BRISBANE Catholic organisations and youth initiatives could have a portion of $140,000 in grant money to fund evangelisation and theological education projects.
The archdiocese’s Catholic Foundation is making $140,000 in donations given to the grants program, which provides funding to the archdiocese’s top evangelisation projects.
Catholic Foundation director Mary Macuga said the grants funded “the most exceptional programs in the archdiocese today”.
“From the Catholic Campaign last year, parishes received the gift of some of the best evangelisation programs in the Brisbane archdiocese,” Mrs Macuga said.
Brisbane-based ministry Real Talk Australia received $5000 in grant money last year.
Real Talk Australia managing director Paul Ninnes said the grant has allowed the company to promote, travel and support staff taking the ministry to “far-reaching places”.
“We received the grant to allow us to ministry in parishes, including more regional places,” Mr Ninnes said.
“It was very helpful in allowing us to fulfil our mission locally, because while we get funding to take us interstate, work in our local archdiocese has been harder to fund.
“Now we can bring the message to the far reaches of our local archdiocese.”
Brisbane archdiocese youth project consultant Teresa McGrath said last year was the first time youth initiatives could apply for the grants.
Mrs McGrath said the two “greatest needs” for youth ministries was personnel and money.
“We don’t want youth initiatives to be held back by money,” she said.
“That should not be a barrier to potentially life-changing initiatives moving forward.
“A couple of hundred dollars can make all the difference.”
Mrs McGrath encouraged grass-roots projects to apply for the grant funding.
“The best ideas often come from people on the ground,” she said.
Mrs Macuga said Catholics committed to building the Catholic faith in the wider community had commissioned the grants.
“The people in our churches are funding our projects,” she said.
The archdiocese’s Catholic Foundation is accepting applications for its grants program until October 16.
Grant applications can be made at www.catholicfoundation.org.au/grants
Funding boost: Paul Ninnes
