History Highlights

1992 – March

Eight religious and lay ministers, including Casey & Mary Ellen Lopata, parents of a gay son, from Rochester, NY begins meeting regularly and eventually becomes Catholic Gay and Lesbian Family Ministry (CGLFM).

1992 – November

CGLFM facilitates a meeting of Rochester Bishop Matthew Clark and gay and lesbian Catholics and their family members to discuss the 1992 Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith letter, “Responding to Legislative Proposals on Discrimination Against Homosexuals.”

1994 – July

National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian & Gay Ministries (NACDLGM) (Now: Catholic Association of Lesbian and Gay Ministries -CALGM) is founded at a meeting of representatives from thirteen dioceses. The Lopatas are among the 28 founding members. In 1995 Mary Ellen Lopata is elected to the first board of directors, serves on the executive committee from 1997-2003 and as president 2001-2. Since 1998, Casey has served on the Pastoral Resources Committee.

1994 – October

The Lopatas attend and become charter members of the Catholic Parents Network.

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1994 – December

The first issue of the CGLFM Newsletter is published by Casey Lopata.

1994 – 1996

The Lopatas are consulters to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Marriage and the Family on Always Our Children: A Pastoral Message to Parents of Homosexual Children –AND—Suggestions for Pastoral Ministers, issued in September 1997.

1998 – September

The Lopata’s chair the annual NACDLGM conference. Held in Rochester, the theme is “Imaging Justice.”

2001 – July

Seeds of Hope: Compassionate Ministry with Gay and Lesbian Catholics and Their Families—A practical resource manual published. Edited by Casey Lopata.

2002 – August

More Seeds: A supplement to Seeds of Hope published. Edited by Casey Lopata.

2003 – October

Fortunate Families: Catholic Families with Lesbian Daughters and Gay Sons, by Mary Ellen Lopata with Casey Lopata, published. (Trafford Publishing)

2004 – April

The Lopata’s leave CGLFM and start Fortunate Families

2004 – December

Fortunate Families becomes a not-for-profit corporation.

2005 – January

Fortunate Families adopts by-laws and elects its first board of directors: Mary Ellen Lopata (President), Tom Ferrarese (Secretary/Treasurer), James Buckheit, Jean Kearse, Casey Lopata, William Pickett, and Rosalie Muschal-Reinhardt.

2005 – May

Fortunate Families, Inc. files 501(c) (3) application.

2006

Received 501(c)(3) exempt ruling from IRS.

2014

The Lopatas retire from the Fortunate Families Board of Directors.

2017 – October

Stan “JR” Zerkowski is called to serve as first Executive Director

1992 – March

Eight religious and lay ministers, including Casey & Mary Ellen Lopata, parents of a gay son, from Rochester, NY begins meeting regularly and eventually becomes Catholic Gay and Lesbian Family Ministry (CGLFM).

1992 – November

CGLFM facilitates a meeting of Rochester Bishop Matthew Clark and gay and lesbian Catholics and their family members to discuss the 1992 Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith letter, “Responding to Legislative Proposals on Discrimination Against Homosexuals.”

1994 – July

National Association of Catholic Diocesan Lesbian & Gay Ministries (NACDLGM) (Now: Catholic Association of Lesbian and Gay Ministries -CALGM) is founded at a meeting of representatives from thirteen dioceses. The Lopatas are among the 28 founding members. In 1995 Mary Ellen Lopata is elected to the first board of directors, serves on the executive committee from 1997-2003 and as president 2001-2. Since 1998, Casey has served on the Pastoral Resources Committee.

1994 – October

The Lopatas attend and become charter members of the Catholic Parents Network.

i

1994 – December

The first issue of the CGLFM Newsletter is published by Casey Lopata.

1994 – 1996

The Lopatas are consulters to the National Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Marriage and the Family on Always Our Children: A Pastoral Message to Parents of Homosexual Children –AND—Suggestions for Pastoral Ministers, issued in September 1997.

1998 – September

The Lopata’s chair the annual NACDLGM conference. Held in Rochester, the theme is “Imaging Justice.”

2001 – July

Seeds of Hope: Compassionate Ministry with Gay and Lesbian Catholics and Their Families—A practical resource manual published. Edited by Casey Lopata.

2002 – August

More Seeds: A supplement to Seeds of Hope published. Edited by Casey Lopata.

2003 – October

Fortunate Families: Catholic Families with Lesbian Daughters and Gay Sons, by Mary Ellen Lopata with Casey Lopata, published. (Trafford Publishing)

2004 – April

The Lopata’s leave CGLFM and start Fortunate Families

2004 – December

Fortunate Families becomes a not-for-profit corporation.

2005 – January

Fortunate Families adopts by-laws and elects its first board of directors: Mary Ellen Lopata (President), Tom Ferrarese (Secretary/Treasurer), James Buckheit, Jean Kearse, Casey Lopata, William Pickett, and Rosalie Muschal-Reinhardt.

2005 – May

Fortunate Families, Inc. files 501(c) (3) application.

2006

Received 501(c)(3) exempt ruling from IRS.

2014

The Lopatas retire from the Fortunate Families Board of Directors.

2017 – October

Stan “JR” Zerkowski is hired as first Executive Director