TO:       Pastors, Bookkeepers, Parish Administrators and Principals  
FROM:  Bishop Mario A. Avilés, C.O.


Peace of Christ be with you. I write to you with gratitude for your faithful stewardship of the parishes entrusted to your care in advancing the mission of the Church in our Diocese.
As we continue to seek opportunities to support and strengthen our parish ministries, schools, and outreach programs, I would like to remind you of the importance of following the proper protocol when applying for grants from external entities such as: Scanlan Foundation, Ed Rachal Foundation, to name a few. These procedures are in place to ensure clarity, accountability, and the effective use of resources entrusted to us for the good of our parishes and ministries.
 
Effective immediately, all grant applications, whether new submissions or those currently in progress, must be submitted through Mrs. Sandra Castellanos, the Diocesan Grants Coordinator. This process ensures that all applications are reviewed and approved by the Diocese Grant Review Committee in accordance with diocesan guidelines before being submitted to the respective funding organizations. This includes the completion of all required documentation, adherence to deadlines, and proper consultation with the appropriate diocesan offices. These steps are essential in presenting strong and credible applications to granting organizations.
 
Please allow at least two weeks to submit a copy of your application to Mrs. Castellanos for review. Once your application has been received, reviewed and approved by the committee, you may proceed with submitting it to the entity you are applying to.
 
In addition, I ask that no grant proposals be submitted independently on behalf of a parish without prior coordination with the Diocesan Grants Coordinator. This ensures consistency in our diocesan approach, prevents duplication of requests, and strengthens our collective witness as good stewards of the resources entrusted to us.
 
Please know that the diocesan staff stands ready to assist you throughout this process.
Should you have any questions or need assistance with your application, I encourage you to reach out to Sandra at [email protected] or 361-693-6683.

Blessings,
+Bishop Avilés