Organizations receive funding to advance hope and human dignity
Established in 2023, the Peace and Justice Grant Committee unites the support of the former Cincinnati and Kansas City provinces to advance efforts that address the root causes of poverty, injustice, and marginalization.
The committee’s grants support a diverse range of recipients, from parish-based ministries and volunteer-led organizations to expansive projects serving entire communities. Though their size and scope differ, they share a common mission: to bring healing, restore dignity, and embody the charism of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood through service to God’s people and the broader Church.
This year, international assistance was transitioned to a separate funding arm, and the Peace and Justice Grants accepted applications for domestic assistance only. We thank the members of this year’s committee: Br. Rob Reuter, C.PP.S.; Dewey McConville; Gabino Zavala; Nick Schafer; and Fr. Timothy Knepper, C.PP.S., for their work evaluating this year’s applicants. Read below for information about this year’s awardees.
Brunner Literacy Center
Dayton, Ohio
Founded by the Sisters of the Precious Blood, BLC provides free, one-on-one literacy tutoring and educational support to adults ages 19 and older.
Calumet College of Saint Joseph
Whiting, Indiana
Supplies for sack lunches, prepared and distributed by CCSJ students to vulnerable populations in Hammond, Indiana, and Back of the Yards, Chicago, Illinois.
Children First Wichita
Wichita, Kansas
Part of a national program to used throughout the country to create systemic change for under-resourced people living in poverty or unstable situations who have a desire to build economic stability and a better future for themselves. Funds provide a course instructor, class materials, a meal, childcare, and transportation costs for attendees.
Cooperative for Education
Cincinnati, Ohio
Funding to add four new schools to the textbook program, which provides textbooks and teacher training to ensure Guatemalan middle-schoolers develop complex literacy and comprehension skills, leveling the educational and economic playing fields.
Elm Street Church of the Nazarene
Wapakoneta, Ohio
Legal consultation and assistance for Haitians and other immigrants in the Lima, Ohio, community.
Friends of Faith KC
Overland Park, Kansas
Training volunteer adult friends who form a one‑on‑one, faith‑centered mentoring relationship with a low‑income student in the urban core.
“Friends in Faith KC focuses its ministry on the youth of the urban core of the city, many of whom are struggling with mental health challenges and often do not have trusting adult relationships to give them the needed support. Friends in Faith KC fills this critical gap by pairing the youth with adult volunteers in a one-on-one relationship to provide social and spiritual support. The organization, now in its second year, has been well received and continues to attract youth and additional adult volunteers. For a teenager, having a dedicated adult “friend” to navigate social and spiritual challenges can be the difference between feeling isolated and feeling empowered.” Fr. John Wolf, C.PP.S.
Friends of Sabeel North America
Greenwood Village, Colorado
FOSNA organizes delegations to Palestine, where delegates engage in peacebuilding work as they build relationships with Palestinian communities living under occupation and oppression. Delegates then return to the U.S. to organize for transformative change.
Good Samaritan Food Pantry
Rensselaer, Indiana
The GSFP of Rensselaer gathers, stores, and shares food items and household goods for neighbors in need. GSFP keeps an inventory of nutritious food items from which clients may select as they desire, provided and shared with dignity and respect.
Hope Faith Homeless Assistant Campus
Kansas City, Missouri
Shelter and case management for the homeless, especially women, who are not accepted at other shelters in the area. Funding helps to provide an additional 10 women’s beds, to meet the need in the community.
Mercy Health-St. Rita’s Medical Center
Lima, Ohio
Funding to implement the Smart Moves for Kids program in Allen County, combining nutrition education, behavior modification, and structured physical activity to combat obesity and related diseases.
Missourians to Abolish the Death Penalty
Springfield, Missouri
Supporting MADP’s statewide education, outreach, and accompaniment work during a period of ongoing death penalty activity in Missouri.
Most Holy Redeemer AIDS Support Group
San Francisco, California
Most Holy Redeemer’s parish AIDS Suport Group provides emotional, practical, and financial help on a one-to-one basis to people with HIV/AIDS throughout San Francisco.
“In the early days of this pandemic, those given a diagnosis of HIV/AIDS had a life expectancy of six to 18 months. There was very little hope for a future, so people did not plan for retirement. Those who come to our door often have very little savings and are living on limited income. The ASG provides support in the form of rental and grocery assistance, help with delinquent utility bills, referrals to professional assistance, and a support group where members can gather weekly in a group moderated by a licensed therapist. The ASG continues to have a positive impact on those who continue to hope and pray for a cure while struggling to meet the needs of their daily bread.”
