The diocesan Office of Catechesis’ Parish Catechetical Grant Program has awarded more than $43,000 this year in support of parishes and schools as they seek to establish creative and innovative ways to move catechesis to the next level.

Projects for which grants were awarded, according to Martin Arsenault, director of the diocesan Office of Catechesis, included technological enhancement, programs for parents, staff development, leadership development, spiritual programs, inter-parish programs, family catechesis and adult religious education.

The Office of Catechesis recently announced that the Parish Catechetical Grant program will be suspended for an anticipated three years so that the funds may be used for a parish catechist formation initiative (see sidebar). Over the past several years, Arsenault said there has been an increase in the number of parishes submitting applications for the development and enhancement of programs for adult faith formation, intergenerational or family catechesis and faith formation for senior adults.

Scholarships have been earmarked for the new DVDs that are available with stories on the moments in the life of Jesus which span the age spectrum, resources for families to help them to hand on the faith to their children as well as resources to help people to make the connection between catechesis and liturgy.

This year’s applications were reviewed by a board comprised of: Msgr. Richard Tofani, pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, Hainesport, and diocesan Mission director; Michele Williams, principal of St. Joseph School, Toms River; Debbie Moroney, a member of St. William the Abbot Parish, Howell, and an Adult Faith Enrichment Center presenter, and Father William Lago, Catholic chaplain at The College of New Jersey.

In their experiences as Catholic educators, Moroney and Williams have been heartened to see the creative ways parishes and Catholic schools in the diocese go about enhancing their programscatechetical ministries and offerings.

"I believe the catechetical grant program gives parish communities an opportunity to enhance existing programs or create new opportunities for faith formation/catechesis for all people – children, teens, adults," said Moroney.

"Parish programs and ministries are continually growing, changing and evolving within each parish. The grant itself is a great incentive for ministries to examine, reflect and respond to the growing needs of the people we serve in a parish program or ministry."

Williams acknowledged the growth in the number of requests for technological purposes that will allow parishes to update their data bases and equipment.

"It’s encouraging to see how religious education and faith formation ministries are looking to do mini-outreach projects that foster evangelization," she said.

The grants give them “a means for obtaining materials and supplies, especially in these times when funds are low. It’s great to have that outlet for funding some of these supplementary programs."