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.
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.