Chaplaincy grants awarded

Seafarers and university students are being better served by their chaplains because of grants from Niagara Diocese.

The Mission to Seafarers of Southern Ontario received a grant to support their chaplaincy work. They serve seafarers in Hamilton, the third largest port in Canada, and The Bridge in Hamilton, whose Ananias House Chapel attends to the spiritual needs of socially marginalized adults.

Universities affiliated with the diocese—McMaster, Guelph, and Brock—received funds through the ongoing legacy of the Survive and Thrive Outreach Endowment.

“The diocesan grant gives us breathing space to focus on the future, rather than on our day to day survival,” said the Reverend Carol Wood, recently retired ecumenical chaplain at McMaster. “The grant will help us to focus on the changing demographics, reassess our priorities for programming and seek ways of reaching out to newer faculty and staff who may be able to participate in programs, as well as providing financial support.”

University chaplaincies generally provide personal support, places for prayer, worship and a variety of programs.

Grants are awarded for a two-year period with a maximum of $8,500 annually. Created in 2014, $30,000 has been allocated to support chaplaincy ministries.