St. Bernadette Church

“Your Family, Your Home”

“Day after day, both in and around the temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” Acts 5:42 CAMPAIGN PRAYER Almighty and ever-loving God, Your Son is the Way, the Truth and the Life. As His disciples, we follow his way, Believe his truth, and live his life. Heavenly Father, raise up a new generation of disciples with fervor and eagerness to teach and proclaim Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the One who tells who we are, shows us how to love, and assures our . Bless this Archdiocesan Campaign “To Teach Who Christ Is.” Lord God, may donors discover in themselves your gift of a generous and sacrificial spirit that flows from a love for the Church and supports her mission to teach who Christ is. May the pattern of holiness, the Mary, Christ’s mother and ours, open our hearts anew with the desire for your will to be done, through Jesus Christ, Your Son and Our Lord. Amen. A Message from Blase Cupich

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, On the day my appointment by Francis as the Archbishop of was announced, Cardinal George noted that transitions in leadership always have the benefit of bringing a fresh set of eyes. I can tell you that my eyes have remained wide open with delight as I have seen firsthand the unique qualities of the lay men and women, priests and religious of this great local Church. There is an unparalleled strength and vigor in Chicago’s Catholic community, which has historically been recognized far and wide, to the point that many dioceses in our country have been blessed by the deep faith and dedication of people from here. All of this makes me quite honored to be your archbishop and to take up the task of leading an important effort begun by Cardinal George, namely, theTo Teach Who Christ Is capital campaign. The Cardinal shared with me the needs which the campaign will address and why the very ambitious goal of $350 million has been set. A majority of the funds raised will be returned to parishes for their unique needs. Building strong parishes is essential to current and future generations of Catholics, and $150 million will directly benefit the needs, and reward the efforts, of our parishes. Also vital is ensuring Catholic education is always available to families in need. A second $150 million is being directed to the newly established Catholic Education Scholarship Trust to ensure scholarship awards are available to our children, our grandchildren, and even their children! This endowed fund truly helps guarantee excellence in Catholic education in perpetuity. How exciting it is to see faith formation being taken to a new, innovative level, and support given to catechists, as well as facility and life safety issues being addressed at our most vulnerable churches and properties. My simple request to you is to join the thousands of Catholics across the Archdiocese who have already pledged a gift to the campaign. By coming together to support the needs of today and tomorrow we not only will benefit from our partnership with one another, but also be true to the rich heritage of our ancestors who built our churches and schools and established educational and social programs that have enriched all of our lives. We can have that same kind of impact on the Church for years to come, ever faithful to our call To Teach Who Christ Is. Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Blase J. Cupich Archbishop of Chicago A Message from Rev. Benedykt Pazdan

Dear Friend,

St. Bernadette Church is preparing to participate in To Teach Who Christ Is, a capital campaign to benefit important ministries in the Archdiocese of Chicago and parishes, including ours. We join with faithful from 378 parishes who are also pledging their commitment to ensuring our local Church is strong and vibrant for generations to come.

Our exists, and has thrived since 1947, because of the generosity of many. As your sixth pastor, I am amazed at how parishioners have always worked together to meet the needs that arise. Truly, we have created an inspiring community at St. Bernadette.

To Teach Who Christ Is gives us the opportunity to once again band together, this time as an Archdiocese, not only as a parish. We form a community of faith with 2.2 million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties and, therefore, we share in meeting the needs of our local Church. The majority of these needs affects us all, but a few address challenges that many fellow Catholics among us face every day. What an opportunity to live out our call to serve as disciples of Christ!

St. Bernadette will also have the opportunity to meet needs through To Teach Who Christ Is. Our goal is $560,000, of which $336,000 will remain at our parish to meet local needs, at our discretion. In addition, we will retain any amount we raise over our goal in full, which is truly an amazing opportunity for our parish. We have spent the past several months determining how best to use the funds we raise through our campaign, and have decided to make our church fully- accessible, renovate O’Brien Hall to make a great social center, and enhance our faith formation efforts at the parish. You can read details about these projects on the following pages.

A wonderful group of volunteers have joined together to form the Executive Committee for St. Bernadette’s To Teach Who Christ Is campaign. Please join me in thanking them for their leadership, along with Archbishop Blase Cupich and Cardinal .

Please take a moment to review the impact To Teach Who Christ Is will have both in our parish and in our Archdiocese of Chicago. This campaign has my full support and, as your pastor, I hope you will embrace this opportunity for our parish.

Yours in Christ, To Teach Who Christ Is Campaign

The in Chicago has had a tremendous impact on both our local community and on society as a whole. Each day, the Gospel guides more than two million Catholics in Cook and Lake counties, and the Archdiocese of Chicago fulfills Christ’s call to love and serve His children through its many programs and ministries.

Gifts to the To Teach Who Christ Is campaign will benefit six elements vital to securing the future of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

$150 million for Parishes Ensuring parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago are strong and vibrant communities of faith is the primary mission of To Teach Who Christ Is. A full $150 million of campaign funds will remain in parishes to address local, pressing needs. If our parish meets its campaign goal, we will receive $336,000.

