First In Love of God and Neighbor Grants to be awarded this summer 

Bishop Carroll Catholic High School student Caleb Iseman stacks flats of canned goods before they are trucked to a local food pantry in this file photo. Many parishes serve their communities through food pantries and are a good example of the initiatives for which the One Family, Fully Alive in Christ! Campaign’s In Love of God and Neighbor Fund is intended. (Courtesy photo)

As our diocesan campaign nears its conclusion this summer, a beautiful new chapter is already beginning to unfold. Thanks to the generosity of more than 7,000 donors to the Diocese of Wichita’s One Family, Fully Alive in Christ! Campaign, a new $5 million outreach ministry fund is being established that is dedicated to supporting the vital work done by our parishes and the faithful to serve those in need. 

The fund, which represents 10% of the $50 million anticipated to be raised through the campaign, is not a permanent endowment, but it will be managed with similar care and discipline. Designed to operate like a grant program, awards from the fund will be distributed twice a year – in July and January – providing consistent, long-term support for parish ministry efforts across the diocese. With each funding cycle, it is anticipated that at least $100,000 will be allocated to support vital outreach efforts.

The first round of grant funding will be awarded this July, as the active fundraising portion of the campaign concludes. Beginning in May, pastors will be invited to apply for grants up to $5,000 to support outreach initiatives that make a difference in their local communities. 

“This new fund opens a door that we didn’t think we would have the key for,” related Fr. Jorge Lopez, pastor at St. Patrick, Wichita. “We have had dreams of expanding our outreach in communities across the diocese, and now we are in a better place to do so. For a ministry like The Lord’s Pantry here at St. Patrick, which serves our neighbors in need, this could make a big difference – not only in how many people we can reach, but also in easing the burden on our parish to keep it going. It’s a blessing for our community and for those we are called to serve.”

Across the diocese, pastors and parish leaders have responded with gratitude and hopeful anticipation. Some are imagining new outreach efforts that may take root with a little extra support. For some, this fund can mean the chance to expand longstanding outreach efforts that already serve their communities in meaningful ways. St. Anthony in Garden Plain, for example, provides cribs for expecting mothers in need. At Sacred Heart Parish in Fredonia, Diaper Heaven provides diapers, clothing, shoes, toys, and other essentials for Wilson County families each week. Several other parishes operate food pantries that stretch their resources to meet rising needs – and often run out of supplies before the month is over. 

These examples are only a few of the outreach efforts the In Love of God and Neighbor Fund is designed to support, whether helping a new ministry come to life or strengthening the good work already underway in our communities. Applications from other Catholic-based organizations within the Diocese of Wichita will also be accepted and carefully considered on a case-by-case basis, ensuring alignment with the fund’s mission and objectives. 

At the heart of our mission is the call to serve our brothers and sisters in need. One of the most impactful ways to live out this call is at the local level, with neighbors supporting neighbors. Established as a key component of the One Family, Fully Alive in Christ! Campaign, the In Love of God and Neighbor Fund will provide essential support for outreach initiatives across our diocesan family, empowering local ministries and enabling the diocese to make significant investments in addressing our communities’ pressing challenges of mental health, hunger, and homelessness in our communities. 

As we celebrate the campaign’s approaching completion, we are also witnessing the mission come alive in new and lasting ways – a renewed commitment to supporting our neighbors in need, made possible by the shared generosity and faith of our diocesan family. 

Stay tuned for stories from the first ministries to receive these grants. Through the good work supported by the In Love of God and Neighbor Fund, we are answering the call to live fully alive as missionary disciples. This is only the beginning of what we can do, together. 

To learn more about the In Love of God and Neighbor Fund and the other priorities of the Fully Alive! Campaign, or to make your gift or pledge, please visit OneFamilyFullyAlive.org.