Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Washington

From the

Official News Magazine of the Diocese of Spokane

(From the Jan. 13, 2005 edition of the Inland Register)

Sketches show the new proposed facility for Bishop White Seminary.

After just over a year, the Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Spokane has collected $10 million in pledges and donations, reaching its goal to fund the Campaign for the Education of Seminarians.

“I am deeply grateful for the generosity which the people of our diocese showed toward this effort,” said Father Darrin Connall, Vocations Director for the diocese and Rector of Bishop White Seminary. “On behalf of our seminarians, I want to thank everyone for their sacrifice and willingness to support our future priests.”

Over 7,200 donors pledged an average of $1,300 to the Campaign. Thus far, $3.5 million has been collected. (Click here for a chart detailing parish contributions to the campaign.)

The Campaign, which launched in July of 2003, will fund an endowment for the education of Spokane Diocese seminarians, operating expenses of the seminary program, construction of a new Bishop White Seminary, and support the Annual Catholic Appeal for the year 2004. The $10 million campaign is the largest fund-raiser ever attempted in the Catholic Diocese of Spokane.

“I am especially grateful for the generosity of so many in our diocese who have supported this effort as we reach the $10 million goal,” said Bishop William Skyl-stad. “That generosity expresses support for funding the formation and education of the future priests for the diocese as well as replace the present aging Bishop White Seminary.

“Even more importantly,” he said, “participation in the campaign was and is an expression of faith in the continuing work of supplying priests in the future for their critically important ministry in our diocese. In addition to being profoundly grateful, I ask for everyone’s prayers that God will bless our efforts in this endeavor and grant those who are called to priestly ministry to respond generously to that call from the Lord.”

Pledges and donations were raised through a diocese-wide effort. Each parish created a committee of parishioners to help reach their individual parish goal.

Liz Sestero was active on the committee at St. Augustine Parish in Spokane and very happy to hear that the diocese has reached the $10 million goal.

“At this challenging time in our diocese, I think it is important that we have excellent formation and education for our seminarians as they prepare for the priesthood,” said Sestero.

Though the diocese has already contracted an architect and a construction company, ground cannot be broken on the new seminary building until after all the pledges are collected.

“The timeline for construction of the new seminary depends on how quickly people are able to fulfill their pledges,” said Father Connall. “We need to have all the money in hand before we break ground. It is our hope, though, that we will be able to break ground in May of 2006.”

Steve Kocharhook, Director of the Diocesan Foundation, would like to assure donors that all funds will be used as specified in the campaign.

“As a non-profit corporation, separately incorporated from the Diocese of Spokane under the laws of the State of Washington, contributions received for the Campaign for the Education of Seminarians, or contributions to be added to any of the other 145 endowment funds within the Foundation, cannot be used for any other purposes,” said Korcharhook.

Any money collected above and beyond the total goal will be applied toward the endowment portion of the campaign.

“We are so grateful to have so many people pouring out blessings upon us through prayers and gifts,” said Sean Harrell, a second year seminarian. “Because of that support, we will be able to fund the education of seminarians for years to come.”