After prayerful consideration and study, St. Bernadette Catholic Church has identified the most pressing needs in our parish community.

CHURCH ACCESSIBILITY: $80,000 To make our church a safe and comfortable place for all to worship, there are numerous improvements that this campaign will enable us to make. Included are the installation of a front ramp to the door, panic doors, and a handicap paddle at the front entrance, renovation of restrooms to be handicap- accessible, and updated lighting in the church. We also would like to allocate some of these funds to the creation of the Heritage Center in the church.

O’BRIEN HALL UPDATE: $170,000 Outside of the church itself, O’Brien Hall is our parish community’s central meeting space. However, time has taken its toll, and it is in need of a renovation and update. Included in the plans are the installation of handicap- accessible bathrooms and wheelchair lifts, replacement of the floor and ceilings, new paint throughout, new lighting, and wireless internet connectivity.

FAITH FORMATION DEPARTMENT: $86,000 To support our entire community on the journey of faith, this campaign enables us to set aside funds to make improvements to our faith formation offerings. This will include establishing a speaker series for the parish family, creating an enhanced theology course for adults, starting a mission trip program to enhance our youth ministry, and introduce new technology into the Adult Faith Formation Center to bring our curriculum to the next level.

$150 million for Scholarships $10 million for Catechist Training The Archdiocese of Chicago’s Catholic schools have educated and formed genera- Beginning with parents and extending to tions of Catholic children in our faith. Today, more than 82,000 students attend all members of our community, the call to 240 Catholic schools across the city of Chicago, and in Cook and Lake counties. make known the love of Christ and His To ensure generations to come may also receive the benefit of a Catholic educa- holy Church both challenges and invigo- tion, $150 million in campaign funds is being directed to the Catholic Education rates us. Religious education is a ministry Scholarship Trust. for which we are all responsible. The Catholic Education Scholarship Trust is an independent trust, for which North- Not all students are able to attend Catho- ern Trust serves as the directed trustee. This endowment fund is invested to create lic schools and receive faith formation as spendable income as well as to achieve long-term appreciation of the capital. Scholar- part of their daily learning experience. In ship awards will be made to qualified students as income is available. 2013, more than 92,000 elementary and To Teach Who Christ Is has also funded a pilot scholarship program, the Caritas secondary school children were enrolled in Scholars Program, which has already provided scholarships to more than a thousand religious education programs in parishes children. These scholarship awards are not only helping eliminate the financial barrier throughout Cook and Lake counties. In that often stands between families and a Catholic education, they are being given di- addition, parishes provide religious educa- rectly to children and their families, not schools. Caritas scholarships follow children tion to teens through youth ministry as to whatever they choose to attend, a measure of flexibility that will well as to adults, including those seeking further help sustain the Catholic school system. to enrich their journey with Christ or join our faith through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Together with parishes, volunteers and The Archdiocese of Chicago’s Catholic families, the Archdiocese works to en- school system is the United States’ sure religious education remains a high largest private school system and the priority. Integral to achieving this is recipient of the most U.S. Department having educated and trained catecheti- of Education Blue Ribbon Awards of cal leaders to teach the Word. To Teach any school system in the nation. Who Christ Is will provide $10 million for the formation leading to Archdioc- esan certification of religious education coordinators as well as youth ministers, and the ongoing formation of certified $30 million for Facility Life Safety religious education directors and other The Catholic churches of the Archdiocese of Chicago are certified catechetical leaders. more than places of worship to the 2.2 million Catholics who live within its boundaries. Their steeples, spires and stained glass are a constant reminder of Christ among us. In total, more than 2,800 individual structures — sacred spaces as well as parish activity buildings, convents, rectories and schools — can be found in Cook and Lake counties. Many of these sacred spaces are more than 100 years old and time has wrought havoc on this plethora of di- verse structures. Many buildings have critical needs and issues beyond what some parishes in distressed commu- nities are able to address given their financial circumstances. The Archdiocesan Facilities and Construction Department monitors life safety issues in parishes throughout the Archdiocese. Addressing these issues in a timely manner is critical, as they affect the safety of the building, and therefore of its parishioners. A full $30 million of the funds raised for the To Teach Who Christ Is campaign will be designated for urgently needed repairs in economically distressed parishes. This reserve fund, to be distributed over the next 10 years, will be used to meet issues as they arise. $2 million for Innovation in Religious Education Those involved with ministry in the Church today are keenly aware of the need to effectively engage children, youth, young adults and adults in the Catholic faith with new models. The St. Joseph Baltimore Catechism of the early 20th century and religious education $8 million for Academic Excellence in Catholic Schools programs that emerged in the 50 years after the served To Teach Who Christ Is will help enhance the academic excellence of our Catholic well in many ways. schools, such as through early childhood programs, curriculum standards, technol- ogy integration and infrastructure, professional development and blended learning programs. Early childhood programs focusing on reading and math in the most challenged neighborhoods need to be expanded. Research shows the power of early education — with 98 percent of the schools having 3- to 4-year old-programs, expanding the vibrancy of these already fine programs is a civic imperative for the poor. Rigorous curriculum standards must be implemented and assessed in all of our Catholic elementary and high schools. The Archdiocesan course of studies have to go “beyond the core” and thoroughly integrate the Catholic faith and academic rigor so students are prepared for both college and heaven. To Teach Who Christ Is will help with the technology integration and infrastructure in classrooms, as well as expanded program offerings. The careful selection of these tools is essential to the implementation of programs with balance and rigor. In addi- tion, site-based models of blended learning programs should be developed, including online courses. Creativity in developing new models of high-tech, high-touch instruc- tion are necessary for both the nimble and efficient use of resources and differentia- tion of instruction for each child. Parishes throughout the United States, including in the Archdiocese of Chicago, Merit-based compensation and professional development opportunities will help our are now creating innovative religious ed- Catholic schools attract and retain the most accomplished, inspiring and effective ucation programs based on new models teachers and principals. Teachers drive success — and principals, despite many other of child, youth and adult learning. These pressures, must view classroom excellence and care as primary. programs include everything from sum- mer religious education camps to online e-learning, as well as a number of other $250M GOAL $100M GOAL programs serving a variety of ethnic faith communities. To Teach Who Christ Is seeks to provide PARISH PARISH MAJOR a minimum of $2 million to identify, NEEDS SHARING GIFTS study and replicate the current best 60% 40% designated by approaches to religious education. The donors Archdiocesan Office for Catechesis & Youth Ministry will work with vicariates and individual parish communities to identify, replicate or adapt the creative models of religious education that most Religious Religious Facility Life Catholic Catholic effectively pass on the Gospel message. Education & Safety Schools Education Education The office will also examine effective (Catechist (Innovation) (Parishes and (Academic Scholarship Training) Schools) Excellence) Trust models occurring in similar large and diverse dioceses in the country. To Teach Who Christ Is — A campaign for strong parishes, Catholic education and faith formation

