BRIDGEPORT—As St. John Paul II said of young people, “The Church needs your energies, your enthusiasm, your youthful ideals, in order to make the Gospel of Life penetrate the fabric of society.”
How then will your Parish re-engage our children and teens in programs this fall? Imagine the possibilities of an Autumn 2021 after the vaccine. Finally, a return to some semblance of normalcy; a ‘new norm’ that we, especially our youth desperately seek and need.
Foundations in Faith recognizes that Parishes in the Diocese are currently poised to begin making plans now for Fall Religious Education and Youth Ministry programs.
Faith Formation teams are invited to imagine what the youth programs will look like post pandemic. It will be exciting to see how Parish teams leverage the new technologies that they used during the pandemic and enhance those tools with in-person community fellowship to draw the youth back in.
According to Kelly Weldon, Director of Foundations in Faith, “We have an historical and unique opportunity as we re-emerge and hit the reset button on how we approach our youth. How do we best empower them in their life long journey of encountering Jesus? It is imperative that we take time to ask the youth what they need and how they envision programs that will help them heal as they re-enter into community and actively participate in our Catholic Faith. As St. John Paul II taught us “The Church needs your energies, your enthusiasm, your youthful ideals”.
Foundations in Faith through the St. John Paul II Fund has funding available for Parishes in the Diocese of Bridgeport for Fall Religious Education, Youth Ministry and Faith Formation programs. Applications go LIVE on February 10 and are due April 2. Creativity, youth engagement in planning and innovation are encouraged.
Sign up to receive grant announcements and updates by visiting www.foundationsinfaith.org—Follow us on Instagram—foundationsinfaithbpt. Contact Kelly Weldon at kelly.weldon@foundationsinfaith.org with questions or interest in supporting or volunteering.