Fr. Matthew Link, C.PP.S.
Pax Christi
Washington, D.C.
Pax Christi Young Adult Caucus (PCYAC) meets young adults where they are and offers something countercultural: a community rooted in peacemaking, Catholic social teaching, and genuine human encounter. The PCYAC Zine is a print publication featuring original writing and artwork by young adults and the PCYAC Retreat gathers young adults from across the country in person, offering formation, rest, and solidarity.
Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation
Chicago, Illinois
Through the Youth Mentoring program, young people receive consistent mentorship, academic support, access to transportation, and basic needs. Individualized navigation provides a deeper layer of support, helping youth pursue personal goals related to school, employment, housing, and involvement with the justice system.
“As part of the daily life of PBMR, I have the opportunity to be closely associated with many of the young people in our community. They must stay constantly alert in an environment shaped by violence. Many are the uncertainties they face, and challenges in school, work, and family life. They usually conceal the burdens they carry with a smile or show of courtesy and respect. Yet great is their need for steady support and accompaniment by trusted adults.”
Fr. Denny Kinderman, C.PP.S.
Precious Blood Mission Advancement
Cincinnati, Ohio
Grant funding will cover international travel costs for participants, such as lodging, transportation, and meals. This ensures that participation is not limited to those with financial means and supports twinning partnerships and cross-cultural relationships.
Restore Justice Illinois
Chicago, Illinois
The Illinois prisons are located in remote parts of the state, far from Chicago where most incarcerated and their families are from. This effort seeks to help by organizing a retreat with families near the prison of their loved one, where they will have the opportunity for support and visitation.
Saint Francis Xavier Church
Saint Joseph, Missouri
Funding for the Sister Parish Fund to provide additional treatment rooms for trauma care in St. Marcel parish.
Saint James Social Care
Chicago, Illinois
The St. James Social Care “full choice” pantry model provides clients with the food items that they want. Homebound seniors are able to request deliveries of groceries made to order. The homeless are served lunch Monday through Thursday.
Saint James the Less Parish
Columbus, Ohio
Scholarships for parish volunteers and leaders, assisting them to grow in their knowledge and identity as ministers. A great need is for Catechists to become certified. A portion of the grant will be used to provide for leadership development among youth who exhibit leadership potential.
“Our parish is roughly 75% Hispanic immigrants. The remaining 25% is made up of older folks who are long established in Columbus. The result of this demographic is that the parish is at the edge of our ability to fund all the projects that we would like to.
One area where we plan to pay particular attention in the year ahead is ministerial and leadership formation. We have a number of resources available to our people, but these workshops and training courses have a cost that many of our people cannot afford. As our parishioners are already giving greatly through the gift of the time, we’d like to be able to assist them by paying for their formation as ministers.” Fr. Steve Dos Santos, C.PP.S.
Saint Kateri Center of Chicago/St. Benedict Parish
Chicago, Illinois
The family retreat fosters stronger family and community bonds to improve emotional connections, resilience, and mental health for all members. Additionally, the group learns about Saint Kateri Tekakwitha and her significance as a Native American saint in the Catholic Church, supporting the ongoing bridge of healing between Native Americans and the Church.
Saint Vincent DePaul Emmanuel Conference
Dayton, Ohio
Poverty and food shortage in the City of Dayton has increased. The St. Vincent DePaul Emmanuel Conference, an outreach mission of the St. Gaspar Family of Parishes, provide nourishing food to adults and children in need, basic household furniture like beds and chairs for those sleeping or sitting on the floor in their homes, and a listening ear to bring comfort to those who are lonely and overwhelmed by poverty.
Shelter in Peace
Alameda, California
Shelter in Peace identifies and develops transitional housing opportunities for refugees, immigrants, and low-income families of Alameda, providing rental units and furnishings to live comfortably and working with independent groups to accompany and sponsor an individual or family.
Sojourner Truth House
Gary, Indiana
Sojourner Truth House (STH) operates the only weekday day center in Lake County, Indiana, dedicated to serving women and women with children experiencing homelessness, providing a safe, structured environment where women can access comprehensive support services at no cost. Through case management, life skills and parenting classes, workforce development, and onsite child enrichment, participants gain practical tools, support, and confidence to actively rebuild their lives and make informed decisions for themselves and their families.
Sorrowful Mother Shrine
Bellevue, Ohio
An urban retreat at the shrine to brings undocumented and those from the inner city in Cleveland and Columbus to visit the shrine and learn about Precious Blood spirituality. This year’s theme is “Peace be with you,” the first words of Pope Leo XIV.