Parish capital campaign kicks off Sept. 22-23
HENDERSONVILLE — An influx of families has brought more life into Immaculate Conception Parish – so much so that the need for more space has culminated in what some are calling a perfectly timed blessing.
Immaculate Conception Church was founded in 1912 and now is home to more than 1,710 registered households. The parish has 113 parish organizations, more than 440 children in its faith formation program, and 150 students enrolled at Immaculata School. Space to accommodate all these activities has been sorely needed.
To accommodate the growth, the parish recently purchased a 9,500-square-foot building next door. Besides the extra space, the property also came with additional parking spaces.
“We’re keeping up with our 10-year plan,” explained Capuchin Franciscan Father Martin Schratz, pastor. “It’s been such a blessing. One thing after another has fallen into place.”
The building was renamed the St. Joseph Center, in honor of the patron of the Universal Church, spouse of the Blessed Mother and foster father of Jesus.
“The St. Joseph Center looks over our church (literally). We have a statue of him inside the doors,” Father Schratz said.
The center is a “green building,” which means that it is energy efficient.
The St. Joseph Center currently has 18 tenants renting office space, so the parish works around their business hours when using the additional space in the building. Those leases will end late next summer, and at that time the office spaces, which are flexible spaces, will be altered by Sept. to meet the needs of the growing parish.
“We needed more meeting rooms for groups, for our teens and for our Good Shepherd catechesis program,” Father Martin said.
In order to fund the upfit to the St. Joseph Center, the parish will kick off a $2.5 million capital campaign Sept. 22-23.
The campaign will also fund renovations to Immaculata School, which was built in 1961 and has never been renovated.
The 9,500-square-foot St. Joseph Center will provide much-needed space for parish faith formation and meetings. (Photos provided by Immaculate Conception Church)Of the campaign funds, $1.5 million will be used for the center and $1 million is earmarked for the school renovation.
Parishioners Jim Welter and Jay Thorndike are helping to spearhead the capital campaign.
“We’re going to take care of our buildings,” Welter said. “It’s a way to meet the educational needs of our parish family. It’s taken a while, but we have to wait on the Lord.”
He said he is pleased with the growth of this former “retirement parish.”
“I am so enthusiastic that the parish as a family is growing. I have such an appreciation for working with our parish plan and the committee,” he said.
“Father Schratz and the campaign leadership have put together a strong plan to encourage parishioners to make a pledge to the campaign. They aren’t just taking care of buildings. The activities that will happen in these buildings, whether it be the center or the school, will change lives,” said Jim Kelley, diocesan development director, who is assisting the parish with this campaign.
The capital campaign pledge period will run for three years.
— SueAnn Howell, senior reporter