Founder of DignityUSA - a pioneer and trailblazer
Pax Nidorf was born Pinchus Patrick Nidorf in the spring of 25 Mar 1932 in Phoenix, AZ to Louis Xavier Nidorf and Marie Hattie Nidorf. He spent the first 20 years of his life studying art and other educational pursuits. The second 20 years were spent in intensive training in the Augustinian monastic order, and he was ordained as a Catholic priest on May 31, 1960 by Bishop Charles Francis Buddy in San Diego, CA. During these years, he continued his art work and started Dignity, a ministry to gay and lesbian Catholics.
Pax retired from the priesthood in 1973, married Dacia StJohn and began his private practice as a psychotherapist. Throughout his life, Pax always had many ongoing creative projects. He was a productive artist as an adult and had many one-man shows throughout the West. He had a large following in Southern California with a waiting list for his commissioned works.
Pax Nidorf was an accomplished painter, illustrator, potter, and craftsman. Added to these gifts, he also wrote several in-depth books on various topics. His intense psychic and spiritual insights are revealed in their pages. One such book is "Beyond Dreaming - Tools for Psychic Development."
A NOTE FROM DIGNITY'S FOUNDER
"When I started Dignity in 1969 in the eyes of the world it was probably a very small thing. However, in the microcosm of my own life, it was a monumental gamble. The fact is that we are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.
"I think that is what Dignity is all about. Teaching people to dare to be themselves, to risk being open to love, to dare to open their hearts and let the world peek in.
"Let us hold hands to share our strength, love and faith with one another. Let us challenge anyone who would question our validity."
~ Pax (on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Dignity/San Diego)
________________________
In his own words:
"The Catholic gay people whom I had met were frequently bothered by ethical problems and identity with the Church. It seemed obvious that the Church wasn't meeting the needs of the gay community. In counseling gay Catholics, there always seemed to be an excessive and unreal problem of guilt that was sometimes reinforced in the confessional instead of being resolved. With these ideas rattling around in my brain, I wrote a paper on a proposed group for Catholic gays and presented it to our members at a Provincial meeting. Most of the priests seemed to favor the idea of forming such a group and I did."
"I know that Dignity would much prefer to have a founder in a white caftan with flowing hair, high cheekbones, and piercing blue eyes. A dude with infinite charm and charisma. Instead you got a dorky guy with a bald head, very ordinary, not too articulate and near to becoming a hefflalump.
Why does God always choose such weird people for messengers? Well, they say that God writes straight with crooked lines.
I know it seems as though, after Dignity got started, I abandoned the flock, however, it was so important that I get out of the way and let the Spirit do the work through others.
Dignity was not about me. Dignity is about you. My mission was to light that spark in the heart of every gay Catholic so that they could and can set the world on fire with love and caring. To let the gay community know that they are God's chosen people. To let them know that they have real purpose in their lives as Catholics, that they are the living Church."
Lovingly
Pax
________________________________
Early in 1969, Father Patrick X. Nidorf, an Augustinian priest and psychologist in San Diego, began a ministry for gay and lesbian Roman Catholics as an extension of his professional work. He chose the name "Dignity" to stress his basic goal: to bring dignity into the spiritual and social lives of gay and lesbian Catholics. Word of Nidorf's ministry spread, first by word of mouth, then through advertisements Nidorf placed in the Los Angeles Free Press and (beginning in January 1970) the Advocate. To guard against the possibility of religious fanatics or homophobes disrupting or dominating meetings, Nidorf required the return of a completed application form, and, when in doubt, a personal interview. The monthly gatherings were open only to individuals over 21 years of age, with a membership card issued by Nidorf; annual dues were $5. Nidorf also issued a simple monthly newsletter.
Fr Pat received 168 responses to an AD he placed in 1969 inviting Catholics to a discussion group intended to lighten their spiritual burden in a hostile world.
Although the early meetings alternated between San Diego and Los Angeles, Nidorf soon moved all meetings to Los Angeles, where the great majority of participants lived. In May 1970, Nidorf asked Bob Fournier to draw up a constitution-known as the Statement of Position and Purpose-for Dignity, and in June appointed him first General Chairman of the organization. In September, Dignity held its first meeting on church property, in the basement auditorium of St. Brendan's parish in Los Angeles.
