Saints Casimir and Adalbert Parish and The Catholic Initiative are partnering on a $25 million plan to preserve St. Adalbert Church and provide long-term financial support for both parish campuses.
The plan includes $15 million to restore St. Adalbert and a $10 million permanent endowment to help maintain both St. Adalbert and St. Casimir, including the parish school.
The parish has already raised $3.4 million, and The Catholic Initiative is committing another $4 million toward the restoration.
A century-old South Bend church is getting a new path toward restoration. (WSBT Video)
"And my goal has always been to preserve this church, to serve the next generation of immigrants, whoever that may be, who will come to the United States seeking a better life in 100 years," said Donald Popielarz, director of the restoration project.
The partners will work to raise the remaining $7.6 million for restoration.
The endowment, meanwhile, is expected to generate about $500,000 a year for ongoing maintenance and repairs.
According to The Catholic Initiative, that long-term support is key to helping parishes stay financially sustainable.
"We want to solve a problem permanently, and we know that an endowment really ensures that happens because if you're only spending 5% of that endowment, that means the rest of it is growing," said Damian Hermann, The Catholic Initiative executive director.
Under the agreement, a nonprofit affiliated with The Catholic Initiative will own the properties and lease them back to the parish for one dollar a year for nearly 200 years.
Parish leaders say religious services, school operations and parish life will remain under the parish’s control.
"Our Polish parishioners want to, to save the building and save the interior, um, to honor their, their ancestors and the history of being a Polish parish. Our Spanish speakers want to, um, uh, save the church for its presence needs. And I'm, I'm looking for, uh, into the future," said Popielarz.
The restoration will happen in phases, including a new heating system, accessible restrooms and repairs to the church’s stained glass, murals and interior architecture.