BRIDGEPORT—The Institute for Catholic Formation is pleased to announce four Diocese of Bridgeport parishes have been selected as partners of the National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry’s grant funded initiative, the Accompaniment Project.
The National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry (NFCYM)has invited 43 parishes throughout the United States to participate in five cohorts for the Accompaniment Project.
Each cohort of parishes will work with an NFCYM-appointed coach to train an Accompaniment Steering Committee who will lead the work of the project for a period of three years. In that time, the parish leaders hope to educate the adults in their communities on what it means to accompany young people in faith as well as to provide them with the practical skills they need to do so. In this effort, these parishes will be testing a new model of ministering with young people which focuses on developing a community of faith companions for the youth.
“I am very proud of the staff and volunteers at these parishes,” said Dr. Patrick Donovan, executive director of the Institute for Catholic Formation. “They put a great deal of effort into the application process, and I’m excited to see how their vision comes to life. At the same time, the Diocese of Bridgeport is very grateful to the NFCYM, for their willingness to partner with our parishes, share their expertise, and contribute to our shared ministry with young people.”
The four Diocese of Bridgeport parishes selected for the project include Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Bridgeport; St. Peter Parish, Bridgeport; St. James Parish, Stratford; and St. Stephen Parish, Trumbull.
These parishes are part of a cohort of others in the Northeastern United States, including the Holy Rood Collaborative (St. Mary, St. John the Baptist and St. Margaret of Scotland parishes) of the Archdiocese of Boston; Ascension Parish of the Archdiocese of New York; Holy Innocents Parish of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia; St. Katharine Drexel Parish of the Diocese of Camden, N.J.; and St. Matthias Parish of the Diocese of Metuchen, N.J.
Other partnering dioceses and cohorts include:
Archdiocese of New Orleans: Mary, Queen of Peace Parish, Mandeville; Our Lady of Lourdes Parish; Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish, Hahnville; St. Anthony of Padua Parish; St. Clement of Rome Parish, Metairie; St. Maria Goretti Parish, New Orleans; St. Paul the Apostle Parish, New Orleans; SS. Peter and Paul Parish, Pearl River; St. Peter Claver Parish, New Orleans
Diocese of Crookston, Minn.: Assumption Parish; Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception; Holy Rosary Parish; St. Ann Parish; St. Bernard Parish; St. Joseph Parish; St. Mary Parish; St. Peter Parish.
Diocese of St. Augustine, Fla. & Diocese of Venice, Fla.: St. Paul Parish, Diocese of St. Augustine; Epiphany Cathedral, Diocese of Venice; Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish, Diocese of Venice; St. Catherine Parish, Diocese of Venice; St. Joseph Parish, Diocese of Venice; St. Paul Parish, Diocese of Venice; St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Diocese of Venice
National Online Cohort: St. Elizabeth Seton Parish, Archdiocese of Baltimore; Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Diocese of Baton Rouge, La.; Our Lady of the Valley Parish, Diocese of Birmingham, Ala.; St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Diocese of Birmingham, Ala.; St. Pius X Parish, Diocese of Great Falls-Billings, Mont.; Holy Savior Parish, Diocese of Jackson, Miss.; St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Archdiocese of Las Vegas; St. John Paul II Parish, Archdiocese of Las Vegas; The Grove Collaborative (Good Shepherd, St. Joseph, St. Maria Goretti and St. Vincent de Paul parishes), Diocese of Sacramento, Calif.; Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Diocese of San Bernardino, Calif.
For more information, visit nfcym.org/accompaniment-project
