Catholic and other religious groups were well-represented at the World Pride March 2012 which wound through the streets of London on July 7th.  The Soho Masses community of London wore T-shirts that said “All Are Welcome at Soho Masses” on the front, while the reverse said “Nobody Knows I’m Catholic.”    Members of Quest, a Catholic LGBT group in the United Kingdom marched with their banner. And New Ways Ministry was present, proudly marching with our banner amid the thousands upon thousands of marchers and spectators.

Here are some photos which I hope will give you a sense of the strong faith presence in the march, as well as the diversity of attendees:

– more pictures at  Bondings 2.0.

Related articles

• LGBT Ministry: A Mustard Seed Begins to Sprout. (queeringthechurch.com)
• Soho Masses Provide Welcome and Community for London’s LGBT Community (queerchurchnews.wordpress.com)
• London Pride marchers celebrate 40th anniversary of gay rights campaign (guardian.co.uk)
• Faith at (World) Pride: London, 2012 (queeringthechurch.com)
• On Being a Catholic Lesbian at Georgetown University (queerchurchnews.wordpress.com)
• ALL ARE WELCOME: Next Steps in London (newwaysministryblog.wordpress.com)

Soho Masses Provide Welcome and Community for London’s LGBT Community

While in London, England, for World Pride, I was blessed to be able to attend one of the Soho Masses, sponsored here by the Archdiocese of Westminster (London) for the LGBT community.  It was a beautiful service filled with a great spirit of hospitality and solidarity.

Church of Our Lady of the Assumption and St. Gregory

The Masses are held on the first and third Sundays of the month, 5:00 pm, at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption & St. Gregory, Warwick Street, in the Soho neighborhood of London, which is the center of the LGBT community.  When I attended yesterday, the church was packed, with what I estimated to be about 125 people.

The community gathered for liturgy was amazingly diverse in terms of age, gender, race and ethnicity.  At the social hour afterward, even I, as a newcomer, was made to feel very welcome by people I had never met, and who did not know that I was a foreign visitor. 

The Soho Masses are clearly doing the work of God here in London, not only providing a welcome to the ostracized, but providing an opportunity for people to be of service to one another and to the church and the world.  If you visit  London, you should be sure to schedule a visit for one of these wonderful liturgies.   For more information, click here.

– full post at  Bondings 2.0/ New Ways Ministry.

Related articles

• ALL ARE WELCOME: Next Steps in London (newwaysministryblog.wordpress.com)
• London prepares for World Pride (queerchurchnews.wordpress.com)
• LGBT Ministry: A Mustard Seed Begins to Sprout. (queeringthechurch.com)
• Faith at (World) Pride: London, 2012 (queeringthechurch.com)
• New Ways Ministry to Participate in World Pride Celebration in London (newwaysministryblog.wordpress.com)
• Christians Together at (World) Pride. (queeringthechurch.com)
• For the Season of Pride – Visit the Smaller Centres (queeringthechurch.com)
• WorldPride London ‘Scaling Back,’ And Participants Aren’t Happy About It (towleroad.com)