Diocesan participation critical to success of grant programs
Many Catholics in the Diocese of Richmond might associate the diocesan Office of the Propagation of the Faith with the World Mission Sunday collection taken up every October.
Deacon Bob Young, director of the office since June 1, 2022, and permanent deacon at St. Joseph, Petersburg, wants the faithful to know that his office does a great deal more to support parishes and organizations.
“The Propagation of the Faith is just one little piece,” he said of the diocesan branch of the Pontifical Society for the Propagation of the Faith.
The office oversees and manages six programs – Mission Cooperative Program, Home Mission Grant, Fuel and Hunger, Respect Life, Rice Bowl and Bus Grants – that benefit parishes, ministries and Catholic organizations.
The lay faithful are integral to the success of these programs by participating in collections at their parishes and the Annual Diocesan Appeal.
“These types of collections are really important to the work that we do out of the office and the way that we help all of our mission parishes, parishes in need,” said Deacon Young.
Supporting one another
Respect Life grants are awarded to parishes and organizations that support the dignity of life from conception to natural death. Funds come from a collection taken in January.
The Bus Grant Program helps send parishioners in the Diocese of Richmond to the National March for Life in Washington and to the Virginia March for Life by covering a third of the cost of the bus.
Rice Bowl grants are funded through the Lenten Rice Bowl Collection. Monies go to Catholic Relief Services and also support local initiatives in caring for creation, economic empowerment, and promoting just and peaceful societies.
The Home Mission Grant is administered through the Office of the Propagation of the Faith in conjunction with a grant committee and the bishop. Funds come from the Annual Diocesan Appeal and an annual collection for home missions. The grant supports repairs and small construction projects in mission parishes and small parishes in the diocese. Mission parishes are usually those with less than $250,000 in annual revenue.
The Fuel and Hunger Fund helps parishes and organizations provide direct assistance to families in need of food, utilities and shelter. Support for this program comes from the Annual Appeal and from special contributions.
The Mission Cooperative Program matches a participating mission parish with larger host parishes. The mission parish pastor visits the host parish to celebrate Mass, and during his homily makes an appeal for support that will help his parish meet its financial needs. The funds received through that collection go to the Office of the Propagation of the Faith, which then issues a check to the mission parish.
Increasing need
As economic challenges impact the diocese, Deacon Young said that the need for several of these programs has increased.
“Costs are going up, and our mission parishes are starting to suffer from the inflation and all the increases of cost,” said Deacon Young.
He said that as he noted the rising price of materials and goods that are directly related to the grant programs, especially the Home Mission Grant and the Fuel and Hunger Fund, he requested additional funds from the 2022 Annual Diocesan Appeal.
He said the applications for Fuel and Hunger grants in 2022 reflected a greater need for assistance.
“A lot of churches are increasing their ask based on the cost of fuel and everything that’s going on right now, and food,” Deacon Young said.
According to the deacon, higher prices for “building materials and all the stuff associated with repairs around a church” will also affect the Mission Co-op Program.
Building relationships
This program, he said, not only provides financial assistance to mission parishes so they can complete needed and necessary projects, but it also offers an opportunity for “connectivity” and building relationships.
“The Mission Co-op Program is an exciting program, I think, within the (host) parishes because they get the visiting priests,” Deacon Young said.
Father Tochi Iwuji, pastor of the Central Virginia Catholic Cluster that consists of St. Theresa, Farmville; Immaculate Heart of Mary, Blackstone; and Sacred Heart, Meherrin, has participated in the Mission Co-op Program for two years. The cluster had been involved with the program before he was assigned there in 2021.
Through the program, he has visited St. Joan of Arc, Yorktown, in November 2021 and St. Edward the Confessor, North Chesterfield, in May 2022.
Father Iwuji said the program is “a good way to get people to participate” and “helps other parishes to know and understand how diverse the diocese is.”
He also noted that both parishes benefit from participation in the Mission Co-op Program.
The parish for whom the second collection is taken up is able to “accomplish more than we could have if we’re dependent on the resources that we have,” he said.
For example, the generosity of the St. Edward parishioners helped all three churches in the Central Virginia Cluster make some needed improvements. At St. Theresa, part of the roof was replaced. At Immaculate Heart of Mary, three large trees that were a risk were removed. At Sacred Heart, materials to repair the pavilion were purchased.
Father Iwuji said the program also gives the host parish “an opportunity to participate in the universal mission of the Church by being supportive of those who are not as fortunate as they are.”
He explained, “That establishes the universal nature of the Church whereby we pool our resources together to live the mission of Christ and the Church.”
Father Iwuji had advice for parishes who may be considering participation in the co-op program.
“If you don’t try, you won’t know how beautiful it is,” he said, “so just do it.”
Editor’s note: More information about the grants overseen by the Office of the Propagation of the Faith can be found here.