As St. John Paul II said of young people, "The Church needs your energies, your enthusiasm, your youthful ideas in order to make the Gospel of Life penetrate the fabric of society.

Foundations in Faith recognizes that parishes in the Diocese need creative and innovative approaches to faith formation for children and teenagers. And the St. John Paul II Fund for Religious Education and Faith Formation can be an invaluable tool for such endeavors.

­To:                      Pastors, Youth Ministers, Directors / Coordinators of Religious Education

From:                Foundations in Faith, Carol Incarnacao-Schirm, Grant Manager

Date:                 February 1

Re:                      Program Support Application Window – New Platform for Applicants and Grantees | St. John Paul II Fund for Religious Education and Faith Formation

At Foundations in Faith, we recognize that invigorating faith formation, especially for children, teenagers, and young adults is at the heart of parish life throughout our Diocese.

The St. John Paul II Fund for Religious Education and Faith Formation supports parishes and diocesan organizations with innovative approaches to religious education and youth ministry programs. Since it was founded it has funded diverse programs typically running from September to June.

Pastors and ministry leaders in the Diocese of Bridgeport are invited to apply for grants up to $10,000 in support of faith formation and religious education programs.

Application Window: Wednesday, February 15 to Friday, March 31

New Platform for Applicants and Grantees

Begining in 2023, applicants will be required to create an account and submit applications via Foundations in Faith’s Grant Applicant Dashboard.

Details matter—include specific and measurable goals.

Numbers matter too—a descriptive, itemized budget is required.

Questions? Assistance? Contact Carol Incarnacao-Schirm, Grant Manager at 203-416-1393 or

carol.incarnacao-schirm@foundationsinfaith.org

ANNUAL PARISH PROGRAM SUPPORT GRANTS

The programs proposed by these grants usually run from September to June, and applicants can apply for up to $10,000. Applications typically go live on February 15th and close on March 31st, with a final decision being made by the Board of Trustees in June. In order to apply you must be a Catholic Church in the Diocese of Bridgeport or a Diocesan Faith Formation program.

Past recipients of parish support grants have emphasized three criteria: creativity, innovation, and youth engagement in planning.

 

 

MINI-GRANTS

Applications for mini-grants occur on a rolling basis by invitation only

Mini-grants are provided to parishes or Diocesan initiatives that demonstrate exceptional innovation or need. Applicants can request up t0 $2,000 in funding.

 

 

About Our Namesake

St. John Paul II was the head of the Roman Catholic Church from 1978 until his death in 2005, making him the second-longest reigning Pope in modern history. His papacy was marked by collaboration with the youth, perhaps most evident in his pioneering of the Church's World Youth Day events, the most recent of which took place in Panama City in 2019.

He was beatified in 2011 on Divine Mercy Sunday, with the miracle of healing a nun of Parkinson's Disease being attributed to his intercession. His second miracle occurred in 2013, and he was beatified the following year, once again on Divine Mercy Sunday.

His feast day is celebrated October 22. However, his feast day does not occur on the anniversary of his death -- as is the case with many other saints -- but rather on the anniversary of his papal inauguration.