Saint John the Baptist: Case for Support

A CASE FOR SUPPORT

RESTORE SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH

185 YEARS OF MINISTRY

IN 20 1 6

1,950

PA R I S H H O U S E H O L DS

4,100 ME MBE RS PLAN TO BE DEBT FREE BY

OVE R

ST. JOHN AT A GLANCE

CEL EBRAT I NG

6,000 LIVING SCHOOL ALUMNI

1 PARISH 3 PARISHES

STRENGTHENED

BY THE SPIRITUAL LEGACY OF

2018

IN TROD UCED ONLINE G IV IN G

2015

2,000 % 14 MASS

FACEBOOK FANS

I N C R E ASE IN CU R R E N T OF F E RTO RY OVE R L AST Y E AR

3

ATTENDANCE

TOP M I N I ST RY P R I O R I T I ES : n G ROWI N G DI SC I P L ES n R EAC H I N G T H E NE E DY n EN GAG I N G YO U T H

3

YE A R PASTO RA L A N D F I N A NC I A L P L A N FO R PA RI S H SUSTA I N A B I L I TY

HOST OF THEOLOGY ON TAP SERVING YOUNG ADULTS IN MANAYUNK

Dear Friends, An anchor is a symbol of hope and dedication; it is a vital element, a resource to depend on. To so many, Saint John the Baptist is an anchor. For parishioners it is the cornerstone for worship and prayer. School alumni see their time at the school as the foundation for their formation, having made possible their way of life today.

Community members see St. John the Baptist as a mainstay for this closely knit neighborhood. For countless travelers from around the world, the church is an architectural pillar – an iconic Philadelphia landmark.

The recent inclusion of the parish communities of St. Josaphat and St. Mary of the Assumption has sought to unify and strengthen our mission for the time to come.

Our future will be built on the legacy of the past, and St. John the Baptist is stronger for the uniting of these parishes.

The church remains embedded in this community and seeks to do what it has always done – form the faithful and share the good news. For the wider neighborhood it continues to stand as a house of faith and a place of hope to all.

Since 1831, Saint John the Baptist Church has graced the city of Philadelphia, serving all who seek God, community, and renewal. I ask you to join us in preserving this treasured landmark and community anchor for the next 185 years.

God’s Peace and Blessings,

Monsignor Kevin C. Lawrence Pastor

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST CHURCH Also known as Manayunk’s Cathedral, St. John the Baptist Church is one of the most widely recognized churches in Philadelphia, perched dominantly along the Schuylkill River to the delight of millions of people who travel the Schuylkill Expressway each year. In the Manayunk, Roxborough, and Wissahickon neighborhoods, St. John the Baptist has served as a sacred place for local families to celebrate life’s joys and to weather life’s sorrows. More than 120 years old, this architectural jewel and community beacon must now be restored.

To protect and sustain the vision created by St. John’s founders, Jerome and Eulalia Keating and Bernard and Cecilia McCane, the Parish and the Friends of St. John the Baptist Church seek to preserve not only the structure of our magnificent historic church but also to unify those it serves, propelling St. John the Baptist forth as a model of a vibrant urban parish community.

Help us restore Saint John the Baptist Church

OUR PARISH MISSION St. John the Baptist – a multiethnic Roman Catholic Parish, founded in 1831, and rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ – has a rich history of providing spiritual leadership, education, and worship in the Manayunk, Roxborough, and Wissahickon areas of Philadelphia. As a Christian community, united in our commitment to welcome all people – now and in the future – we share the Good News, celebrate the Sacraments, serve others, and love God and neighbor.

AN ARCHITECTURAL MASTERPIECE Designed by renowned church architect Patrick Keely and opened on April 1, 1894, St. John the Baptist is the only operational Keely church in Philadelphia, and one of 600 remaining Keely churches in the United States. The Gothic church features brilliant stained glass windows, towering gilded pillars, complex and beautiful ornamentation, sweeping colorful paintings, elaborate and detailed carvings, a 3.5 ton clock tower bell, a magnificent, century-old pipe organ, and intricate sculptures by renowned sculptor Joseph Sibbel. The church is unrivaled in Philadelphia for its architectural significance.

Along with the Manayunk Bridge, built in 1918, the bell tower of St. John the Baptist is an icon in Philadelphia that can be seen for miles all over the region. Manayunk, and Philadelphia at large, would be forever altered by the absence of this church.

The initial repairs to the exterior of the church must begin now.

THE BEDROCK OF A COMMUNITY Jerome and Eulalia Keating started St. John the Baptist Parish in the winter of 1829 when they opened their home on Cresson Street in Manayunk for a Catholic Mass. Here, they also hosted a weekly Sunday school for neighborhood children. As their personal ministry grew, they proposed the formal start of the parish and made a financial commitment by donating land at the intersection of Rector Street and Cresson Street for a church and adjoining cemetery. Sixty years later, the growth of the parish called for the construction of the current Saint John the Baptist, a grand cathedral built for $250,000 with a $170,000 seed gift from parishioners Bernard and Cecelia McCane.

