. homosexuals) through Courage has had a huge impact on my life and on so many others who want to follow Christ. The apostolate that he founded and led is part of God's plan to make it known that no matter who you are or what you feel, and no matter what you have done, God's mercy is available to you as a great gift, and He loves you. We just have to be open to those gifts for our own healing and well-being. Father Harvey, to me, was a perfect example of God's Mercy and Love in action! That is what Courage ministry is to me; it’s something I deeply appreciate and I appreciate that Father Harvey lived it. Father was God's humble servant and instrument in bringing true peace and joy to many who struggle with their sexuality and identity. He was able to show that our true identity is as Loved children of God.

For many who suffer from absent fathers in their past or who have trauma/wounds due to a bad relationship with their fathers, Father Harvey was also a great role model and spiritual father; a loving and supportive replacement whom, I believe, only God could have chosen to be in that role. With Father Harvey starting and leading, Courage has brought so much freedom to people's lives, people who otherwise would not have even thought they could have any sort of freedom - through Courage, we’ve found the true freedom that God offers.

I could not imagine my life without this great gift which God gave us through His humble servant Father Harvey.