Ministry is going wherever there are people

Times of Great Change Bring Great Opportunity for the Church, Says Jesuit Father James Martin

They adapt to new needs and provide opportunities to serve people differently. A ministry of service means going wherever people go, says Martin (pictured).

Martin says Pope Francis has officially endorsed serving LGBTQ people. He encourages LGBTQ inclusion within Catholic families.

“While some may feel constrained by the oath of obedience that obliges leadership to follow the papal direction, others seek support in new areas of service and marginalization of the underserved. We are seeking support for the affected groups,” says Martin.

In addition to his various communicative roles, Martin brings a Catholic sense of belonging to many disaffected and disaffected people, especially LGBTQ people.

With more than 645,000 followers on Facebook, 309,000 followers on Twitter, and 81,000 followers on Instagram, he ministers to people everywhere.

Martin says he’s just imitating Jesus. Instead of waiting for his disciples to come, Jesus went out into the community and called his first disciples.

“Maybe they’re not on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, so they’re going somewhere else,” he says. “They’re doing Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.”

But it’s only the first step.

Another step is equally important.

Jesus did. With fishermen such as Peter, Andrew, and James, he used terms they understood.

“He said: ‘Follow me and I will make you a human fisherman.'”

“And if it isn’t right for Jesus to do it, it shouldn’t be right for us,” he says.

Martin found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, life in the community has moved online.

While online ministry cannot replace going to Mass, meeting Christ at the Eucharist, or communal worship, an opportunity has emerged to come together as an online community.

Today, Martin has a Facebook Bible Study every Friday. About 500 people gather.

He interacts with online communities on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, as well as more informal communities.

His outreach to the LGBTQ+ community began after the 2016 shooting at a gay nightclub that killed 49 people.

“I felt like I needed to say something,” says Martin.

Few bishops said nothing. “Even dead, they are invisible to the church,” Martin realized.

He now continues his ministry to LGBTQ people, and Martin said God guided him.

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