Pastoral Ministry Funds

Grant funding supports Parishes and pastoral programs in the Diocese of Bridgeport. With a focus on reinvigorating our Catholic faith and formation, this foundations prioritizes Priests, vocations, faith formation, discipleship, evangelization and justice. We are on a life long journey and strive to love and accompany our brothers, sisters and neighbors especially the most vulnerable among us. Click here to learn about the nine funds/ministries.

Grant Opportunities

We prioritize funding Parishes most in need. The Foundation values collaborations and partnerships. Parishes and Diocese of Bridgeport programs have the opportunity to apply and receive grants to support Bishop Caggiano's vision for The One by reimaging faith formation, exemplifying discipleship, engaging in evangelization and missionary outreach. The foundation has four types of grants designed to elevate relevant, creative, and replicable approaches to enhancing Pastoral Ministries. Click here to read more.

Welcome To
Foundations In Faith

Foundations in Faith embraces innovative approaches to funding Pastoral ministries in the Diocese of Bridgeport. Resources focus on energizing lifelong formation and discipleship and fostering a commitment to justice and accompaniment with our most vulnerable.

From Seminarians to Retired Priests, from Baptism to Last Rites, from suburbs to Inner cities.

The reach is broad, and the impact is meaningful.

Ensuring the vitality of our church demands immediate and ongoing efforts to listen, learn, connect, create, leverage and partner. Investments in time, talent and treasure will create furtile ground to plant seeds of discipleship. In our parish ministries, we must innovate, increase our evangelization efforts to welcome folks to come to or in some cases return to participation in parish life. Forming young people committed to Christ requires the reimagining of faith formation and the expansion of meaningful youth ministry programs. Our seminarys must continue to welcome, educate and form men for the priesthood, and as a Catholic community we will embrace our commitment to provide for the needs of our retired priests.

In our community, we must continue to show God’s love to those with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and meet the spiritual needs of the elderly living in nursing homes. Foundations in Faith will empower the Church in Fairfield County to support, strengthen and build collaborations to enrich our varied pastoral ministries.

Learn More

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Amount distributed 24-25
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24-25 Grants
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Funds/Ministries

Keep Up To Date

Stories and News

ICYMI – Carol’s terrific relaunch of FIF’s Newsletter.

Kudos to Carol…… Welcome to the Foundations in Faith newsletter! I joined Foundations in Faith a little over two years ago and it has been an honor and a pleasure to serve the Church—and especially our Diocese—in this capacity. Our Catholic faith is vibrant and we have awesome, dedicated laborers in the vineyard converting hearts Read More ››

St. John Vianney Fund for Retired Priests/Nick Yanicelli Tribute at Our Queen of the Clergy

On May 12th 2025 Foundations in Faith hosted a special tribute in memory of Nick Yanicelli at Our Queen of the Clergy Residence in Stamford. Our board member from 2015 until his passing in 2024, Nick was Foundations in Faith’s board advocate for retired priests in the Diocese of Bridgeport and exemplified advocacy by highlighting Read More ››

CREDO (I Believe)

In her own words, Anne Cunningham, Director of Religious Education at Sacred Heart-St. Patrick’s in Redding says that what began as a revamping of the religious education program has evolved into a comprehensive parish-wide program re-engineering of faith formation for the entire community. She first submitted an application for a competitive program support grant through Read More ››

Click an image below to read the assoicated post on our Instagram page.
Foundations in Faith

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Foundations in Faith is dedicated to empowering and transforming pastoral ministries in the Diocese of Bridgeport.

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Faith Formation programs in parishes and from Diocese of Bridgeport offices have received $1M+ in grants from the St. John Paul II Fund for Faith Formation. Just in 2025-2026 33 recipients received $174,775 in grants ranging from $300 to $10,000 awards. The thing is, no matter the amount, these funds are helping conform hearts of all ages to Christ—the St. John Paul II Fund for Faith Formation and The One go hand in hand!

