Capital Campaign 2011

Please consider prayerfully how you can contribute to our efforts with your time, talent and your treasure.

Our Next Chapter Logo

September 15, 2011

My Dear Friends and Parishioners,

In October 1864 the cornerstone for St Marys German Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception was laid at Second and Market. With it, the dreams of early parishioners and families for a German parish was realized. Over the past 150 years, St Marys has evolved into the downtown church, with a mission to minister to all people. Our impact on this community and city is immeasurable. Over the years, we have experienced the growth and expansion of our parish family, our religious education programs, our RCIA program, our Soup Kitchen that feeds over 150 homeless of Memphis every day, our continuous support of the families and patients of St Jude and Le Bonheur and our constant cost of repair and maintenance on our historical church.

In August of 2002, our expanding needs and the aging historical building led to necessary reinforcement of the church and addition of the parish hall and classrooms. The construction saved our church, but added a substantial debt.

Have you been touched by St Marys Catholic Church? With over 150 historical years of baptisms, weddings, school alumni, celebrations and visitors, St Marys Catholic Church has provided a special place for so many. We are excited to include you in preserving St Marys Catholic Church for future generations through our 2011 pledge drive. Our Next Chapter: Preserving our Past, Writing our Future is a three year pledge drive designed to encourage and challenge the members and friends of St Marys Church to join together in completing Phase One of our Development Plan for a debt-free community.

Baptismal Font

The Bible demonstrates at least four types of "trust gifts": 1) A tithe (10 percent); 2) Benevolence (in time of need); 3) Surplus (out of ones abundance); 4) Sacrificial (a costly gift). This final type of gift requires a reassessment of your spending and lifestyle, and readjustment of your priorities. Very simply, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, sacrificial giving costs the giver something significant. A Scripture that reflects "sacrificial giving is found in 2 Samuel 24:24, when King David said, "I cannot offer to the Lord my God...offerings that cost me nothing."

We, as stewards of this precious gift, must preserve the foundation that was laid so many years ago. Your sacrificial pledge to St Marys Catholic Church will continue this story that has been passed on from generation to generation. Please join our faithful parishioners and community friends to write the Next Chapter for St Marys Catholic Church in downtown Memphis by making your pledge now through PayPal, located at the top and bottom of this page.

As we move forward in our pledge drive, may the words of the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta echo in your minds. "Its not how much we give but how much love we put into giving."

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Fr. Eric Peterson

What is the Next Chapter in the History of St Marys Church? What Role Will You Play?

The capital campaign is a three year plan designed to bring St Marys into financial self-sufficiency, maintain am improve our facilities and expand our ministries to continue to support the downtown community. We carry an obligation ordained by our Lord to "let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another."

We, as stewards of this precious gift, must preserve the foundation that was laid so many years ago. Your sacrificial pledge to St Marys Catholic Church will continue this story that has been passed on from generation to generation.

St Peter give us the architectural plans for this capital campaign "Come to Christ, a living stone, rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in Gods sight and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." Our Church is one of man not mortar, let us become the new living stones which are to be built upon the cornerstone of Christ.

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Father Eric Peterson