Saint Clement Parish Awarded Grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.
April 4, 2024
Dear Saint Clement Community,
I am delighted to share some incredible news with you. The spirit of renewal is alive and thriving at Saint Clement, and it is with great joy that I announce that we have been awarded a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of the foundation's Thriving Congregation Initiative. This grant, totaling $1.25 million over the next four years, will play a crucial role in supporting our parish's strategic initiative, the Young Adult Engagement Pathway.
At Saint Clement, we have experienced a powerful movement of the Holy Spirit that has awakened hearts to the exploration of God, brought us into belonging, and empowered us in service. Our community has been deeply touched by active participation of so many young people engaging in faith and leadership. This grant is a testament to the incredible work that is being done here, and it will enable us to continue to elevate our efforts in engaging, forming, and equipping young adults to serve as church leaders.
With over 70% of our new members being younger than 35 and over 60% of our program leaders and participants being young adults, it is clear that our young adult community is thriving. However, our collection is not keeping up with the funding needed to support our programs. Last year alone, we engaged over 14,500 people, and because of that overwhelming participation there is a need to create a funding bridge to continue to grow and offer programs that clearly work and engage people in faith and belonging.
The grant will address this critical need by supporting the hiring of two key positions: a hospitality and events manager and a director of faith engagement programs. Additionally, it will provide funding to codify our programs in a way that can be used by other churches and faith communities. This will not only allow us to continue our work, but also elevate it to the next level, with the goal of creating a Young Adult Engagement Pathway for Saint Clement that can serve as a model for other churches and communities across the United States.
I am confident that this initiative will not only enrich our congregation, but also provide valuable insights for other communities. I would like to express my deep gratitude to God, all who worked hard on this application, and to Lilly Endowment Inc. for their generous gift. This funding will be instrumental in ensuring that our young adult community continues to thrive and grow.
Sincerely,
Fr. Peter Wojcik
Pastor of Saint Clement Parish