Florida Catholic | Bay County Churches Share Vision, Raise Funds For Growth

Bay County churches share vision, raise funds for growth

Parishes are entering into the diocese’s “Sharing the Vision — Growing in Faith” capital campaign to help endow the future of the faith in northwest Florida.

CHRISSY CUTTITA | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 03.28.08

CHRISSY CUTTITA | FC
Susan Higby and Flo Bilelo look at a model of the future church addition at their parish, St. John the Evangelist in Panama City. The women attended the March 15 reception in the St. John media center, built recently to benefit students.

PANAMA CITY | For one Catholic parish, raising $1.5 million to build a gym isn’t just about giving students a place to play and sports teams a place to compete, it’s about raising a community.

For another parish, a future family life center is a hopeful place of fellowship and room for growth.

And yet another hopes to improve its age-old electrical wiring system.

Catholic churches in Bay County are entering into the diocese’s “Sharing the Vision — Growing in Faith” capital campaign to help endow the future of the faith in northwest Florida. St. John the Evangelist is one of the 20 parishes that have kicked off their three months of fundraising with a reception for parish leadership March 15.

“I invite you to join me with our priests to share good news,” said Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, who participated in the reception. “We need this campaign to enable us to move forward.”

Parishioners can already experience the benefit of St. John Catholic School’s state-of-the-art media center that was built from a campaign a few years ago, so constructing a gym for students seemed natural for this campaign’s goal. Catholic schools are one of the campaign’s 12 focus areas. The need to set aside funds in such an investment account appears to center on one theme: development of future Christian leaders.

“Children are future (adult) parishioners,” said John Wyatt, a St. John minister of hospitality, who looks forward to the opportunity to rent the new gym as space for special occasions and the opportunity to bring more athletic competitions to the school. “We replenish the parish with young children.”

Building a future community fits well with the campaign’s theme of “Sharing the Vision — Growing in Faith,” St. John pastor Father Jerzy Zieba said.

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“What binds us together is much stronger than our vastly different backgrounds, and that common bond is what this campaign is all about,” he said. “Our membership in this universal church makes each of us a valued part of building the church of tomorrow through our support today.”

In the campaign video, Bishop Ricard explained that northwest Florida’s population has increased by 76 percent, and 30,000 Catholics are expected to move in over the next 20 years. Bay County is no stranger to that trend, from condo construction on Panama City Beach to the increasing missions of its two military installations. With a newly expanded international airport on the horizon, growth in the area will only continue.

“The goal right now is to have a facility that will bring the parish family together,” said Christine Walker, Parent Teacher Organization vice president, who hopes a new building will bring more gatherings.

Father Zieba asked his parish leadership for careful attention, prayer and support to the best of their ability during the time of the campaign.

Parishioners will have the opportunity to serve the campaign by giving time, talent and resources. With the variety of payment options the diocese offers there are also numerous ways to give, no matter what economic background a person may have. For example, there are the billing options of one-time donation, stock donation, three-year payment plan or five-year payment plan.

Funds raised during the campaign will be held in the Catholic Foundation of Northwest Florida. Each parish will retain 20 percent of the monies raised within its goal and can expect to receive its share as pledges are redeemed.

Those who attended the St. John reception were encouraged by a retelling of the parable of the mustard seed by Bishop Ricard. They were left to share the vision remembering the story of the small seed that grows into the largest shrub.

While St. John parishioners strive toward raising their parish minimum goal in a combined campaign with the diocese, they are not alone in the county. Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Panama City also hopes to raise enough funds in a combined campaign for construction of a family life center with square footage larger than the existing church. St. Bernadette Parish in Panama City Beach hopes to raise enough to improve its electrical wiring. St. Dominic Parish was among the six churches to pilot the program last fall. The parish has raised more than expected, so construction will soon begin on a much-needed turn lane for the overcrowded parking lot.

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Bay County churches share vision, raise funds for growth

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