CHARGING FORWARD IN FAITH AND EDUCATION
A LETTER FROM ST. JAMES
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
While the roots of our parish go back to 1874, officially Saint James the Less was established as a parish on August 15, 1956, under the leadership of Father John Toomey as the first pastor. The parish school opened in September of 1956 with the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Malvern, PA as the first faculty along with lay teachers.
In the Spring of 2023, 36 families in the parish and school community participated in a feasibility study that validated support for a building campaign to include work renovating the sanctuary and accommodating security and growth in the school.
In November of 2023, we began the silent phase of our Charging Forward in Faith and Education campaign. We anticipate work beginning with the Church sanctuary in October of 2024 and at the school in January of 2025. We are excited to plan for the growth of our parish and school!
We invite you to help us provide a warm, welcoming, and sacred space for our parishioners to grow in spirituality and faith. We want to provide our students with a more secure entrance and space where they can flourish in academics, including science, technology, religion, engineering, arts, mathematics (STREAM).
Just as vital to the long-term success and stability of our church and school is to establish healthy endowments. Establishing these endowments enables us to better meet the growing need for tuition assistance, capital expenses and faculty retention in school.
Join us as we set the course for the future of Saint James Church and School! Together we can make our dreams for the future a reality!
God love and bless you!
Father Daniel Firmin, Pastor Sister Joan O’Reilly, Principal
OUR PRIORITIES
SPIRITUAL LIFE OF THE PARISH
Renovations to the sanctuary of the Church will provide a more sacred and uplifting environment for liturgy. Replacing reredos, providing new chancel furnishings, reconfiguring the choir area, updating the audio and lighting, refurbishing the pews, and replacing the existing flooring are all part of the vision for the future of Saint James Church.
SPIRITUAL LIFE BUDGET: $3,000,000
ENDOWMENT
To sustain the growth and development of Saint James Catholic Church and School, it is important to grow endowments. The Parish Endowment will help fund capital expenses and operations so we can continue to provide for the spiritual growth of the parish. The School Endowment will assist with the goal to make Catholic education accessible for all Catholic families and to provide professional development and retention of teachers.
ENDOWMENT BUDGET: $1,500,000
ACADEMIC BUILDING EXPANSION
Rebuilding the entrance to school for improved safety and enhanced aesthetics will begin the renovations at Saint James Catholic School. The front entrance will be added to the front exterior of the cafeteria and include a double entry to the main office reception area and office space.
Building a new junior high education center will allow students to continue to grow in knowledge and maturity and to develop leadership skills in an area designed with them in mind. A dedicated junior high space will include four classrooms (which will include classrooms for Art, Music and a second Science Lab), locker area, office space, restrooms, Library and Media Center.
NEW ENTRANCE AND CLASSROOMS BUDGET: $11,000,000
SUMMARY OF CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES
MISSION St.
CHARGING FORWARD IN FAITH AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGN PRAYER
God our Heavenly Father,
We thank You for Your abundant blessings bestowed upon us and the good work you have begun in our community of St. James the Less. Standing upon all You have done, we rejoice in the future You lay before us. May we charge forward in faith and education, being formed as disciples of Jesus Christ, Your Son, striving for excellence in all we do, and growing in faith, hope, and love.
Through the intercession of St. James the Less, Your Apostle, may we be generous in sharing all that we are and all that You have given us. Help our dreams become realities, O Lord, and let all we do and build glorify Your Name. Amen.
SAINT JAMES LEGACY SOCIETY
The Saint James Legacy Society recognizes our benefactors who make a planned gift or inform us of a planned gift to Saint James Parish and School in their estate plans. Planned giving is essential to growing our endowment, which provides an additional revenue stream to fulfill the mission of St. James Parish and School. We invite you to make Saint James Parish and School part of your legacy.
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP TEAM
Brian & Sally Kennedy Campaign Co-Chairs
Bill & Peggy Boyden
Ed Hissam
Rachel & Jonathan Lane
Denise & Griff Lynch
Molly & Tom Mahoney
Rob Massey
Gregg & Mary Schroeder
Executive Leadership Committee
Father Daniel Firmin Pastor
Sister Joan O’Reilly, IHM Principal
Stephanie Boaen Painter
Director of Advancement
