Nurturing God’s Children Initiative Grant

April 23, 2025 

 

The Catholic Diocese of El Paso has been awarded a grant of $1,250,000 from Lilly Endowment Inc. to help establish best practices for nurturing faith in children across all 56 parishes of the Diocese. 

The program is funded through Lilly Endowment’s Nurturing Children Through Worship and Prayer Initiative. The aim of the national initiative is to support faith-based organizations as they help children grow in faith and deepen their relationships with God. 

 

The program seeks to foster a more inclusive and welcoming faith experience for children through initiatives such as children’s liturgy, children’s choir, children’s Masses, Vacation Bible School, and children’s Bible stories. This five-year grant will implement these interactive experiences across all 10 counties that comprise the Diocese of El Paso in West Texas. Through these activities, children will grow in their faith by learning to pray and preparing for the sacraments of the Church in meaningful, age-appropriate ways. 

“I’m so grateful to Lilly Endowment Inc. for this incredible opportunity to grow the faith of our children here in the Diocese of El Paso. With this support, we’ll be able to create a more welcoming, joyful community for our youngest parishioners. I’m excited to see the impact this program will have in every corner of our diocese,” said Bishop Tony Celino, Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of El Paso. 

 

The Catholic Diocese of El Paso is one of 170 organizations funded through three rounds of the initiative, which was launched in 2022. The grants are funding efforts to help organizations that serve congregations in a broad spectrum of Christian traditions develop new and/or enhance existing programs as they design worship services and prayer practices that more intentionally and fully engage children.