"Touch and See" Trans Catholic Joy
A Queer Catholic Joy reflection by Maureen Rasmussen
As you know, when we first envisioned this Queer Catholic Joy series, we planned to share it at Easter—a season that celebrates a love stronger than death and life breaking through every tomb. But after the passing of Pope Francis and the election of Pope Leo XIV, we made space for collective mourning, transition, and reflection. Still, we carry the meaning of Easter with us throughout the year. As any queer or transgender Catholic knows, resurrection isn’t just one Sunday in spring—it’s a rhythm we live all year long. We carry it in our bones. We rise again and again, often in quiet, often unnoticed, with fierce hope and stubborn joy.
I had the honor of speaking alongside Maureen Rasmussen at the 2024 Outreach Conference at Georgetown University. Maureen is a remarkable speaker—funny, wise, and deeply grounded in her faith. Dominican Sister Luisa Derouen, who has ministered to the transgender Catholic community for over 25 years, once said of Maureen: “She’s as Catholic as it gets.” That description rings true. In this reflection, Maureen shares how her own Easter joy—a joy born of suffering, transformation, and divine presence—has remained with her long after the liturgical season ended. Her story is a witness to the sacred truth that God meets us not only in our joys, but in our scars.
May her words remind us that the promise of Easter is not a fleeting feeling, but a way of life.
Happy Easter, everyone. My name is Maureen Rasmussen. I'm a Catholic trans woman. In walking through Sacred Triduum, the sorrowful tears of Good Friday gave way to tears of great joy on Easter Sunday for me. Christ has risen, alleluia, alleluia.
Joy, unlike happiness, does not fade away. It is realization that God is always with us and always will be. The light at the end of the tunnel is knowing God will see us through the glory of His kingdom. As I reflect on the joy of Easter, I recall my own personal experience. Two years ago, entering into the third week of Easter, I traveled to California for a life-giving gender affirmation procedure.
As the anesthesia wore off, I was overwhelmed with indescribable joy. That same joy permeates in my soul to this day. The joy of passing from the darkness of physical and mental trauma, cruelty and rejection as a trans person, to the immense light of Jesus' love and acceptance for all. As we enter the fifty days of the fifty glorious days of the Easter season, I pray that everyone immerses themselves in the hope and joy of this blessed time. In the complicated world that we live in, it can be tempting to lose hope, to give in to despair.
However, Paul reminds us in Romans five that we should boast of our afflictions—answered here: anxiety, trauma, and grief—knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance proven character, and proven character hope. And hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. There is a narrative in the world that denies the existence of trans persons. I have personally experienced dismissal which made me feel less than human. Like a leper, the world needs to know that trans people are real.
They need to see us and they need to know that we are faith-filled children of God. I find comfort in knowing the apostles struggled in seeing too. They did not recognize the Risen Lord in Jerusalem. As Luke says in Chapter 24, He stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." But they were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost.
And Jesus said, “Look at my hands—that is, myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” And as He said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, He asked them, “Have you anything to eat?” They gave Him a piece of baked fish. He took it and ate it in front of them.
Now I'm not sure that the message is trans people need to eat fish—or more fish—except on Good Friday. However, we are real. We seek a place at the table of the Lord like our fellow Catholics. And as Luke said, the apostles were incredulous for joy, as I am in this wonderful Easter season. May we always remain hopeful, and I pray for you and with you.
God bless you.
Here is the video of Marueen reading her reflection:
 | A guest post by
|