Grant Impact Story
A popular opportunity for parish youth is to attend the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC), bringing together young Catholics from all over the country for three days of prayer, evangelization, and community. Clint Badowski, Director of Youth Faith Formation for Saint Joseph/Bread of Life and Sacred Heart of Jesus Parishes in Erie, turned to the Catholic Foundation for financial support to offset some of the costs so youth from the parishes could attend.
“This conference can be life altering because it brings youth together from all over the United States to bring a deep encounter with Christ and press upon the youth that they are never alone in the journey to Heaven,” Clint wrote in his grant application. “The youth will be able to deepen their own faith and invest in the future impact of continuing evangelization when they arrive home. Through continuing evangelization, these youth will see they are a spark within our faith and understand that they are part of the process to continue spreading our Faith to all four corners of the world.” The Catholic Foundation awarded a grant to Saint Joseph/Bread of Life Parish to support their trip.
Once they arrived at the conference, Clint shared, “Our youth engaged in prayer, liturgy, and breakout sessions that deepened their Catholic faith and strengthened their relationship with Christ. They also connected with other Catholic youth during breaks and while traveling between venues. Through simple interactions such as swapping hats and pins, meaningful conversations about faith and parish life emerged. Meeting youth from states such as Texas, California, and Hawaii helped our participants recognize the universality of the Church and their place within the Body of Christ.”
When the students arrived back home, they were eager to share their experiences and drum up enthusiasm for attending the conference again.
“Thank you for your generous support, which made it possible for our youth to attend the National Catholic Youth Conference,” Clint wrote in thanks. “Because of your gift, our students experienced prayer, worship, and fellowship that strengthened their faith and Catholic identity. Your generosity removed financial barriers and helped nurture the next generation of the Church.”
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 and programs throughout northwest Pennsylvania.
“Thank you for your generous support, which made it possible for our youth to attend the National Catholic Youth Conference. Our students experienced prayer, worship, and fellowship that strengthened their faith and Catholic identity. Your generosity removed financial barriers and helped nurture the next generation of the Church.”