Our Future In Christ Capital Campaign

Our St. Columbkille community is growing and now is the time to make a substantial investment in our future. Our first priority was to make the necessary repairs to protect and care for our church. We have done that. The Convent building is good in structure and holds great potential for future needs. Today, it is our 67-year-old school that is in need of repair. Reshaping our campus to create a better school will allow St. Columbkille Parish to provide ministries to all its growing population.

Currently, the school program utilizes our school building, parts of our Convent, and Presentation Hall. We determined that a two-fold benefit would result from all school activities taking place within the school. From the school perspective, staff and student interaction will be more seamless as it brings efficiency to the day and provides a more secure setting. For the parish, the use of Presentation Hall and the Convent building can be designed and utilized to meet other parish needs.

In consultation with the Archdiocese, Holy Family, and our local expertise, our need is for a school that provides Preschool/Pre-K classrooms, three classrooms for each K–5 grade, all necessary support and specialty spaces, and a cafeteria. The preliminary estimate for this project is $14 million dollars. 

While this is a large undertaking, it secures St. Columbkille as an anchor parish in Dubuque. And we do not have to do this alone. Holy Family has committed $5 million to this project. In addition, a small number of our parishioners have already committed a cumulative of $6.2 million. This leaves us with a goal of raising $2.8 million. 
 
From the very beginning, we reflected upon this work through the lens of St. Columbkille’s future in Christ. Borrowing from this reflection, we are calling this campaign Our Future in Christ.

This last $2.8 million will be a great investment in our parish and we hope you see this project as worthy of your support. Please watch for further communications from both St. Columbkille Parish and Holy Family Catholic Schools as we embark on this campaign.
 

Sincerely in Christ,

Father David Schatz and Father Tom McDermott

RENOVATION & EXPANSION OF OUR SCHOOL BUILDING | $14 MILLION

RENOVATION
Improvements to existing space will include central heating and cooling; new flooring, windows, ceilings and fixtures; elecrical work and plumbing.

EXPANSION
A 19,133 square foot addition to our current school building will provide ADA accessible space with an elevator to improve the flow of the entire school.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE:

• Three classrooms for each K-5 grade, two Preschool rooms, and two Pre-K rooms
• Secured entrances and classrooms for Pre-K through 5th grade
• A Play and Pray Courtyard close to classrooms
• A multi-use cafeteria
• Flexibility in design as educational needs change

We ask that you prayerfully consider how to best participate in St. Columbkille’s Our Future In Christ Capital Campaign. The information below is not meant to provide financial advice, as each individual’s situation is unique. Please consult your accountant or financial advisor with questions or for more information about tax benefits and making gifts.

PLEDGES

Pledges are payable over five years and allow donors to consider more substantial commitments compared to what might be possible with one-time cash gifts. Donors may determine payment schedules of five annual payments, twenty quarterly payments, or sixty monthly payments.

Download a Pledge Form
Submit Your Pledge Online

STOCKS AND SECURITIES

Gifts of stock to Our Future in Christ can be a source of significant tax benefit to the donor by eliminating
capital gains taxes. To claim these benefits, stocks/bonds must be transferred to St. Columbkille’s Parish rather than selling them and donating the proceeds.

IRA QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTION

Donors age 70 ½ or older are eligible to make Qualified Charitable Distributions to eligible charities. This
otherwise taxable distribution can also be counted toward satisfying your required minimum distribution from your IRA at the age of 72.

PLANNED GIVING

The most common type of planned gift is a bequest, or written statement in a donor’s will directing that
specific assets, or a percentage of the estate, will be transferred to charity at the donor’s passing. Other types of planned giving include naming the church as a beneficiary of a retirement plan or life insurance policy, or gifts of real estate.

MATCHING GIFTS

Many employers offer matching gift programs. A match may allow you to double, or even triple, the
impact of your gift. Follow these steps to get started:

1. Make your gift to Our Future in Christ.
2. Check with your employer’s HR department to see if a matching gift program exists.
3. Ask HR for a copy of the matching gift form, and complete your portion.
4. Submit the matching gift form to St. Columbkille Church.

PRAYER

Your prayers are crucial to the success of Our Future in Christ. No matter your ability to support financially, you can help this transformational effort by praying for the success of this campaign.

HOW BIG IS OUR PROJECT?

• We will be renovating 33,647 sq. ft. of our existing school adding 19,133 sq. ft. of new construction, creating a total building space of 52,780 sq. ft.
• This allows a capacity for 3 classrooms for each K-5 grade, 2 Preschool rooms, 2 Pre-K rooms, specialty/support rooms, and a cafeteria.

WHEN COMPLETED, HOW MANY STUDENTS WILL OUR SCHOOL ACCOMMODATE?

Our school will be built to accommodate 476 students (396 in K–5 and 80 in preschool/pre-K), making St. Columbkille the largest elementary in the Holy Family school system.

DO WE HAVE THE DEMAND FOR THIS MANY STUDENTS?

Yes. When we consider the number of Baptisms at St. Columbkille and nearby parishes, our school should be correctly sized to meet our parishioners’ demands. 

IF WE SUPPORT THIS CAMPAIGN NOW, WHEN WILL THE PROJECT TAKE PLACE?

If we complete our fundraising by February 1, 2024, construction will begin at the end of this school year (May 2024) and will be completed before the 2025 school year.

IS HOLY FAMILY SUPPORTIVE OF THIS PROJECT?

IF I DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN OR GRANDCHILDREN IN THIS SCHOOL, WHY WOULD I SUPPORT THIS PROJECT?

While parents and grandparents of our students are expected to and have demonstrated their support, your support for this project will strengthen St. Columbkille as a parish in multiple ways: 

• It will make St. Columbkille an anchor parish in the entire Dubuque area and create a more stable future for the whole parish. As Resurrection is the anchor parish to the West side of Dubuque, St. Columbkille will be for the South.

• Attracting new parishioners will help support the parish. The maintenance and operation of the parish will not fall on your shoulders alone. Our support for the school now will create support for our parish in the future.

• Consolidating all school activities under one roof will free up Presentation Hall and the Convent for other parish ministries. This project will prepare for a greater involvement of parishioners in non-school activities.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE SCHOOL-RELATED FAQS AT HOLY FAMILY'S WEB PAGE SUBMIT A QUESTION