The tenth oldest parish in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, St. John’s continued its reputation as a magnet for the citizenry of Roxborough and Manayunk – serving as a hallowed place not only to celebrate births, weddings and major milestones, but also to comfort in death, despair and worry. St. John’s has provided faith formation for tens of thousands of people, including scores of students who attended its high school and elementary school. St. John’s has ministered to Catholics and non-Catholics alike who have needed guidance or help along life’s path.

Today, it serves as a dynamic and diverse urban parish that attracts not only the descendants of its original parishioners, but also young professionals who move into the neighborhood as college students and stay as they begin their careers.

THE NEED Now, after well over a hundred years, the church of St. John the Baptist requires major restoration.

Facade inspections confirmed that restoration is essential for the church to maintain its structural integrity and beauty. This campaign seeks to address the following critical needs: n

To repair the steeple, including the clock, belfry, lantern, spire, and cross

n

To repair the north transept and facade buttresses

n

To repair the roof, flashing, and water runoff systems

The restoration of the church is meant to solidify the hold this anchor has in the community, strengthening it for its current and future ministry.

A CALL TO ACTION The Parishioners and the recently formed Friends of St. John the Baptist – comprised of former parishioners, school alumni, and community members – will restore the church to its original grandeur and ensure that this parish will continue to operate, sustain itself, and thrive for generations of Philadelphians to come.

In the fall of 2014 the Friends of St. John the Baptist initiated a successful appeal to the alumni of the school and raised critical monies to make the restoration feasible. Funds raised during this important pre-campaign appeal made possible initial repairs, continued engineering studies, the maintenance of temporary safety scaffolding, and laid the foundation for a successful campaign.

While parish finances are improving and there is a pastoral and financial plan in place for long term parish sustainability, we must embark on a multiphase capital campaign to pay for the restoration.

To pay for the repairs, we will embark on a two phase capital campaign:

1

Phase 1 will be a $1 million capital campaign to restore the exterior of the

2

A future Phase 2 of the campaign will aim to restore the interior. This will include repairs to the stained glass windows, interior painting, and infrastructure needs. It will also be necessary to fund the creation of an endowment for the church’s ongoing maintenance.

building.

TOWARDS OUR $1 MILLION GOAL - HOW CAN YOU CONTRIBUTE? TOTAL PLEDGED OVER 3 YEARS

THREE ANNUAL PAYMENTS

SIX SEMI-ANNUAL PAYMENTS

TWELVE QUARTERLY PAYMENTS

THIRTY-SIX MONTHLY PAYMENTS

$250,000

$83,333

$41,667

$20,833

$6,944

$150,000

$50,000

$25,000

$12,500

$4,167

$60,000

$20,000

$10,000

$5,000

$1,667

$30,000

$10,000

$5,000

$2,500

$833

$15,000

$5,000

$2,500

$1,250

$417

$7,500

$2,500

$1,250

$625

$208

$3,000

$1,000

$500

$250

$83

$1,000

$333

$167

$83

$28

OUR IMMEDIATE GOAL IS

$1

MILLION

We hope you will join us in the restoration of St. John the Baptist Church, which when complete, will reflect the beauty and resolve of those whose faith was formed there.

WAYS TO GIVE Besides gifts of cash, donors to the Campaign may contribute in many other ways, each offering potential tax advantages. All gifts are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Pledge Gift – We encourage you to consider a pledge. Giving in this way makes possible a larger gift than one may be able to do in a one-time gift. A pledged gift may be paid over a period of 3 years, payable monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually. If possible, please include your first installment when you mail your gift card.

Gift of Cash – Checks should be made payable to Friends of Saint John the Baptist. Please complete and mail the enclosed gift card in the envelope provided. Please do not send cash through the mail.

Online Giving – Gifts, pledges, and payments may be made through the Parish’s on-line giving portal, stjohnmanayunk.org.

Gifts of Security – A gift of stock or securities is one way to make a significant contribution to St. John’s at a reduced cost to you. Federal tax law allows a charitable deduction for the full market value of securities on the date of your gift.

Legacy Giving – By making the Parish a part of your will or estate plans, you leave a lasting legacy of faith.

We hope you will consider this type of gift as it offers many financial and tax benefits to you and your loved ones. More importantly, it provides an enduring testament to your values and ensures what you have spent a lifetime building is allocated according to your wishes.

For further information please e-mail us at sjbphila@stjohnmanayunk.org or call 215-482-4600 ext. 17.

Make Your Gift Today!