As a lay minister to L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics, a faith-based community organizer, and an immigration attorney, Yunuen Trujillo wears many hats. And as a member of these marginalized communities herself, she knows their struggles intimately. ”I feel that when we minister to immigrants or L.G.B.T.Q. Catholics, I'm ministering from a place of an open wound,” says Yuenen, “But it's a good thing because when you connect with your wound, then you're able to be hospitable to the wound of other people.” Yunuen joins host Fr. James Martin, S.J., on “The Spiritual Life” podcast to share her journey of finding a loving and merciful God who walks with her in her fight for justice in many arenas.

Timecodes:

0:00 Jesus teaches us about love through the parable of “the Good Samaritan”
3:17 Can I be gay and Catholic?
6:40 Yunuen’s intersectional vocation as an immigration attorney and lay Catholic minister
13:20 Yunuen’s spiritual resources for the daily battles
17:46 Navigating righteous anger without succumbing to rage
28:00 How Yunuen found a loving and merciful God
43:30 Being LGBTQ isn’t an ideology
46:34 Audience Question: How can you use prayer to help you look forward in life as opposed to revisiting old transgressions or wounds?

Yunuen Trujillo’s books:

LGBTQ Catholics: A Guide for Inclusive Ministry: https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/5577-4/lgbtq-catholics.aspx?srsltid=AfmBOorm95wzBieCFLjLfZti_o_FcyHzhVKYXzh3KYeFh2LD7iyb343b

Católicos LGBTQ: Una Guía para Pastoral Inclusiva:
https://www.paulistpress.com/Products/8-880-2/catolicos-lgbtq.aspx?srsltid=AfmBOooe3dXQO4-TWD2Fc_Y6XLi33DDeSwTim-jIskIBbkb98_U4Z0fd

Yunuen is the founder of @lgbtcatholics on Instagram

Link to Father Jim’s spiritual advice column: https://www.americamagazine.org/podcasts/2026/05/26/james-martin-yunuen-trujillo-spiritual-life/

Do you have a spiritual question for Father Jim? You can write to us at: [email protected]

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