2017 Fearless Love Grants Awarded

The diocese granted these awards to the following congregations in 2017:

Trinity, Escondido
Awarded: $1,500
Project: Provide 40 garden plots and additional supplies in the Trinity Neighborhood Garden as well as several above ground plots for the elderly and disabled. The garden plots are available to anyone in South Escondido and provide a place for all ages to connect, learn about the gardening process and produce food to share with those in need.

St. Mary’s, Ramona
Awarded: $100
Project: Purchase materials that support the growing Centering Prayer group meeting at St. Mary’s. The group engages the local Christian community of Ramona and they hope to continue its growth and diversity.

All Souls’, San Diego
Awarded: $1,600
Project: Partner with the Peninsula Shepherd Center to host bi-weekly support groups that focus on a variety of topics and issues. This will include a group for grief over a major loss, caregiver support, and individual counseling. A social worker and nurse will be present. The project involves a partnership with other local churches and looks to reach to the local neighborhood including those who would not regularly attend a service.

Good Samaritan, San Diego
Awarded: $4,000
Project: Expand the youth drumming program by purchasing equipment as well as start a youth choir. The music program has proven very successful in getting youth involved and drawing people to the church and they wish to further support and grow this initiative.

St. Mark’s, City Heights
Awarded: $2,000
Project: Partner with Christ Church and the Christ Church Thrift shop to create a Clothing Closet ministry that assists homeless persons in City Heights with used clean clothes. It will be linked to the Showers of Blessings ministry and promote public health.

St. Paul’s Cathedral, San Diego
Award: $650
Project: Purchase equipment to spearhead the “Faith to Go” program, which will provide curated resources, discussion forums and interactive media digitally on the Cathedral website. The guideline principle is to provide on-the-go inspiration and fresh interpretations on what it means to be a follower of Christ in the modern world.

RefugeeNet
Award: $2,800
Project: Meet the needs of newly arrived refugees and children by creating a preschool program, community meetings and church forums. The preschool program will help teach young children to read and encourage youth education. The community meetings and church forums will educate people about refugees in San Diego and the programs RefugeeNet offers, building community partnerships.

Friday Family Meals
Award: $1,000
Project: Offer free weekly meals to anyone who wishes to attend, creating a home-based ministry that also engages people in conversation and storytelling. The meals are not aimed at any particular group and are open to all, though most attendees tend to be young families and single millennials. The money covers the cost of groceries.

St. David’s, San Diego
Award: $2,700
Project: Support the cost of a Family Ministry Researcher/Leader for a preschool pilot project. This pilot project will determine the needs of surrounding families to develop and improve children’s and youth ministries, strengthening the relationship between the parish and the preschool.

St. John’s, Indio
Award: $2,700
Project: Improving the Neighbors4Neighbors ministry which distributes bags of groceries to over 130 families once a month by adding an RN to provide medical services and make referrals for further treatments.

St. Paul’s, Palm Springs – Funds returned
Awarded: $1,300
Project: Give 180 homeless persons showers and dinner once a month in a six month period, evaluating the success and aiming to grow the project beyond six months after the trial period ends.

St. Bartholomew’s, Poway – Funds returned
Awarded: $150
Project: Hire a college ministry intern to engage the surrounding college students in programming and ministry initiatives. The intern will collaborate with surrounding parishes and connect with nearby communities. Engaging college students will grow church vitality and provide positive role models to youth.