"There are names and faces that have worked and still work actively in the reconciliation of the LGTBIQ+ reality and their faith in the Catholic Church. It is interesting to note that the work of welcoming and accompanying rainbow Catholics was initiated in the 1960s, being pioneered by the group DignityUSA, launched on the initiative of psychologist and Father Patrick X. Nidorf of the Order of St. Augustine (OSA), months before the Stonewall Riot."
__________________________
"My name is Pax Nidorf. I have been a Catholic priest for over 40 years. I taught high school for over 15 years, and then went into private practice as a psychotherapist. This has been my major career work for most of my life.
As far as my art is concerned, I was a painter from the womb. As far back as I can remember I created works of art and was encouraged by both my parents.
At an early age I had private lessons with a realist artist in Oregon. My first summer after my Ordination, I studied art at Penn State in Philadelphia. Though I studied pottery with some well-known California potters, painting has always been my first love!
I was able to start painting seriously after Ordination. Having had many one-man shows in California, I had my largest following in the Ojai, California area. I've had one-man shows in Ojai, San Diego, Beverly Hills, San Francisco, and Denver.
I've also had a number of successful two-man shows with my brother Luis who is a sculpture and digital photographer. I currently reside in Escondido, California and paint daily."
source: https://www.artpal.com/paxnidorf
Pax Nidorf was born Pinchus Patrick Nidorf in the spring of 25 Mar 1932 in Phoenix, AZ to Louis Xavier Nidorf and Marie Hattie Nidorf. He spent the first 20 years of his life studying art and other educational pursuits. The second 20 years were spent in intensive training in the Augustinian monastic order, and he was ordained as a Catholic priest on May 31, 1960 by Bishop Charles Francis Buddy in San Diego, CA. During these years, he continued his art work and started Dignity, a ministry to gay and lesbian Catholics.
Pax retired from the priesthood in 1973, married Dacia StJohn and began his private practice as a psychotherapist. Throughout his life, Pax always had many ongoing creative projects. He was a productive artist as an adult and had many one-man shows throughout the West. He had a large following in Southern California with a waiting list for his commissioned works.
Pax Nidorf was an accomplished painter, illustrator, potter, and craftsman. Added to these gifts, he also wrote several in-depth books on various topics. His intense psychic and spiritual insights are revealed in their pages. One such book is "Beyond Dreaming - Tools for Psychic Development."
A NOTE FROM DIGNITY'S FOUNDER
"When I started Dignity in 1969 in the eyes of the world it was probably a very small thing. However, in the microcosm of my own life, it was a monumental gamble. The fact is that we are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.
"I think that is what Dignity is all about. Teaching people to dare to be themselves, to risk being open to love, to dare to open their hearts and let the world peek in.
"Let us hold hands to share our strength, love and faith with one another. Let us challenge anyone who would question our validity."
~ Pax (on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Dignity/San Diego)
________________________
In his own words:
"The Catholic gay people whom I had met were frequently bothered by ethical problems and identity with the Church. It seemed obvious that the Church wasn't meeting the needs of the gay community. In counseling gay Catholics, there always seemed to be an excessive and unreal problem of guilt that was sometimes reinforced in the confessional instead of being resolved. With these ideas rattling around in my brain, I wrote a paper on a proposed group for Catholic gays and presented it to our members at a Provincial meeting. Most of the priests seemed to favor the idea of forming such a group and I did."
"I know that Dignity would much prefer to have a founder in a white caftan with flowing hair, high cheekbones, and piercing blue eyes. A dude with infinite charm and charisma. Instead you got a dorky guy with a bald head, very ordinary, not too articulate and near to becoming a hefflalump.
Why does God always choose such weird people for messengers? Well, they say that God writes straight with crooked lines.
I know it seems as though, after Dignity got started, I abandoned the flock, however, it was so important that I get out of the way and let the Spirit do the work through others.
Dignity was not about me. Dignity is about you. My mission was to light that spark in the heart of every gay Catholic so that they could and can set the world on fire with love and caring. To let the gay community know that they are God's chosen people. To let them know that they have real purpose in their lives as Catholics, that they are the living Church."
Lovingly
Pax
________________________________
Early in 1969, Father Patrick X. Nidorf, an Augustinian priest and psychologist in San Diego, began a ministry for gay and lesbian Roman Catholics as an extension of his professional work. He chose the name "Dignity" to stress his basic goal: to bring dignity into the spiritual and social lives of gay and lesbian Catholics. Word of Nidorf's ministry spread, first by word of mouth, then through advertisements Nidorf placed in the Los Angeles Free Press and (beginning in January 1970) the Advocate. To guard against the possibility of religious fanatics or homophobes disrupting or dominating meetings, Nidorf required the return of a completed application form, and, when in doubt, a personal interview. The monthly gatherings were open only to individuals over 21 years of age, with a membership card issued by Nidorf; annual dues were $5. Nidorf also issued a simple monthly newsletter.
