St Patrick’s Catholic Church Opens Capital Campaign For New Parish Life Center

     St Patrick’s Catholic Church in Chadron used its annual Parish Feast on Sunday to formally kick off its $1.9-million dollar Cherishing Our Home, Building Our Future capital campaign.

     The fund drive will replace the 100-year old 21,000-square foot, multi-story Assumption Academy building with a new 8,000 square foot single-story Parish Life Center. 

    The old school has served as the Parish Center since it closed in 1970, but a 2008 internal review by the church concluded that while the building was structurally sound, it no longer met the needs of the parish with only 2,000-square feet being used

      Pastor Father Todd Phillipsen says the eventual result was the current proposal for a new center that would be more energy efficient and have more usable space.

Father Todd says the new center, which would incorporate the archway main entrance to the Assumption Academy, would be used for daily and weekly activities while also serving as a major emergency shelter.

The cost of the new center is estimated at $3.7-million dollars. The parish has $1.8-million in reserves, resulting in the $1.9-million goal for the capital campaign. Father Todd says the early response to the concept has been very positive.

Randy and Ann Burk are the honorary chairs of the capital campaign, but Father Todd says the Burks are backed by a strong leadership team.

Father Todd hopes Assumption Academy alumni will contribute to the capital campaign, which has a short active phase of less than 2 months, although donations can be spread over 3 years.

Father Todd is optimistic that pledges and donations for Cherishing Our Home, Building Our Future will meet the goal and timeline, allowing construction to start this summer.