MEFV News
Application Open Period
We are currently accepting applications for our 2012 grant awards. If you wish to apply, you should get your application (forms here) to us postmarked no later than November 15, 2011. For more details, see our grantmaking schedule.Founders appear on CatholicTV
On Friday of Memorial Day weekend, Corey and Katherine Huber were guests on CatholicTV's This is the Day program. You can watch a video of the entire half-hour program below.
(Although they are mentioned first, the Hubers appear last. However, the first guest, Deacon Jack Sullivan is very worth watching as well. Deacon Jack experienced a miracle healing that was one of miracles required for the beatification of Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman. He has an amazing story.)
Spring 2011 Newsletter Available
Our spring newsletter has been mailed to our donors and friends. It includes reflections on the Annunciation by the two grant recipients in formation with the Dominican Nuns in Summit, NJ. You can download a copy here (pdf).
2011 Grants Have Been Issued
Thirty-four people applied for our 2011 grants. Eighteen recieved a grant, awarded on March 1st. Please pray for both the new grant recipients and those who were denied a grant.
Once again, in a big step of faith, we increased our annual grant payment commitments to make it possible to issue so many grants. We now must raise an additional $40,000 each year. So we remain in need (more than ever) of your prayerful and financial support.
You can download a PDF of our 2011 award press release for complete details. Here are the 2011 grant recipients:
- Jessica and Gloria entering the Carmelite Monastery of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and St. Joseph in Brooklyn.
- Geneive entering the Monastery of Our Lady of Angels in Hanceville, Alabama.
- Br. Marcin, a postulant with the Conventual Franciscan Friars in Libertyville, Illinois.
- Stephanie entering the Sisters of Life in New York.
- Adrian, in formation with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP).
- Kelly Jo, in simple vows with the Servant Sisters of the Home of the Mother in Spain.
- Angela entering the Poor Clare Colettines of Rockford, Illinois.
- Katie entering the Franciscan Sisters of Penance of the Sorrowful Mother.
- Michelle entering the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara.
- Sr. Jordan, a postulant with the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration in Mishawake, Indianna.
- Jesse entering the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.
- Joseph, in formation with the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP).
- Erin entering the Apostolic Sisters of the Community of St. John in France.
- Ashley entering the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville, Tennessee.
- Srs. Leyden and Stephanie, postulants at the Religious Sisters of Mercy of Alma, Michigan.
- Angela entering the Carmlelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles.
October 2010
Record 34 Applications Recieved
As the this year's deadline for submitting grant applications passed, the total number of applicants has reached 34. To help as many as possible, we desperately need your help. Please prayerfully consider making a donation to help free these faithful and ardent young Catholics from the last barrier to their offering their very lives for the Church.
Press for the MEFV
The Catholic News Service released an article on the Fund for Vocations in late summer. It was picked-up by many local diocesan papers. You can find it in the CNS archives here.
Fall Newsletter Released
Our fall newsletter will soon be mailed to our donors. You can download a copy here (pdf).
Application Deadline Fast Approaching
Applications for grants that will be awarded in 2011 must be postmarked by October 15, 2010. If you are planning to apply for a grant, please submit your application as soon as possible.
May 2010
MEFV President starts blog
Corey Huber, President of the MEFV, has begun a blog: The Next Loving Thing. He will be using it to report on trips the Huber's make to grant recipients and other religious orders. It will also provide a more immediate, informal outlet for news about MEFV grant recipients and their communities.Spring Newsletter Released
Our spring newsletter has been mailed to our donors. You can download a copy here (pdf).MEFV President becomes “expert” for the press
The Pittsburgh, PA marathon was run on Saturday May 1st. A group of seminarians ran in the marathon for the purpose of raising money to defray the debt of several young women wanting to enter religious life. When a local reporter was in need of background information for her article on the seminarians, she contacted the President of the MEFV, Corey Huber. You can read the resulting article on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's website.
February 2010
As we changed over from two award periods per year to just one, we were able to increase our granting ratio considerably. It is unlikely the improvement will hold next year when everyone is used to our new timelines, but we are thankful to our donors and for prayers answered this year.
Twenty-seven people applied for our 2010 grants. Sixteen recieved a grant, awarded on February 1st. Please pray for both the new grant recipients and those who were denied a grant.
Making the following 16 grants increased our annual grant payment commitments by $33,000. So we remain in need (more than ever) of your prayerful and financial support.
