God is good! In noticing a need for a Catholic school in a fast-growing part of Colorado Springs, Roy and Diane Clennan committed to a transformational gift of $25 million to build St. Gabriel Classical Academy. The enormity and generosity of this gift is hard to describe. This gift makes possible a long-held desire in the St. Gabriel community – shared by surrounding parishes – for our own school, a school closer to our homes, a school where we have a say in how and what our children learn.
The $25 million gift was intended to cover all of the building and furnishing of the school. However, as construction progressed and the market fluctuated, the price tag increased. We have explored all possible options and trimmed back as much as possible, but any further cuts endanger our vital mission. Additional funds now required to complete construction, finish and furnish the school is $5-7 million.
This campaign will attempt to raise as much as possible to offset those school construction costs. The campaign will also allow us to fund parish projects that are already in process. This includes funding the $200,000 for the new rectory (the approximate balance remaining after the projected sale of the current rectory). It also includes the remaining $80,000 cost for the St. Gabriel the Archangel statue that will be installed in the center of the roundabout this fall.

 

St. Gabriel will ask each parish and school family to consider a gift to the campaign. 

Now, more than ever, Catholic Schools are needed to teach what is True, Good, and Beautiful. A Catholic education helps a child understand they are a precious gift from God. Children at St. Gabriel Classical Academy will know what is good and become secure in who they are, where they are going, and why they are here.
Those who receive a Catholic education are more involved – civically, socially, and spiritually – in their parish communities. St. Gabriel Classical Academy will educate generations of Catholic students in the faith. Those students, in turn, will become our parish leaders, elected officials, and parents of future St. Gabriel students. There may even be students who choose to pursue a religious vocation, helping to solidify the future of our Church. Supporting this campaign and our school is an investment in our parish’s future.
 

The parish’s current debt is $5 million. That obligation stems from a combination of purchases and projects:

• The original purchase of land that our campus rests on
• The construction of St. Gabriel church
• The expansion of our parish hall, kitchen and classroom spaces

Thanks to our generous parishioners, this debt is being paid down through regular offertory giving and is part of our normal operating budget.

We remain confident in the ways the Holy Spirit has guided our efforts in all we do. We are grateful and excited for the opportunity to provide access to a Catholic education for generations of students and families. The generosity of Roy and Diane Clennan, the Diocese of Colorado Springs, and our Catholic community have gotten us to this point. With prayer and continued support, we firmly believe that we can exceed our goals. Hence, our campaign theme: Together We Can.
We will also continue to work closely with the Diocese of Colorado Springs. Bishop Golka and the diocese are fully committed to the success of St. Gabriel Classical Academy and will provide support to ensure the school opens, as planned, in 2024.
 

In the short term, offertory giving is expected to remain constant. Through the effort, disciples will ask parishioners to make pledges above and beyond regular giving. Parishioners are not asked to diminish giving to the parish but, rather, to consider a commitment above their normal tithe. In the long term, similar campaigns have led to increases in parish offertory by raising the sights of parishioners and their commitment to the church. 
 

Our expectation is, of course, to meet or surpass the goal. If that doesn’t happen, St. Gabriel will take necessary steps to understand our options moving forward.

The school will be a one-story building spanning roughly 70,000 square feet. It will include 22 classrooms, enough for two classes per grade, Preschool through 8^th grade. It will also contain a cafeteria commons area with a stage, gymnasium, art room, music room, commercial kitchen, and 7 offices for school administration.

While St. Gabriel Classical Academy is currently using classroom spaces at St. Gabriel Church, the parish is funding the cost of heat, supplies, cleaning, and upkeep of the building. The hope is that tuition, the Future Saints Apostolate and school fundraisers will cover all expenses, salaries, and needs of the school.  The parish does expect to have some ongoing minimal responsibility for operational and maintenance costs when the school reaches above 75% of capacity, which is typical of a parish/Catholic school relationship. Last year’s Meitler study indicated the school will achieve full capacity (400 students) within the first 5 years. Based on our current rate of growth and class sizes for the 2023-2024 academic year, we anticipate reaching full capacity sooner than predicted. That expense for the parish is small compared to the spiritual and communal benefits of a Catholic education. Consider it a worthy investment to ensure the formation of our next generation of Catholic priests, religious, leaders, and parents.

