The Sister Eileen Flanagan Scholarship

This scholarship is named after Sister Eileen Flanagan, CND, a member of the Congregation of Notre Dame, who served as a staff member of the Office of Religious Education and ministered in the area of leadership and catechist formation. She began the annual diocesan catechist formation program called Spring Enrichment in 1973.

This scholarship was initiated in 1998 through the generous donations of her family, colleagues and friends to honor the memory of Sister Eileen who died in 1997. The annual scholarship is given to a catechetical or youth ministry leader or catechist for one graduate course, for credit or audit, at St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry in Albany, or for a professional development program or conference recommended by the Office of Evangelization, Catechesis and Family Life (OECFL). This scholarship is awarded each May at Spring Enrichment. Applicants must be currently involved in catechetical ministry or youth ministry in the Diocese of Albany, must demonstrate an enthusiasm for their ministry, and a commitment to ongoing formation and certification.

Donations to the Sister Eileen Flanagan Scholarship are most welcome. Checks may be written to the OECFL and noted that they are for the Sister Eileen Flanagan Scholarship fund. Donations may be made in someone’s honor or in memory of a person or of Sister Eileen and sent to the Office of Evangelization, Catechesis and Family Life, 40 North Main Avenue, Albany, New York 12203.

Information on how to apply



Rev. Robert W. Taylor Scholarship

This scholarship has been established in memory of Rev. Robert W. Taylor, a very loved priest of the Diocese of Albany who was the pastor of St. Margaret Mary's Church in Albany. Father Taylor died in 1993. The Rev. Robert W. Taylor Scholarship was established in June 2002 through the generosity of one of our diocesan priests to enable urban and rural youth to participate in diocesan, state, and national youth ministry events sponsored or recommended/supported by the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis. This merit and need based and will be available to high school age youth who are active participants in their faith community, demonstrate a commitment to Christian service, and who are recommended by the pastor/parish life director and catechetical/youth ministry leader of their parish.

Donations to the Reverend Robert W. Taylor Scholarship are most welcome. Checks may be made out to the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis and noted that they are for the Reverend Robert W. Taylor Scholarship fund.

Applicants are required to complete a Taylor Scholarship Application, also available through the Office of Evangelization and Catechesis, Jeanne Schrempf or (518) 453-6630. Applications must be returned with letters of recommendation.

Capital Campaign -- Office of Evangelization, Catechesis and Family Life Endowment

This endowment is due to the generosity of the people and parishes of the Diocese of Albany during the Capital Campaign Fund Drive. The money allocated to the Office of Evangelization, Catechesis and Family Life is to be used in two ways:

1. For parish/cluster grants to develop and/or enhance catechetical and youth ministry programs in rural and inner city parishes to insure a comprehensive faith formation program for children, youth, adults, and families. For further details on program grants, click here.
2. For scholarships for formation and certification for catechetical and youth ministry leaders enrollment and participation in courses, inservices, workshops and conferences. Further details on leadership development grants.

The interest from the endowment will be dispersed annually through an application process administered by the Office of Evangelization, Catechesis and Family Life and the Capital Campaign Grant Committee. "The scholarships and grants are awarded annually".