- Sadora entering the Dominican Sisters of St. Joseph in England
- Debra entering the Little Sisters of the Poor in Latham, NY
- Kayla entering the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT)
- Anne Marie entering the Community of St. John in Princeville, IL
- Kara entering the Monastery of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel and St. Joseph in Brooklyn, NY
- Marshall entering the Servi Jesu et Marie in Austria
- Karen entering the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville, TN
- Br. Malachy Joseph, a novice with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in Newark, NJ
- Sr. M. Petra, a novice with the Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration in Mishawaka, IN
- Jennifer entering the Sisters of Reparation to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus in Steubenville, OH
- Stephanie entering the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary
- Br. Kamil, a novice with the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius in Chicago, IL
- Leonie entering the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara in Upper Marlboro, MD
- Andrea entering the Carmelite Monastery of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Ada, MI
- Sr. Han, a postulant with the Vietnamese Dominican Sisters in Houston, TX
- Bradley entering the St. Therese Province of the Discalced Carmelite Friars in Oklahoma City, OK
You can download a PDF of our 2010 award press release for complete details.
November 2009
The founders of the MEFV, Corey & Katherine Huber, related their vocation story on Marcus Grodi's EWTN program The Journey Home on Monday, November 30th.
October 2009
We have changed our grant awarding schedule. We have dropped the summer award period and will only issue grants once a year in the winter. The August 1st award date for the summer period was very close to the entrance dates for orders with summer entrance dates. In some cases there are less than two weeks between August 1st and an entrance date. This short time for dealing with the outcome of an application to the MEFV was creating problems.
What was the winter award period has now become our single award period.
August 2009
Once again we have experienced the vitality of religious life in the United States by receiving 28 applications for MEFV grants in our summer award period. We thank God that so many young men and women are offering their lives to His service.
Unfortunately, the annual loan payments of $109,280 of those 28 applicants once again greatly exceeded the Fund's ability to help. However, through the generosity of our donors, we were able to equal last year's commitment for funding new grants and our board of directors authorized $10,000 worth of grants.
We managed to squeeze 8 new grants out of the available funds. We are saddened by the necessity of turning away the other 20 applicants who are equally qualified and ready to begin religious life but for their student loans.
The eight new grants prevent the delay of the following vocations:
- Ignacio entering the Community of St. John in Princeville, IL
- Margaret and Catherine, both entering the Congregation of Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia in Nashville, TN
- Charles entering the Discalced Carmelite Friars in San Jose, CA
- Michael entering the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word in Irondale, AL
- Paul entering Our Lady of the Annunciation of Clear Creek Monastery in Hulbert, OK
- Michael entering the Western Dominican Province of the Most Holy Name of Jesus
- Mery with the Corpus Christi Monastery of Dominican Nuns in Menlo Park, CA
You can download a PDF of our award press release for complete details.
April 2009
Founders interviewed on Sacred Heart Radio in Seattle
Corey and Katherine Huber, co-founders of the Fund for Vocations, were interviewed by Dr. Tom Curran on the Tuesday of Holy Week edition of his morning drive-time radio program Sound Insight. They spoke of the good news of the many new vocations within the Church. They also highlighted the difficulty of bringing vocations to fruition when student debt stands in the way. You can listen to the interview at Dr. Currans website
Founders featured in Register's Culture of Life Section
Corey and Katherine Huber, co-founders of the Fund for Vocations, were interviewed for the Culture of Life section of the May 3-9 issue of the National Catholic Register.
February 2009
Winter awards
We are pleased to announce that the MEFV has awarded six new St. Joseph debt relief grants and one new St. John Vianney grant. These grants prevent the delay of the following vocations:
- Edward of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest with US headquarters in Chicago, IL
- Karen with the Dominican Sisters of the Immaculate of Justice, IL
- Roxanne entering the Sistes of Our Lady of Mercy (St. Faustina's order)
- Myriam entering the Carmelite Monastery of St. Joseph and St. Teresa in Covington, LA
- Jliie with the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration at the Our Lady of Angles Monastery in Hanceville, AL
- Carri entering the Dominican Nuns of Summit, NJ
- Melani entering the Sisters of Our Lady Immaculate in Ontario, Canada
A PDF of the press release is available here.
Winter 2009
Award period now closed
The deadline for applications for our Winter 2009 award period was December 15th. Awards for Winter 2009 will be announced on or about February 1st.
We welcome applications at any time. Applications postmarked after December 15th will be reviewed for our Summer 2009 award period.
October 2008
Website updated
We've revamped our website to provide better information to prospective applicants. We've also redesigned our application forms and they are now available through this page.
September 2008
Another newsletter
The second issue of our newsletter is now available as a pdf download.
August 2008
Summer awards
When our summer application open period ended, we had received 29 applications!! This is evidence of the vitality of religious life in the United States. We thank God that so many young men and women are offering their lives to His service.
The annual loan payments of those 29 applicants comes to a total of $121,500.00! Because our fundraising efforts are still in the early stages, our board of directors was able to authorize only $10,000 worth of grants.
So while we are proud to have squeezed 7 new grants out of the available funds, we are saddened by the necessity of turning away the other 22 applicants who are equally qualified and ready to begin religious life but for their student loans.
