Shoppers of spiritual community are gathering: Outreach will host a regional prayer service at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in New York City on Saturday, 26 September, offering an evening of prayer and a friendly social , a free, local chance for LGBTQ Catholics to pray together, connect and be welcomed.

Essential Takeaways

  • What: Two-hour regional gathering combining a prayer service inside the church with a social on the parish grounds, free to attend.
  • Who: Co-hosted by Outreach and the parish LGBTQ ministry Out at St. Paul (OSP); parish leadership emphasises hospitality.
  • Why it matters: Part of Outreach’s NYC pilgrimage reflecting on the Catholic Church’s relationship with LGBTQ people, including histories during the HIV/AIDS crisis.
  • Tone and feel: Expect a warm, communal atmosphere , prayerful, inclusive and conversational, followed by light fellowship outdoors.
  • Practical: Registration is required via a form on Outreach’s site; questions can be sent to Outreach’s assistant director John Consolie.

A late‑summer welcome in the heart of Manhattan

Outreach is choosing a church with a big, lived‑in sense of hospitality for this gathering, and you can almost picture the evening: candlelight inside, a hum of voices, then chairs and conversations spilling out into the parish grounds. According to the parish pastor, Eric Andrews, CSP, hospitality is central to St. Paul the Apostle, and the parish is explicitly inviting LGBTQ Catholics to join in prayer and fellowship. That warm invitation makes the event feel less like a formal conference and more like an open house for faith and friendship.

Why Outreach is bringing the pilgrimage to New York

This regional service isn’t a one‑off: it’s a capstone of Outreach’s mini‑pilgrimage around New York City, intended to surface stories of LGBTQ Catholics and the city’s church communities, especially during the HIV/AIDS crisis at the turn of the century. Outreach’s executive director, Conor Reidy, framed the weekend as a way to carry those stories into prayer. So, if you want context alongside community, this gathering offers both remembrance and present‑day connection.

Community building with an easy, social finish

The event mixes liturgy and low‑pressure socialising , a short service followed by a reception on the church grounds. That balance matters: faith rituals can be intense, and the social time gives people space to swap stories, make contacts, or simply breathe. Out at St. Paul, the parish LGBTQ ministry, says it hopes the evening will deepen faith and strengthen ties; if you’re coming solo, expect approachable conversation and familiar faces.

Practical details: how to join and what to expect

Registration is free and handled through Outreach’s online form; the event page also links to broader pilgrimage details. If you need more info, Outreach’s assistant director John Consolie is the contact. Plan to arrive a little early for seating, and bring a light layer for outside social time , New York evenings can be breezy in late September. If accessibility or dietary needs matter, email ahead so organisers can help.

Why this gathering matters beyond one night

Events like this stitch together memory, pastoral outreach and everyday belonging. Outreach’s regional approach keeps the conversation from Georgetown going all year, and bringing it to a parish that’s already engaged with LGBTQ ministry sends a clear message: these conversations belong in local churches as much as they do at national gatherings. For many attendees, this will be a night of quiet affirmation and a tangible reminder that community can be both prayerful and practical.

It's a small change that can make every visit to church feel more like coming home.

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