Annual Catholic Appeal special grants put dollars into action as needs arise
When Marygrove’s heating system failed over the winter, the Annual Catholic Appeal responded swiftly.
Marygrove, a ministry of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, cares for children, teens and young adults who have experienced abuse or other disruptive family situations. The Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA) helped pay for heating system repairs and the extra cost of keeping the children warm while the system was out.
While most of the money distributed through the ACA goes to ministries and agencies planned well in advance, the appeal also distributes special grants to respond to urgent and unplanned needs.
Special grants are funded with money raised beyond the appeal’s goal and leftover funds that had been budgeted for appeal expenses or to cover unpaid pledges.
“Our goal is never to hold on to the money that is given to us; it’s always to put it into action, working on the mission of the Church,” ACA executive director Brian Niebrugge said. “And so when we have those funds available, we don’t want to amass some kind of war chest; we want to get it out into the community, helping people. That’s why people give us that money. So we’re always working and paying attention to see if we have the funds, where is it that we can best be utilized.”
While the special grant for Marygrove totaled $100,000, funds are also given to smaller, local needs. Several months ago, a family who had received care from the Rural Parish Clinic needed a ramp built at their home. The Annual Catholic Appeal paid for the necessary materials, and men from the local parish built the ramp themselves.
The Archbishop’s Charity Fund makes money available for small grants throughout the year, and money can also be distributed from reserve funds from categories like the religious assistance fund and parish emergency fund. Those reserve funds receive regular funding from the ACA, and then Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski and the appeal team can respond to needs as they arise.
In July, $1 million in overage funds from the 2023 appeal was awarded among eight agencies and organizations working to address the need for affordable housing: Assisi House, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Peter & Paul Community Services, Room at the Inn, St. Patrick Center, St. Joseph Housing Initiative, Sts. Joachim and Ann Care Service and the Oikos Group’s Hearts, Hands and Homes initiative.
Special grants are reviewed by the Annual Catholic Appeal council, a group of laypeople and clergy from around the archdiocese, and approved by Archbishop Rozanski. Other recent recipients include:
Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus at St. Agnes Home | $55,000
The Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus operate St. Agnes Home, a retirement and skilled nursing facility. Last summer, they received a special grant from the ACA for unexpected repairs to the chapel’s HVAC system. They also received a distribution from the Archbishop’s Charity Fund to help cover the costs of ongoing care for families who run out of money.
Caring Hearts Pregnancy Resource Center | $25,000
Caring Hearts Pregnancy Resource Center is the only pregnancy resource center in Washington County. Caring Hearts not only serves pregnant mothers but also provides a wide range of resources and support for parents and grandparents as they raise children. The Annual Catholic Appeal gave Caring Hearts a special grant to help address a budget shortfall at the center.
Holy Spirit Adoration “Pink” Sisters | $35,000
The Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters, also known as the “Pink Sisters” because of their brightly colored habits, are a cloistered contemplative missionary congregation that has been in in residence at St. Louis at Mount Grace Convent since 1928. The ACA awarded the sisters a special grant from the Religious Assistance Fund to install an elevator on their campus to better serve their community’s aging members.
Life’s River | $50,000
Life’s River is a new shelter for families in Washington, Missouri. It provides short-term housing for families and connects them with case management services. The idea for the shelter originated with two parishioners at St. Gertrude in Krakow, and Life’s River also has a partnership with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
“I get to see the incredible good works in the Church that happen every day, and it’s a great blessing. And if everybody could see that, clearly, they would have so much more peace and confidence in the world, Because there’s an immense amount of good that happens every day,” Brian said. “This appeal, because of people’s gifts, can make the mystical and often invisible Body of Christ visible to the world in a way the world can understand.”
