Five Years of Solidarity | Joey Martineck and the Archdiocese of Atlanta
One of the original motivations in founding Eden Invitation was to provide an innovative pastoral response in an area of ever-growing need. People in the broader world, and even within the Church lack resources when it comes to understanding the human person, particularly with regards to sexuality, gender, and LGBTQ+ experiences. Seeing this gap in his day-to-day work is one thing that drew Joey Martineck to the Eden Invitation website:
“I'm director of Respect Life Ministry for the Archdiocese of Atlanta, Georgia. Theology of the Body, catechesis, and evangelization is my main ministry– trying to propose a more appealing vision of the human person than I think the culture offers.”
“I found an article Anna Carter wrote back in 2018. And I was just struck, so I looked up the Eden Invitation website, read and watched more… I remember bawling in my room– I was so happy that this exists and like what a gift, what an answer to so many prayers.”
See, for Joey, Eden Invitation not only spoke into the gaps he saw in ministry but also his personal experiences with friends who have LGBTQ+ experiences:
“I like to do community theater, and I’m a writer too. I’m very involved in the arts, and I’ve encountered many people with LGBTQ+ experiences in those spaces. More personally though– I think what formed me first is that my best friend in college came out to me as gay. Before that happened, I kinda thought I knew everything there was to know about [LGBTQ+ experiences]. I want to be faithful to church teaching, and [his sharing] helped me because it really put me in his shoes.”
As Joey read our website, more and more he felt Eden Invitation’s ministry was reaching into the gap while also upholding the truth:
“As you read that statement of belief–what you'll find, I think, is a couple of different things. You'll find, one, that there's nothing there that's against church teaching– it’s the truth. Second, you also find that you, yourself are placed in that story. The whole narrative Eden Invitation shares includes all human persons, rather than making a statement that only applies to ‘those people over there.’ They have a full vision of what it means to be human.”
In 2019, Eden Invitation prepared for our first annual retreat. Retreat is a time for our community members across the country (now even across the globe) to be in person– walk together through prayer, talks, celebrations, and more. This first retreat was hosted at a site within the Archdiocese of Atlanta. Our co-founders Anna and Shannon asked if Joey, as a representative of the archdiocese, would like to join the retreat team. He whole-heartedly accepted:
“My personal desire to support you all was met through being on the team, but also it was a great way for us–the Archbishop and the Archdiocese– to show our support of Eden Invitation.”
“I remember being so impressed with the participants that were on that first retreat because I saw people who had directed their desires totally to the Lord for fulfillment. In my own life at the time, my longings were tangled up with desiring marriage and that not happening according to whatever timeline I had. I was so humbled by the people around me because all of that energy in their longings wasn't wasted, but they were trying to totally direct it to the Lord. They were so alive in that– it's made me want it. That's why I try to go back every year when they're in my diocese, to give that formal welcome, which is a gift and we always want to do, but I really love being with Eden Invitation members.”
Joey’s role on the Retreat Team that year was to join one of our Family Groups– small groups that meet throughout the retreat to process and pray together.
“I got to hear a number of different stories throughout the weekend because we ate every meal together… as people share, you just focus on ‘who is in front of me and what is their story,’ and it's very different than the person sitting next to them…Some of the narratives out there do not give that level of nuance. It was an honor for me to receive their stories!”
At one point, one of Joey’s group members shared how important Joey’s presence was:
“He said, ‘You may not share my [LGBTQ+] experiences, but the fact that you care enough to be here, to learn about the world I’m living in and what I’m trying to do as a faithful Catholic with these experiences– it means so much.’ I still talk about that moment often.”
Another key part of an Eden Invitation Retreat is our ending brunch and toasts. Inspired by Henri Nouwen's "Can You Drink the Cup?", we gather together to name and celebrate the work we see God doing in each other's lives. Joey remembers another Community Member toasting his presence there and what it meant for him:
“He was specifically grateful that someone from the Respect Life Ministry Office was involved. He made the connection that LGBTQ+ experiences could also be, in a sense, considered a Respect Life issue, given the increased rates of depression and suicide for people of faith who also have LGBTQ+ experiences…While it’s not the main focus of our office, of course we care about that! The whole point of our office is to share that we are made in the Image of God and that there is dignity in the human person. It mattered to me that he was able to make that connection because that's really what it's about.”
“I’m so grateful to be a representative for everyone in our diocesan offices who supports the work of Eden Invitation. I think I've been to retreat four times now, and even when I get to share just a welcome for like 30 seconds, there's always someone that is so impacted by that welcome and encouragement.”
Even though our 2024 retreat is happening closer to Eden Invitation’s home base in Minnesota, the Archdiocese of Atlanta is still sponsoring our retreat! Joey shares more about why:
“It’s important for us to give this official support because what Eden Invitation is doing is faithful to the Church’s teaching. I think there are some pastoral approaches out there that do not uphold the truth of the human person and Christ’s teachings. We need to honor and support the organizations that are operating faithfully! Eden Invitation fosters a culture that doesn’t shame people for their experiences, but rather encourages seeking the goodness of God’s plan– that He made each person unique and unrepeatable, with a Baptismal calling as Children of God.”
“If faithful pastoral approaches for those with LGBTQ+ experiences are not supported, people will gravitate to other sources which may not be healthy or helpful. I want to emphasize again– this is such an important topic in our lives today, you cannot help but see it in so many places. I’ve worked with Eden Invitation for a long time, and I’ve seen great things. We are so grateful for your ministry in the Archdiocese of Atlanta and we want to make sure this opportunity is available for many more people to come!”
We are so grateful to Joey Martineck, the Archdiocese of Atlanta, and all of you who have supported our retreats over the years! Not only do Sponsors provide for the financial costs of our retreat, enabling us to give an affordable resource to striving LGBTQ+ disciples, they also show our participants that there are people throughout the Church walking beside them.
Are you or your organization interested in sponsoring our 2024 Retreat? For an overview of the sponsorship packages available, click here.
