Parish Faith Formation Grant

What is the Parish Faith Formation Grant?

The Parish Faith Formation Grant, funded through the Catholic Ministries Appeal, is designed to support innovative faith formation initiatives in parishes throughout the Diocese of Scranton.

The grant provides financial resources to parishes who form missionary disciples through new and innovative evangelization & catechesis efforts.  To be considered for this grant, a parish must submit an initiative that demonstrates an effort to form disciples who:

• Live our faith fully
• Share our faith freely with others
• Transform the world in Christ

Parishes should also endeavor to call forth the baptized to assume position of servant leadership and foster the spirit of co-responsibility – supporting each parish in its unique journey to becoming a full participative community of living faith

The funds received through Parish Faith Formation Grant can be used for initiatives in the areas of:

• Family Faith Formation
• Adult Faith Formation
• Young Adult Formation
• Youth Ministry Formation
• Child Faith Formation
• Continued Formation for Catechist, Coordinator of Youth Ministry and Parish Catechetical Leaders continued Formation

Who is eligible for the Parish Faith Formation Grant?

Parishes within the Diocese of Scranton are eligible for the Parish Faith Formation Grant, provided they focus on the following:

• Promoting life-long discipleship formation and activities
• Inviting and welcoming home Catholics and non-Catholics into the parish
• Providing spiritual support to families, singles, youth and young adults
• Using updated technology and media to grow faith formation events.

*Please Note: If a parish received a grant through the 2025-2026 cycle they are required to submit a Mid-Year Report by January 9th and an End of Year Report by June 30th to remain eligible for the 2026-2027 grant cycle.

What requests are ineligible for funding?

Areas that will NOT be considered for funding and would be deemed ineligible:

• Initiatives that are outside the scope of the grants priorities, such as social justice or liturgical supplies
• Existing staff salaries
• Capital campaigns or projects, such as funds towards the purchase of a parish vehicle or construction or updating of a youth space
• Already completed initiatives
• Initiatives that cannot prove to be self-sustaining (an initiative will be considered not self-sustaining if outside funding cannot be funded after a two-year cycle)
• Emergency Funds

What are the funding priorities of the Parish Faith Formation Grant?

Funding priorities of the Parish Faith Formation Grant encourage:

• Faith Formation initiatives that reach a wide audience
• Faith formation initiatives that are in collaboration with neighboring parishes
• New or creative faith formation initiatives
• Projects or events that align with the mission of the Diocese of Scranton
• Sustainable initiatives that can continue when the grant cycle ends

Parishes are encouraged to focus on initiatives that foster a sense of belonging and community, based on the current model of “Belong – Believe – Behave.” Initiatives for families, adults, youth and children may be considered.  Additionally, parishes are encouraged to look at ways in which to deepen the faith of active adults parishioners and equip them to reach out to inactive Catholics.

2026 Diocesan Funding Initiatives

The Diocese of Scranton has identified 3 Funding Initiatives for 2026. Parishes are encouraged to consider these opportunities, which are competitive and will be awarded based on the strength of the application.

(1) Hallow Parish Partnership

Equip your parish with world-class Catholic prayer content, dedicated support, and tools to reach every soul in your community – including those not yet in the pews.

Grant funding is available to offset the cost of a parish partnership with Hallow, the #1 Christian Prayer app in the World.  Partner parishes work with a Hallow Parish Success Lead to unite the parish community through prayer. 

Now in its second year, the Hallow Parish Partnership is a joint effort between the Diocese of Scranton and Hallow. Parishes may receive partial funding for multi-year contracts.

(2) Catechetical Formation

Grant funding allows a parish unlimited access to all the resources available through the Catechetical Institute’s Franciscan at Home online platform, offering formation to Parish Catechetical Leaders, Catechists, Youth Ministers and adults.  All learners are invited to grow deeper in their relationship with God as they learn how to echo the faith.

Learners can complete Catechetical Institute workshops, taught by University professors and other experts, either individually or in group settings. 

Parishes may also apply for conference fees for the Saint John Bosco Conference, where catechists, teachers, youth ministers, and leaders come together to deepen their faith, sharpen their skills, and be re-energized for the mission of sharing the Gospel. 

(3) Conference & Retreat Fees

Grant funding can be used for conferences and other events sponsored by the Diocese of Scranton and partner ministries, including:

• Youth Rally
• National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC)
• Steubenville Youth Conference 
• Women’s Retreat
• Refresh Your Faith Catholic Women’s Conference
• Be a Catholic Man Conference and Retreat

Parishes may also identify other conferences and apply for funding.

Because it may be difficult to forecast exactly how many people will attend a particular conference/event, parishes may estimate  the necessary funds by estimating both the cost and the number of attendees.

Awarded grant money will remain with the Diocese and distributed from a “debit” account for each conference or event.