St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church

THE CHALLENGE

For nearly 150 years, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Seward, Nebraska, has been a place of faith, service and community. From its beginnings in 1876, parishioners have sacrificed to build and grow a vibrant Catholic presence in Seward. Today, the parish continues to thrive, but facilities no longer meet the needs of an expanding congregation. Church leadership acknowledged limited gathering spaces, outdated restrooms and a lack of dedicated meeting areas present ongoing challenges that must be addressed for the parish to continue fulfilling its mission. A major fundraising effort would need to be well-managed to address the challenges they faced.

THE VISION

To ensure that St. Vincent de Paul remains a welcoming and functional space for worship, education and fellowship, goals for a campaign included:

• Creating new gathering spaces, including a renovated social hall, an informal meeting area in the narthex, a new family room, a new bridal suite and a spacious commons area for parish activities.
• Improving convenience and accessibility by adding new restrooms and renovating existing ones.
• Expanding parish offices, religious education classrooms and facilities to create a more efficient and secure campus.

THE SOLUTION

St. Vincent de Paul partnered with the Steier Group to launch the Gather and Grow Capital Campaign. With a dedicated campaign manager, expertly-crafted and tailored messaging and graphic design support throughout the planning study and campaign, St. Vincent de Paul parishioners responded generously to the call. The campaign inspired a renewed commitment to the future of the parish. The successful outpouring of support resulted in over $3.3 million raised, which exceeds the Steier Group low-end goal and ensures that St. Vincent de Paul will continue to serve as a thriving spiritual home for generations to come.