Honoring Our Past, Building Our Future as One Campaign
“Throughout our history, this parish has been a place where faith has been nurtured, lives have been touched, and God has been encountered. Today, we are called not only to preserve that legacy, but to build upon it—so that future generations may experience the same hope, faith, and love that we have received.”
— Rev. Emmanuel Ihemedu, PhD, LPC, Pastor“Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house.” — 1 Peter 2:5
St. John Paul the Great Parish has launched a capital campaign with a $1.5 million goal that will enable it to revitalize its aging structures and leave a lasting legacy that honors our history, unites our diverse community, and forges a vibrant future.
Our community has already shown incredible generosity, raising an initial commitment of $250,000 from just three individuals, guided by Greater Mission, LLC, a Catholic development firm.
Our parish is one family worshiping in two historic homes: St. Francis of Assisi Church (1877) and St. Peter Church (1928). For generations, these sacred spaces have sustained the Catholic faith in our region. Our parish family is a blend of the elderly and of young parents and children, a home to lifelong locals and a welcoming haven for new arrivals from across continents. This campaign brings us together as one family under one roof, bound by a Catholic faith whose very name means “universal.”
As our first priority, over $980,000 will breathe new life into the St. Peter Church interior, revitalizing the sanctuary, pews, and flooring to restore its breathtaking beauty for generations to come. In the same spirit of preservation, over $266,000 will safeguard the 150-year legacy of St. Francis Church by restoring the upper ceiling, renewing intricate architectural details, and addressing vital safety upgrades.
Looking forward, something completely new for our community will be created with the allocation of $130,000 for a secure perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel at St. Francis. It will offer an opportunity to all to step away from the world and sit directly in the presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament—a source of silence, healing, and peace.
Should we exceed our campaign goal, surplus funds will be placed into a permanent parish endowment whose earnings will support future maintenance, lifting the burden of costly repairs from the shoulders of our children and grandchildren, and securing the parish’s long-term stability.
To learn more about the campaign or to participate in this moment, please connect with the parish office at 860-482-4433 or ministries@sjptgp.com.
Feasibility Study
A study was made at St. John Paul the Great Parish to determine if a successful capital campaign could be conducted to raise funding for several projects. To facilitate complete transparency regarding our parish campaign, the complete feasibility study report is available for your review.