The Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE) is a community of men dedicated to living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Rooted in the ancient monastic traditions of prayer, worship, and communal life, and engaged thoughtfully with contemporary culture, we seek to share an authentic experience of God’s love and mercy. Our shared life is shaped by the rhythms of our Rule, regular prayer, sacramental worship, and our commitment to hospitality and service.
As a religious order of the Episcopal Church, the Brothers of SSJE live under vows, including a vow of poverty, and steward the material resources entrusted to us through the generosity of friends and partners. We express this stewardship through financial accessibility for retreatants, offering our programs within a gift economy, and annual support of charitable organizations.
In this spirit, SSJE is launching The Abiding Hope Grant, designed to support ministries aligned with our mission and to foster ongoing partnership, mutual learning, and shared formation.
The Abiding Hope Grant aims to strengthen and support ministries of Christian spiritual formation within The Episcopal Church that are aligned with SSJE’s values, charism, and mission. Grant recipients will not only receive financial support but also enter into a collaborative relationship that includes spiritual accompaniment, shared programming, and participation in SSJE’s life of prayer and formation.
In this inaugural cycle, SSJE intends to award three grants in the range of $20,000 - $50,000 and renewable for up to two additional years.
Priority Areas
We welcome proposals that seek to make spiritual formation with depth and substance available to all who seek deeper knowledge of and relationship with Jesus Christ. Proposals should demonstrate awareness of the evolving needs of the Church while also engaging meaningfully and creatively with tradition “as a source of inspiration and guidance in our faithfulness to God’s future” (SSJE Rule, Chapter 3).
Priority will be given to initiatives that:
- Nourish the faith formation and spiritual leadership of young adults.
- Attract and retain young men and boys in the life of The Episcopal Church.
- Draw on monastic spiritual practices to enrich the life of the Church.
- Cultivate the spiritual health and vitality of Episcopal clergy and lay leaders.
- Provide robust formation in Christian prayer and spiritual disciplines for individuals and communities.
- Develop new expressions of Christian community as creative complements to the parish model.
- Serve marginalized or underserved populations within The Episcopal Church while advancing any of the above priorities.
Expectations for Collaboration
Consistent with the program’s purpose, SSJE seeks to enter into genuine, sustained collaboration with each grant-supported initiative. Applicants should be familiar with SSJE’s ministry and charism. While collaborations may take diverse forms, applicants should expect the following:
Annual on-site visit: 1–2 Brothers will visit the ministry site to offer programming aligned with the mission and needs of the project.
Annual retreat at SSJE: Representatives or participants will make an annual retreat at the monastery in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Annual gathering: Leaders from funded initiatives will participate in a communal weekend of resource-sharing, teaching, and formation at the monastery.
Regular virtual meetings: 1–2 Brothers will meet periodically with ministry leaders for conversation, guidance, and updates.
Eligibility
Eligible applicants include churches, ministries, organizations, or programs within the United States. Individuals in the United States may apply. Special consideration will be given to 501c3 organizations connected within The Episcopal Church that:
- Demonstrate alignment with SSJE’s mission and values.
- Have organizational capacity to implement and sustain the proposed program.
- Commit to the collaborative components described above.
Selection Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated on the following:
- Clear understanding of the spiritual needs of the target audience.
- Thoughtful articulation of the Christian practices central to the program.
- Coherent program design aligned with the aims of the initiative.
- Anticipated outcomes and credible evaluation plan.
- Capacity to sustain the program beyond the grant period.
FAQ sessions
On March 10 & 17 at 11:00 a.m. and the 18th at 7:30 p.m. (EST), FAQ sessions will be held via Zoom for people interested in applying for the Abiding Hope Grant. We request that you register in advance for the date and time that works best for you.
Please register for an FAQ Session here or email monastery@ssje.org
Through this grant, SSJE seeks to share our life of prayer, formation, and mission with partners who are similarly committed to nurturing Christian community and deepening spiritual life in today’s Church. We look forward to discerning, supporting, and collaborating with ministries that reflect courage, creativity, and faithfulness in responding to God’s call.
The 2026 application window has closed.
Please note: SSJE welcomes opportunities to partner with others in ministry beyond the parameters and criteria of The Abiding Hope Grant, within the limits of our availability. If you are interested in inviting SSJE Brothers to your community to offer programming outside the specific context or eligibility of this grant, please fill out a Ministry Request form here.