Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
August 22, 2001
New grants to fund religious education
Efforts to train youth ministers, catechists to benefit
By Jennifer Radcliffe
It's back to school time for students of all disciplines — including religious education — and the Catholic Foundation recently awarded its first religious education grants to help with those efforts, a spokesman said.
The money came from the Hearts on Fire Endowment 2000 Fund, which is administered by the Catholic Foundation.
"The Hearts on Fire Endowment 2000 Fund has, as part of its mission, to support religious education efforts in the archdiocese," said Jan Zapapas, secretary for stewardship and planning. "These grants are the first from those funds awarded for that purpose."
Two archdiocesan ministries that will benefit from the fund include the Office of Youth, Young Adult and Campus Ministry and the Secretariat for Evangelization and Catechesis.
"One of the highest priorities within our local Catholic community today is youth ministry. The Catholic Foundation was eager to begin supporting this critical mission," said Zapapas, who also serves as executive director of the Catholic Foundation.
Due to the difficulty of hiring and retaining youth ministers, an $8,000 grant is earmarked for a pilot program for the certification of youth ministers. The program involves 12 to 18 months of training, including four formation weekends, six catechetical school classes and one year of mentoring by an experienced youth minister. The program will run a three-day course Nov. 11-13.
"The program has been established to enhance youth ministers in their ability to work with young people," said Bob Sherwin, director of youth, young adult and campus ministry. "It will give them skills to deal with today's teen culture, theological education and insight into youth ministry. The average youth minister leaves his or her position after only 18 months. A more formal training and mentoring program will help us change that statistic.
"It is very humbling that the foundation and the people of the Archdiocese of Denver see youth ministry as such a priority," he continued. "It is a great responsibility to be entrusted by the people of the Archdiocese of Denver with this duty."
It is anticipated that 15 to 20 youth ministers will be certified as a result of the grant. Organizers said they hope the mentoring program will be offered on a continuing basis.
The Secretariat for Evangelization and Catechesis also will benefit from the Hearts on Fire Endowment 2000 Fund, which will provide financial assistance to expand educational and training efforts outside the metro area. Funds will be used to develop and operate a traveling program to certify directors of religious education, as well as to train volunteer catechists. The program will consist of four classes over the course of a weekend. The Office of Evangelization and Catechesis plans to offer weekend programs on the Western Slope and the Eastern Plains.
"We are committed to ensuring that the concerns of the parishes on the Eastern Plains and on the Western Slope are adequately addressed, especially in matters as essential as religious education and guidance for our youth," said Marco Roman, secretary for evangelization and catechesis. "It's difficult for these people to take advantage of the programs we offer here in Denver because of the distance they must travel. So, we'll take the programs to them."
The Catholic Foundation Grant Committee worked closely with the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis on how best to use the funds for the coming year, Zapapas said.
"It was basically a team effort approach in determining a suitable grant," she said.
To contribute to the Religious Education efforts, send donations to the Hearts on Fire Endowment 2000 Fund, 1300 S. Steele St., Denver, CO 80210.
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