Celebrating the Legacy of John McNeill at Kirkridge- 100th Birthday

Join us for an afternoon of celebrating the incredible legacy of John McNeill and the footprint he has left on the life of Kirkridge. Being a place for queer commitment, respite, and liberation is a central to who Kirkridge is and we know that so much of that comes through the vision and heart of John McNeill and his love of this land.

In the 1970s, John McNeill began hosting LGBTQ faith retreats at Kirkridge. John McNeill was prisoner of war in Nazi Germany and a voice for peace during the Vietnam War. A pioneer of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBTQ) liberation, John co-founded the Catholic Group Dignity NY in 1972. His 1976 book The Church and Homosexual was groundbreaking. Silenced by Vatican authorities for speaking and writing on issues of homosexuality, he was expelled from the Jesuit community in 1987. 

Schedule of the afternoon:
2:30-3:00 Arrival/registration
3:00 Welcome and Vision
3:30 Honoring our Queer Ancestors at the Memorial Garden
4:30 Film showing: Taking a Chance on God
5:30 Panel
6:30 Dinner 

Information on the Documentary:
Taking a Chance on God, a documentary on the life of pioneering Catholic gay theologian, John McNeill. An inspiring portrait of a pioneer gay priest, Taking a Chance on God follows the extraordinary life of 86-year-old John McNeill from his Buffalo boyhood through his experiences as a POW in Nazi Germany, Vietnam peace promoter, leading gay rights advocate, and loving partner of forty-six years to Charles Chiarelli. McNeill – the author of groundbreaking works of gay spirituality, a founder of the LGBT Catholic group Dignity/New York, and a gay community leader during the AIDS crisis of the 1980s – refused to be silenced by the Vatican on LGBT issues, which resulted in his expulsion from the Jesuit priesthood. Chronicling McNeill’s love for the Catholic Church, the LGBT community, his Jesuit brothers, and his partner, Taking a Chance on God is a powerful story of faith, love and perseverance in the face of oppression and rejection.”

Taking a Chance on God was produced by Brendan Fay who will be with us for the afternoon.