In February 1986, at the end of a 40-hours' devotion at Blessed Sacrament Church in Hollywood, Archbishop Roger Mahony announced the formation of the parish-based Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Catholics (MLGC), which was then called Communidad.

The archbishop said the goal of the new ministry was "to foster a spirit of community and fellowship among gay Catholics so that they can offer and receive mutual support in living out their lives of faith with the church."

Last Saturday evening, some 500 gay and lesbian Catholics, along with relatives and friends, celebrated the 20th anniversary of MLGC in the same Hollywood church.

"The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is blessed in so many wonderful ways by the work and leadership of those associated with this important ministry," said Father Brian Doran of Holy Angels Church of the Deaf, who presided at the 90-minute liturgy, signed and read a letter from Cardinal Mahony.

"Your commitment to live out your baptismal call to discipleship is an inspiration to us all. And on behalf of all whose lives you have touched through your ministry, I offer my deep gratitude."

Oblate of Mary Immaculate Father Carlos Alarcon, pastor of Santa Rosa Church in San Fernando, and Jesuit Father Mike Mandala, pastor of Blessed Sacrament, were the principal concelebrants along with nearly a dozen other priests. The liturgy began with dancers followed by the choir and congregation singing a rousing "Somos El Cuerpo de Cristo" ("We Are the Body of Christ"). Members of the entrance procession placed rainbow colored banners behind the altar.

In his homily, Father Alarcon said local gays and lesbians had become stronger during the last two decades by experiencing the "pride of belonging" to the church. He talked about the challenges parents faced in learning more about homosexuality and accepting their homosexual children.

"The story of this ministry is about courage," he said. "During these 20 years, people have committed their lives to bring faith and hope to men and women who were in danger of losing their faith or experiencing hopelessness.

"All of us, gay or straight, parents or children, relatives and friends, we who have the privilege to being called in any way in the ministry with gay and lesbians Catholics, have become aware that we are church, that we are a big church --- and that we have a place in the church because of our baptism.

"All of us have been called to stay within the church," he stressed, "with dignity, with responsibility, with commitment, with faith and, above all, with love."

After the Mass, Father Mandala said he was proud of the ministry at Blessed Sacrament, one of eight parishes in the Los Angeles Archdiocese with lesbian and gay outreach programs. The pastor pointed out that talk was cheap, but when the spirit was genuinely alive and working, action prevailed.

"People in the Ministry with Lesbians and Gays here are involved in the full ministry of this Blessed Sacrament community," he reported. "They're involved with each other. They're involved in the carnival. They're involved as lectors and Eucharistic ministers, as ushers.

"They're involved in every facet of the community. That speaks of the spirit of God with them and with us."

Lumen Christi (Light of Christ) 2006 awards were presented to eight individuals for their outstanding service to MLGC: Armida and Louis Cisneros, Brad Fuller, Carolyn and Robert Aldapa, David Kennedy, Lucille Sevigny and Fran Ruth.

Ruth, who coordinates the Ministry with Lesbian and Gay Catholics, said while it had grown greatly during the last 20 years it was still one of the "best kept secrets" in the archdiocese, and people were always surprised to see their booth at the annual Religious Education Congress.

"What else could be done is for more people to step up and not be afraid to say, 'Hey, I'm gay. I'm Catholic.' Or really what they should say is 'Hey, I'm Catholic. And I also happen to be gay.'

"I think if more people have the courage to do that, it will grow. And, hopefully, one day we won't have a need for this ministry. Hopefully, one day we'll just be all together."