Catholic Lay Apostolate Scholarship

About the Catholic Lay Apostolate Scholarship

The Diocese of Sioux City offers scholarships to assist in the financing of the education, training, and spiritual formation of the laity in service to the parishes and apostolates within the Diocese of Sioux City. While this funding is available through the Diocesan Offices, parishes are also expected to contribute toward the cost of further education.

Scholarship Use

Academic scholarships will not exceed one-half the cost of tuition (excluding books and fees) and are not given for course work that has already been completed. Funding is renewable, but must be requested for each course. To be considered for renewed funding, recipients must forward a grade report from previous work and have received at least a “C” in the course work.

Scholarships are also available for other continuing education opportunities, such as conferences, workshops, and certification programs. Up to one-half of the registration fees will be considered for financial assistance (excluding mileage and travel costs).

Scholarships will only go toward the funding of education, conferences, workshops, and certification programs that are authentically Catholic in nature. Any education, conference, workshop, or program that reduces or is contrary to the Catholic Church’s teachings or spiritual practices will not be funded.

Scholarship Eligibility and Commitment to Service

To be eligible for the Catholic Lay Apostolate Scholarship, the applicant must be a lay person, a practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church, a registered parishioner in the Diocese of Sioux City, and is currently or has a desire to be in the service to the parishes and/or an apostolate within the Diocese of Sioux City.

The recipient of the Catholic Lay Apostolate Scholarship makes a commitment to serve in the Diocese of Sioux City for a specified period of time; for an academic degree, a three-year commitment of service after completion of degree work; and all other areas require one year of service. 

Apply for the Scholarship

Funds for the Catholic Lay Apostolate Scholarship are limited. If you have been awarded funds and decide not to take a course or attend a program, please notify the Diocesan Offices immediately so that the funds may be redistributed. Invoices for tuition and/or registration forms must be submitted for payment. The funds will be paid directly to the institution.      

Responsibility for the allocation of funds and the ongoing evaluation of recipients will rest with the Diocesan Office of Evangelization, Catechesis, and Family Life in consultation with the Bishop.  Applicants will receive written notification following the Diocesan Office review. The review committee reserves the right to offer a full scholarship for any class or program. 

Upon completion of the course or program, the recipient of the scholarship will forward to the Diocesan Offices a certification of completion or transcript showing completion of the course. If the course or program was not completed and the funds were distributed, the scholarship recipient is responsible to fully reimburse the Diocese of Sioux City.

The maximum amount an applicant can receive per year is $750 and a lifetime maximum amount of $2500. 

This scholarship is closed until the end of the fiscal year- June 30, 2023.