April 6, 2018 at 1:53 p.m.
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

Scholarships, grants offered


By MAUREEN MCGUINNESS- | Comments: 0 | Leave a comment

Parish faith formation efforts will soon begin to benefit from funds raised through the 2001 Albany diocesan Capital Campaign.

The Office of Evangelization and Catechesis (OEC) is accepting applications for the Capital Campaign Scholarship for Professional Development of Catechetical and Youth Ministry Leaders. The scholarship is phase one of a two-phase plan to disperse funds to parish religious education programs, said Jeanne Schrempf, director of the OEC.

The second phase will provide grants for parish catechetical and youth ministry programs.

Donations

The scholarship and grant programs are funded by interest income on an endowment created as part of the diocesan Capital Campaign, which was held in 2001.

A nine-member committee made up of pastors, catechetical and youth ministry leaders, and diocesan staff will review scholarship and grant applications. The original May 30 deadline for scholarships was extended to Sept. 15 to allow those who missed the deadline and those who are new to ministry to apply.

Mrs. Schrempf said some involved in religious education and youth ministry are reluctant to apply for scholarships. "A lot of people think that they shouldn't ask for money," she said. "We want them to know that people want to form you in your ministry."

Scholarships

Up to $10,000 in scholarships will be given out each year to attend St. Bernard's School of Theology and Ministry in Albany, for either the certificate program for designated ministries or for the graduate school program; the "Becoming a Minister of Faith Formation" program; or professional conferences offered on a diocesan, state or national level.

Mrs. Schrempf said the funds are intended to provide additional formation opportunities and are not to replace professional development funds already available through parish budgets.

Grants

In addition to the scholarships, grants are available. They will be awarded next July (applications are due on Feb. 1). Mrs. Schrempf encourages parishes and clusters that are interested in applying to begin planning now. The grant committee hopes that parishes are thinking creatively when developing their grant application.

Grant money can be used in a variety of ways: improving existing programs, developing a new program, providing catechist formation and support, developing a resource center, or creating an innovative urban or rural faith formation program.

Grant applicants are also encouraged to explore opportunities for youth ministry, young adult ministry, adult faith formation, catechesis for persons with special needs, family catechesis and intergenerational catechesis.

(For more information, call the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis at 453-6630 or visit www.rcda.org; click on diocesan offices, then on Evangelization and Catechesis, then on grants and scholarships.)

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