Facilities Facts and Needs

Blessed Today, Blessing Tomorrow: A Campaign for St. Josaphat Parish goes beyond brick and mortar. It is an investment in sharing our Catholic faith traditions. We are the blessed recipients of great gifts from those who have come before us. With this generous foundation as our starting point, we will update and expand our parish campus, allowing for continued development of our spiritual growth in worship, educational excellence and dedication to serving others. With this Campaign we will Bless Tomorrow.

School

We are blessed with the good fortune of a growing, vibrant parish and parish school. Our school enrollment has grown nearly 30% in the last 3 years with 340 students representing 220 families now enrolled for 2009-2010. This past year alone 45 new families enrolled their children. Many of these families have several little ones still at home that wish to enroll in the next few years. Consequently, the need for facility improvements and expansion is time critical.

It is part of our parish mission to provide a Catholic Education for all our parish families, and to other families who seek its benefits as well. Further, we wish to continue to offer our program at a reasonable and competitive tuition rate while ensuring that it covers necessary and appropriate costs of a superior whole child Catholic educational program. We intend to fund these current facilities needs through funds raised by the Capital Campaign, not through significantly increased tuition.

We plan to accommodate up to 400 students in grades PK3-8th grade. To accommodate the current and anticipated student enrollment by August 2011, 3 more homeroom classrooms will be required in addition to the existing 18. All new classrooms will be designed to accommodate up to 25 students. Reconfiguration of several current classrooms to accommodate same is also being considered.

The following additional spaces are needed to provide an appropriate learning environment:

Special fine and liberal arts classrooms to be shared and utilized by all students in grades K - 8th
- Media Center (library and computer lab)
- World Language
- Music / Band
- Art
Additional resource rooms for reading and/or math curriculum needs
Lunchroom to accommodate a minimum of 100 students
Reception area at main door
Administration office area with flexible meeting areas for staff and parents and for parish meetings during off-school hours
Additional storage areas for curriculum resources
Handicap accessibility

More About Our School

Education at St. Josaphat is Christian-values-based and focused on academic excellence, love of learning, respect for self and others. Our vision for our graduates includes academic, personal and spiritual developmental goals.

Academic

Consistently above national, state and area average Terra Nova test scores across all disciplines
Small class size enhances individualized learning; 1:11 student teacher ratio
Differentiation of instruction key to individual success; additional faculty resources support for reading and math
100% Certified Faculty; majority with Master’s degree
99% of Graduates attend High School of first choice; consistently offered placement at Chicago’s most prestigious Catholic, Selective Enrollment Public and Private schools
DePaul University affiliation brings latest teaching techniques

Personal

Technology, music, art and foreign language enhance core curriculum
Diverse student body offers a rich learning environment
Terra Nova testing in 2nd-7th grades for continuous measurement of student progress
Choir, band and girls and boys athletics provide opportunity for extracurricular activities and team building
Extended Day Program allows students to pursue personal interests

Spiritual

Strong connection with thriving Catholic parish ensures a strong community base
Weekly school mass and school/class liturgies provide prayer opportunities
Age-appropriate religious instruction and sacrament preparation in class
Community service engagements teach students to become active in society
Values and social consciousness discussions are incorporated daily

Affordable, Quality Education

Competitive tuition of area Catholic Schools: 2009-2010 tuition is $5,900 plus a $400 fundraising obligation
Multiple child discounts: 30% tuition discount for 2nd, 3rd, 4th child
Financial assistance available for those in need

Church

St. Josaphat Church has been a parish to come home to for over 125 years. We are proud of our Mission and all we do supports our Mission.

As an example, from July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009 the following sacraments have been celebrated in our Church:

Baptisms 129
1st Communions 44
Confirmations 45
Marriages 40
Funerals 13

These numbers represent significant growth and a vibrant parish family.

The church renewal 10 years ago provided much needed beautification and updating of some of the building. However, we need to finish what we began in a few more areas.

As an example, only 33% of the church’s pews (28 of 86) were refinished. We need to refinish the other two-thirds, for reliability as well as aesthetics.

In addition, the church needs handicap-accessible bathrooms, repair work to the church towers and roof of the daily mass chapel (neither of which was done during the last renovation) and, after 125 years of use, there are areas of the sacristy that are in desperate need of repair.

Rectory

The rectory not only provides a home for our priests but it houses the business offices for the parish and provides meeting space for over 37 ministries related to parish life.

The rectory was not part of the church renewal project 10 years ago and has long overdue repair and maintenance work that is needed to be done so the building is functional and safe.

Equally important, the rectory is a critical facility for all aspects of Parish life. On average over 23 meetings are held at the rectory each month. Examples of groups that meet at the rectory are the Parish Advisory Boards, the school PTO, Boomers Plus, the Women’s and Men’s Spirituality Groups, Pre-Cana, Baptismal Preparation, Religious Education, Unity Ball Committee, Summer Fest Committee and many more.

Thus, it is essential to reconfigure the inside of the rectory to accommodate additional meeting space for the growing number of parish groups and committees that meet there on a regular basis.