Holy Cross Receives Funding to Write a ‘Pathways for Tomorrow’ $10 Million Grant

Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology announces the receipt of a planning grant of $50,000 from Lilly Endowment, Inc., to develop a full proposal for a large-scale collaboration grant as part of the Pathways for Tomorrow Initiative. 

Holy Cross’ concept for the grant was envisioned by Fr. Eugen J. Pentiuc, Dean of Holy Cross and co-writer with Dr. James C. Skedros. The initial paper was accepted by Lilly Endowment, which received submissions from 140 theological schools involving nearly 900 different collaboration organizations.

HCHC President Dr. Demetrios Katos noted, “I am grateful to Fr. Pentiuc, Dean of Holy Cross, for his leadership. Should the full proposal be funded, we will create a solid framework that will improve our seminarian recruitment, theological education, and ministerial preparation for service in the parishes that send us the seminarians (and future ministers) and call for creative, sustained, and effective ministry.”

The Endowment believes that the collaboration described in Holy Cross’ concept paper demonstrates the potential to strengthen the institutional capacities of the collaborating organizations to prepare and support pastoral leaders for Christian churches. 

Added Dean Fr. Pentiuc, “While feeling a great and well-deserved relief as being among the few theological schools selected by the grantor at the initial concept stage, we realize that there is a lot of work ahead of us to write a winning full proposal. Nevertheless, our desire as a premier Orthodox school of theology in the U.S. to assist our seminarians with funding and a re-envisioned Master of Divinity (MDiv) program fitting the needs of our times, gives us the energy and passion to work together in reaching our common goal.”

Concluded Dr. Skedros, “Working with Fr. Eugen, who puts so much passion and depth in whatever he undertakes, is a stimulating experience. We will need all the intellectual resources, experiences and good will of the collaborating entities, and especially of the faculty of Holy Cross, to articulate and convey poignantly the collaboration between Holy Cross and the Archdiocese as well as the Holy Synod in this new journey aiming at building a new generation of lay and clergy leaders in our country.”  

The concept paper envisions strengthening the collaboration between Holy Cross and The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, its eight Metropolises and Direct Archdiocesan District, Archdiocesan Presbyters Council, and the 500+ local parishes. 

The initial concept identifies three primary outcomes: (1) a revised MDiv program that connects Holy Cross and its students directly to the ecclesial institutions and parishes that send and support our students (who our students will serve later on as ordained or lay leaders); (2) the establishment of a one-semester full-time residential internship at a Greek Orthodox parish as part of the requirements for the MDiv degree; and (3) assist with the long-term financial sustainability of our MDiv program. Several additional ancillary outcomes are articulated in the concept paper.