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Sep 11

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Faith Formation programs in parishes and from Diocese of Bridgeport offices have received $1M+ in grants from the St. John Paul II Fund for Faith Formation. Just in 2025-2026 33 recipients received $174,775 in grants ranging from $300 to $10,000 awards. The thing is, no matter the amount, these funds are helping conform hearts of all ages to Christ—the St. John Paul II Fund for Faith Formation and The One go hand in hand!
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With classes starting this week in our area, Foundations in Faith is proud to support Catholic schools in the Diocese of Bridgeport through three different initiatives: the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Fund for Catholic Schools which helps keep the cost of tuition low, the St. John Bosco Fund for Special Needs in Catholic Schools which supports implementation of special needs programs, and the St. Catherine Center for Special Needs Fund which provides general support for its namesake school in Fairfield. 📚🤍

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Aug 28

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With classes starting this week in our area, Foundations in Faith is proud to support Catholic schools in the Diocese of Bridgeport through three different initiatives: the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Fund for Catholic Schools which helps keep the cost of tuition low, the St. John Bosco Fund for Special Needs in Catholic Schools which supports implementation of special needs programs, and the St. Catherine Center for Special Needs Fund which provides general support for its namesake school in Fairfield. 📚🤍
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More exciting news from Foundations in Faith this summer ☀️Welcome, Karen!

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Aug 19

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More exciting news from Foundations in Faith this summer ☀️Welcome, Karen!
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Each year since 2021, Foundations in Faith has supported pastoral care teams at nursing homes in Stamford, Trumbull, and Danbury. Our grants bring resources to priests, religious, and lay staff and volunteers walking with some of the most vulnerable among us. Over the past few years the Lourdes Fund has helped bring technology to these teams which has become a major component of these ministries, streaming catholic content like movies, music, and live prayer and devotions to residents. 💐

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Aug 14

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Each year since 2021, Foundations in Faith has supported pastoral care teams at nursing homes in Stamford, Trumbull, and Danbury. Our grants bring resources to priests, religious, and lay staff and volunteers walking with some of the most vulnerable among us. Over the past few years the Lourdes Fund has helped bring technology to these teams which has become a major component of these ministries, streaming catholic content like movies, music, and live prayer and devotions to residents. 💐
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Last year Foundations in Charity merged into Foundations in Faith and the Catholic Charities of Fairfield County Fund was established. This year the first grant was made to Catholic Charities of Fairfield County Inc in support of one of the largest private family service agencies in Fairfield County, serving the most vulnerable in our community. 🤍

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Aug 7

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Last year Foundations in Charity merged into Foundations in Faith and the Catholic Charities of Fairfield County Fund was established. This year the first grant was made to Catholic Charities of Fairfield County Inc in support of one of the largest private family service agencies in Fairfield County, serving the most vulnerable in our community. 🤍
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Last week we gathered with deep gratitude in our hearts with *some* of our dedicated volunteer grant reviewers for a delicious summer lunch. We missed those who could not make it and continue our work knowing that the impact of Foundations in Faith throughout our Diocese is due in large part to their efforts reviewing applications and providing helpful feedback. Thank you! ✨

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Jul 23

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Last week we gathered with deep gratitude in our hearts with *some* of our dedicated volunteer grant reviewers for a delicious summer lunch. We missed those who could not make it and continue our work knowing that the impact of Foundations in Faith throughout our Diocese is due in large part to their efforts reviewing applications and providing helpful feedback. Thank you! ✨
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In its June meeting, our Board welcomed a new board member in Dr. Lisa Rooney. A retired pediatrician, Dr. Rooney currently serves as co-coordinator of Parish Partners Ministry of Hope at St. Catherine of Siena-St. Agnes parish in Riverside, CT. 🔗 in Bio for full profile on our website.

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Jul 14

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In its June meeting, our Board welcomed a new board member in Dr. Lisa Rooney. A retired pediatrician, Dr. Rooney currently serves as co-coordinator of Parish Partners Ministry of Hope at St. Catherine of Siena-St. Agnes parish in Riverside, CT. 🔗 in Bio for full profile on our website.
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Our very own Carol will be LIVE 🎙️ on VERITAS for their Express Spring Drive! Tune in at 2:30 PM and consider calling in and making a donation—help keep #LetMeBeFrank with Bishop Caggiano and local Catholic programming ON AIR 📻

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May 14

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Our very own Carol will be LIVE 🎙️ on VERITAS for their Express Spring Drive! Tune in at 2:30 PM and consider calling in and making a donation—help keep #LetMeBeFrank with Bishop Caggiano and local Catholic programming ON AIR 📻
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