Sister Jeannine Gramick was instrumental in the founding of Dignity Philadelphia. Hear from Sr. Jeannine during a question and answer session as she reflects on the early days of Dignity Philadelphia. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask Sr. Jeannine their own questions. 

Location: The Church of St. Luke and the Epiphany, 330 S 13th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, Street Level

Time: 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

After the event, stay/come back for the 50th Jubilee Mass taking place in the same location from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.

In order to preserve the oral history of the beginning of Dignity Philadelphia and the history of Philadelphia's LGBTQ Catholic community, this event will be recorded by a local LGBTQ-owned videography company. If you would like to support the filming of this event, you can make an additional donation during the check out process or at www.mightycause.com/story/F4uvmf. All donors will be listed on the 50th Anniversary Website (or may give anonymously). Those who donate $100 or more will have the opportunity to make their gift in memory or honor of a loved one.

Are you interested in you or your business sponsoring the 50th Anniversary celebration? Click here for Sponsorship and Program Book Ad options. Or email hello@dignityphila.org for more information. 

About the Guest of Honor - Sr. Jeannine Gramick

Jeannine Gramick is a Sister of Loretto, born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia, and educated in the massive Philadelphia Catholic school system. She felt a call to religious life at age 7 when she attended St. John Cantius grade school and then St. Bartholomew's Grade School and entered the School Sisters of Notre Dame after graduating from St. Hubert's High School in 1960. 

In 1971, very few Catholics were talking about LGBTQI+ issues when Jeannine, then a doctoral student in mathematics education at the University of Pennsylvania, met Dominic Bash, a gay Catholic, who asked her, “What is the Catholic Church doing for my lesbian and gay sisters and brothers?” She responded that she didn’t know, but she soon learned that nothing was being done, so she decided to do something. She set up a weekly Eucharist for Dominic and his friends in the people's homes. One of the priests who celebrated Eucharist with the group was Fr. Robert Nugent. After Jeannine left Philadelphia in 1972 to teach at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland in Baltimore, this group became the nucleus that started the Dignity Philadelphia chapter. For this reason, she is often called the "grandmother" of Dignity Philadelphia!   

In 1977, along with Father Robert Nugent, Jeannine established New Ways Ministry, an international Catholic ministry of justice and reconciliation for LGBTQI+ Catholics and the wider Church. Through New Ways Ministry, Jeannine engages in educational and pastoral work and public advocacy. She has authored or edited numerous articles and books, and received dozens of awards from Catholic and LGBTQI+ organizations. Her outreach was the subject of the award-winning documentary, “In Good Conscience: Sister Jeannine Gramick’s Journey of Faith”.  

She had been assigned to LGBTQI+ ministry by her religious congregation since 1977, but in 1999, a Vatican investigation culminated in a directive to cease her pastoral work and to silence her from speaking publicly about the Vatican investigation. After a year of discernment, she felt that God was still calling her to be a public advocate for LGBTQI+ Catholics and that she had a right to speak about the Vatican investigation. She responded, “I choose not to collaborate in my own oppression.” In the political fallout, Jeannine transferred from the School Sisters of Notre Dame to the Sisters of Loretto. The Sisters of Loretto then received letters from the Vatican requesting her dismissal  from religious life if she did not cease her ministry. The Loretto Sisters did not dismiss her and continue to support her ministry.

In 2021, Jeannine celebrated 50 years in LGBTQI+ ministry that has transformed the Catholic Church in the United States and beyond. In December 2021, she received a handwritten letter in Spanish from Pope Francis. Noting her anniversary as the reason for his letter, Pope Francis congratulated her on “50 years of closeness, compassion and tenderness” in a ministry that he described as being in “‘the style’ of God.”