John and Roberta Hydar Small Faith Community Award

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Proposal:

This is a financial grant offered to small intentional eucharistic communities who propose an initiative/project which celebrates the lives of John and Roberta and reflects the mission and ministry of CORPUS. Small intentional eucharistic communities have become the oasis for Catholics rooted in the Vatican II principles of justice, equality, and consensus.

Background:

John and Roberta Hydar, members of the CORPUS community since the early 1990’s, were drawn to its mission statement:

CORPUS is a national association advocating both a married priesthood and a celibate priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church. In the spirit of Vatican II and rooted in a strong Eucharistic commitment, we believe that priesthood should be open to all whom God calls regardless of gender, marital status or sexual orientation.

John moved from Milwaukee to California at age six. He felt a deep calling to the priesthood at an early age and entered the Junior Seminary in the ninth grade. He was ordained in 1950 and was active in the priesthood until his departure in 1970. He married Roberta, a Congregation of the Sisters of Holy Cross nun, in 1971. He worked in vocational rehabilitation while earning a Masters of Rehabilita­tion Administration. She continued her work as an educator.

He resumed his active priestly ministry through the inspiration of COR­PUS in the 1990’s. He focused on performing weddings and funerals for Catholics who did not feel comfortable in the institutional church. John and Roberta became passionately active in St. Anthony’s Catholic Com­munity (https://www.st-anthony-community.net) in Santa Barbara, CA. The Community describes themselves as:

“a catholic eucharistic community grounded in tradition but soaring with the Spirit! They are an Old Church with a New Heart. Current and former Catholics interested in an alternative vision of church, as well as those of other faiths seeking a spiritual community, will find St. Anthony’s an attractive and wel­coming place.”

Award:

Grants for 2021 are offered in the amount of $500-$2500. Deadline for submission is Friday, March 19, 2021.

Criteria:

Award(s) will be judged by the following criteria:

1. The proposed initiative should reflect the spirit of John and Roberta Hydar and the mission of CORPUS.
2. The description of the community should include its history, mission/vision, activities and membership.
3. There will be a focus on the nature of the community as being “eucharistic”. This may take a variety of forms and fashions. A rationale as to why the community considers itself eucharistic is helpful.
4. The project/initiative should reflect Vatican II values.
5. The proposal will be stronger if matching funds are available.

Application:

The application can be found HERE

For question/clarification, please call Linda Pinto at 570-491-7306 or email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..