Grant program funds innovations, education

One of the first things psychiatric nurse practitioner Coleen Heckner did when she moved to Troy from Maine three years ago was to join Our Lady of Victory parish and throw herself into lay ministries.

One of the next things Mrs. Heckner did was to apply for a Capital Campaign leadership grant to help defray the costs of taking courses at St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry in Albany.

The grant program, overseen by Betsy Rowe-Manning of the diocesan Office of Ministry Formation, provides for professional staffing, program development and individual financial assistance to develop leaders in the Diocese. Grants fund speakers and programs at parishes and help active Catholics further their education.

Mrs. Heckner's grant application was accepted - as were four more she submitted in the years that followed. As a result, she's been able to continue working on her Masters of Divinity degree, one course at a time. She's earned an "A" in every course.

"Without the grants, it would have been a financial hardship as an adult learner to continue to take classes," explained Mrs. Heckner, now an intern chaplain at Albany Medical Center who also does nursing home consultations for geriatric psychiatry consultants.

Through her parish, she has visited parishioners in nursing homes and served as a eucharistic minister at Samaritan Hospital in Troy.

Mrs. Heckner said her time at St. Bernard's has allowed her to "bond with members of various faith communities. It has been a very supportive, positive, motivating experience."

Diocesan Capital Campaign grants have also proven to be blessings in the lives of Deacon Joseph Tyrrell and Paul Arends.

Deacon Tyrrell, a self-employed painting contractor who ministers at St. Mary's parish in Glens Falls, is grateful for the award that made it possible for him to complete a Master's degree at St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry. He studied pastoral care and moral theology.

"It's a long commute between Glens Falls and Albany. The award helped with the cost of books as well as defraying my transportation expenses," said the deacon. "It would have taken me a lot longer to complete my Master's degree if I hadn't received assistance with those costs."

Deacon Tyrrell, who feels a special calling to bereavement ministry, hopes to put his combined biblical, liturgical and practical knowledge to good use in his parish for years to come.

Mr. Arends, meanwhile, said he began by meeting with Mrs. Rowe-Manning to discuss pastoral needs in the North Country.

"The area we focused on was - and is - adult education. Our name, 'North Country Catholic Adult Faith Enrichment (NC Café),' conveys our purpose and intent. We sought to bring opportunities [to Catholics] primarily residing in Albany to the North Country," said Mr. Arends. "Not only have we presented programs, but also we have created an awareness of educational opportunities at individual parishes."

To date, the NC Café' has offered programs on topics like the Gospel of Matthew, the Hebrew Scriptures and monasticism and spirituality at parishes in Hudson Falls, Greenwich, Granville, Hudson Falls, Queensbury, South Glens Falls and other locations (search for a previous story at www. evangelist. org).

"Capital Campaign grants have been a blessing because [they] allow us to present one-time programs - such as the Eucharist and Advent program - for which there are costs, but no income," said Mr. Arends.

(A committee reviews individual grant applications three times a year and group applications once a year. Individuals must apply by Jan. 15, May 15 and Sept. 15, 2010, while groups must apply by Feb. 2. To learn more, call 453-6670.)

(12-10-09)