January 15, 2010
St. Meinrad receives grant for youth program
St. Meinrad Seminary and School of Theology in St. Meinrad has been awarded an $895,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. of Indianapolis. The grant will be used as supplemental support for the “One Bread, One Cup” youth liturgical leadership program.
The funds will underwrite a portion of the operating ex-penses of the program for five years. During that time, Saint Meinrad will continue to build an endowment to replace the grant as a source of operating revenue. Other costs of the program are covered by participant fees.
“Lilly Endowment has played a crucial role in supporting our program over the years,” said Benedictine Father Godfrey Mullen, interim manager for the “One Bread, One Cup” program. “Their support empowers St. Meinrad to pass on the Benedictine heritage of community and liturgy to another generation of Catholics. Catholic youth and those who serve them will benefit greatly from ‘One Bread, One Cup’ because of the generosity of the Lilly Endowment.”
The youth liturgical leadership program sponsors three five-day conferences at St. Meinrad each summer for parish and high school teams of teenagers and their adult leaders. Called the “One Bread, One Cup” conference, it offers an opportunity to learn more about the Catholic Mass and develop liturgical skills they can use in their parishes and high schools.
In addition, a six-week in-ternship is offered for college students who are in a ministry preparation program or discerning a call to ministry. During the summer conferences, the college students serve as staff members. During the other three weeks, they take classes on theology and spiritual topics and participate in liturgies and community-building activities.
Nearly 3,000 high school youth, college students and campus and youth ministers have participated in the program since 2000. More information about the program can be found at http://oboc.saintmeinrad.edu.