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As part of its continued commitment to help in vocations promotion and the
education of priests, the Knights of Columbus has awarded 52 new
scholarships to seminarians enrolled in four-year theology programs in the
United States and Canada. In addition, 80 scholarships were renewed,
bringing the total number of K of C grants to 132 for the 2003-04 academic
year. Each grant is valued at $2,500 and covers tuition, room and board.
Of the 52 new scholarships, 37 were awarded from the Father Michael
J. McGivney Vocations Scholarships Fund, established in 1992 and named for
the Order's founder. The other 15 grants were from the Bishop Thomas V.
Daily Vocations Scholarships Fund, named for the Order's supreme chaplain,
the former bishop of Brooklyn, N.Y.
The Father McGivney scholarships are awarded on the basis of
financial need, and the Bishop Daily grants are made on the basis of merit.
Preference is given to seminarians who are Knights or whose fathers are
members, but all qualified applicants are considered. More than 80 percent
of this year's recipients are Knights or the sons of Knights.
For the 2003-04 academic year, 32 U.S. and five Canadian seminarians
are receiving Father McGivney scholarships. Bishop Daily scholarships have
been awarded to 12 U.S. and three Canadian seminarians.
Since 1992, these two scholarship programs have assisted more than
650 seminarians. More than half of those helped by the Knights have gone on
to be ordained.
In a letter of thanks to Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson, Archbishop
John J. Myers expressed his gratitude for a scholarship for a seminarian
studying for the Archdiocese of Newark. "The Knights of Columbus do so much
good for the Church and among their great and lasting achievements is their
support for priests and seminarians," he said.
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