The Diocesan Foundation of Religion – Sanctuary of the Renunciation, Diocese of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino, invites applications for the 2022 International Award “Francis of Assisi and Carlo of Acutis.” As stated in its Statute (Part II, Art.1), the Award aims “to promote a renewal of the economy in the name of the universal fraternity of all human beings, beginning with the condition and the interests of the humblest and most disadvantaged, in the evangelical perspective of the unique fatherhood of God and his design of love for all of his children.”
Applicants are asked to view the website www.francisofassisicarloacutisaward.com for full details of the Award and to read carefully the Statute and attached Norms to ensure full compliance and acceptance of the terms.
1. Applications are invited from persons, entities and societies, in any part of the world, but especially in the poorer regions, who, responding to their lack of opportunities and scarce economic means, come together, in cooperative ways and always collaboratively, around worthwhile project ideas in favour of the most disadvantaged in their communities. In keeping with the Award ethos, projects submitted are to represent initiatives, beginning as fraternal economic processes “from below,” that is, from the grassroots level.
2. The Award will consist of:
(i) A public recognition in a ceremony held in Assisi on or close to the feast day of the Sanctuary of the Renunciation in May 2022;
(ii) A monetary award, set at no more than Euro 50,000 for 2022, to be used exclusively for the realisation of the awarded project and to be disbursed as set out in the Statute (Part II, Art.13);
(iii) A symbolic investiture of the “cloak of Francis,” recalling the gesture with which the then Bishop of Assisi, Guido, covered the young Francesco Bernardone, and the conferral of a plaque bearing the images of Saint Francis and Blessed Carlo Acutis.
3. Applications will be admitted to the competition based on the following criteria:
(i) The completeness of the project profile (see n.7 below) and its adherence to the ethos of the Award and the competition guidelines, as set out in the Norms of the Statute;
(ii) The documented progress already achieved in elaborating the submitted project;
(iii) References from local ecclesial authority and other relevant authorities, where the candidate is domiciled or the project is being realized.
4. Projects initiated by and intended to be carried out by persons under 35 years of age will be favoured.
5. Bishops, other ecclesial realities, and entities of competent credibility may submit applications for deserving subjects upon their own initiative.
6. Applications are open to persons, entities and societies of any religious denomination.
7. Applications must include:
(i) Name(s) of person(s) responsible for project
(ii) Full contact details of person(s) responsible
(iii) Location of project
(iv) Description of project – aim, beneficiaries, implementation process, timeline, budget, other relevant details
(v) A presentation of no more than two pages of how the project reflects the ethos of the “economy of fraternity”
8. The Award will normally be conferred upon one candidate, unless a double award is decided exceptionally.
9. Non-awarded applications may be deemed worthy of some recognition in a way deemed appropriate on a case-by-case basis.
10. Applications will be judged by an Evaluation Commission.
11. A historical and completed project will not be admitted to the competition.
12. The closing date for applications is October 31, 2021.
You can download an application form here.
Applications should be submitted in English both by email and regular post to:
Segreteria per il Premio
Fondazione Santuario della Spogliazione
Diocesi di Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadino
Piazza Vescovado, 3
06081 (PG)
ITALY
