OVERALL FUNDRAISING GOAL: $4,250,000
MEET STEWARDSHIP FOR SAINTS AND SCHOLARS
PARISH TARGET | $1,355,000
In collaboration with the diocese, our first objective is to reach our Stewardship for Saints and Scholars parish goal. Every dollar raised through this initiative will support Catholic education, as described in the campaign case statement.
Funds will be dedicated to teacher recruitment, training and retention, school tuition assistance, and accessibility for all students, including those with special needs. As part of the Stewardship for Saints and Scholars initiative, 20% of the funds we raise toward this goal ($271,000) will be returned to our parish as they are collected.
RESIDENT PARISHIONER FUND
The 20% rebate from the S3 campaign will be used to effectively address the needs of our parishioners. We plan to allocate these funds to enhance our ability to support community outreach, including addressing urgent local needs, such as food and diaper drives, a daytime warming center, overnight shelters, and crisis support for migrant families.
Additionally, we will invest in our resident faith formation by bringing in guest speakers, expanding Bible studies and Small Church Communities, organizing immersion trips and supporting our Hispanic and Intercultural Ministry. Furthermore, we will develop our music ministry initiatives and increase overall engagement in our local stewardship programs.
CAMPUS MINISTRY | $990,483
Our Campus Ministry programs are thriving, with the addition of new Bible study groups, Women’s and Men’s groups, and newly formed Hispanic/Latino and Middle Eastern groups. We continue to grow with retreats, alternative Spring Break trips, and expanded outreach activities such as Friday night cultural events and intramural sports.
Over the past two years, we have experienced a 30% increase in weekend Mass attendance, largely due to the popularity of our 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Sunday Masses, which cater predominantly to our student community. To support and sustain this growth, we plan to divide our funds into an endowment and a 10-year term quasi-endowment. This strategy allows us to access some of those dollars in a shorter-term time limit. Our goal is to increase our current endowment funds in o der to provide an additional $55,000 per year to mirror the growth of the ministry and support these crucial initiatives.
CHURCH ENHANCEMENTS | $148,679
The proposed improvements aim to elevate the beauty of our historic church, ensuring it remains a welcoming and reverent worship space for current and future generations.
The Church Enhancement Committee, composed of a diverse group of resident and student parishioners, has evaluated and recommended a cohesive vision to enhance our worship environment. While some enhancements have already been completed, this campaign will focus on additional upgrades, including enlarging the sanctuary, centralizing the tabernacle, adding a new altar, installing two intercultural Marian walls, and repairing the apse wall and arch.
FACILITIES PROJECTS | $1,755,838
St. Mary Parish recently conducted a facilities condition assessment that revealed a variety of necessary projects required to maintain our 100-year-old church and 70-year-old Newman Center.
In the next year or two, we will prioritize replacing the roof of the Newman Center, along with addressing safety-related repairs such as stairway handrails, handguards, and concrete walkways and stairs.
Looking ahead, we plan to undertake several significant updates over the following three to four years. These improvements will include upgrading the HVAC and electrical systems, flooring, and doors, enhancing the interior church lighting and installing a new sound system.
We also aim to revitalize five of our meeting and study rooms and make the Newman Center eco-friendlier. The Newman Lounge, our main gathering and study area for students, has not been updated in almost a decade, so we will focus on aesthetic and functional improvements to the Newman Lounge, the Rectory Lounge, and the Loyola Room.
Additionally, we plan to convert one room into a Blessed Sacrament Chapel for small prayer group meetings. Donnelly Hall will be enhanced with a moveable wall to provide flexible room configurations. In line with Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’ and the Jesuits’ Universal Apostolic Preference to Care for Our Common Home, we will also implement systems and equipment to minimize waste and promote recycling and reuse.