Diocesan Campaign Distributes $250,000 to Fund Faith Formation Programs
CLEVELAND (March 25, 2014) The Catholic Community Foundation announced that $251,471 in grant awards has been distributed to 27 Catholic parishes in Northeast Ohio, nearly triple the number receiving faith formation grants last year. To date, the Foundation has dispersed over $60 million to campaign recipients.
The awards are being distributed under the Strengthening Our Faith case component, one of five components of the Rooted in Faith - Forward in Hope campaign that raised over $170 million to support diocesan and parish ministries.
The second round of Strengthening Our Faith distributions will support four initiatives:
- sacramental preparation instruction for parents and children
- religious education and faith formation for children and adolescents
- opportunities for engaging young adults in the life and mission of the Church
- adult faith formation
A focus on religious instruction and faith formation during childhood, adolescence and adulthood will help maintain the vibrancy of the Church by retaining Catholics from baptism through marriage and beyond.
Following are just a few examples of parishes receiving grants for faith formation programs:
- St. Augustine in Barberton will develop and implement a Confirmation sacramental program.
- St. Mary in Chardon will provide a summer Bible study for parish teens.
- St. Rocco in Cleveland will offer opportunities to bring day school and PSR families together to pray with their children.
- St. Anthony of Padua in Lorain will develop and implement a parish Vacation Bible School.
- Ss. Cosmos and Damian in Twinsburg will provide a retreat opportunity for families.
In addition to the 27 parishes receiving grants, three diocesan organizations committed to strengthening faith formation will benefit from funding: the Association of Youth Ministers, Newman Campus Ministry and the Office of Catechetical Formation and Education.
"The steadfast commitment of the faithful throughout the Diocese in fulfilling their pledges to the Campaign has allowed the Foundation to continue to distribute funds to the five case components," states Patrick Grace, Executive Director.