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Archive: January 2022

The Gospel of Life Disciples Fund

The Gospel of Life Disciples granting fund was created to provide financial resources to build up the body of Christ in its convictions and abilities to live the Gospel of Life through initiatives and ministries that uphold the inherent dignity of life from conception to natural death.

Your support will provide grants that can help to build cohesive networks of disciples and advocate leaders among our families, our youth, our schools, and our parishes, in partnership across our communities in the Archdiocese of Detroit. 

Read below to learn more about this fund and the inspiration behind it, from the fund’s creators.

GIVE NOW TO THE GOSPEL OF LIFE DISCIPLES FUND

What compelled you to create this fund?

We are blessed in our Archdiocese to have many pro-life advocates who have worked tirelessly to build the culture of life ever since Roe v. Wade institutionalized abortion. Jim and I have worked with young people in the Archdiocese to understand what it means to live “pro-life”, to recognize the dignity of their life and every human life as they tackle the tough questions in truth and love with their peers. Often ministries equipping the youth or those defending life, struggle to get off the ground or remain afloat because of a lack of funding. Financial resources are needed to launch and sustain strategic parish, school and diocesan initiatives that concretely fight the culture of death while strengthening, accompanying, and healing individuals and families in the communities we serve.

What does it mean to be a Gospel of Life Disciple?

“The Gospel of life is at the heart of Jesus’ message. Lovingly received day after day by the Church, it is to be preached with dauntless fidelity as “good news” to the people of every age and culture. The Gospel of God’s love for man, the Gospel of the dignity of the person and the Gospel of life are a single and indivisible Gospel.” ~Evangelium Vitae

Disciples need to be clear about our identity as sons and daughters of God. Many within and outside the Church, and especially young people today, do not know or do not believe their identity to be a beloved son or daughter of God, made in His image. In the confusion that the world offers, the Gospel of Life is the foundation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, just as the Good News of Christ is the source of our hope and joyful mission. Gospel of Life Disciples claim their identity, witnessing to others in word and action as they commit to live the Gospel of Life. Cultivating a Culture of Life is essential to true evangelization.

We are the Church, called to proclaim LIFE, advocating for the unborn and each life, with courage, consistency, conviction, and a new commitment for our time. This is our time in the History of the Archdiocese with increased attacks on Human Dignity and Identity throughout our culture, to lead as missionary disciples for the Gospel of Life!

Who do you wish to serve?

The fund will serve ministries within the Archdiocese seeking to build a Culture of Life, upholding the dignity of human life with a Consistent Life Ethic; those with a focus on educating, training, and equipping the youth, lay parish leaders, educators, families, religious and clergy, to defend, witness and lead others to embrace Church Social Teaching on the preeminent sanctity of life. Grants may also support initiatives that strengthen outreach and accompaniment to the most vulnerable, abortion minded, mental health awareness, families in need, with dignity of life issues from conception to natural death.

Why did you choose to work with the Foundation?

Working with the Catholic Foundation of Michigan and the generosity of those drawn to give, makes achieving this goal possible within the Archdiocese of Detroit; to support the growth of prolife ministries and our network of Gospel of Life Disciples in each family of parishes.  

What do you hope to accomplish with this fund?

The Gospel of Life Disciples fund can financially recognize and strengthen the good already underway and help weave a theme of the dignity of every life across the Archdiocese, networking disciples with a Consistent Life Ethic that promotes and protects life in every stage and circumstance.

In equipping Catholics to live their identity and call, these strengthened individuals, youth and parish ministries can facilitate change in the culture, in the Archdiocese of Detroit and in our communities.

What would you say to others who are inspired by this fund?

With an ever-increasing disregard for human life in our culture, supporting the Gospel of Life Disciples Fund builds financial commitment to defending the unborn with a Consistent Life Ethic a priority in the Archdiocese.  Please consider helping our Catholic youth, our Family of Parishes, and our Church, to be the essential leaders in witnessing to, and in building a Culture of Life.

We believe Jesus, in His image of Divine Mercy, wants these resources in the heart of His Church, to benefit the most vulnerable, those in our pews and those on the margins.

To equip our faithful as Disciples of the Gospel of Life, the Gospel of Christ, we need your generosity for increased resources.  May each of you continue to know that you are a beloved son or daughter of God.

GIVE NOW AND SUPPORT THE GOSPEL OF LIFE DISCIPLE FUND

Gospel of Life Disciples Fund

This fund will provide grants that can create and sustain initiatives that uphold the inherent dignity of life and build a cohesive network of disciple advocate leaders among our families, our youth, our schools, our parishes and in partnership across our communities.

Give to the Fund

Endowing Pro-Life Leadership Through Family Estate Gift

In 2005, pro-life student groups from across the state of Michigan gathered together on Michigan State University’s campus to establish a coalition to protect life on college campuses in Michigan. This newly established alliance of pro-life students named their group Protect Life Michigan.

Since then, the organization has grown with a staff of trained professionals to mentor students into exceptional pro-life leaders. Currently the organization serves thirty high school groups, twenty-two college groups, and three regional networks from cities across Michigan.

Their mission to build a new generation of leaders is threefold: to recruit passionate young people and train them for pro-life leadership, to educate youth on life issues and pregnancy resources, and to connect students to strengthen their impact.

Protect Life Michigan is building an army of pro-life defenders in places where the pro-life message is typically silenced. In colleges and high schools around the state, students are being equipped to defend the pro-life position and change the minds of their peers. Their presence on campus shows pro-life students that they are not alone and helps them turn their convictions into effective action to save lives.

