MACC awarded $1 million Lilly Endowment Grant

MACC awarded $1 million Lilly Endowment Grant

The Mexican American Catholic College (MACC) was notified it will receive a $1 million grant from the Lilly Endowment Inc. as part of its Thriving in Ministry initiative. Father Juan Molina, Ph.D., incoming MACC president, expressed his gratitude and enthusiasm: “We are grateful to Lilly Endowment for trusting us to implement this grant. I look forward to creating a sustainable program to help ministers thrive and thus more successfully serve the people of God.”

During the next three years, MACC will work to strengthen the college’s existing programs and launch new initiatives that will help pastoral leaders thrive in ministry as they serve in congregations of color. The primary focus of the grant project, “Esperanza for Pastoral Leaders in Hispanic Ministry,” will be providing access to integral ministerial formation and higher education.This is especially needed for Latino lay ministers who discern a call to serve the Church but cannot afford to receive the formation and credentials needed for employment as lay ecclesial ministers.

In close partnership with the Archdiocese of San Antonio, MACC is establishing the Institute for Lay Ecclesial Ministry and Service. The Archdiocese has committed a matching grant to support the staffing and programs of the Institute and other programs that serve the local Church.

Additionally, in collaboration with the University of Incarnate Word, and through close collaboration with national partners the project will strengthen supportive programs for women and men religious in Hispanic Ministry, priests, deacons, seminarians, and deacon candidates.

These programs include language and intercultural studies, spiritual accompaniment especially of young leaders, and supportive peer groups to keep the hard-working pastoral leaders hopeful and healthy.

Lilly Endowment launched Thriving in Ministry to help charitable organizations, especially those committed to supporting pastoral leaders in congregations — to develop new programs and strengthen existing ones that help pastors build relationships with experienced clergy who can serve as role models. The primary aim is to help pastors thrive in congregational leadership and,in doing so, enhance the vitality of the congregations they serve.