St. Mary Catholic Church

THE CHALLENGE

Situated on the capitol square of Lincoln, Nebraska, St. Mary Catholic Church stands proudly in the heart of the city as an icon of Catholic presence and worship in the state. Known as “the Old Cathedral,” St. Mary served as the cathedral for the Diocese of Lincoln for 54 years and has welcomed worshippers for more than 114 years. As a historic building with heavy daily and weekly use, the demands placed on the facility are significant. By 2021, significant renovations on the aging infrastructure could no longer be deferred and leadership created a master plan to address the needs. Critical mechanical, electrical and safety systems were outdated, and the parish faced the unique challenge of fundraising within a community where Sunday Mass attendance included many non-registered parishioners and visitors. Leadership knew finding the right partner was crucial to capital campaign success.

THE VISION

The initial Opening Doors to the Heart of St. Mary Capital Campaign addressed fundraising for integral parts of the infrastructure of the church including replacing the original 60-year-old HVAC system, upgrading electrical and installing a modern alarm system. The goals for the second campaign included:

• Renovating the Flynn Hall gathering space to be more welcoming, functional and accessible.
• Installing an elevator and ramp to improve access to the sanctuary and gathering space.
• Repairing and restoring the church exterior with new paint and addressing wear and tear on the tuckpoint, brick and stone, as well as replacing draining systems and doors.

THE SOLUTION

After the successful first campaign, church leadership again opted to partner with the Steier Group to create a comprehensive approach to another campaign in close proximity. Building on earlier momentum, the Steier Group team created and executed the Arise & Become Capital Campaign. The Steier Group conducted a thorough campaign planning study to gather crucial information about needs and the community’s commitment despite the recent first campaign. A dedicated, onsite campaign manager kept the project moving forward while strengthening relationships and building shared ownership for the project. Successfully surpassing low-end projections, St. Mary Catholic Church continues to undertake the significant projects to restore, renew and preserve this treasure, ensuring that the parish remains a welcoming and sacred space for all in the heart of Lincoln.