Richard Palleschi

RICHARD PALLESCHI
First Presbyterian Church
Ewing, New Jersey

After hearing the preaching against homosexuality in the Roman Catholic church, leaving the church in my youth, and abandoning all faith and spirituality (as well as sexuality) in my twenties, I was finally able to come out to myself and others and found a church where all were truly welcomed.  My faith and spirituality are mine again.

My activity in the church surprises me:  serving on a Presbytery Task Force, speaking to church groups, singing in choir.  The church has given me personal strength and an understanding of homosexuality.  I have watched my church's first openly gay Deacon take our church community to the next plane from "The Pines" to the church, I am reminded of what we all want and need from each other: compassion and understanding.

This is one of sixteen stoles donated by First Presbyterian Church of Ewing, NJ on behalf of members and friends of the congregation.  As evidenced by this story from a former Catholic, First Presbyterian has a number of members who found themselves "exiled" from other churches and denominations.

Martha Juillerat
Founder, Shower of Stoles Project
2006