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.
Since its founding as a mission church in the 1880s and incorporation as a parish in 1919, St. Augustine Parish has faithfully pursued its mission “to live and radiate the love of God through prayer and action.” Our community has always joyfully celebrated the sacraments and promoted and practiced Catholic social justice teachings. We have grown into a vibrant, welcoming, and diverse community of more than 3,000 families with an excellent school that educates more than 200 future leaders.
This is an exciting year, both for our faith community and for the entire Church in southern California. St. Augustine is celebrating 100 years as a parish and more than 100 years of ministry in Culver City. In addition, Archbishop Jose Gomez has called all parishes to a period of renewal — a renewal of not only our resources, but a spiritual renewal as well. A key aspect of this renewal is Called to Renew, an archdiocesan-wide capital campaign. This historic effort will provide much-needed funding for all parishes, including ours.
Each parish has been given a goal. St. Augustine’s goal is $1,500,000, of which 50 percent of the first $985,000, and 100 percent of everything over $985,000, will remain in our parish. If our campaign is successful, we will receive a minimum of $1,007,500 to help prepare St. Augustine for the next 100 years.
Please take a moment to prayerfully discern how you can most generously support this campaign. I also encourage you to consider making a five-year pledge, which will allow us the best opportunity to reach our goal. This is a wonderful parish with an incredible school, and I am amazed at how our community always works together to fulfill our mission. I know you will make this campaign a success.
We entrust our campaign to the intercessions of our Blessed Mother and our patron, St. Augustine, who reminds us that “two works of mercy set a person free: forgive and you will be forgiven, and give and you will receive.”
Pledged over 5 years for the Called to Renew Campaign.
Our Parish Receives
$1,007,500
To renew our parish and strengthen ministries.
Parish Needs
School
Our parish school has served this community for more than 90 years and now leads the Archdiocese in its global education efforts. Our 1940s school building hinders this progress. We will install new electrical and air conditioning systems and energy-efficient windows and doors, and renovate the cafeteria as well as the interior classrooms to support 21st century learning for our future Church leaders.
Parish Hall
Our beautiful and historic parish hall was built in the 1930s and only provides space for one group at a time. It needs to be tastefully reconfigured and renovated with new flooring, lighting, climate control systems, and technological tools to restore the hall’s functionality. We will transform the old restrooms into meeting and ministry rooms, and improve our hospitality with a new commercial grade kitchen.
Youth Ministry
Youth and young adults are the future of the Church. With more than 200 young people participating in our Confirmation program each year, we have need for a staff position to serve this growing segment of our faith community. We will create an endowment to support a youth minister and to connect with our young people through appropriate technological tools.
Church Restrooms & Technology
Many facets create a “Sunday experience” that draws our community together in fellowship, prayer, and celebration of the Lord’s. We will focus on upgrading our antiquated plumbing from the 1950s, bringing our audio and video capabilities into the 21st century, and enhancing the safety of our campus with improved lighting and surveillance.
S.A.V.E.S & St. Vincent de Paul Society
Our S.A.V.E.S ministry and St. Vincent de Paul Society help hundreds of women, men, and children every week as beacons of hope in Culver City. S.A.V.E.S. currently operates out of an old, inadequate structure with outdated electrical, plumbing, and technological systems. We will rebuild the current structures and renovate the outdated systems so St. Augustine Parish can continue its mission of serving the homeless and those most in need.
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.