Capital Campaign
Building Faith Hand in Hand
Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ
What do you mean by “sacrificial gift”?
A sacrificial gift is a sign that you know that God has blessed you and you choose to return your blessing to Him. A sacrificial gift is one that “hurts” a little. You have rearranged your priorities. A sacrificial gift is more than just a token. It comes from your heart....not your surplus.
Why do we have to spend so much money to build a new church?
Our Building Committee and Pastor have carefully studied many options. They are working toward building a church that will stand as a symbol of our Catholic faith for generations to come. Our new church will be a sacred building, a beautiful place, a foundation of faith that will inspire people to come inside and experience the love of God.
For comparison: The conversion of the old Kmart building into office space cost $11 million. Construction of the Doyle Center in 2000 cost $5.7 million. The Employee Services Building at BP is a $31 million project. The Valero office building cost $14 million. The College of the Mainland is seeking $103 million for campus renovation and building. The cost of renovations to the Lowry Center and the building of the new Natatorium is $7.5 million.
What happens if we dont raise all of the money? Will I get my money back if we dont build the church?
Our goal is to raise ALL of the money necessary to build the new church. Your pledge is essential. We may have to borrow funds for a short period of time. We are committed to building a new church.... that decision has been made. The funds you pledge to the campaign can only be spent on a new church for St. Mary of the Miraculous Medal Catholic Community.
Does the archdiocese require that we have 50% of the money in the bank before we break ground?
No. The archdiocese does not have this requirement. There is no specific amount of money that we must have in the bank before we can break ground. We plan to break ground in 2008 with every family making a sacrificial pledge.
What is going to happen to recreation activities like Rebel Football?
The lead person for Rebel Football has been notified and is pursuing other locations. A number of options are also being considered by the City of Texas City at this time.
What is going to happen to our current church, stained glass and statues?
We have been given permission to sell the property and improvements after we have moved into the new church. These funds will go toward building the new facility. The use of existing stained glass windows and other religious items have been evaluated with professional assistance. We intend to make use of some of these items in the new church and central campus. If we do not sell our current church, we may convert it into a site for neighborhood outreach.
Where is our Pastor going to live?
Our pastor will live in a neighborhood near the new church. We may build a new rectory on the church campus sometime in the future.
Do I have to make a down payment with my pledge?
We would prefer a payment with your pledge. However; you can begin making payments when you are ready and continue for three years. Naturally, the sooner your payments begin, the sooner we will have our new church!