Saint Xavier School and Parish officials are in the process of working on a capital fundraising campaign. It is called “A history of Faithfulness and a Future of Hope” with the subtitle “Toward the Next 150 Years.”

Father Gale Hammerschmidt noted the goal is to improve the physical plant. Some of the projects targeted include heating and air conditioning improvements. ADA accessibility, new roofs on some of the buildings, work on the outside front steps of the church, a gathering space in the church, the church sound system, and there is a desire to create a parish hall in the basement of the oldest school building.  Air conditioning improvements would include the air conditioning of the Bradley Gym.

A feasibility study by Betty Johnson Associates of Lawrence was done ahead of the campaign. Hammerschmidt indicated they would like to raise $1 million. The feasibility study showed perhaps not quite that much could be raised, but Saint Xavier could get close.

Hammerschmidt said with this campaign, on one particular Sunday home visitors will take envelopes to the homes of the parishoners. “Each home visitor will have to visit three, four, maybe five homes of parishoners. Campaign materials will be put in an envelope, and potential pledge amounts as well.  And then one week later our home visitors will return to that home.” They will receive the pledges in the envelope and bring them back to campaign officials.

Hammerschmidt commented that many of the Saint Xavier buildings are more than 100 years old. The church was built in 1906. The oldest of the school buildings was built in the 1916-1919 time frame, and the newest building in the 1950s. The Parish history dates back to 1867.

The campaign is expected to wrap up by December 3 when the Parish kicks off the celebration of the 150th year of their existence. Hammerschmidt said it will be the Feast of Saint Francis Xavier. “If you go to many communities throughout the world one thing that they love to do is to celebrate that day in which their patron has it’s feast. Here in Junction City we’ll be celebrating Saint Francis Xavier Day on December 3. We’ll be doing that at Flagstop Resort out there by Milford Lake.”  That event will culminate with a Polar Plunge activity. Community leaders are being sought to dive into the cold waters of Milford Lake on December third.