RALEIGH, N.C. – The Diocese of Raleigh has announced the distribution of $46,600 in parish assistance grants for 2025, supporting 12 projects at parishes across the diocese with much-needed funding for improvements and programming.
Each year, the Parish Assistance Grants Committee reviews applications and makes recommendations to the Deans Committee, which finalizes the awards. This year’s grants primarily benefited rural parishes, funding projects such as sound systems, faith formation materials, and security upgrades. The largest individual grant awarded was $5,000.
One of the most significant projects supported was at Santa Clara in Magnolia, where grant funds enabled the completion of a new trailer classroom facility. The addition provides two dedicated classrooms for faith formation, creating a safe and welcoming environment for catechesis, parish meetings, and community programs.
“The funds granted to Santa Clara have had a significant and lasting impact on the life of the parish by making possible the completion of the trailer classroom project,” said Father Randy Gonzales, C.I.C.M., V.F. “This change immediately increases seating capacity, improves the comfort and safety of parishioners, and enhances the overall liturgical experience.”
Father Randy noted that, previously, Santa Clara relied on two classrooms inside the church building and two trailer houses, all of which were at capacity. With the parish’s rapid growth, worship space had become critically limited, often reaching standing-room only during Sunday liturgies. The new classrooms allow faith formation activities to move out of the church building, restoring interior space for worship and accommodating the growing congregation.
The project strengthens the parish’s mission in two key ways:
- Providing appropriate learning environments for children, youth, and adults.
- Expanding worship space to welcome more faithful each Sunday.
The Office of Development personally delivered grant checks to parish leaders, including Father Eric Imbao, C.I.C.M., at St. Catherine of Siena in Tarboro and Father Anit Jacob, M.S., and volunteers at All Souls in Columbia.
Diocesan leaders expressed gratitude to the faithful whose contributions to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal make these grants possible each year.
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