Fr Pat received 168 responses to an AD he placed in 1969 inviting Catholics to a discussion group intended to lighten their spiritual burden in a hostile world.
Although the early meetings alternated between San Diego and Los Angeles, Nidorf soon moved all meetings to Los Angeles, where the great majority of participants lived. In May 1970, Nidorf asked Bob Fournier to draw up a constitution-known as the Statement of Position and Purpose-for Dignity, and in June appointed him first General Chairman of the organization. In September, Dignity held its first meeting on church property, in the basement auditorium of St. Brendan's parish in Los Angeles.
"There are names and faces that have worked and still work actively in the reconciliation of the LGTBIQ+ reality and their faith in the Catholic Church. It is interesting to note that the work of welcoming and accompanying rainbow Catholics was initiated in the 1960s, being pioneered by the group DignityUSA, launched on the initiative of psychologist and Father Patrick X. Nidorf of the Order of St. Augustine (OSA), months before the Stonewall Riot."
__________________________
"My name is Pax Nidorf. I have been a Catholic priest for over 40 years. I taught high school for over 15 years, and then went into private practice as a psychotherapist. This has been my major career work for most of my life.
As far as my art is concerned, I was a painter from the womb. As far back as I can remember I created works of art and was encouraged by both my parents.
At an early age I had private lessons with a realist artist in Oregon. My first summer after my Ordination, I studied art at Penn State in Philadelphia. Though I studied pottery with some well-known California potters, painting has always been my first love!
I was able to start painting seriously after Ordination. Having had many one-man shows in California, I had my largest following in the Ojai, California area. I've had one-man shows in Ojai, San Diego, Beverly Hills, San Francisco, and Denver.
I've also had a number of successful two-man shows with my brother Luis who is a sculpture and digital photographer. I currently reside in Escondido, California and paint daily."
source: https://www.artpal.com/paxnidorf
Founder of DignityUSA - a pioneer and trailblazer
Pax Nidorf was born Pinchus Patrick Nidorf in the spring of 25 Mar 1932 in Phoenix, AZ to Louis Xavier Nidorf and Marie Hattie Nidorf. He spent the first 20 years of his life studying art and other educational pursuits. The second 20 years were spent in intensive training in the Augustinian monastic order, and he was ordained as a Catholic priest on May 31, 1960 by Bishop Charles Francis Buddy in San Diego, CA. During these years, he continued his art work and started Dignity, a ministry to gay and lesbian Catholics.
Pax retired from the priesthood in 1973, married Dacia StJohn and began his private practice as a psychotherapist. Throughout his life, Pax always had many ongoing creative projects. He was a productive artist as an adult and had many one-man shows throughout the West. He had a large following in Southern California with a waiting list for his commissioned works.
Pax Nidorf was an accomplished painter, illustrator, potter, and craftsman. Added to these gifts, he also wrote several in-depth books on various topics. His intense psychic and spiritual insights are revealed in their pages. One such book is "Beyond Dreaming - Tools for Psychic Development."
A NOTE FROM DIGNITY'S FOUNDER
"When I started Dignity in 1969 in the eyes of the world it was probably a very small thing. However, in the microcosm of my own life, it was a monumental gamble. The fact is that we are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.
"I think that is what Dignity is all about. Teaching people to dare to be themselves, to risk being open to love, to dare to open their hearts and let the world peek in.
"Let us hold hands to share our strength, love and faith with one another. Let us challenge anyone who would question our validity."
~ Pax (on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Dignity/San Diego)
________________________
In his own words:
"The Catholic gay people whom I had met were frequently bothered by ethical problems and identity with the Church. It seemed obvious that the Church wasn't meeting the needs of the gay community. In counseling gay Catholics, there always seemed to be an excessive and unreal problem of guilt that was sometimes reinforced in the confessional instead of being resolved. With these ideas rattling around in my brain, I wrote a paper on a proposed group for Catholic gays and presented it to our members at a Provincial meeting. Most of the priests seemed to favor the idea of forming such a group and I did."
