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A Living Tradition campaign soars beyond goals
Images of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks were still flashing across television screens as the monks of Conception Abbey prepared to launch a major capital campaign in the fall of 2001. The economy was spiraling and economists were predicting worse to come.
The five-year A Living Tradition campaign resulted in a new Welcome Center (above) and a renovation of St. Maur Hall (below).
Photos byFather Kenneth Reichert, OSB.
During the previous year, the monks had engaged in strategic planning and conducted a campaign feasibility study. They and members of their Development Office staff had met extensively with bishops, benefactors, financial advisers, seminarians, alumni, and employees to identify needs and designate priorities.
Now that it was all about to come together as the A Living Tradition campaign, a hard question had to be asked. Would it be prudent to ask for money when the economy was in the tank?
As they do each day of their lives, the monks took it on faith.
Faith, of course, in God. But faith, also, in friends.
The new seminary chapel in St. Maur Hall.
Photo by Father Kenneth Reichert, OSB.
“There actually was little hesitation,” Abbot Gregory Polan recalls. “We knew there was a need that could not wait, and even more important, our history has shown us that we have an exceedingly generous and steadfast group of friends and benefactors.” Indeed, Abbot Gregory notes, it was those very benefactors who nudged the campaign forward.
A new plaza for dining and large gatherings.
Photo by Father Kenneth Reichert, OSB.
The campaign concluded this summer. The $10.25 million goal was surpassed by 37 percent. A sparkling new welcome center, St. Raphael Hall, greets guests at the entrance of the campus. A renovated St. Maur Hall is now a state of the art educational facility dedicated to forming priests for the 21st century. In addition these buildings are served by new campus roadways and parking lots.
Such successes alone affirmed the decision made five years before. But there is more.
- Annual giving, which helps sustain Conception’s operations increased during the five years of the campaign. Rather than diverting their charitable gifts from annual appeals to new construction and renovation, donors simply gave more. During the five years of the campaign, giving to the Conception Seminary College Annual Appeal increased by 40 percent. The annual Lenten Appeal, which raises money for the monastery and guest house saw a whopping 156 percent increase. The increase was punctuated in the past two years when Lenten giving went from $62,000 in 2004 to $128,000 in 2006.
- The pre-campaign feasibility study determined that Conception could reasonably expect to raise $6.5 million of the $8.1 million required for construction and renovation. The remainder would need to be covered by a long-term loan. However, in the end, donors paid the entire $8.1.
- The Conception Abbey and Seminary College endowment, which had grown to $1 million in the five years leading up to the campaign, has ballooned by an additional $2 million since then.
- During this time more than 2,800 first-time benefactors gave to Conception fund-raising efforts. These new donors were responsible for $750,000 in gifts.
To put this in context, coupling the $10 million Basilica Renewal Campaign that ended in 1999, Conception Abbey and Conception Seminary College have jointly completed nearly $20 million in construction and renovation in the last 10 years. And by the time current pledges are paid in the next two years, the community will be debt free.
Planning and research are already underway to prepare for the renovation of the historic monastery, built in 1875. Work will include bringing the building up to modern safety standards, overhauling utilities and technology, and preserving the building’s historic integrity. In addition there are plans in the works for new and improved guest lodging and construction of a conference center that will serve both the Guest House and Conception Seminary College.
A more spacious gift and book shop were among features resulting from campaign gifts. Photo by Father Kenneth Reichert, OSB.
“In the past, we have relied on the grace of God, careful planning, conscientious stewardship of resources, and the kindness of friends to help sustain our service to the Church to the best of our abilities,” Abbot Gregory said. “That equation has worked well and blessed us with many friends. We can never say or do enough to thank them. All we can do is continue to serve them as we would serve our Lord and Savior.”
We welcome your comments:
communications@conception.edu
www.conceptionabbey.org
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