Diocese hopes to raise $2 million in CASA pledges

Donations used for diocesan, parish ministries like Catholic Charities, Hispanic ministry

Published: February 2, 2017

By Malea Hargett
Editor

Retreat dorm closed for remodeling

Fletcher Hall, the building providing dormitory-style rooms for overnight guests at St. John Center in Little Rock, closed Jan. 16 to begin an improvement project that will cost at least $2.5 million.

Dennis Lee, chancellor for administrative affairs, said upgrades to the 52-year-old building will include a new, energy-efficient heating and air conditioning system. Lee said the current system, which is original to the three-story building when it opened in 1965 as a dormitory for St. John Seminary, is no longer reliable.

Other upgrades, such as asbestos removal, new flooring, lighting and refurbished bathrooms, are planned. Funding for the improvements will come from donations to the Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal.

Since the seminary closed in 1967, the building named after Bishop Albert Fletcher, has been used for overnight guests. In 1991 the building was modernized to include private bathrooms in each room. From 1998 to 2010 all or most of the building was used as offices for diocesan employees while other buildings on the campus were renovated. Seminarians in the House of Formation also used the building temporarily before their building on the Our Lady of Good Counsel Church campus was completed. In 2011 some minor upgrades, such as new beds and mattresses, were made.

In its current configuration, about 170 retreat guests can stay overnight. The building also has a kitchen, small chapel and meeting rooms on the lower level. Suzanne Giovannello, St. John Center reservations coordinator, said the building is used at least 40 weekends a year by groups such as Cursillo, Marriage Encounter and Catholic Youth Ministry.

Lee said the building is expected to be closed through 2017. Diocesan offices that host overnight events are using alternative locations, such as Marylake Monastery outside Little Rock, or are choosing to not hold their events during the remodel.

While most Catholics in the state hear about the Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal in February, it is a yearlong program to support many diocesan, parish and school ministries.

“We really want to encourage everyone to make a pledge,” said Dianne Brady, diocesan development director.

Brady said that “while 1 percent (of your gross income) is the requested donation, every gift is important.”

Pledges can be made during the in-pew solicitation Feb. 4-5 in all parishes and paid out from March to December. One-time gifts are also appreciated.

“If we were to have 100 percent participation from all the Catholics in our diocese,” Brady said, “so much could be accomplished for the good of all.”

CASA will kick off with a recorded homily from Bishop Anthony B. Taylor in both English and Spanish. Pledge envelopes will be in the pews for parishioners to fill out.

Those who want to make a donation or pledge by credit card can visit dolr.org/online-giving.

“Today I invite you to be salt and light, to do your share in the building of the kingdom of God,” the bishop said in his recorded homily. “We do it in union with Jesus and as members of his body the Church, hence our annual Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal, CASA. CASA assists with those things that go beyond the capacity of our individual parishes: vocations, Catholic Charities, our faith formation programs, Catholic schools, Hispanic ministry, our deacon formation program, our tribunal and many others.”

The diocese raised $1.85 million in 2016, about $150,000 short of its $2 million goal, Brady said. The gifts came from 6,391 individuals and families.

For 2017, continuing updates to buildings on the St. John Center campus in Little Rock are one of the main priorities for the Diocese of Little Rock. Of the six buildings on campus, four of them were built between 1916 and 1920. The others were built in 1965 and 1968.

Donations from 2016 made it possible for St. John Center to begin a multi-year project to improve and remodel several buildings. Dennis Lee, chancellor for administrative affairs, said the Diocese of Little Rock was able to install a new roof and gutters on Byrne Hall, repair the outside steps on Morris Hall and Byrne Hall and repair the sewer line to Fitzgerald Hall. Donations from this year will be dedicated to remodeling Fletcher Hall (See article this page). The diocese is setting aside $475,000 from CASA donations for this project.

Other programs to be supported by CASA 2017 are:

• Diocesan ministries, $550,000

• Parish and mission support, $200,000

• Youth and campus ministry, $150,000

• Grants to Catholic schools, $100,000

• Grants to faith formation programs, $100,000

• Clergy Welfare Fund, $100,000

• Seminarian expenses, $75,000

• Catholic Charities of Arkansas, $100,000

• Catholic Adoption Services, $50,000

For more information, call (501) 664-0340 or visit dolr.org/casa.

Retreat dorm closed for remodeling

Other upgrades, such as asbestos removal, new flooring, lighting and refurbished bathrooms, are planned. Funding for the improvements will come from donations to the Catholic Arkansas Sharing Appeal.

‘Salt and Light’: Read Bishop Taylor’s homily