MRS > Migration Policy and Public Affair Office > A USCCB/MRS Pastoral Implementation Diocesan Funding Program Announcement 2002-2003
Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity
Purpose: Upon issuing the pastoral statement, Welcoming the Stranger Among Us: Unity in Diversity, in November 2000, the bishops, through USCCB Migration and Refugee Services (MRS), initiated a training and implementation program with funding and material resources to assist in building and enhancing the welcoming capacity of the Church at the diocesan and parish levels. The Pastoral Implementation Diocesan Funding Program is intended to support the implementation of Diocesan Action Plans resulting from the seven regional trainings convened by MRS in 2001-2003. The objective of the Diocesan Action Plans is to build and sustain programs which minister to the pastoral and human needs of immigrants, refugees, migrants and people on the move in their communities.
Scope: The Pastoral Implementation Diocesan Funding Program is a special, one-time funding opportunity intended to increase the capacity of the local Church to enhance its welcome to newly arrived and ethnically diverse groups. The majority of funds are targeted to diocesan applicants seeking to build sustainable capacity for multicultural understanding, outreach and ministries in their parish communities. Other discrete initiatives to increase participation, integration and inclusion of newly arrived and diverse cultural groups into the Church will also be considered based on the availability of funds.
Funds Availability: MRS is making available approximately $700,000 during 2002-2003 to support the Pastoral Implementation Diocesan Funding Program. Following are MRS' funding priorities established in three program tiers and the range of funding appropriate for each tier:
| Tier I: |
Applications which increase institutional and structural capacity at the
diocesan level to sustain a multicultural ministry within the diocese and its
parishes; |
$15,000 - 25,000 |
|
Sample Activities: Establishing a diocesan pastoral care program or office
for ethnic, migrant, or mobility ministries (see Building Bridges: Profiles of
Diocesan Ministries of Hospitality). |
|
| Tier II: |
Initiatives to expand and sustain parish efforts to "welcome the stranger;" |
$6,000 - 15,000 |
|
Sample Activities: Promotional campaigns; development of materials and
other methods of outreach to parishes to develop a welcoming capacity;
establish recruitment program for parishioner advocacy efforts; conduct a
series of trainings and orientations for Priest Councils, etc. |
|
| Tier
III: |
One-time, discrete projects such as cultural awareness training, that support
the vision of the pastoral statement; or
Assessment and planning activities toward designing institutional capacity. |
$1,000 - 5,000 |
|
Sample Activities: Diocesan-wide assessment and planning for capacity
development, facilitating symposium or training, translation of liturgical
materials, multicultural family, youth, or elderly events, etc. |
|
Grant applications will be accepted within a time period of four months following each of the seven regional training programs in 2001-2003 from which selections will be made on the following dates:
| Training Dates |
Application Date |
Funding
Date |
Training Dates |
Application Date |
Funding
Date |
| Nov. 27-28, 2001 |
March 29, 2002 |
May 2002 |
Dec. 4-6, 2002 |
April 7, 2003 |
June 2003 |
| Feb. 27-Mar.1, 2002 |
July 1, 2002 |
September
2002 |
Mar. 12-13, 2003 |
July 14, 2003 |
September
2003 |
| May 1-3, 2002 |
September 3, 2002 |
November
2002 |
June 25-27, 2003 |
October 31, 2003 |
December
2003 |
| Sep.18-20, 2002 |
January 20, 2003 |
March 2003 |
|
|
|
USCCB/MRS anticipates receiving more requests than currently available funds will cover. Therefore, MRS will undertake efforts to identify additional funds. At the end of 2003, if MRS has been successful in obtaining additional funds, those dioceses that submitted proposals but were not funded earlier will be contacted to assess their continued need for these resources.
Funding Criteria: Funding is awarded to diocesan applicants based on the following criteria:
- Completed Diocesan Action Plan following participation in the MRS Regional Training Program for Bishops and Diocesan Leaders.
- Established need for a multicultural ministry as demonstrated by lack of institutional capacity to respond fully to the presence and pastoral needs of newcomers and the absence of cultural and linguistic capacity to welcome diverse communities into the Church.
- For Tier I applicants only, the demonstrated ability to implement and sustain* a multicultural ministry by providing diocesan matching funds up to 50% of the amount requested in donated salaries, fringe benefits, space and other operational costs as appropriate. *Diocese, with approval from its bishop, must state commitment to maintain the new office/position beyond the initial funding year.
Eligible Applicants: Diocesan entity/ministry which participated in the MRS Regional Training Program and has completed a Diocesan Action Plan.
Application Submission: Each eligible diocese is invited to apply for only one program tier. Please submit your application, accompanied by your completed Diocesan Action Plan
and a letter of support from your bishop, by the appropriate application date to
Attn: Pastoral Implementation Grants, Migration and Refugee Services, USCCB, 3211 4th St., NE, Washington, DC 20017 or by fax to 202/541-3351.
Program Development Aides:
- MRS Regional Training Program materials
- MRS Welcoming the Stranger Kit: A Resource for Parishes
- Building Bridges: Profiles of Diocesan Ministries of Hospitality
Contact Information: For further information and assistance, please contact Ms. Amy Newlon, Education and Development Coordinator for MRS/PCMR, at 202-541-5408 or by e-mail at
Anewlon@usccb.org.