MERRILLVILLE – The Diocese of Gary demonstrated its support for the Synod 2022 mission to develop programs and opportunities for the lay faithful to become fully active in missionary discipleship by offering grants of up to $5,000 this winter to assist with parish synod plans.
“The purpose of the Missionary Discipleship Grant is to offer parishes up to $5,000 to assist in the financing of parish-based programs and materials to advance discipleship and evangelization,” explained Bishop Robert J. McClory in his announcement about the grant program.
To be eligible, parishes had to have their Synod 2022 Action Plan submitted before or with their grant application, which was due in February. A detailed copy of the grant request was also part of the application.
“It is really exciting to see what parishes are doing or plan to do,” said Vicky Hathaway, consultant for the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adults, who served on the Grant Review Committee. “A lot of the parishes put an emphasis on training or formation for a wide range of people.
Hathaway said she was “open to the creativity of the parishes” in reviewing the applications, “looking to see how they were looking outside what they had traditionally done to try something new. Knowing how hard they worked on their synod plans, it was great to see them set goals.”
“The grants, which were all approved, involved getting the tools and supplies they need to meet those goals, yet each was a little bit different as the parishes looked at their unique needs.”
St. Bridget in Hobart, Hathaway noted, is using its grant “to pay for materials to teach religious education students about their faith … with a dynamic and interactive program … especially at the junior high level, at a time when they are really growing in their faith and preparing for confirmation.”
Sean Martin, diocesan director of Evangelization, Catechesis and Family Life, said that with some parishes, “finances become an issue when talking about taking on some new initiative, so offering a grant for missionary discipleship and evangelization takes away that obstacle. Some parishes are using it for technology and others for simple things that some parishes have in abundance and others don’t, providing materials we think a parish should have.
“It’s exciting to see a parish be able to do more ministry work because we can offer a grant – like the Walking With Moms in Need program at St. Joseph in Hammond that’s super important,” added Martin.
Father Nate Edquist, administrator of Holy Family Parish in LaPorte, will use his parish’s $5,000 grant to partner with Marian University’s Renovacion Program to train Hispanic leaders over a two-year period, helping fulfill a synod goal to build bridges between the Anglo and Hispanic communities of the parish, which comprises three churches.
“We are very appreciative of the grant program,” Father Edquist said. “This is a great opportunity to energize not only 4-5 leaders who will be intensively trained in leadership and parish renewal, but the entire parish. There will be retreats and other classes for all.”
At St. Maria Goretti in Dyer, Father Leonardo Gajardo, administrator, will use a $5,000 grant to fund consulting and coaching fees for The Center for Parish Development to guide a parish renewal process “by reimagining our church’s purpose and vision, strengthening relationships within our congregation and rediscovering how we, as missionary disciples, are called to be part of God’s mission.”
The two-year program will be undertaken with a parallel program at St. Joseph in Dyer “in the hope it might lead to great cooperation between the two parishes,” Father Gajardo added. “It can be a one-stop shop for discipleship (development). We are forming a committee including a wide spectrum of people, and will eventually hold listening sessions to ask, ‘How can we more faithfully participate in the mission of the Catholic Church?
“This grant program provides a helping hand to parishes (seeking) opportunities to respond to Bishop McClory’s call (to be missionary disciples),” Father Gajardo added.
In addition to Holy Family and St. Maria Goretti, parishes receiving grants include:
St. Bridget, Hobart – Materials, TV and WiFi connections and books for religious education program.
St. Francis Xavier, Lake Station – Tuition for lay parishioners in the two-year Initiative for Parish Renewal Program.
St, John Bosco, Hammond – Two, parish-wide studies of the Eucharist, large monitor for adult formation, licenses for Family Movie Night films and a three-day parish mission.
St. John the Evangelist, St. John – Expansion of ongoing Alpha program to include seven-session “Alpha: The Marriage Course” including meal and facility expenses for 25 couples.
St. Joseph, Dyer – Parish renewal program through Center for Parish Development.
St. Joseph, Hammond – Laptop computers, printer, computer applications and licensing to assist Walking With Moms in Need Ministry.
St. Paul, Valparaiso – Three-day National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) participant expenses and Faith Sharing Groups materials.
St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Student Center, Valparaiso – Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) missionary training and student mission trips.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, East Chicago – Computers, printers and smoke detectors to support catechesis program, athletic equipment and first aid kits for summer bible school and partial funding for youth attendance at NCYC in November.
Sacred Heart, Whiting – Door-to-door evangelization supported by yard signs, decals, banners, booklets, seminars and hospitality expenses.
“Missionary Discipleship is all about the Great Commission, ‘Go, make disciples of all nations,’ said Father Chris Stanish, diocesan vicar general and moderator of the curia. “By offering parishes an opportunity for additional funding, we are helping to teach people how to live their lives under the Lordship of Jesus. In many ways, this is about so much more than releasing necessary funds, but more importantly about mobilizing prayer, raising up disciples and going out on mission.”