Lay Ministry Scholarship Fund recipients announced

Four individuals received scholarships from the Lay Ministry Scholarship Fund for study programs in the spring and summer of 2004.

Patricia Watkins, Faith Formation Coordinator for Holy Redeemer Parish in Marshall was awarded a scholarship in order to attend the Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry program at St. John's University in Collegeville.

Kateri Mancini from Granite Falls received assistance for the same program. Mancini is the Director of Faith Formation and Youth Ministry for the area Catholic parishes of St. Andrew in Granite Falls, St. Clara in Clara City, and St. Joseph in Montevideo.

Chris Olson, elementary principal for the New Ulm Area Catholic Schools, will apply her scholarship to a series of workshops through the Principal Formation Program in Washington, D.C.

Diana McCarney, principal of St. Philip School in Litchfield was awarded a scholarship for her continued enrollment in the Administrative Licensure postgraduate degree program at St. Mary's University, Winona.

All of the recipients are already active in their respective parish ministries, are working to enhance their qualifications, and plan to continue service in the Diocese of New Ulm.

Since the Lay Ministry Scholarship Committee first began receiving applications in spring of 2002, a total of $12,750 has been awarded to sixteen lay ministers throughout the Diocese of New Ulm. The minimum scholarship granted in one year is $200 and the maximum is $1,000. The five member committee is made up of one diocesan staff member, two diocesan Evangelization and Catechesis Committee members, and two at large members. The committee reviews the applications and makes recommendations to Bishop John C. Nienstedt who, in turn, gives final approval.

The Lay Ministry Scholarship Fund was founded and initiated by the second bishop of New Ulm, Bishop Raymond A. Lucker in January of 2000. Its purpose is to provide financial assistance to help in the qualifying formation/ training of religious education directors, youth ministers, Catholic school administrators, liturgists, and catechists in Catholic schools or religious education programs.

In addition to meeting the Faith Formation criteria, applicants must demonstrate a financial need, must include a letter of endorsement from a pastor or pastoral administrator, and must intend to continue service in the Diocese of New Ulm.

Applications are now being accepted for fall/winter programs and need to be submitted by June 15, 2004, to the diocesan Evangelization and Catechesis Department at the New Ulm Pastoral Center, 1400 6th Street North, New Ulm, MN 56073. Forms are available from pastoral leaders or by contacting JoAnn Borchert at (507) 359-2966 or via e-mail at jborchert@dnu.org.

Anyone wishing to make a contribution to the Lay Ministry Scholarship Fund should contact the Diocesan Office of Finance, 1400 6th Street North, New Ulm, MN 56073; (507) 359-2966.