"I know that Dignity would much prefer to have a founder in a white caftan with flowing hair, high cheekbones, and piercing blue eyes. A dude with infinite charm and charisma. Instead you got a dorky guy with a bald head, very ordinary, not too articulate and near to becoming a hefflalump.
Why does God always choose such weird people for messengers? Well, they say that God writes straight with crooked lines.
I know it seems as though, after Dignity got started, I abandoned the flock, however, it was so important that I get out of the way and let the Spirit do the work through others.
Dignity was not about me. Dignity is about you. My mission was to light that spark in the heart of every gay Catholic so that they could and can set the world on fire with love and caring. To let the gay community know that they are God's chosen people. To let them know that they have real purpose in their lives as Catholics, that they are the living Church."
Lovingly
Pax
________________________________
Early in 1969, Father Patrick X. Nidorf, an Augustinian priest and psychologist in San Diego, began a ministry for gay and lesbian Roman Catholics as an extension of his professional work. He chose the name "Dignity" to stress his basic goal: to bring dignity into the spiritual and social lives of gay and lesbian Catholics. Word of Nidorf's ministry spread, first by word of mouth, then through advertisements Nidorf placed in the Los Angeles Free Press and (beginning in January 1970) the Advocate. To guard against the possibility of religious fanatics or homophobes disrupting or dominating meetings, Nidorf required the return of a completed application form, and, when in doubt, a personal interview. The monthly gatherings were open only to individuals over 21 years of age, with a membership card issued by Nidorf; annual dues were $5. Nidorf also issued a simple monthly newsletter.
Fr Pat received 168 responses to an AD he placed in 1969 inviting Catholics to a discussion group intended to lighten their spiritual burden in a hostile world.
Although the early meetings alternated between San Diego and Los Angeles, Nidorf soon moved all meetings to Los Angeles, where the great majority of participants lived. In May 1970, Nidorf asked Bob Fournier to draw up a constitution-known as the Statement of Position and Purpose-for Dignity, and in June appointed him first General Chairman of the organization. In September, Dignity held its first meeting on church property, in the basement auditorium of St. Brendan's parish in Los Angeles.
"There are names and faces that have worked and still work actively in the reconciliation of the LGTBIQ+ reality and their faith in the Catholic Church. It is interesting to note that the work of welcoming and accompanying rainbow Catholics was initiated in the 1960s, being pioneered by the group DignityUSA, launched on the initiative of psychologist and Father Patrick X. Nidorf of the Order of St. Augustine (OSA), months before the Stonewall Riot."
__________________________
"My name is Pax Nidorf. I have been a Catholic priest for over 40 years. I taught high school for over 15 years, and then went into private practice as a psychotherapist. This has been my major career work for most of my life.
As far as my art is concerned, I was a painter from the womb. As far back as I can remember I created works of art and was encouraged by both my parents.
At an early age I had private lessons with a realist artist in Oregon. My first summer after my Ordination, I studied art at Penn State in Philadelphia. Though I studied pottery with some well-known California potters, painting has always been my first love!
I was able to start painting seriously after Ordination. Having had many one-man shows in California, I had my largest following in the Ojai, California area. I've had one-man shows in Ojai, San Diego, Beverly Hills, San Francisco, and Denver.
I've also had a number of successful two-man shows with my brother Luis who is a sculpture and digital photographer. I currently reside in Escondido, California and paint daily."
source: https://www.artpal.com/paxnidorf
Pax Nidorf was born Pinchus Patrick Nidorf in the spring of 25 Mar 1932 in Phoenix, AZ to Louis Xavier Nidorf and Marie Hattie Nidorf. He spent the first 20 years of his life studying art and other educational pursuits. The second 20 years were spent in intensive training in the Augustinian monastic order, and he was ordained as a Catholic priest on May 31, 1960 by Bishop Charles Francis Buddy in San Diego, CA. During these years, he continued his art work and started Dignity, a ministry to gay and lesbian Catholics.
Pax retired from the priesthood in 1973, married Dacia StJohn and began his private practice as a psychotherapist. Throughout his life, Pax always had many ongoing creative projects. He was a productive artist as an adult and had many one-man shows throughout the West. He had a large following in Southern California with a waiting list for his commissioned works.
Pax Nidorf was an accomplished painter, illustrator, potter, and craftsman. Added to these gifts, he also wrote several in-depth books on various topics. His intense psychic and spiritual insights are revealed in their pages. One such book is "Beyond Dreaming - Tools for Psychic Development."
