Debt Reduction
at Saint Mary Magdalen Parish
Parish Debts, as of August 1, 2026:
$1,900,000
Scroll down to learn more.
What We’ve Achieved So Far
About a decade ago, our House of God-Gate of Heaven campaign kickstarted the major revitalization of important parts of our campus: the construction of a new gymnasium, the renovation of the parish hall kitchen, and the near-complete rebuild of our church, the work of on all of which began in 2019. Archbishop Etienne consecrated the newly-completed church in February of 2021.
Through the My Lord & My God: Now and For the Future campaign, we massively reduced to the debts incurred by all of these important projects — from over $4.1 million to about $1.9 million in just three years, saving almost $500,00 in interest on the payments — all while providing an entirely new boiler and HVAC system for our school campus, upgrading upgrades to our learning and meeting spaces, and a new roof for both the rectory and our portable classrooms.
The Present Challenge
Our parish has experienced tremendous growth since the beginning of the construction projects — Mass counts have nearly doubled, as has the number of registered parishioners.
In a day when many parishes in the area, country, & world are working to downsize and combine, this continuing growth presents us with a challenge, as costs continue to go up with increases in:
the number of children and adults who are provided with free or low-cost religious eduction and sacramental preparation
our need for paid personnel across maintenance, pastoral work & ministry, and administration
the round-the-clock utilization, week in and week out, of our campus facilities by dozens of programs, groups, and ministries, the vast majority of which are free to the community.
Addressing this Need
To put it simply, the parish cannot afford to continue making interest-saving payments on our loans without the support of the entire community. We have already almost entirely paid off the loan associated with the construction of the new gymnasium, with $1.9 million remaining on the loan used to finance the beautiful re-building of the parish church.
This is why we are asking everyone to prayerfully consider supporting our ongoing efforts to pay off the church.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are we starting a new capital campaign?
No. Capital campaigns, as the name suggests, as used to finance capital projects, in addition to supplying other needs — such as reducing a parish’s debt, supporting foundations, etc.What about my existing My Lord & My God (MLMG) campaign pledge?
Pledges made at the start of the MLMG campaign end in December 2026. We are asking those who contributed, as well as those who may be new to the parish, to help build upon the momentum that we began by making a Debt Reduction Pledge starting in January 2026.What will the funds be used for?
One-hundred percent of the funds collected in our special Debt Reduction online pledges/gifts, designated envelopes, and monthly collections will go directly towards paying off our loans.What will happen when the loans are paid off?
When our loans are paid off, online collection of gifts to this Special Collection will immediately cease; if we reach our goal of $1.9 million before the end of the pledge duration (3 years), your contributions to this fund will automatically be ended.
Goal
Raise $1.9 million in three years or less
Pay off existing loans