Many student activists are transformed by the work and connections made through the training and advocacy provided by Protect Life Michigan. “As long as I have known Protect Life Michigan, I have never felt alone in this movement. Protect Life Michigan has taught me to know, love, and serve the person in front of me,” shared Mary Payne, a student. 

In the 2020-2021 year, Protect Life Michigan reached over 316,543 people with the pro-life message, provided training to 4,135 students, and led 365 hours of outreach.

College students, however, are not the only ones getting involved in Protect Life Michigan’s work. To help sustain Protect Life’s ministry and amplify its growth, an anonymous donor generously created the Protect Life Michigan Endowment Fund.

“The gift of this endowment was made possible through the estates of my father and grandmother. In the midst of a long depressing season, including a miscarriage, other deaths in the family, health concerns, a drastic change in family circumstances, and professional setbacks, I recognized that a portion of the wealth in these estates should be used to help restore a vibrant culture of life.”

The donor wanted to ensure that the pro-life message and the mission of Protect Life Michigan continues for generations to come. “My life began through an unplanned pregnancy in a college town, and the reason I’m alive today is because of pro-life advocates,” the donor shared.

An endowment fund is an investment for the future. The charitable contribution is invested, grows, and each year, Protect Life Michigan can receive a portion of the investment. The remainder is then reinvested to provide ongoing resources for the future.

“Protect Life Michigan is proud to partner with the Catholic Foundation of Michigan to manage our endowment fund and allow us to ensure the pro-life message is brought to campus for years to come,” shared Christen Pollo, Executive Director.

“Having an endowment means that Protect Life Michigan has a steady stream of support for years so it can continue to build a pro-life community in the Mitten. Donors give to the fund through the Catholic Foundation and they, in turn, ensure it is only invested in life-affirming means,”  shared Christen Pollo, Executive Director 


Please join the Catholic Foundation in supporting this vital mission by donating to this life-giving fund. By giving to the Protect Life Michigan Endowment Fund, you’re ensuring that voices for the unborn are raised up for generations.

Support the Protect Life Michigan Endowment Fund

Create an Endowment Fund for a Cause You Are Passionate About

The DeMars Family Endowed Scholarship for Regina High School students in honor of alumnae Sara and Bethany

To provide tuition assistance for students of Regina High School.

Give to the Fund

The Gift of Love

Brian V. Hill Education Foundation for Marriage and Family Granting Fund

“Every Christmas, our family would watch ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’,” shares Angela Hill. After losing her husband, Brian, over six years ago, she still gets tears in her eyes talking about this tradition. “He loved the movie and would weep while watching it. Brian felt like George Bailey at different points in his life, and would remember the gift of life we received in 2005 when our oldest daughter received a heart transplant just before Christmas.” 

The year 2014 was the last Christmas that Brian Hill watched this heart-warming movie with his wife and three children, Andri, Ally and Vincent. On March 28, 2015, Brian was diagnosed with cancer in every major organ in his body. Just six weeks later, on May 14, 2015, God called him home.  

“Although everything was progressing so fast, every moment seemed to happen in slow motion as we tried to process what was happening to our family. We made it with our faith, our extended family, and our parish community,” shares Angela. 

As a way to honor Brian, Angela opened the Brian V. Hill Education Fund for Marriage and Family with the Catholic Foundation of Michigan. By opening this granting fund with the Catholic Foundation, Angela hopes to give monetary assistance to Catholic schools, men’s and women’s groups, marriage and marriage prep ministries, and youth ministries who will benefit from the gift of the teachings of John Paul II Theology of the Body. The grants can help fund bible study materials, guest speakers, retreats or any other forums to teach Theology of the Body.

Angela knows Brian would want this fund set up. “Starting this fund in Brian’s name is about celebrating the work that God does and wants to do in broken people. Theology of the Body is about learning how to be human and understanding God’s plan for sexuality and marriage, ” shares Angela.  

“Our children’s children and all children should learn about Theology of the Body. We need to also provide learning opportunities for adults who have never heard about Theology of the Body. To live our greatest life we must know how to be human,” says Angela.

“Despite all the health challenges and trials we faced in our marriage, family life was by far Brian’s greatest gift. He always wanted more for his family, not materially, but foundationally. Don’t we all want that?”

Creating a granting fund with the Catholic Foundation of Michigan gives funders the opportunity to target their contribution to the area most important to them. These funds are broad in scope, yet targeted to meet the persistent needs of the community–in the case of this fund, around education about Theology of the Body. 

After a fund is established, the Foundation’s granting team identifies, evaluates, and awards grants to the most qualified and deserving organizations in the funder’s area of interest. This allows a funder to ensure that the professional management of their fund is aligned with Catholic values, and allows the funder to have peace of mind while the Foundation takes care of fund promotion and visibility, and all administrative aspects of the granting process. 

In the case of the Brian V. Hill Education Fund for marriage and family, the granting fund is also a unique opportunity to remember and honor Brian Hill’s life while making an impact in the community.

Angela’s prayer is that this granting fund will not only honor Brian as one of the original founders of the “Regular Joes Mens’ Prayer Breakfast” at Our Lady of Good Counsel parish in Plymouth, but will also keep his memory alive as he loved to learn and serve. A gift to The Brian V. Hill Education Fund for Marriage and Family will impact young couples preparing for marriage and provide opportunities to bring hope and healing to families that want to understand God’s greatest gift.

“Starting this fund in Brian’s name is about celebrating the work that God does and wants to do in broken people. Theology of the Body is about learning how to be human and understanding God’s plan for sexuality and marriage,” shares Angela Hill.

Support the Brian V. Hill Education Foundation for Marriage and Family

Create a Fund In Honor and Memory of Your Loved One