OUR CASE FOR SUPPORT
CHARGING FORWARD IN FAITH AND EDUCATION WINTER 2023
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A LETTER FROM ST. JAMES Dear Faithful, 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 and narthex in January of 2025. We are excited to plan for the growth of our parish and school! 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 the space they need to 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 healthy 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
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Sister Joan O’Reilly, Principal
OUR PRIORITIES
SPIRITUAL LIFE OF THE PARISH Renovations to the sanctuary of the Church will provide a welcoming 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
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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, office space for the Principal, Advancement Office, Finance Office, Faculty Room, and School Counselor. The Art Room would be relocated to the current work/storage area near the cafeteria, and a separate workspace for facilities will be located behind the school.
ENTRANCE BUDGET: $2,500,000 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 six classrooms, locker area, office space, restrooms, and small gathering places.
NEW BUILDING BUDGET: $2,600,000
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SUMMARY OF CAMPAIGN PRIORITIES Spiritual Life of the Parish
$3,000,000
Endowments: Church & School Parish Endowment
$1,500,000
New Secure Front Entrance to School
$2,500,000
New Academic Building for Junior High
$2,600,000
TOTAL COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
$9,600,000
OUR MISSION St. James the Less Catholic Parish emboldens and enables all people to grow as disciples of Jesus Christ in faith, hope and charity, and to share the Gospel in our community of south Savannah in the Diocese of Savannah by living our Catholic faith in word and deed.
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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.
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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
Father Daniel Firmin Pastor
Bill & Peggy Boyden Ed Hissam Rachel & Jonathan Lane Denise & Griff Lynch Molly & Tom Mahoney Rob Massey Gregg & Mary Schroeder Executive Leadership Committee
Sister Joan O’Reilly, IHM Principal Stephanie Boaen Painter Director of Advancement
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CHARGING FORWARD IN FAITH AND EDUCATION
8412 WHITEFIELD AVENUE SAVANNAH, GA 31406 912-355-1523
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