A NOTE FROM DIGNITY'S FOUNDER
"When I started Dignity in 1969 in the eyes of the world it was probably a very small thing. However, in the microcosm of my own life, it was a monumental gamble. The fact is that we are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.
"I think that is what Dignity is all about. Teaching people to dare to be themselves, to risk being open to love, to dare to open their hearts and let the world peek in.
"Let us hold hands to share our strength, love and faith with one another. Let us challenge anyone who would question our validity."
~ Pax (on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Dignity/San Diego)
________________________
In his own words:
"The Catholic gay people whom I had met were frequently bothered by ethical problems and identity with the Church. It seemed obvious that the Church wasn't meeting the needs of the gay community. In counseling gay Catholics, there always seemed to be an excessive and unreal problem of guilt that was sometimes reinforced in the confessional instead of being resolved. With these ideas rattling around in my brain, I wrote a paper on a proposed group for Catholic gays and presented it to our members at a Provincial meeting. Most of the priests seemed to favor the idea of forming such a group and I did."
"I know that Dignity would much prefer to have a founder in a white caftan with flowing hair, high cheekbones, and piercing blue eyes. A dude with infinite charm and charisma. Instead you got a dorky guy with a bald head, very ordinary, not too articulate and near to becoming a hefflalump.
Why does God always choose such weird people for messengers? Well, they say that God writes straight with crooked lines.
I know it seems as though, after Dignity got started, I abandoned the flock, however, it was so important that I get out of the way and let the Spirit do the work through others.
Dignity was not about me. Dignity is about you. My mission was to light that spark in the heart of every gay Catholic so that they could and can set the world on fire with love and caring. To let the gay community know that they are God's chosen people. To let them know that they have real purpose in their lives as Catholics, that they are the living Church."
Lovingly
Pax
________________________________
Early in 1969, Father Patrick X. Nidorf, an Augustinian priest and psychologist in San Diego, began a ministry for gay and lesbian Roman Catholics as an extension of his professional work. He chose the name "Dignity" to stress his basic goal: to bring dignity into the spiritual and social lives of gay and lesbian Catholics. Word of Nidorf's ministry spread, first by word of mouth, then through advertisements Nidorf placed in the Los Angeles Free Press and (beginning in January 1970) the Advocate. To guard against the possibility of religious fanatics or homophobes disrupting or dominating meetings, Nidorf required the return of a completed application form, and, when in doubt, a personal interview. The monthly gatherings were open only to individuals over 21 years of age, with a membership card issued by Nidorf; annual dues were $5. Nidorf also issued a simple monthly newsletter.
Fr Pat received 168 responses to an AD he placed in 1969 inviting Catholics to a discussion group intended to lighten their spiritual burden in a hostile world.
Although the early meetings alternated between San Diego and Los Angeles, Nidorf soon moved all meetings to Los Angeles, where the great majority of participants lived. In May 1970, Nidorf asked Bob Fournier to draw up a constitution-known as the Statement of Position and Purpose-for Dignity, and in June appointed him first General Chairman of the organization. In September, Dignity held its first meeting on church property, in the basement auditorium of St. Brendan's parish in Los Angeles.
"There are names and faces that have worked and still work actively in the reconciliation of the LGTBIQ+ reality and their faith in the Catholic Church. It is interesting to note that the work of welcoming and accompanying rainbow Catholics was initiated in the 1960s, being pioneered by the group DignityUSA, launched on the initiative of psychologist and Father Patrick X. Nidorf of the Order of St. Augustine (OSA), months before the Stonewall Riot."
__________________________
"My name is Pax Nidorf. I have been a Catholic priest for over 40 years. I taught high school for over 15 years, and then went into private practice as a psychotherapist. This has been my major career work for most of my life.
As far as my art is concerned, I was a painter from the womb. As far back as I can remember I created works of art and was encouraged by both my parents.
At an early age I had private lessons with a realist artist in Oregon. My first summer after my Ordination, I studied art at Penn State in Philadelphia. Though I studied pottery with some well-known California potters, painting has always been my first love!
I was able to start painting seriously after Ordination. Having had many one-man shows in California, I had my largest following in the Ojai, California area. I've had one-man shows in Ojai, San Diego, Beverly Hills, San Francisco, and Denver.
I've also had a number of successful two-man shows with my brother Luis who is a sculpture and digital photographer. I currently reside in Escondido, California and paint daily."
source: https://www.artpal.com/paxnidorf
