Generations of Faith: Campaign ready to aid youth ministry

By ROB HERBST
The Catholic Week
Youth programs throughout the Archdiocese of Mobile can now begin applying for grants thanks to the “Generations of Faith – Endowing Our Future With Hope” campaign. 
The “Generations of Faith” campaign was initiated in 2019 and created three permanent endowments to support seminarian formation, priests’ retirement and youth ministry. The youth ministry endowment was created to primarily aid parish youth ministry programs.
Thanks to the generosity of those in the archdiocese, more than $36 million has been pledged and $3.9 million is earmarked for the Youth Ministry Endowment. The Youth Ministry Endowment’s Board of Trustees is seeking grant applications until March 15 and will award money May 1. Another grant cycle is slated for the fall.
“Everything (a youth ministry program) wants to do costs money and there’s only so many ways teenagers can raise money for the things they want to do,” said board chairman Fr. Stephen Vrazel, pastor of St. Mary Parish in Mobile. “So the fact that the entire archdiocese has come together to provide for the needs of our youth is really quite beautiful and it’s answering a very real need.”
Because the $3.9 million has not been collected in full, the initial cycle of grant awards will include a $2,500 cap on individual grants.
Parish pastors, parochial vicars, youth ministers, teachers, counselors, parents or volunteers who are working directly with middle school and/or high school youth under the supervision of a parish pastor or school chaplain can submit a grant request online at youthministryfund.org. 
Fr. Vrazel said he expects most requests to be for funding trips or improving facilities. Grants are not meant to pay salaries.
“People can obviously get creative,” Fr. Vrazel said. “We want them to run their youth ministry program the way they want to.”
Grant requests must also include a letter of good standing from a parish pastor. Once grant applications are in, decisions on how grant money will be distributed will be made by the board of trustees. It includes five laypeople, Deacon Wiley Christian and Fr. Vrazel.
“We’d like to get started and give help where help is needed,” Fr. Vrazel said.

Who can apply: Those working directly with middle school and/or high school youth under the supervision of a parish pastor or school chaplain
Where to apply: Youthministryfund.org
Deadline: March 15
Grant limit: $2,500
For more information: Email [email protected]