Category Six: Enhancing Pastoral and Social Ministry


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GOAL
To enable the church to reach more people and promote the transformation of lives, hearts and society through various pastoral and social ministries.

SUMMARY
Catholic Extension supports the church's pastoral and social outreach ministries. Whereas "Building Foundation," is intended to support the operation of the church's basic pastoral and administrative presence in a diocese, the "Enhancing Pastoral and Social Ministry" program is intended to support some of the more specific and strategic elements of the church's ministerial efforts.

QUALIFYING FUNDING AREAS
Catholic Extension will consider funding initiatives, which help establish, expand or enrich pastoral and social ministries, including:

  • Support for the purchase and maintenance of catechetical resources, including Bibles.
  • Support for ministries which strengthen family life and marriage.
  • Support for effective media programs via radio or television which demonstrate great potential as a tool for evangelization/outreach 
  • Programmatic funding to promote or improve the sacramental practice or liturgical experience of Catholics.
  • Funding to create or extend Catholic ministries that have a social outreach dimension, such as ministries to the homeless, immigrants, or incarcerated. Note: this does not include subsidizing operations of Catholic Charities or diocesan social services, or funding the operations of Catholic hospitals.
  • Support after disasters - While Catholic Extension does not serve as a first responder, it can provide small support to help Catholic communities restore disrupted ecclesial services and continue to practice the faith in the wake of disasters. See "Building Churches" for all facility needs in the aftermath of disasters.

DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS

  • Online Funding Request Form
  • Letter of endorsement from diocesan bishop (one letter is sufficient for simultaneously submitted requests, but a copy of that letter should be attached to each request)
  • Financial statements of program, department, or entity seeking funding
  • Budget for year of the grant with full breakdown of project expenses and revenue
  • Product or program information, (i.e. brochure), if applicable