Building Our Future

SJPII/St. Philip Parish Gym Facility Project & Fundraising 

Introduction

St. John Paul II Classical School and Chesterton Academy of St. John Paul II Classical School, in partnership with St. Philip Parish and the GRACE Catholic School System, is excited to announce the gym facility addition plan to the school building! We have been examining the needs of the school and formulating a plan to upgrade facilities which includes adding a gymnasium to the current building located at 320 Victoria Street in Green Bay. This webpage highlights details of the plan and also fundraising information. 

Permission Granted

We have received permission from Bishop Ricken to move forward with fundraising. In addition, St. Philip the Apostle Parish and GRACE System leadership are supportive of the fundraising efforts to move this forward. 

The Impact

  • High school regulation sized basketball court/gym with locker rooms, foyer, and concessions area
  • Additional classrooms of varying sizes 
  • Possible new library, performance center, and gathering spaces (pending additional permissions)

Construction estimates will be sought from different firms in the area for the committee to consider but the estimated cost for the project of the gym will be around $6 million. In addition, an endowment will be funded to manage and support building maintenance of the project into the future. 

We are blessed to say that a generous family has stepped forward to commit a $4 million pledge for this project in matching dollars. Furthermore, we have received additional pledges and gifts toward our goal. 

With God all things are possible but we must all do our part to help reach our goal. This new facility will ensure that St. John Paul Classical School and Chesterton Academy will have the space needed to grow and thrive well into the future as well as be a wonderful amenity to the Parish, GRACE System, and Diocese of Green Bay.

  • Rendering
  • Rendering

Timeline and Approvals

Fundraising Team Members

  • Kim Desotell
  • Tony Ellis
  • Gary Guevara
  • Paul Lubinski
  • Patrick McKeown
  • Joe Mongin
  • Diane Schlies
  • Nate Tackaberry
  • John Williams
  • Melissa Wolcanski
Make a Gift

Thank You

Thank you to all our school community, stakeholders, parishioners and friends who have financially supported the campaign. It would not have been successful without your generosity. Also, as you know, there is a lot of behind the scenes work that goes into a huge project like this. Thank you to our Fundraising Committee for all their time and talent to make this campaign a huge success!

Make a Pledge or Donate

  • Pay online: Click the button above (or here) to get to the donation page, then enter “SJPII Gym Project” in the field that asks what the donation is for.
  • Make a pledge: Download the pledge form here.
  • Pay by check: Make your check out to Green Bay Catholic Education (GRACE) and indicate in the memo line “SJPII Gym Project”. Please drop your checks in the SJPII office or mail to: 1822 Riverside Dr., Green Bay, WI, 54301.
  • Other ways to give: See our planned giving webpage for more information.

FAQ

You can submit questions about the project here.

Depending on funding and construction commitments the preliminary timeline is: 

  • Active campaign: February-August 2025
  • Approvals: Fall 2025
  • Construction design: Winter 2025
  • Break ground: TBD

The project fundraising goal includes the creation of an endowment specifically designed to cover the long-term maintenance costs of the addition. This was a key condition set by the GRACE Board of Directors and Bishop Ricken when approving the fundraising plan. 

The plan is to update this website and Q & A monthly the first week of the month. 

Gym Project Campaign Prayer

Your prayers for a successful campaign are important. Together, we lift up the following prayer:

Blessed are you, God of the universe.

In age after age, you gather people together to praise and serve you, and to help establish peace, unity, and holiness on earth. And in age after age, you gather people together to discern in wisdom the next step forward. So, too, you have called our school community to this fearful task. For this, we give you thanks and praise.

Today we come to you in a spirit of gratitude. We thank you for calling us to pursue the work of education with mercy and wisdom. We thank you for giving us the tenacity, attention, and patience necessary for collaboration and we thank you for the gift of one another – our diverse talents, concerns, and passions.

Lord God, we ask you to grant us the wisdom and gifts we need to successfully launch our Gym Project Campaign and see it through to completion. As we navigate the many details and decisions involved, remind us to always listen to your guiding voice. Inspire generous donors to aid our efforts. Above all, God, we ask that our plans be always in accord with your most holy will. Amen.

Contact Us

For more information, please contact Executive Director of Advancement Nate Tackaberry.