Diocesan Lay Ministry Scholarship Fund renewed

by Jo Ann Borchert

Individuals ministering in parishes of the Diocese of New Ulm will be able to apply for a scholarship to assist in the cost of education this summer. Professional training of lay people ministering in leadership positions in our parishes is of vital importance. It was clear from Bishop Lucker’s leadership that ongoing faith formation was a central focus and leadership development was essential. He envisioned a need for professionally trained lay ministers in our parishes.

In January of 2000 Bishop Raymond Lucker established a Lay Ministry Scholarship Fund as an endowment fund. A diocesan policy to establish a Lay Ministry Scholarship Fund was established by the diocesan Evangelization and Catechesis Committee in May of 1986. The fund, which suffered from limited funds, was revitalized as an endowment fund in January 2000 by Bishop Lucker with his personal contribution. This fund exists to insure that no lay ministerial candidate will be prevented from seeking an advanced degree because of financial hardship. At that time Bishop Lucker asked that this fund be given wide publicity inviting others to also contribute through voluntary contributions, bequests, grants, collections, and other means to increase the fund. At the time of Bishop Lucker’s 25th anniversary celebration and funeral, many memorial gifts were added to the fund. The accumulated interest from the fund is to be distributed.

In a letter to pastoral leaders, diocesan staff, Priests’ Council, and the Diocesan Pastoral Council in January of 2000 Bishop Lucker asked that a committee be established to administer the fund and to draw up criteria for making grants. At that time he stated some initial considerations for the administration of the fund. A sub-committee of the diocesan Evangelization and Catechesis Committee was established in the fall of 2001 to serve this purpose. The committee has prepared a set of interim guidelines for the academic year 2002-2003. After that time the guidelines will be reviewed and possibly amended. The present guidelines have been approved by the appropriate consultative bodies in the diocese and monies are available now for distribution.

Scholarships are available for those working on degrees in various areas of ministry and for those seeking certification in a ministry. The scholarships are not available to priests, pastoral administrators, or diocesan staff who have access to funds for training resources.

Presently the Lay Ministry Scholarship Fund hopes to provide assistance in the areas of: theological and pastoral education; qualifying formation/training of religious education directors; youth ministers; Catholic school administrators; liturgists; and catechists in Catholic school and religious education programs.

Scholarship application forms are available from the diocesan Office of Evangelization and Catechesis. Applications will be accepted until March 1, 2002 for summer 2002 opportunities. A Diocesan Grant Committee is being established to review these applications. Scholarships will be issued at the Grant Committee’s discretion and with the approval of Bishop Nienstedt. Monies will be distributed depending on the number of applicants and their need. The minimum scholarship will be $200 with a maximum scholarship granted in one year of $1,000.

Applications for fall are to be received by June 15, 2002. Scholarship applications are available from the Evangelization and Catechesis Office at (507) 359-2966.

JoAnn Borchert is director of the Office of Young Adult and Adult Religious Education for the Diocese of New Ulm.