faculty/staff chapel campaign

About the Chapel

Spirituality and the belief that striving to emulate the life of Jesus Christ will inspire students to grow into caring, well-rounded individuals led the University to build a free-standing chapel.

The St. Katharine Drexel Chapel will be a place where the Xavier community can come together to celebrate the Eucharist, enrich its knowledge of the liturgy, foster religious vocations, attend lifealtering retreats, participate in ministries of service, and give time and talent to assist the poor.

Xavier has retained the architectural services of Cesar Pelli, a world renowned architect who has designed what arguably can be considered among the most impressive buildings ever, including the eighty-eight story Petronas Towers in Malaysia, which are the world’s tallest twintower buildings. In order to ensure that Mr. Pelli is personally involved with all prospective projects accepted by his firm, the Pelli architects carefully limit the number of commissions they accept each year. The fact that the St. Katharine Drexel Chapel was selected by the Pelli firm is a great honor for Xavier.

The chapel is contemporary in design, yet the sanctuary’s octagonal plan is rooted in traditional religious structures.

Raised four feet above grade, the building is reached by an 80-foot long sloping processional approach. This path is aligned with the original campus quadrangle and the site from which Pope John Paul II spoke in 1987.

With a limestone base crowned by a copper roof that will change over time to a beautiful green color, the 11,000 square foot building connects to the university’s tradition of building materials and color. The main sanctuary is a 65-foot tall volume with seating for up to 430 worshippers. A ring of skylights will allow natural light to be diffused through a screen and illuminate the sanctuary.

A smaller day chapel will be used for daily Mass and for individual meditation and reflection. The two worship spaces will be served by common liturgical areas including a narthex, work and vesting sacristies, and a reconciliation room.

The new chapel will be open, inviting, and easily accessible throughout the day and evening every day of the week.

Parishioners from the surrounding neighborhood who continue to rebuild their lives following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina will be welcome for daily and Sunday Mass.

Your gift, combined with the generous contributions of countless donors also interested in fulfilling the mission of Katharine Drexel, will ensure that Xavier continues to be a beacon of hope.

Regardless of the size of your gift, your personal support of the St. Katharine Drexel Chapel is critical and appreciated.

“All benefits descend from God just as the rays descend from the eternity.”

St. Katharine Drexel

Questions & Answers What is the campaign for the Chapel?

The Campaign for the St. Katharine Drexel Chapel is a comprehensive fund-raising effort that began in 2001. All gifts and pledges made since that date count toward the $10 million campaign goal. This effort will allow the University the opportunity to realize the vision of our foundress by building a free-standing house of worship for our students, faculty and staff, friends, family and alumni.

Who is being asked to participate?

All of the University's constituencies nationwide, including the Board of Trustees, Alumni, Parents, Foundations, Corporations, Friends, Faculty and Staff. Government funds cannot be used to support the chapel construction.

I would love to support the campus campaign, but I believe my decision to work at Xavier is my true contribution.

We are fortunate to have such a highly dedicated group of employees working at the university. However, if we want our campus to continue to flourish, all of us should consider additional ways of supporting our university.

I can only give a modest amount. How can that possibly make a difference?

All gifts are important regardless of the size. What is most important is that we all give something. The campus campaign exemplifies the collective power of the university. With each person doing what he or she can, we all make a big difference.

Are pledges accepted?

Yes. In fact, we suggest that members of our campus community consider making their gift in the form of a pledge which may be completed over a period of two-years. You can even sign up for your pledge today!

Does the university have a goal for the Faculty and Staff Campaign?

Yes. The goal for the campaign is 100% participation. We are asking that everyone make a pledge regardless of the size.

What are my payment options?

The suggested method for paying pledges is through payroll deduction. Choosing this method will ensure that a set amount that you chose will be automatically deducted from your payroll check. You can also fulfill your pledge with a personal check or credit card.

If my financial circumstances change, can I alter my pledge and automatic payroll deduction?

Yes. Pledges may be increased, decreased, or withdrawn at any time by simply notifying Human Resources.

A Message From the Faculty and Staff Campaign Co-Chairs:

We sincerely thank you for your generous support and your continued prayers!

We are honored to have been asked to serve as the co-chairs for the faculty and staff campaign in support of our new St. Katharine Drexel chapel being built on Xavier’s campus. As members of the Xavier community, we are all fully aware of the many challenges our students face. We truly believe that this new chapel honoring our foundress will provide a sense of peace and spirituality to all, especially our students.

Sincerely,

In this critical stage of the Building A Dream…Honoring A Promise campaign, we are asking everyone who works at Xavier University to consider making a gift in support of our new chapel. We have set a 100% participation goal for the faculty and staff campaign. Regardless of the size of your gift, we assure you that your personal support is greatly appreciated.

Another reason that the campus phase of the campaign is important is because it demonstrates to supporters and friends outside the university that Xavier's employees truly believe in the vision of our foundress and the future of our institution.

The success of Xavier University depends on us – the faculty and staff of Xavier University. Now, more than ever, our combined support affirms our dedication and commitment to the dreams that St. Katharine Drexel and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament had for Xavier University.

Ann R. Barbre

Sondra C. Reine

Rosalind Pijeaux Hale

Harold Vincent

Shirley Flen Labbe

Clifford Wright

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Honoring a Promise

When will the chapel open?

The grand opening and first mass is scheduled for March 3, 2012, which is the feast day for St. Katharine Drexel.

All gifts to the St. Katharine Drexel Chapel campaign are tax deductible. Multi-year pledges are tax deductible for each year that payments are made.

Address:_____________________________________

Will I receive anything if I contribute?

E-mail:______________________________________

Sample Payroll Deduction Contribution Schedule Total Pledge (over 2 years)

St. Katharine Drexel

�he ��. � atharine �rexe� ��ape� Name:_ _____________________________________

Is my gift tax deductible?

The name of every faculty and staff donor will be listed in a permanent book that will be housed in the new chapel. If we are successful in reaching our 100% participation goal, all Xavier employees will be invited to attend a special victory celebration. Additionally, everyone who contributes at least $250 over 2 years will be entered into a special drawing for two (2) reserved campus parking spaces for one year.

Donors who contribute $1,000 or greater over a 2 year period will have their names engraved on a recognition wall.

“Out of common today’s and yesterday’s we are building our eternity.”

YES! I wish to support

$100 $200 $250 $500 $1,000

Monthly Amount (24 pay periods)

Bi-Monthly Amount (52 pay periods)

$4.17 $8.34 $10.42 $20.84 $41.67

$1.92 $3.85 $4.81 $9.62 $19.24

City, State, Zip:________________________________ Phone:_ _____________________________________ Department:__________________________________

Pledge Amount (over 2 years): ❒ $1,000 ❒ $500 ❒ $250 ❒ $100 ❒ Other ________ Please make checks payable to: Xavier University of Louisiana

By Credit Card: Please charge my onetime gift to my: ___VISA ___ Mastercard ___ discover ___ AM Exp Card Number:_ ___________________________________ Expiration: ___________

Amount: $ _______________

Signature:________________________________________

Payroll Deduction: ❒ I authorize Xavier University to fulfill my pledge using payroll deduction. Please begin my deduction on: ___________

Thank you for prayerfully considering your gift!

Xavier University of Louisiana

Faculty and Staff Campaign to support the St. Katharine Drexel Chapel

�uil�in� a �ream...

�uil�in� a �ream...

Honoring a Promise Xavier University of Louisiana

Faculty and Staff Campaign to support the St. Katharine Drexel Chapel