The Mercy Fund
Pope Francis deemed 2016 an Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy and encouraged all dioceses to celebrate acts of mercy. In response, Bishop Hying established the Mercy Fund within the Catholic Foundation for Northwest Indiana as a conduit to provide funding for projects that embody spiritual and corporal works of mercy like providing care for the poor and marginalized, bringing hope to the hopeless, and protecting those too young or too old to advocate for themselves.
The Mercy Fund is designed to support acts of mercy long beyond our lifetimes. Our goal is to see this fund grow to $500,000 so that it can give impactful grant awards of up to $25,000, year after year. The Mercy Fund will be able to fund more than $500,000 in grant awards in just twenty short years – and continue to give!
The Catholic Foundation for Northwest Indiana continues to help those in need by funding Catholic ministry programs that serve Lake, Porter, LaPorte, and Starke counties through Mercy Fund grants . Applications are now open through August 1, 2021 for the 2021 Grant Cycle.
The mission of the Mercy Fund endowment is to distribute funds to eligible agencies that serve the poor and vulnerable in Northwest Indiana. Thousands of people have been touched by projects and ministries that received support from the Mercy Fund. This is the fourth year that the Foundation will award grants. Last year $6,000 was awarded.
Judy Holicky, development coordinator for the Catholic Foundation for Northwest Indiana, encourages agencies to apply for the grant. “We are looking for projects that embrace the spiritual and corporal works of mercy,” explained Holicky. “These could be new projects that meet a need in the community, or an existing program that an agency is ready to take to a new level.”
2020 Mercy Fund Grant Recipients:
Good Samaritans, St. Michael Church – Schererville
St. Joseph Food Kitchen – Hammond
Society of St. Vincent de Paul – Special Works Fund
St. Stanislaus Community Food Pantry – East Chicago
Sacred Heart Food Pantry – LaPorte
Pick 7 Food Distribution, St. Matthias Church – Crown Point
St. Mary of the Lake Food Pantry – Gary
Boxes of Mercy/Food for the Hungry, Queen of All Saints – Michigan City
We are living in an unprecedented time. Together, with Christ by our side, we will not only survive but we will thrive.
Mercy is strong. Mercy rises to all challenges. Mercy shall prevail.
For more information contact the Foundation at jholicky@catholicfuture.org.
Donate to the Mercy Fund today!
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“This Holy Year will bring to the fore the richness of Jesus’ mission echoed in the words of the prophet: to bring a word and gesture of consolation to the poor, to proclaim liberty to those bound by new forms of slavery in modern society, to restore sight to those who can see no more because they are caught up in themselves, to restore dignity to all those from whom it has been robbed.”
Pope Francis
2018 Mercy Fund Grant Recipients
2019 Mercy Fund Grant Recipients:
Rebuilding Hope Mission Team
St. Michael the Archangel Church in Schererville acquires and installs AMRAMP metal wheelchair ramps on person-in-need residences with referral from reliable sources such as churches, hospitals, Catholic Charities, etc.
Nourish for Caregiver Ministry – Senior Respite Program
La Porte Catholic Peace and Justice Commission will provide respite to caregivers who need a break by employing certified, licensed caregivers from local hospice or caregiver organizations to sit with family members for several hours once each month.
Community Garden Expansion
Sojourner Truth House day center ministry in Gary is sponsored by the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ and serves homeless and at-risk women and their children from four local homeless shelters. The community garden provides a calm, peaceful environment for prayer and meditation.
Building Bridges
Andrean High School students are engaging in forming high school student leaders, who in return, can provide support in the Catholic grade schools as student leaders for retreats and service programs. This will strengthen faith life for both the Andrean students and the children in Catholic grade schools.
Dignity of Life for Mission
PHYRE, the Youth Ministry Program for the Whiting Robertsdale Community, manages, stocks, and maintains a pantry of nutritious foods and personal hygiene items for the men and women who are most in need and who either live in or participate in the meals at the Hammond City Rescue Mission.
Independent Living Education
St. Joseph Carmelite Home in East Chicago provides a program for residents who have been abused and neglected. Through education, training, and experiential settings, the program will help lower truancy, substance abuse and crime allowing the children to expand their exposure to healthy cultural experiences.
Blessing Box
Holy Trinity Croatian Church Outreach Team in East Chicago provides a Blessing Box with food, hygiene, and household products for anyone who may be struggling. The phrase “Take what you need, give what you can” on the Blessing Box allows the community to donate or take needed items.
Boxes of Mercy
Queen of All Saints Catholic Parish in Michigan City engages parishioners in a year-round effort providing food, gifts, and fellowship with individuals in need. Connecting with unchurched people and offer a support system and caring relationship, using a faith-based approach is integral to the program.