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Abbey asks friends to help sign off on capital campaign
 onception Abbey’s
history has been a series of challenges overcome through the cooperation
of the monks and their friends.
That tradition continues in 2004 as Conception Abbey and Conception
Seminary College enter the final ‘Signature Phase’ of the A Living
Tradition campaign. Through the continued prayerful and financial
support of friends, and the hard work and careful planning of the
monastic community, Abbot Gregory Polan is optimistic that yet another
challenge will be met.
“Conception has always enjoyed a warm and faithful friendship with the
many people, near and far, who have supported our tradition of service,”
Abbot Gregory said. “Local farmers and merchants joined the monks in
building our monastery and abbey church. More than 20 dioceses across
the nation trust us to prepare their young men for priesthood. We have
seen significant increases in seminary enrollment, and nearly 13,000
visitors a year have helped make Conception a spiritual center. The
$9 million renovation of our Basilica of the Immaculate Conception,
completed in 1999, was paid for almost entirely by our friends and
benefactors.”
The latest triumph came last June when donors contributed the more than
$5.5 million needed to qualify for a $1 million challenge grant from the
Mabee Foundation of Tulsa, Okla. Construction on the Welcome Center,
which began last June, is near completion. The public is invited to a
grand opening and blessing of the new building at 2 p.m. May 2 (see
Public
invited...).
While the challenge grant was a major milestone, a new year presents a
new challenge. The combined cost for construction of the Welcome
Center and the upcoming renovation of the 102-year-old St. Maur Hall,
the main seminary building, is $8.1 million. An additional $1 million
must be raised for completion of the project.
“It is a tremendous testament to our benefactors how far we’ve come in
the past two years,” Abbot Gregory said. “But we must remain focused on
our ultimate goal, which is to serve our seminarians and guests by
providing them with excellent facilities and technology, and by offering
a peaceful and spiritually nourishing environment.”
He noted that the success of this year’s efforts will enable the abbey
to complete both projects without loans, the payments and interest of
which would place a strain on abbey resources and hinder its ability to
meet future challenges.
The Abbot noted that ‘Signature Phase’ is a fitting name for this final
push of the campaign.
“Like a personal signature, it will distinguish our efforts and authorize
the community to stride confidently toward the next challenge," he said.
"And it will allow us to sign off on yet another historic success."
We welcome your comments:
communications@conception.edu
www.conceptionabbey.org
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