We are particularly pleased to have issued our first grant under our St. John Vianney grant program for future parish priests. You can download a PDF of our award press release for complete details.
May 2008
First newsletter mailed
Our first newsletter was mailed to our donor base in mid-May. You can download a copy.
Eligibility for St. John Vianney grants widened
In an effort to make more forms
of religious life eligible
for participation
in the MEFV St. Joseph grant program,
the MEFV has made a policy change
concerning Societies of Apostolic Life.
Aspirants to any
Society of Apostolic Life whose members
make a public commitment
(vow, promise, pledge, etc.)
to poverty
are eligible to apply
for a St. Joseph grant.
Previously,
the St. Joseph grant program was limited
to religious institutes
of vowed religious life.
You can read the full policy ...
April 11, 2008
MEFV President interviewd on Relevant Radio
Corey Huber, the President of the MEFV, was interviewed on the Relevant Radio broadcast Morning Air on Friday, April 11, 2008. Mr. Huber will appeared in the last hour of Morning Air. You can download an mp3 of the interview here. (Requires a free user registration.)
February 4, 2008
MEFV issues seven St. Joseph Student Debt Relief grants for winter open period.
We are pleased to announce that the MEFV has awarded 7 new St. Joseph debt relief grants. These grants prevent the delay of the following vocations:
- Lorraine and Matille entering the Benedictines of Mary, Queen of Apostles
- Elizabeth Ann entering the Passionist Nuns of Ellisville, MO
- Krystyn entering the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin Matara
- Emilia entering the Salesian Sisters
- Lauren entering the Dominican Nuns of Summit, NJ
- Kevin entering the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius
A PDF of the press release is available here.
We are sorry to report than there were 18 applicants for the winter application open period. Thus, 11 individuals did not receive the help they need to pursue their vocations to religious life.
As more and more men and women generously respond to the call to live the evangelical counsels to strive for holiness and as a gift for Christ's Church, the problem of student debt is becoming a common road block. If you would like to help, please make a donation to the MEFV.
Please remember all the applicants in your prayers.
December 18, 2007
Fr. Brian Bashista joins the MEFV board of directors.
Rev. Bashista is the Director of the Office of Vocations for the Diocese of Arlington.
October 15, 2007
The MEFV issues the first grants under its St. Joseph Student Debt Relief Grant program.
We are pleased to announce that the MEFV has awarded 10 new St. Joseph debt relief grants. These grants prevent the delay of the following vocations:
- Richard entering the Discacled Carmelite Friars
- Karl entering the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate
- Brian entering the Benedictine Christ in the Desert Monastery
- Caroline entering the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne
- Joseph entering the Legionaries of Christ
- Joshua entering the Dominican Province of St. Albert the Great
- Phi entering the Vietnamese Dominican Sisters
- Aurora entering the Religious Sisters of Mary, Alma Michigan
- Pamela entering Our Lady of Mt. Thabor Dominican Monastery
- Mike entering the Franciscan Brothers of Peace
A PDF of the press release is available here.
We congratulate each grant recipient and ask you to join with us in praying for their continuing discernment. May each come to full knowledge of his vocation and persevere in it.
Please also pray for the two applicants we denied due to lack of funds. May they persevere as God works His Will for them through other means.
July 26, 2007
The MEFV opens its St. Joseph Student Debt Relief Grant program.
Thanks to a generous gift of $10,000 from the Fraser Family Foundation, the MEFV is able to begin awarding grants this year. Applications for a St. Joseph grant will be accepted from August 1st through September 30th. The MEFV's application review board will meet in the first half of October and grant awards will be announced on October 15th.
The $10,000 will be used to pay the first years worth of loan payments required by the newly issued grants. Given the average size of student loans, the $10,000 gift will allow the MEFV to issue between two and five grants.
In 2004 the private Fraser Family Foundation began the grant program that has since been transferred to the MEFV as the St. Joseph Student Debt Relief Grant Program. Under the auspices of the Foundation, 31 grants were made to enable men and women to begin religious life and continue their vocational discernment. Twenty-two of these grantees have persevered to-date and their grants make it possible for them to continue their formation with their religious orders.
The Foundation continues to fund the grants it originally made with a yearly gift to the MEFV. As the MEFV is a public charity, all future grant-making will be done with monies raised from the public: the Catholic faithful. The Foundation is making this $10,000 gift available to tide over the MEFV until its fundraising activities begin to bear fruit.
To apply for a grant, please first read the pages that describe our program. Then go to our grant application page and follow the instructions you'll find there.
April 18, 2007
Timothy Drake joins the MEFV board of directors.
Mr. Drake is an award-winning journalist and author, well published in many Catholic newspapers and magazines. In February, he covered the Vocations and Debt conference organized by the Institute on Religious Life and wrote the article Debt, the Vocation Killer for the National Catholic Register. You can learn more about him at his website.