The Chicago-based Catholic Church Extension Society is allocating more than $1 million in grants to 59 under-resourced campus ministry programs in 30 under-resourced dioceses around the country.

The president of Catholic Extension, Father Jack Wall, issued a statement saying: “We are determined to reach young Catholics, not only because they need our support during these critical years when they are emerging as adults, but because we need their spirit and innate sense of hope if we are to continue to grow the dynamic presence of the Catholic faith in our country.

"Strong, well-funded, and well-run campus ministry programs for our college students are the best way to fuel our faith's bright future in under-resourced regions of America," Wall said.

Among the universities receiving money, the University of Wyoming in Laramie will be awarded $45,000 to help finance its St. Paul Newman Center. Florida State University in Tallahassee will receive $20,000 to subsidize the salary of two ministers who run the university’s conferences, retreats, Bible studies, and catechetical programs. The University of Texas at El Paso will be given $16,000 to support similar programs.

Catholic Extension is also providing more than $29,000 to the Catholic Volunteer Network, one of the organization's partner groups. The network, based in the Washington suburb of Takoma Park, Md., promotes faith-based volunteer service opportunities to mission dioceses in the United States and abroad. The grant will help expand its outreach and create leadership positions for students on campuses in U.S. mission territory, including Boise State University, Diocese of Boise, Idaho; St. Mary's University in the Archdiocese of San Antonio; Jesuit-run Spring Hill College, Diocese of Mobile, Ala.; and the University of Wyoming in the Cheyenne Diocese. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops defines mission dioceses as those unable to provide their people with the basic pastoral ministries of word, worship, and service without outside help.

See videos featuring highlights from visits to mission dioceses with interviews from clergy, laity, and mission parishioners.