Purpose Statement
The John M. Jerek Service Scholarship honors the leadership and contributions of Fr. John Jerek, who served as pastor of the University Parish Newman Center from 1995-2008. Fr. Jerek continues to serve the Diocese of Youngstown as Vicar for Clergy and as pastor of Holy Rosary Parish in Lowellville.
The purpose of the John M. Jerek Scholarship is to train students with practical skills and provide the spiritual and theological formation necessary to become lay ministers who can assist our parish and the parishes they will eventually join. Scholarship recipient(s) will develop and implement an innovative and creative ministry project that fills an unmet need within the parish community in one of the following areas: liturgy, prayer and worship, service and social justice, religious education, outreach/evangelization, etc.
After graduation, young adults often ask their new parish what services and programs it has for them. The goal of this scholarship is to provide training and leadership experience which will enable current students to not only ask how they can be of service in this community, but also to be able to equip students to be leaders in their future parishes.
Ministry Scholarship Responsibilities