Friday, August 06, 1999
Diocese aims to raise $10 million
Basilica work on priority list
BY SUSAN VELA
The Cincinnati Enquirer
COVINGTON — Bishop Robert Muench is asking Northern Kentucky Catholics to make a financial “sacrifice” and contribute to a $10 million capi tal campaign — the biggest fund-raising effort in the history of the Diocese of Covington.
The money raised in Faith in Action 2000 will go toward tuition assistance at Catholic schools; the cleaning and restoration of Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, the diocese's landmark church in downtown Covington; and outreach, spiritual and educational programs for the young, poor, hungry and homeless.
A successful campaign, Bishop Muench said, will make a strong statement for the diocese. It oversees 48 parishes, 41 parochial schools, and many altruistic and charitable efforts.
And Bishop Muench is expecting a successful campaign. Church leaders will begin making a plea to their congrega tions within a month, and the full $10 million should be raised by the end of the year, the bishop said.
Diocese and church leaders already have raised $4.5 million — or 45 percent — of the goal.
“I am convinced that, just as has taken place in the last century and a half, the people of this day will respond generously to the challenge and opportuni ty to support the urgent causes addressed by the campaign,” he said Thursday at a press conference that officially kicked off the capital campaign. “Faith in Action 2000 will enable us to strongly affirm the past and to make a bold investment for the future.”
Here is how the diocese would like to use the campaign money.
• At least $4.7 million toward the cleaning and restoration of Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, 1140 Madison Ave. That amount includes $500,000 that would go to a maintenance fund.
Bill Brown, liturgical design consultant based in Colorado Springs, Colo., is leading the project. He said there are no final decisions on what exactly will be tackled, but he and Bishop Muench concurred that much is needed, and that now is the time to plan cleaning, preservation and restoration.
They will spend the next month deciding which projects are priorities. Those include installing air conditioning, cleaning the stained glass, cleaning the murals, and restoring mosaics, wooden floors and pews and the original main altar table.
• $3.5 million toward education, including more tuition assistance, the establishment of a special education program and more technology throughout the schools.
There are 12,000 students attending the diocese's 32 elementary schools and nine high schools, mainly in Boone, Campbell and Kenton counties. More than half receive some form of tuition assistance.
• $1.2 million toward inner-city grants; Hispanic, family, hospital and youth ministry; Catholic Social Services; and such facilities as the Diocesan Catholic Children's Home.
The diocese always has an “annual appeal” for these services and was able to raise about $1.5 million for the 1999 fund-raising effort. The 2000 appeal will be rolled into the Faith In Action 2000 campaign.
“It's an appeal for the new millennium,” said Sue Grethel of the diocesan stewardship committee.
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