AMS Named Recipient of $56,000 Grant from Catholic Extension

CHICAGO – Catholic Extension announced it has approved a $56,000 grant to be provided over the next two years for the Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS). It will support development of an evangelization and faith formation program for Catholics in the United States military. The program—Why Catholic? Journey through the Catechism—was founded by RENEW International to help Catholics better understand, practice and spread their Faith through participation in small faith-sharing groups.

Dr. Mark Moitoza, AMS Vice-Chancellor and Director of Evangelization, said the grant will be used to train Catholic leaders at military installations throughout the eastern U.S. to facilitate the program in their military Catholic Faith Communities.

Dr. Moitoza said:
“Why Catholic? trains lay leaders to gather small faith groups at their military installation to share the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church—the Profession of Faith, the Celebration of the Christian Mystery, Life in Christ and Christian Prayer. The focus on spiritual renewal, evangelization, and adult faith formation helps adults to mature in faith and it equips them to share the gospel with others. As indicated in the Why Catholic? Disciple's Prayer—lay leaders support the ministry of the chaplaincy and fulfill their baptismal call when they are ‘strengthened as a disciple of Jesus, committed to the mission of the Church and are eager to share the gospel without restraint.’"

Archbishop Broglio said:
“For more than a century, American Catholic mission dioceses such as the AMS have been able to count on Catholic Extension for its unique support—support driven by a firm commitment to the growth and vibrancy of the Church. Over the past ten years alone, Catholic Extension has contributed more than $716,000 to the AMS, and for that, I am profoundly grateful.”

Father Jack Wall, President of Catholic Extension, said:
“We are proud to partner with the Archdiocese for the Military Services to provide funding to support their partnership with RENEW International on the Why Catholic? Program. We recognize that the people of this diocese have enormous passion for their ministry and commitment to the growth of the Catholic Faith. Through our strategic funding, Catholic Extension is dedicated to building faith, inspiring hope and igniting change. We are proud to assist the Archdiocese for the Military Services in ensuring the continuation and growth of their dynamic Catholic Faith community.”

Terry Witherell, Catholic Extension’s National Representative for Strategic Initiatives, said:
“We are thrilled that we are able to support the AMS in its efforts to bring RENEW’s Why Catholic? to the diocese. Through strategic initiatives like these, Catholic Extension partners with organizations such as RENEW, to offer to the mission dioceses programs and resources that would otherwise be unattainable, due to cost and geographic location. These strategic initiatives also allow us to multiply the impact of our donors' gifts, while providing the opportunity for dioceses to access top-level programs that would otherwise be outside of their financial capacity.”

Catholic Extension is a national fundraising organization established in 1905 to support and strengthen poor mission dioceses across the United States. Catholic Extension provides funding and resources to dioceses and parishes through programs and services investing in people, infrastructure and ministries. This support is given based on need, passion and commitment to the growth of the Catholic faith. Catholic Extension uniquely contributes to the growth and vibrancy of the Church in the U.S. by strategically investing in poor mission dioceses to unleash the power of faith that transforms hearts, lives and society.

The AMS was created as an independent archdiocese by Pope John Paul II in 1985 as the only Catholic jurisdiction responsible for endorsing and granting faculties for priests to serve as chaplains in the U.S. military. AMS-endorsed chaplains serve at more than 220 U.S. military installations in 29 countries, making the AMS the nation's only global archdiocese. AMS-endorsed chaplains also serve at 153 VA Medical Centers throughout the U.S.

The AMS service population also includes American Catholic civilians working for the federal government in 134 countries, but currently, due to limited resources, the AMS cannot adequately serve this population.

Worldwide, an estimated 1.8 million Catholics depend on the AMS to meet their spiritual and sacramental needs.

For more information on the Archdiocese for the Military Services, visit www.milarch.org, the only official Web site for Catholics in the military and for the Cause of Father Vincent Capodanno, M.M

Article courtesy of the Archdiocese for Military Services and is reproduced with permission.