Thursday, 05 January 2012 15:26

Last January the Mabee Foundation issued a challenge to the faithful of the Diocese of Wichita. And on Dec. 19 our diocesan family officially met that challenge.

The Tulsa-based foundation had offered a half-million-dollar grant if the diocese could raise the balance needed to renovate St. Joseph Pastoral Center by Dec. 31, and the deadline was met with room to spare.

“So many individuals and groups rose to this challenge,” said Mike Wescott, director of development for the diocese. “The Mabee grant enabled donors to make an even greater impact with their contributions while also helping us provide critical repairs and renovations to the former Cathedral school building that houses many of Catholic Charities’ outreach programs.”

The St. Joseph Pastoral Center renovation was budgeted to cost $3.8 million of the $16 million Cathedral campus renovation, which is part of the diocesan TOGETHER Vision.

The TOGETHER Vision has raised more than $25 million so far toward the renovation of our Cathedral Campus, seminarian education and Catholic formation programs. But the goals of the diocese-wide effort were bigger than any fundraising effort.

“There is no end to the TOGETHER Vision because it is about much more than fundraising,” said Bishop Michael O. Jackels.

The bishop personally challenged our diocesan family to strengthen the unity between parish and diocese and to deepen our practice of stewardship as a way of life in addition to funding true needs in our diocese.

In the coming weeks and months we will continue to find the messages of the TOGETHER Vision in our parishes, in the Catholic Advance and in our diocesan community. And we will continue to find opportunities to embrace the TOGETHER Vision as we gather for worship, learn and teach our faith, and serve others for the glory of God and the benefit of others.

Want more info?
Do you see yourself in the TOGETHER Vision? Have you embraced it? Have you applied it to the day-to-day practice of your Catholic Faith? For more information, go to www.TOGETHERvision.org.