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Pastoral
Formation Fund
Diocese of La Crosse
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I. Introduction
Each year since 1998, the Diocesan
Annual Appeal has designated funds for the education and
formation of persons who are giving service to parishes
and Catholic institutions within the Diocese of La
Crosse. These monies are deposited on a quarterly basis
into the Office of Ministries and Social Concerns budget
and are to be disbursed from that office. The Pastoral
Formation Fund is available to assist lay persons,
deacons and religious within the Diocese who meet its
criteria (priests already have funds dedicated to this
purpose).
II. Purpose
The purpose of funds designated in
the Diocesan Annual Appeal for pastoral formation is to
assist in the upgrading of pastoral skills or the
completion of degree programs that enhance service to
the Church in the Diocese of La Crosse.
III. Award
Eligibility and Conditions
- Applicants must be providing
current and substantial service to parishes or
Catholic institutions within the Diocese of La
Crosse.
- Applicants may seek
scholarship assistance toward their enrollment in
certificate programs, undergraduate programs or
graduate programs in fields/disciplines pertinent to
their Church service. The scholarship is reserved
to persons enrolled in programs costing a minimum of
$200.00 per year.
- It has been customary for
parishes to fund directly persons who participate in
the diocesan Lay Formation Institute and the
diocesan Leader of Prayer Program. Except in
extraordinary circumstances, assistance from the
Pastoral Formation Fund is not to be provided for
this purpose.
- Scholarships will be awarded
in the form of matching grants. The pastor of the
parish or director of the institution being served
by the applicant (or, in the case of diocesan staff,
the Bishop, through a separate funding source) must
agree in writing to provide $1.00 of assistance from
the parish or institution for every $2.00 of
scholarship assistance sought from the Pastoral
Formation Fund. A maximum of $700 per fiscal year
may be received from the Pastoral Formation Fund.
The full funding of a request is not guaranteed.
- Hermits or members of
institutes dedicated to contemplative prayer, whose
means are limited and whose service to the Diocese
consists chiefly in prayer, are exempt from the
conditions outlined above.
- Scholarships from the Pastoral
Formation Fund are intended solely for tuition
costs, and not for added expenses such as room and
board, travel, books, etc.
- Scholarship awards will be
made payable to the institution of learning for
which they are sought. They are not to be applied
to debts for education previously undertaken.
- The due dates for applications
to the Pastoral Formation Fund are April 1, August
1, and December 1. A new application must be
submitted for each period in which aid is desired.
- Awards are determined by the
Pastoral Formation Fund Committee, chaired by the
Director of the Office of Ministries and Social
Concerns. If initial or continuing eligibility of
an applicant is in dispute, that committee shall
make the final determination.
- Awards from the Pastoral
Formation Fund must not conflict with existing
federal and state financial aid regulations in
institutions of higher education. Any conflicts
must be resolved before the award is announced.
- Changes in these guidelines
may be made with the approval of the diocesan Bishop
when strong and sufficient reasons exist.
Click here for Application |
