Amador County – John Gonsalves, Co-director of the capital campaign for St. Katharine Drexel Parish’s Amador Catholic Center project said this week the campaign had raised $1.26 million and has about $230,000 left to raise to meet a self-set goal by April 19.
The goal has a monetary benefit if they reach their goal, they will get $500,000 in a gift from the Roman Catholic Diocese in Sacramento. Connie Gonsalves, co-director of the capital campaign said if they raise $1.5 million, Sacramento Bishop Jaime Soto has pledged to give half a million dollars to the capital campaign from his parish development fund. Gonsalves said it is not a loan but a gift and would give St. Katharine Drexel Parish $2 million for its remodeling fund.
John Gonsalves said the project is using local contractors and material as much as possible. Jackson native Dave Harris Construction was setting rock on the stone cross tower Thursday, working with greenstone and other native rocks and a local painter will paint the Center’s exterior.
The long-term capital campaign began in January, with the help of Guidance In Giving, a company that specializes in Catholic fundraising. Gonsalves said they have had 18 fundraising receptions at the individual Parish churches and masses.
Guidance In Giving’s Tim Schell said: “We are hoping and praying that we will get to the goal by April 19.” He said the money raised so far is 125 percent of what the company expected could be raised, and they achieved the amount with no major donations.
Gonsalves said the majority of major supporters of the Catholic Center have already pledged. Schell said now the others are coming to the Center, and seeing the progress, and the donations are still trickling in.
The Center’s renovation plans include a new 600-seat church, social hall, commercial kitchen, gymnasium, youth and senior activity spaces, parish offices, and religious education and meeting rooms.
Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
