Our community is excited to participate alongside all parishes, missions and Catholic centers in the Archdiocese to strengthen and renew our Church for the future. Please continue reading to learn how this campaign will benefit us.
St. Julie Billiart is participating in Called to Renew, a capital campaign to strengthen the parishes and elevate the ministries of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles — including ours. We join with our faithful brothers and sisters across the Archdiocese who are also being called to pledge their commitment to ensure our local Church is strong and vibrant for future generations.
Our parish exists because of your generosity. I am amazed at how parishioners have worked together to meet needs that arise. We continuously demonstrate our mission statement: “To enrich a faith community that grows spiritually through worship, lifelong education, fellowship and service.” Together, we continue to create an inspiring community here at St. Julie Billiart, a beacon of Christ’s love.
Called to Renew gives us a tremendous opportunity to once again come together as a family — not only as a parish, but as an Archdiocese. We form a community of faith with more than 5 million Catholic across Los Angeles, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, and we share in meeting the needs of our local Church. This is an extraordinary opportunity to live out our call to serve as His disciple!
Next year, we will celebrate our parish’s golden anniversary! Under the patronage of St. Julie Billiart, the Catholic community of Newbury Park has been a vibrant and visible presence of the Lord for half a century! We are blessed to be the recipients of a rich and lasting inheritance given to us by men and women of vision. Though the passage of time has seen much change and many different faces representing the Body of Christ, the present is only a reflection of the love of those who have served us so well.
Looking now to the future, the goal and legacy project for our anniversary is to complete our church renovation. This will include a much-needed and updated HVAC system for the church and a new vestibule with an adjoining plaza. Creating this outdoor gathering space and seating area will require relocating the large trash receptacles and electrical boxes. A children’s play yard and adult bocce ball court will complete the plaza.
Please take a moment to review the impact Called to Renew will have both in our parish and across the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. This campaign has my full support; as your pastor, I hope you will embrace this opportunity for our parish.
Pledged over 5 years for the Called to Renew Campaign.
Our Parish Receives
$1,300,000
To renew our parish and strengthen ministries.
Parish Needs
Church Exterior Renovations
Next year marks our parish’s 50th anniversary. As a legacy project to commemorate a half century in Newbury Park, as well as to plan for the future needs of our community, we would like to complete our church renovation with an exterior plaza. This plaza will feature a designated gathering space, a new vestibule facing the parish center and a new bell tower. We will also re-plaster the exterior of the church and add a children’s play yard and bocce ball court.
Air Conditioning and Heating
Depending on the time of year, the temperature in the church can be unbearable. Our current heating and air conditioning unit was installed when the church was first built 32 years ago. A new HVAC system will moderate the temperature in the church with greater efficiency and make for a more comfortable worship experience.
A Bold Plan of Renewal
We — the Catholic faithful — are the agents of renewal for Church and society. I am grateful for this opportunity to walk alongside clergy and parishioners in strengthening our parishes and ministries, the heart of our Archdiocese.