Salt and Light Grant
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is offering Salt and Light Grants (formerly Global Solidarity Grants) to assist our Catholic institutions and ministries in strengthening formation in Catholic social teaching.
Do you want to:
- Explore God’s call to love your neighbors?
- Foster community in your parish?
- Learn the Scriptural and Catholic social teaching framework for addressing global poverty?
- Discern personal and social action to address poverty in your local community?
- Motivate solidarity-focused action that is rooted in the recognition of the inherent dignity of all humans?
Then gather a small group at your parish and apply for the Salt and Light Grant (formerly Global Solidarity Grant)!
As Christians we are called to be salt and light to the world – to live as a faith-filled and life-giving presence in our families, our communities, our country, and in the global community. For each of us, that means learning more about how our faith calls us to follow Christ in responding to the needs of our neighbors and to the challenges of our times.
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington is offering Salt and Light Grants (formerly Global Solidarity Grants) to assist our Catholic institutions and ministries in strengthening formation in Catholic social teaching. Learn more about the opportunity for small group learning and faith-sharing experiences focusing on Catholic social teaching by participating in the JustFaith Catholic series. The chosen parishes will create and facilitate small group experiences using the JustFaith Catholic series formational modules. The grant money will cover the cost of group registration fees.
If your parish’s small group has previously participated in JustFaith formational opportunities and would like support continuing to participate in a JustFaith program, please contact Ian Mitchell in the Office of Social Concerns at [email protected] or Maeve Gilheney-Gallagher in the Office of Missions at [email protected] directly.
“Every believer is called to serve those in need, to work for justice, and to pursue peace. Every parish has the mission to help its members act on their faith in the world.” Communities of Salt and Light, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Program Overview: JustFaith Catholic Series
The JustFaith Catholic series guides small groups in exploring the Gospel’s call to respond to poverty in their local communities and in our world, building solidarity with the poor and marginalized. Reading, discussion, and reflection on the themes of Catholic social teaching are complemented by rich prayers, heartfelt sharing, videos, guest speakers, retreats, and immersion experiences into the local community – all of which build strong relationships among group members. It also equips them with the tools they need to take action in a way that is effective, sustainable, and in accordance with Catholic social teaching.
Participants can engage in the first program in the JustFaith Catholic series, Faith and Poverty: A Biblical Response which lays the theological and biblical foundation for responding to poverty in their communities. Participants will explore the Gospel’s call to respond to poverty in their communities, nation, and world, and will equip participants with practical tools to take action in effective and sustainable ways. The grant money covers the group sign-up fee for Faith and Poverty: A Biblical Response.
At this time, the program is only available in English. JustFaith provides an in-depth overview of the JustFaith Catholic Series.
Application Details
This grant is open to any parish or campus ministry group in the Archdiocese which wants to learn more about how our faith calls us to follow Christ in responding to the needs of our neighbors and to the challenges of our times by participating in small group learning and faith-sharing experiences focused on Catholic social teaching
The application will be made available on February 1st, 2025; all applications must be received by Monday, February 24. Any applicant having difficulty meeting this deadline must contact [email protected] before the application deadline. A committee will make grant decisions and applicants will be notified of a decision by the beginning of March 2025. Grants will be disbursed in March 2025. Any parish having difficulty meeting this deadline must contact [email protected].
The minimum grant size is for seven participants. The maximum grant size is fourteen participants. In the event of a parish with much interest in the program, multiple small groups can be formed and noted on the application. The sign-up fee for small groups is $35/person.
All applications must be signed by the grant coordinator and endorsed by the applicant’s pastor.
SALT AND LIGHT GRANT APPLICATION (opens on february 1st, 2025)
Additional Resources
For more information, contact Maeve Gilheney-Gallagher, Global Solidarity Coordinator.