The Catholic Foundation of North Georgia for the first time awarded its parish enrichment grants to help with small projects at churches as well as awarding $104,100 in general grants.

The parish enrichment grants are $1,000 gifts given to a parish in each of the 10 deaneries in the archdiocese. Last fall, a pastors’ advisory council, chaired by Father Peter Rau, pastor of St. Peter Chanel Church, Roswell, was formed to provide ideas and feedback to the Catholic Foundation, which led to the creation of grants to help with small projects at parishes. The 10 approved projects include:

• Buying a computer and accessories for a religious education office at St. Peter the Rock Church, The Rock.
• Sending pre-school teachers at St. Brigid Church, Johns Creek, to a conference.
• Purchasing gas vouchers for the needy at St. Vincent de Paul Church, Dallas.
• Transporting supplies for a parish mission to Ghana at St. Andrew Church, Roswell.
• Purchasing materials for a parish celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Francis of Assisi Church, Cartersville.
• Funding a Lenten retreat at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, Carrollton.
• Purchasing a computer for the preschool office at St. Peter Church, LaGrange.
• Establishing a meditation area and memorial garden for the unborn at St. Theresa Church, Douglasville.
• With the general grants, St. Pius X High School was the top recipient as it received $20,000 to pay for the purchase of seven acres to expand the campus. The other recipients are:
• The Appalachian Area Pregnancy Center, $5,000 to purchase ultrasound machines for 15 crisis pregnancy centers.
• Atlanta Archdiocese Eucharistic Congress, $10,000 for sponsorship materials.
• Catholic Relief Services, $5,000 toward the launch of the Atlanta Archdiocese global poverty initiative.
• American Cardinals Dinner, $12,000 in tuition assistance for the Catholic University of America.
• Saint Joseph Hospital, $10,000 for the chapel for the new east campus in Greensboro.
• John Paul II Training Center, Gainesville, $8,000 for operating support and social services for low-income Hispanic families.
• Interfaith Outreach Home, Doraville, $7,500 for housing for homeless families.
• Seamless Garment Ministry, Marietta, $8,000 for housing for homeless pregnant women.
• Sophia Academy, Atlanta, $5,000 toward tuition assistance for students with developmental disabilities.
• Pregnancy Resource Center of Henry County, $4,000 to expand mentoring services to unwed mothers.
• Archdiocese of Atlanta, $2,500 to the Victim Assistance Program for a healing retreat for victims of sexual abuse.
• St. Anna Church, Monroe, $2,100 for the purchase of automatic external defibrillator devices.
• St. Peter the Rock Church, $2,500 for a youth retreat.
• St. Catherine of Siena Learning Center at St. Michael Church, $2,500 for computer-guided language learning for English- and Spanish-speaking parishioners.