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.
As we conclude the first of two phases to renew our parish buildings, we marvel at what has been accomplished in over one year of construction. Through the grace of God, we now embark on an Archdiocese-wide capital campaign, aptly named Called to Renew.
The campaign has experienced great success, with parishes throughout all five regions of the Archdiocese raising an astonishing amount. As local dean and a member of the Archdiocesan campaign steering committee for Called to Renew, I have enjoyed watching Msgr. Richard Martini and his parishioners at St. Joseph, Carpinteria, raise close to $900,000 — far surpassing their $330,000 goal. There are numerous other success stories in our area, and now it is our turn to fly.
St. Mark’s University Parish has been assigned a campaign goal of $190,000, with 50 percent of this amount remaining in our parish, and 50 percent going into an Archdiocesan pool for parish programs, projects, and, most especially, for the poorest parishes in our Archdiocese. Like the annual Together in Mission program, we will also retain 100 percent of any funds we collect over our Called to Renew goal. Details about how we plan to use our share of campaign funds are on the following page.
Our accomplishments over the past few years are magnificent, and I know you will join me in beginning to collect needed funding for our own projects while also helping parishes in our Archdiocese most desperately in need of upkeep and repair.
To reach our immediate Called to Renew campaign goal of $190,000, I am asking you to prayerfully consider a five-year pledge to the campaign. Our parish has received decades of support from the Archdiocese, and I am confident that our generous families and individuals will take this opportunity to return some of this generosity and help us far surpass our goal.
Please feel free contact with me with any questions concerning Called to Renew.
Pledged over 5 years for the Called to Renew Campaign.
Our Parish Receives
$95,000
To renew our parish and strengthen ministries.
Parish Needs
College Student Outreach
Called to Renew will develop a stable funding source for our Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) outreach program. Through this program, missionaries host large group outreach events, weekly Bible studies, and national conferences, as well as offer one-on-one mentoring to student leaders on campus. This program also helps support our joyful, Christ-centered community and encourages and equips each student to live the mission of the Church in every sector of our world.
Continuing Our Building Project
Phase II of our building project — $800,000 for the exterior church façade — has is planned and approved for construction by the County of Santa Barbara. The remainder of our campaign funds will be devoted to this long-term investment. Remodeling the exterior to reflect the church’s interior beauty will make it more attractive to our students, current parishioners, and future generations of Catholics.
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.