A generous gift has been pledged for substantial support toward building a new gymnasium at the St. Philip the Apostle Campus along with a few additional school classrooms. This project is poised to enhance our facilities, enrich the educational experience, and benefit our entire parish community.
St. Philip Parish and GRACE Schools, in consultation with the Diocese of Green Bay, have been working together to bring this vision to life. We formed a dedicated team—including representatives from the Diocese, parish, GRACE leadership, and the school—to explore and develop plans for this addition. We efficiently worked through and developed preliminary designs for a gymnasium and other amenities to ensure they meet the needs of both the school and parish.
While we’ve reached consensus on the preliminary design phase, there are several important and necessary steps ahead, including securing formal approvals from a multitude of entities through GRACE and the Diocese, completing detailed planning, and launching a fundraising campaign for our school and school stakeholders. This project will only succeed with the continued partnership and support between all stakeholders. Together, we are committed to ensuring that our resources, including parish property, are used wisely for God’s greater purpose.
Key Goals for the Gymnasium Project:
- Enhanced Physical Education: Provide a dedicated space for physical education classes, promoting health and fitness in alignment with our Catholic values of caring for the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit.
- Support for Programs: Equip school sports teams with the facilities needed for training, practices, and home games, while also hosting school and parish community events.
- Parish Access: Ensure the gym is available for parish events, fostering fellowship, faith, and community engagement.
- Wellness Promotion: Increase opportunities for physical activity and community engagement, supporting holistic well-being in line with our Catholic values.
- Community Engagement: Create a versatile space that serves school, parish, and community programs, strengthening the connection between the school and parish community.
- Faith Integration: Incorporate faith-friendly designs and Catholic symbolism throughout the space, reflecting our mission and evangelizing through the built environment.
- Performance Space: Explore the possibility of adding a stage or performance area for classical and theatrical events, enriching educational and cultural experiences in our Classical School.
- Long-Term Investment: Ensure the project supports the long-term sustainability of our parish and GRACE Schools at this campus.
We are excited about the potential of this project and look forward to working together as we move forward. Thank you for your ongoing support and dedication to our shared mission. As we approach year-end, if you’re considering charitable giving and would like more information on how you can contribute to this project in your family philanthropy, please feel free to reach out to one of the following representatives:
- St. Philip the Apostle Parish: Bill Noel, Business Manager
- GRACE: Kim Desotell, President
- St. John Paul II/Chesterton Academy: Patrick McKeown, Interim Headmaster
St. John Paul II Catholic School and Chesterton Academy are of the Green Bay Area Catholic Education (GRACE) School System. They are private Catholic schools serving Preschool and Elementary through high school, adding one grade per year. They have with open enrollment and provide an individualized education in a faith-based environment. Each child is supported not only academically, but spiritually. Learn more by scheduling a visit.