Yes, just as St. Gabriel parish has generously shared our spaces with the school, St. Gabriel Classical Academy will partner with the parish and other community organizations to use school spaces as available. This will include the gymnasium and stage space in the cafeteria commons.

Construction has already started on St. Gabriel Classical Academy. Classes will begin using the facility in August 2024.

The Future Saints Apostolate is a joint program between the parish and the school, designed to provide ongoing financial support for:

• General operations
• Tuition assistance and scholarships
• Fair pay for our teachers

While our current priority is the Together We Can Campaign to fund the construction and furnishing of the school building, our ongoing efforts will focus on supplementing the Future Saints Apostolate. This will ultimately lower the cost of a Catholic education and make it accessible to all families

We believe that all we do as a community is led by the Holy Spirit, who has called us to expand our mission in significant ways with a new Catholic school. We continue to remain open and discerning to the ways God is calling us. After the Together We Can campaign for St. Gabriel Classical Academy, the rectory and the St. Gabriel the Archangel statue, the master plan calls for expanding the sanctuary. The timeline for that project will be determined after this campaign is successfully completed.

As we continue to distinguish our church “up on the hill”, this significant reminder of our parish’s patron saint will also celebrate our lived mission. It will identify our parish community for years to come and serve as a memorial for those who have come before us. A significant part of the statue will be a memorial for our parishioners to honor their loved ones. More information will be shared this summer about how to participate in the memorial. We will host an event in September to dedicate the statue after its installment.

Bishop Sheridan wanted all rectories located close to the parish. He believed, as do we, that this leaves no doubt that the pastor is present to his flock. This longstanding goal is finally coming to fruition.
We strategically started this project at the same time as the construction of the Mater Filius Home on our campus. We share the same contractor and simultaneous construction results in significant cost savings for both parties.
Once the new rectory is completed, the current residence will be sold. The proceeds will be applied to the new rectory construction. Based on current market conditions, we anticipate needing an additional $200,000 to finish the building.
The new rectory is located across the parking lot of the parish. You can see construction progress every time you come to St. Gabriel. The new rectory has the capacity to be home to three priests. While we pray for more vocations to the priesthood, we will be ready to welcome more priests to St. Gabriel, even being able to host visiting priests.

Our campaign offers a wide range of gift opportunities to participate at all levels. You may choose a plan that provides you with both flexibility and time to complete the payment of your pledge. Because our needs are urgent, we encourage you to complete your pledge within three years. 

No, a pledge is a gift, one you consider to be meaningful to you. All we ask is that you do your best and advise us of any financial changes that will impact your pledge.

The parish will keep pledges as confidential as possible. Only the people responsible for maintaining the records will have access to your pledge. 

We base our “requested amounts” on past giving histories and answers provided in the recent planning study. The amount is not an expectation, it is an invitation to discern how you might invest in the future of St. Gabriel. We ask that you consider a meaningful gift above and beyond your normal support. 

Pledges allow donors to consider giving more than is possible through “one-time” gifts. This is important in a campaign of this magnitude. 

While such gifts will be the type most often made to the campaign, other types, such as IRA distributions or stock gifts, are also options. 

Because the needs of the campaign require immediate funding, gifts of cash and securities are generally sought. But estate gifts, often referred to as planned gifts, are also welcomed. For more information, contact Marc Lanning in the parish office.

Gifts to the campaign are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. The application of such laws varies with individual circumstances. Donors with specific questions regarding tax deductibility should contact their financial advisors. 

We named the campaign what we believe to be true, Together We Can, not only build the future of Catholic education, but do so because our hope lies in the work of the Holy Spirit. We ask that you continue to pray for a successful campaign, and for the immense impact St. Gabriel Classical Academy has and will have on students, families, and our church. Soon you will be invited to consider making a gift to the campaign. In the meantime, if you would like to share your time and talents with the campaign, please do not hesitate to reach out to Beth Samson at [email protected]