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Women's ministry in western N.C. receives seed money

CHARLOTTE — Churches, food pantries, outreach ministries and faith formation programs around the diocese are the latest recipients of $44,500 in grants awarded by the Diocese of Charlotte Foundation this year.

The annual awards are given out based on need and the impact the funds are expected to have on their local communities.

This year more than 17 parishes and missions, six diocesan outreach ministries and three food pantries benefitted from grants. Five direct assistance grants were also awarded to diocesan ministries. Five faith formation programs and a church-sponsored children's counseling program also received funding.

The foundation grants ranged from $1,000 to $3,000. Since 2001, the foundation has given away 230 grants totaling $628,000.

"Walking with Purpose for Women" is one of the programs that received a grant this year. This is a new ministry that will start this fall, as a joint effort between St. Stephen Mission in Elkin and St. John Baptist de La Salle Church in North Wilkesboro, thanks to the $2,000 grant they received.

Sister Janis McQuade, SSJ, pastoral associate at St. Stephen Mission in Elkin, is excited to see this new women's ministry get off the ground. She hopes that women from both parishes will enroll in either the day or evening sessions starting up in the fall.

Parishioners Diane Whitman and Debbie Parrish have been working with Sister Janis, creating awareness about the Scripture-based program. Whitman and Parrish traveled to Maryland for leadership training and are now training other parishioners to help lead the sessions.

"'Walking with Purpose' is a way of gathering women to deepen their relationship with Jesus and offers them an opportunity for personal reflection and study in small groups and they link it to everyday experiences – the challenges, struggles and joys of every day," Sister Janis said. "Together they work through coming to conclusions, solutions and reconciliation in light of the Scriptures and Church teaching."

Sister Janis shared that the program costs approximately $60 per participant, so without a grant the parishes could not have afforded to bring this to the women in their area. There is only one other group like this in the state, at St. Paul Church in Greensboro.

They will offer both a morning and an evening session this fall and hope to enroll at least 25 women before October.

For more information on Diocese of Charlotte Foundation grants, contact Judy Smith, diocesan director of planned giving, at 704-370-3320 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

— SueAnn Howell, staff writer

See the entire list

Name of Parish/ School/ Agency Program Description Amount

Immaculate Heart of Mary Church: Clay County Food Pantry, $2,500.00

St. Eugene Church/St. Lawrence Church/St Joan of Arc Conference: Financial assistance to those in crisis $2,000.00

St. Thérèse Church: Financial assistance to those in crisis, $2,000.00

Our Lady of Guadalupe Church: Counseling for Chldren, $2,000.00

St. Charles Borromeo Church: Faith Formation for Hmong Youth, $2,500.00

Our Lady of Mercy Church: Faith Formation and Equipment, $2,000.00

St. Stephen Mission: Walking with Purpose for Women, $2,000.00

Hispanic Ministry - Boone Vicariate: Faith Formation and Equipment, $2,000.00

Our Lady of Grace Church: Financial assistance to those in crisis, $1,000.00

St. Jude Church: Food Pantry Services, $2,500.00

Sacred Heart Mission: Hispanic Ministry, $2,000.00

St. Andrew Church: Hispanic Ministry, $1,000.00

Ministero Católico Hispano-Vicariate of Smoky Mountain: Hispanic Ministry, $1,000.00

Our Lady of Lourdes Church: Faith Formation, $1,500.00

St. William Backpack Ministry: Food for the Poor, $2,500.00

Saint Mary Help of Christians Church: Hispanic Ministry, $2,000.00

St. Francis of Assisi Church: Faith Formation, $2,000.00

St. John Neumann Church: Youth Council Training, $2,500.00

St. Vincent de Paul Society: Hayesville Financial assistance to those in crisis, $2,500.00

Catholic Social Services: Able Program, $2,500.00

Catholic Social Services: Direct Assistance Program, $1,500.00

Catholic Social Services: Food Pantry Services, $3,000.00