$150 million for Scholarships The Catholic Education Scholarship Trust will fund scholar- ship programs directly benefitting families across the Arch- diocese of Chicago. To Teach Who Christ Is has also funded the Caritas Scholars Program, which has already provided scholarships to more than a thousand students.

$30 million for Facility Life Safety To Teach Who Christ Is campaign address urgently needed repairs in economically distressed parishes. This reserve fund, to be distributed over the next 10 years, will be used to meet facility life safety issues as they arise.

$10 million for Catechist Training To Teach Who Christ Is will provide funds for the catechetical training and certification of religious education coordinators and youth ministers, and the ongoing formation of certified religious education directors as well as other certified catechetical leaders.

$8 million for Academic Excellence To Teach Who Christ Is will help strengthen the academic excellence of our Catholic schools through early childhood programs, curriculum enhancements, technology integration and infrastructure, professional development and blended learning programs.

$2 million for Innovation in Religious Education To Teach Who Christ Is seeks to provide funds to identify, study and replicate the current best approaches to religious education. To Teach Who Christ Is — A campaign for strong parishes, Catholic education and faith formation

Church Accessibility: $80,000 Our church is currently in need of some major renovations in order to make it a safe and comfortable place for all to worship. Included on our project list are the following: installation of panic doors, handicap ramp and door paddles, conversion of restrooms to be handicap-accessible, and replacement of lighting. We also plan to create a Heritage Center to celebrate our history.

O’Brien Hall Update: $170,000 O’Brien Hall is in need of a major renovation to bring it to the level of a multi-use space. Included in our plans are the installation of handicap- accessible bathrooms and wheelchair lifts, replacement of the floor and ceilings, new paint throughout, new lighting, and wireless internet. This will make O’Brien Hall a space that everyone in the parish and community can enjoy.

Faith Formation Department: $86,000 To support our entire community on the journey of faith, this campaign enables us to set aside funds to make improvements to our faith formation offerings. This will include inviting and hosting various faith leaders for a speaker series, creating an enhanced theology course for adults, starting a mission trip opportunity to our youth ministry programming, and updating technology throughout our faith formation and adult education platforms. Day after day, both in and around the temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach Jesus Christ. ~Acts 5:42

An Invitation

Let us reflect on the many blessings the Lord has given us. Recognizing that all we have are gifts from the Lord, we are asked in the Gospel to give back a portion of these gifts in thanksgiving for God’s generosity and goodness to us. Scripture tells us that Christian stewardship goes beyond giving of our surplus. As stewards of Christ, our gifts should be made from our substance. In this spirit of Christian stewardship, we undertake this extraordinary campaign and ask for your prayerful consideration of a gift to support St. Bernadette and the ministries of our Church. Together, we can teach who Christ is to the next generation of Catholics, and ensure our parish remains a strong and vibrant community of faith.

Your Parish 1650 W. 17th Street | Chicago, Illinois 60608-2038

St. Bernadette Catholic Church 9343 South Francisco Avenue | Evergreen Park, IL 60805

Archdiocese of Chicago | 835 North Rush Street | Chicago, Illinois 60611 (312) 534-8500 | www.toteachwhochristis.org | www.ensenarquienescristo.org