Catholic Education Parish Grant

Empowering Families, Strengthening Communities

At Saint Peter Saint Joan of Arc Parish, we believe in nurturing a personal relationship with Christ, fostering a sense of community among families, and ensuring access to quality Catholic education. Our Catholic Education Parish Grant aims to support registered parishioners who seek financial assistance for their children's education, while also encouraging active participation in parish life and stewardship.

This grant is for parishioners who have been registered for at least 6 months at the parish, are active in the community, and have children enrolled at a Catholic school (K-12), who are in need of financial support after applying for other modes of financial support and scholarships, including Ohio’s EdChoice, The Emmaus Road Scholarships, and other local, parish, and Diocesan scholarships.

OUR MISSION

Foster Spiritual Growth: We strive to deepen the spiritual connection of our parishioners with Christ through sacramental life and active participation in parish ministries.

Support Catholic Education: We are committed to reducing financial barriers to Catholic education for families in need, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow academically and spiritually in a nurturing environment.

Stewardship and Accountability: We manage parishioner donations responsibly, ensuring that funds are allocated efficiently and transparently to support our mission and community.

MEET & GREET MEETINGS

To learn more about the Catholic Education Parish Grant and be eligible to receive assistance, please join Father Schalk for a one-hour Meet & Greet.

Sunday, February 2 - 1:15 PM at Saint Joan of Arc Social Hall (after the 12:00 PM Mass)

Saturday, February 8 - 9:30 AM at Saint Joan of Arc Social Hall

Sunday, February 9 - 2:15 PM at Saint Peter Blue Room (SESSION IN SPANISH, after the 1:00 PM Spanish Mass)

Monday, February 10 - 7:00 PM at Saint Peter Blue Room

Click here to RSVP - Families need to RSVP no later than one week prior to the Meet & Greet.

Note: If you are unable to attend, please contact Melissa Mitrey, Parish Grant Volunteer Coordinator, at [email protected] or by calling the Parish Office at (614) 761-0905, to schedule an alternate individual meeting with Father Schalk by March 15, 2025.

Funding Guidelines

To qualify for the Saint Peter Saint Joan of Arc Parishioner Catholic Education Parish Grant, applicants must be/have:

Officially registered in the parish for a minimum of 6 months,

Recognizable by the pastor as a family participating in the sacramental life of the parish,

All families must attend one of the annual meetings with Father Schalk. See above schedule of Meet & Greets.

If families are unable to attend one of the meetings, they will need to notify the Volunteer Coordinator and schedule an alternate individual meeting with Father Schalk before the request deadline (March 15, 2025).

Contributing time and talent to the ministries of the parish,

All families wishing to receive funding must participate in the annual Stewardship Commitment Campaigns for Time and Talent (Fall 2025) by completing and submitting the Commitment Card.

Regularly contributing a portion of their annual income to the financial support of the parish by a trackable means (online giving, collection envelopes, check, etc.),

All families wishing to receive funding must participate in the annual Stewardship of Treasure Offertory Appeal (Winter 2025) by completing and submitting a Pledge Card.

Completed and submitted the Saint Peter Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Education Parish Grant form, including the Covenant acknowledging adherence to all guidelines, by the request deadline (March 15, 2025).

Completed the Tuition Grant Agreement and returned it to SPSJOA by April 15, 2025.

Additionally, all parishioners requesting for the Parish Grant are highly encouraged to

Apply for Ohio’s EdChoice by the deadline (see website),

Apply online through FACTs for tuition assistance and scholarships, including the Emmaus Road Scholarships and Diocesan Annual Tuition Assistance by the deadline (see website),

Apply for other outside scholarships, such as the following:

The Catholic Foundation Scholarships

School endowments, scholarships, and grants

Other parish endowments, scholarships, and grants, such as the Luther Orick Scholarship offered by the SPSJOA Men’s Club

For more information about the Luther Orick Scholarship for parishioners entering First Grade, please contact Rusty Gallo at [email protected]

Funding Amount

Elementary School (K-8) Students: For eligible students, the parish will provide funding up to 50% of the final balance, totaling no more than $2,500/student annually.

High School (9-12) Students: For eligible students, the parish will provide funding up to 50% of the final balance, totaling no more than $1,000/student annually.

Additional support may be available at the discretion of the Pastor.

Request Process

Requests can be submitted on a rolling basis, the final deadline is May 30, 2024.

1. Complete the Request Form: Submit personal and educational information, details of parish involvement, and the Covenant acknowledging adherence to guidelines.

a. Click here to access the Covenant.

