For nearly 130 years, Saint James Catholic Church has served the faithful of Gulfport. Now, the church asks our parish
community to address some much-needed projects through a comprehensive capital campaign. This campaign will provide the space and resources we need to better serve our community, enabling us to more effectively carry out Saint James Church’s mission of “Leading people to heaven with Christian hospitality and fostering Eucharistic Discipleship.”
Our additional priorities will be the Church Narthex and possible relocation of vital ministries: church offices and the
Perpetual Adoration Chapel. These additional priorities are contingent on the success of the campaign. The Pre-K2
program, reclaimed parish center, and Church Narthex will allow us to meet our established priorities aligned with
Saint James Church’s mission, particularly in our evangelization efforts and our commitment to supporting those in need
within our community.
As part of this bold endeavor, and after much feedback from our parish leadership,
families and our school families, we have identified the following priorities for our campus:
Priority #1A -
Parish Hall Renovation
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Renovating the existing Parish Hall space so that we will have room for
parish gatherings, a dedicated youth ministry space, and meeting spaces.
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Cost Estimate: $300,000
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Priority #1B -
School Facility Renovation/Construction
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Renovate the convent (to include an addition to the current building) to be the new
ELC facility to serve our preschool thus freeing up space needed for other classes in
our school. The first floor would house our Pre-K programs, and the upstairs would be
framed up for future ministry expansion.
Cost Estimate: $2,800,000
Priority #2 -
Church Office Relocation and New Perpetual Adoration Chapel
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Possibly relocate the parish offices to a renovated Philomena House to accommodate
our staff and build a New Perpetual Adoration Chapel next to the Rectory garage.
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Cost Estimate: $325,000
Priority #3 -
Church Narthex Construction
Construct a narthex (expanded main entrance) for the church, to include bathrooms
and additional gathering space. This would be an addition to the existing church
structure.
Cost Estimate: $1,900,000
TOTAL COST: $5,325,000
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These vital improvements will require an investment of $5.3 million. We understand that this is
a large undertaking, so please, begin to pray about how your family can invest in our parish and
school. We need everyone’s support to help these ministries continue to grow and serve our community.
Your participation makes it possible
For over 30 years parishioners have worked to place the Eucharist at the center of our parish; our
Perpetual Adoration Chapel is a true blessing. May the Lord bless you abundantly as you support ministries,
the many parts, that are backed by faith and trust in Jesus’ presence in the Holy Eucharist, the one body.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the parish and school operating funds be used to pay for the Capital Campaign?
No.
How long will the pledges be received for the Saint James Capital Campaign?
5 years.
Can the school cancel the Pre-K2 program?
No. The Pre-K2 program is a vital part of the mission of St. James Elementary School. We are excited to have our Pre-K2 families involved with Saint James Parish.
Do we get the parish hall back?
Yes. The Pre-K2 will move into the new Early Learning Center, and the parish hall will be renovated.
Will the Early Learning Center be profitable?
Yes. The parish and school operating funds will not be used to pay for the Capital Campaign. The current number of Pre-K2 and Pre-K3 will not be increased. The current Pre-K2 and Pre-K3 program is making a profit. The Early Learning Center will be profitable.
Will school tuition be increased to pay for the Early Learning Center?
The parish and school operating funds will not be used to pay for the Capital Campaign. The Early Learning Center will be profitable. The Pre-K2 and Pre-K3 tuition will be based on market rates.
PreK-4 through 6th grade tuition rates will not increase to pay for the Capital Campaign, but they may experience yearly step increases to cover the cost of operation. These step increases are normal, from year to year.
Will the 4th Graders move out of the trailers?
Yes. The 4th Graders will move back into the main body of the school. Moving the Pre-K3 out of the main body of the school will open up some classrooms. The trailers will continue to serve a purpose for the school in being a space available for use.
When will I see construction?
The Diocese of Biloxi requires us to have half the money in cash and/or donations. Priority Number 1B is the school facility renovation/construction. The cost estimate is $2,800,000. When we reach $1,400,000 in cash and/or donations, then we can begin to construct the Early Learning Center.
Can I pay for a project to be completed?
Yes.
Is the cathedraticum applied to the Capital Campaign?
Yes. The cathedraticum is a tax paid by the parishes to our local bishop, Bishop Louis F. Kihneman, III, representing our support of the bishop’s pastoral, administrative, and charitable works within the diocese. The cathedraticum is set at 9%. If we raise the goal of $5,325,000, then we will pay $479,250 in cathedraticum.
Will the Capital Campaign cause the parish to go into debt?
No. The Saint James Finance Council with the approval of Fr. Ryan has agreed to avoid placing the parish into debt. The parish currently has no debt. The Capital Campaign will not cause the parish to go into debt.