Grant Impact Story
Each year, the National Catholic Youth Conference (NCYC) attracts students from all over the country. Father Kevin Holland, pastor of Saint Boniface Parish in Kersey, knew this could be an impactful experience for his faith formation students. He sought a grant from the Catholic Foundation to support their attendance.
“An experience like this will allow the students to see firsthand that their faith is much more than what they learn in a classroom,” Father Holland wrote in his grant application. “Our faith is meant to be lived in a community.”
The Catholic Foundation awarded Saint Boniface Parish a grant to defray some of the costs to send youth to NCYC in Long Beach, California. For many participants, this was their first trip to the west coast and their first time flying. But that was just the beginning of the eye-opening experiences the eight students would have over the course of the four-day conference.
Some of these experiences were tied to their physical location, such as walking on the beach and swimming in the Pacific Ocean. The whole group ate lunch together each day and tried new, regional cuisines such as seafood, authentic Mexican, and sushi. On the spiritual side, some students participated in Lectio Divina and Midday Prayer for the first time. They experienced different styles of worship and encountered new Catholic music artists.
In a letter the students sent to the Catholic Foundation, they shared in more detail what they learned from members of religious orders. “The Felician Sisters are based in Haiti. They gave us experiences, such as carrying a bucket of water on our heads, that are everyday occurrences there. They explained how they teach kids and adults about the faith while helping them attain clean water and learn new skills to help others in their community. The Salesian Sisters helped us make rosary bracelets so we always have a rosary with us. They taught us about different saints, especially those who influence their work the most.” Through the sisters, the students learned more about what religious life was really like and some of the students are considering that life for themselves.
“Being there provided many opportunities for growth and chances to be a Christian in deed and in action,” Father Holland wrote in his grant report. “God really did have us in the palm of His hand during the journey. We learned a lot about the kids, their struggles and strengths, and taught them that being Catholic is and should be very joyful and hope filled.”
The students also sent a statement of thanks: “Thank you very much for making this trip possible. We had a wonderful time, and our spiritual lives have grown from the experience.”
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 impactful projects and programming throughout northwest Pennsylvania.
“Thank you very much for making this trip possible. We had a wonderful time, and our spiritual lives have grown from the experience.”