Contact: Ben Peterson, 503-460-5363, benp@ocp.org; Kelcee Marcum, 503-460-5358, kelceem@ocp.org; both with OCP 

PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 23 /Christian Newswire/ -- In the latest round of the OCP Parish Grants, 76 parishes throughout the United States received over $135,000 of assistance. Since the start of the program in 2001, more than 500 churches in total have been awarded over $1,050,000. Parishes in every diocese in the country have received benefits.

"Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Fruitland, Idaho is delighted to be honored with this grant to build our Hispanic music program," said Fr. Calvin Blankinship, one of this year's recipients. "In the last five years we have created a music group and a growing choir and we are now in need of new music books as we encourage assembly participation. This grant will be used to replace the old, and very tattered, Hispanic music books with the latest version of Flor y Canto. Thank you very much, OCP."

Applications for 2011 grants can be submitted between April 30 and June 30, 2010, at www.ocp.org/grants. All U.S. Catholic parishes are eligible to apply, even if they don't currently use an OCP worship program. The purpose of the grant must be linked to liturgy and/or music.

"One of our company's core principles is service to the Church," said John Limb, publisher. "We are blessed to be able to give back to worship communities dedicated to spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

A full list of 2010 OCP Parish Grant recipients is available at www.ocp.org/grants.

About OCP
OCP, a not-for-profit publisher of liturgical music and worship resources based in Portland, Oregon, has been in operation for more than 80 years. Worship programs produced by OCP are used in two-thirds of Catholic churches in the United States and are distributed worldwide. More information is available at 1-800-LITURGY (548-8749) and ocp.org.

Media Contacts:
Ben Peterson, 503.460.5363, benp@ocp.org  
Kelcee Marcum, 503.460.5358, kelceem@ocp.org