Grant Impact Story
The Warren County Catholic Community is continually growing in their collaboration and relationship-building efforts between the two local parishes of Holy Redeemer and Saint Joseph. One thing on their wish list to continue these efforts was to create an outdoor seating area with a fire pit at Holy Redeemer Parish where many faith formation groups and other parish groups could gather. From youth groups to OCIA sessions, small group gatherings for young families to visiting priests, the possibilities for use of the space were endless.
Seeking financial assistance with this project, Jennifer Wortman, Warren County Catholic Community Director of Faith Formation, applied for a grant from the Catholic Foundation. “The more opportunities we present for prayerful and conversational gatherings, the more we invite people in and ignite in them a fire for Christ and His mission,” she wrote in her grant application, calling the project “Invite to Ignite”. “This space will be a benefit for all ages,” she added, sharing how spaces like this were great additions to parishes across the country. “I cannot think of a better addition to an already beautiful outdoor space.”
The Catholic Foundation awarded Holy Redeemer Parish a grant to assist with the costs of creating the fire pit seating area. After its installation, the space was put to good use by members of the entire Warren Catholic Community. Some of the activities included youth and adult faith formation sessions, a youth group family movie night, and Vacation Bible School. “The space did indeed ignite an excitement and passion in our community for fellowship, discipleship, and for being a whole community parish family,” Jennifer shared in her grant report along with anticipation for future opportunities to use the space.
“The Warren County Catholic Community is incredibly grateful to the Catholic Foundation and its generous donors for making improvements to our parish communities possible so that we might offer more dynamic opportunities for all ages of faith formation, plus youth ministry opportunities, and options for gatherings and fellowship. The generosity of the Foundation in conjunction with the generous spirit of our parishioners has enabled us to remain relevant and innovative in our offerings.”
This project was supported by a grant from the Education Endowment of the Catholic Foundation. Your gift to the Foundation in any amount designated for this endowment increases our capacity to award grants for innovative projects like this throughout northwest Pennsylvania.
“The Warren County Catholic Community is incredibly grateful to the Catholic Foundation and its generous donors for making improvements to our parish communities possible so that we might offer more dynamic opportunities for all ages of faith formation, plus youth ministry opportunities, and options for gatherings and fellowship.”