2024 Parish Grants

In honor of the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium” (“the Joy of the Gospel”)

To mark the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium” (“the Joy of the Gospel”), the archdiocesan CCHD Advisory Committee has set aside local CCHD funds for parishes working to reach those on the margins. Parishes can apply for a grant for projects that highlight the messages and themes of “Evangelii Gaudium,” which include the importance of spreading the Gospel with joy and enthusiasm, a renewed focus on pastoral care and a call to be more welcoming to all, addressing issues of social injustice and economic inequality with a preferential option for the poor, the importance of the laity in the evangelizing mission of the Church and a focus on interfaith dialogue and cooperation.

The parish grants will be one-time grants of up to $2,000 that must be used during the 2024 calendar year. The funds can be used for initiatives including bringing a speaker to a parish, training, events, webinars, community activities or other proposals. Applications for grants will be evaluated with specific emphasis on:

• Initiatives aimed at addressing social injustice, poverty alleviation and economic equality by funding applications that work with vulnerable populations, promote fair economic practices or advance social justice causes.
• Applications that center on interfaith dialogue, cooperation and peace-building efforts that foster understanding and collaboration among different religious communities.
• Initiatives to engage communities in faith-based outreach and inclusion, such as programs that promote community development, support marginalized groups or encourage active participation of the laity in Church activities.
• Applications that focus on educating and empowering young people in matters of faith, social justice and evangelization.

Applications for parish grants opened Dec. 1 with a deadline of Jan. 15. Grants will be awarded in March 2024. For more information about parish grants, contact Marie Kenyon at (314) 792-7062 or [email protected].

See below for “Joy of the Gospel” Anniversary Grant information and application.