Capital Campaign
The repair and restoration of the St. Mary Magdalen Parish buildings has been funded utilizing a two phase capital campaign. Phase I projects involved mostly exterior work at St. Mary Magdalen Church and Vermilion Catholic High School. Click here to learn more about what has already been completed in Phase I. Currently Phase II is in progress.
For weekly updates on capital campaign pledge totals and expense payments see page six of this week’s bulletin
Phase II Projects Information
The first priority of Phase II was the re-roofing of the church. Once this project was completed, interior repairs and restoration began. The interior work entails an improvement of the lighting system; installation of a critically needed new sound system; repairing damaged plaster; fiberglassing and painting of the entire interior; refinishing stations of the cross according to the decorative scheme; commissioning ten ceiling murals of saints; replacing the nave flooring; refinishing and cushioning the pews; replacing the organ console; and re-installation of the four original stained glass windows in the sanctuary.
Since the original announcement of Phase II, we have been given an unique opportunity to acquire beautiful and historic marble sanctuary furnishings from a church in the Archdiocese of New Orleans which has closed. These items include two side altars— one with a marble statute of the Blessed Mother and the other with a marble statute of St. Joseph, a magnificently adorned pulpit, an intricately designed sanctuary rail and an historic baptistery.
To read the fascinating story and incredible connection between St. Rose of Lima Church in New Orleans, the Church where the marble side altars and sanctuary furnishing were housed, and St. Mary Magdalen Church, where the marble side altars will come to rest, see Fr. Guillory’s Connections in Stone
The estimated total cost of the above projects is $2.9 million. The re-roofing has been completed and the interior projects are in progress. Due to the inflationary environment, St. Mary Magdalen committed to all projects to avoid significantly escalating costs, possibly delaying the interior projects for several years.
If you are interested in making a donation to the capital campaign to help financially with the restoration of our church, click on the Letter of Intent link below. Please fill out the letter of
intent and mail it to St. Mary Magdalen Church, P.O. Box 1507, Abbeville, LA 70511-1507.
If you have questions about the campaign, please e-mail at
or call Peggy Ashley at the church office at 337-893-0244.
Phase II Needs and Estimates
Interior Repair and Décor ..............................................$738,187
Interior repair entails plaster repair, resurfacing and fiberglassing of walls and ceiling.The application of new colors, finishes, glazes, and stencils on walls, stations of the cross, baldacchino, and back wall of the apse, and ceiling murals will constitute the décor improvements.
Scaffolding ...........................................................$157,217
The interior scaffolding provides access to all areas of the church for plaster repair,painting, and the lighting project.
Re-Roof the Church .....................................................$735,650
The entire church roof, excluding the steeple, has been replaced. Special considerationwas given to architectural design as well as durability of materials.
Upgrade Lighting System ................................................$186,000
All features of the new décor will be illuminated utilizing direct and indirect lighting as well as current fixtures.
Stained Glass Windows Returned to the Sanctuary ........................$139,211
Four stained glass windows will be repaired and returned to their original location in the sanctuary.
Organ Repairs ..........................................................$114,460
This will require replacement of the organ console, re-voicing, and upgrading the electrical system for the organ.
Pew Refinishing ........................................................$95,000
This entails stripping and refinishing all pews, adding cushions to all pews for the purpose of helping with sound acoustics, and repairing kneelers as necessary.
New Sound System .......................................................$80,000
Installation of a custom-designed system accommodating current church acoustics will provide high clarity of speech as well as sacred choral music presentations. This system will include speakers in each pew.
Nave Flooring ..........................................................$116,000
New tile flooring will be installed in the main body of the church which will complement the existing sanctuary floor.
Sacrificial and Side Altars, Sanctuary Rail, Pulpit, Baptistery .........$272,415
Two side altars—one with a marble statute of the Blessed Mother the other with a marble statute of St. Joseph, a magnificently adorned pulpit, an intricately designed sanctuary rail and an historic baptistery will be installed along with a new sacrificial altar.
Construction and Campaign Contingencies ................................$265,860
This figure represents a figure totaling approximately 10-15% of each project.
PHASE II TOTAL AMOUNT ..................................................$2,900,000
Giving Opportunities
Gifts Of Cash- These are one time tax deductible cash gifts.
Pledges – These donations are payable over a three-year period with schedules formulated to accommodate individual needs.
Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds, and Other Liquid Assets - Gifts of stock and other liquid assets may have tax advantages, especially when the assets have risen in value. Gifts are generally deductible at current market value and the donor avoids capital gains tax on any appreciation of the asset.
Matching Gifts – Many companies will match gifts given by employees or stockholder. Usually a request for matching funds is initiated by the donor. Please contact the personnel department of your company for more information.
Memorial Gifts – Gifts can be made in honor of or in memory of friends, family, or others.