2. Request Deadline: Requests can be submitted on a rolling basis. The final deadline is March 15, 2025.

3. Complete Tuition Grant Agreement: The Agreement must be completed by parents and the school by April 15, 2025, and signed by the Pastor by July 11, 2025, for the upcoming academic year.

a. Click here to access the Tuition Grant Agreement.

4. Request Evaluation: Each request will be assessed for adherence to guidelines and qualification for funding.

5. Decision Communication: Families will be notified of eligibility decisions by July 11, 2025, unless otherwise noted.

6. Confirmed Funding Communication: Families will be notified of the grant amount after the parish receives confirmation of the family’s final balance.

Ongoing Monitor and Review

Appeal Process

FAQs

General Questions:
Who is eligible to apply for the Saint Peter Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Education Parish
Grant?

Parishioners who have been registered for a minimum of 6 months with children
enrolled in a Catholic school (K-12) who adhere to the grant guidelines.

What is the purpose of the annual meetings with Father Schalk?

These one-hour Meet and Greets provide an opportunity for families to connect
with the pastor and delve deeper into the program and its benefits.

For 2025, there will be four meetings offered. The date, time and location of
these meetings are:
Sunday, February 2: 1:15 PM at Saint Joan of Arc Social Hall (after the
12:00 PM Mass)
Saturday, February 8: 9:30 AM at Saint Joan of Arc Social Hall
Sunday, February 9: 2:15 PM at Saint Peter Blue Room (SESSION IN
SPANISH, after the 1:00 PM Spanish Mass)
Monday, February 10: 7:00 PM at Saint Peter Blue Room

Request Process:
When is the request deadline for Saint Peter Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Education Parish Grant?
Requests can be submitted on a rolling basis, but the final deadline for requests is March 15, 2025.

Click here to access the request form.

What if I miss the request deadline?

Requests will be reviewed at the discretion of the Pastor and Director of Stewardship and additional funds may be available after the final deadline date, though are not guaranteed.

What documents are required for the requests?

Applicants need to complete and submit the request form (digital or print), including the Covenant acknowledging adherence to guidelines, and the Tuition Grant Agreement by the outlined deadlines.

Can I apply if I have not been registered in the parish for six months?
Yes, but funds are not guaranteed and are decided at the discretion of the Pastor.

Funding:
How is funding determined?
Funding is based on the final balance amount for each student after all other financial assistance has been applied, including but not limited to, EdChoice, Diocesan scholarships, grants through the Catholic Foundation, local and school tuition assistance and scholarships, The Emmaus Road Scholarship, etc.

What's the funding for elementary students?
Funding is provided for up to 50% of the final balance, max $2,500 annually per student.

What is the funding for high school students?
The parish will provide $1,000 annually per student.

Is additional parish funding available?
Additional support is possible based on need and at the discretion of the Pastor.

Is funding guaranteed?
Funding depends on eligibility as well as adherence to the guidelines and available funds.

Are there other ways to get financial aid?
Yes, explore external scholarships like EdChoice, the diocesan and local scholarships, scholarships offered by The Catholic Foundation, and the Emmaus Road Scholarship.

There is also a parish scholarship, the Luther Orick, offered to parishioners entering First Grade. For more information, please contact Rusty Gallo at [email protected].

Monitoring and Review:
How is adherence to guidelines monitored?
The Volunteer Coordinator and/or Director of Stewardship regularly monitors attendance and participation of funding recipients to ensure consistency with established guidelines.

What happens if a student and/or family does not adhere to the guidelines?
Recipients will receive written communication regarding any identified issues, with opportunities for resolution and encouragement to maintain compliance.

How often are funding recipients reviewed?
Funding recipients undergo an annual review to assess adherence to guidelines and determine funding renewal status for the following year.
Appeals Process

What should I do if I disagree with a decision?
Applicants can appeal decisions by providing documentation demonstrating compliance with guidelines. Appeals will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the Pastor and Director of Stewardship.

Is there a deadline for submitting an appeal?
While there is no specific deadline, appeals should be submitted promptly after receiving notification of the funding decision or non-adherence communication.

Still Have Questions?
If you have any additional questions or need further assistance, please feel free to contact the Parish Grant Volunteer Coordinator, Melissa Mitrey, at [email protected] or (614) 761-0905, or contact the Parish Office during business hours.

We are here to support you throughout the application process and beyond.

Get Started

Ready to request the Grant or have questions?

We're here to support you in your journey of faith and education.

Apply Now

For complete program details, please click here.

Contact the Parish Grant Volunteer Coordinator, Melissa Mitrey, at [email protected], or contact the Parish Office at (614)761-0905 during business hours.

Saint Peter Saint Joan of Arc Catholic Education Parish Grant is made possible through the generosity of our parishioners and donors who share our commitment to faith and education.

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