“A Place For Everyone, A Future For All”
For generations, St. Mary has been a place where faith is nurtured, families are formed, and lives are transformed through the love of Jesus Christ. As our parish continues to grow, we have been blessed with increasing participation in Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, young family programs, and parish life. With that growth comes an opportunity and responsibility to ensure our facilities support the mission God has entrusted to us.
The St. Mary Building Expansion Project is about far more than bricks and mortar. It is about creating spaces where children can learn their faith, where families can build relationships, where ministries can thrive, and where future generations can encounter Christ. It is an investment in the spiritual future of our parish and community.
Why We Need to Expand
Over the past several years, St. Mary has experienced significan growth. Today, our current facilities are stretched beyond their intended capacity, particularily in Faith Formation and ministry programming. Existing classroom space no longer adequately supports the number of children, youth, and families participating in parish life. Through a parish-wide feasibility study, parishioners overwhelmingly affirmed the need to plan and invest in facilities that better support ministry, fellowship, and faith formation opportunities.
When we make room for people, we make room for faith to grow.
What Phase I Includes
Phase I focuses on the parish’s most immediate and urgent needs by creating flexible spaces that will serve children, youth, adults, ministries, and parish gatherings every week. Planning improvements include:
- New Faith Formation classrooms
- Flexible ministry and meeting spaces
- A multi-purpose gathering room
- Kitchen and hospitality improvements
- Site enhancements and accessibility improvements
- Furnishings and equipment to support ministry and community activities
These spaces will help St. Mary continue to grow while providing opportunities for formation, fellowship, service, and community engagement.
UPDATES:
Sept. 27, 2026 – Capital Campaign packets were distributed to parishioners after Mass.
Sept. 20, 2026 – St. Mary held our Capital Campaign Launch Celebration on the campus of Central College in Pella. Mass was celebrated at 10:30 AM in Douwstra Auditorium followed by the Launch Event at 12:00 PM in Graham Center. This event also included a children’s program and a visit by Steve Angrisano.
June, 2026 – Approval was given from the Diocese of Davenport and Bishop Dennis Walsh to move forward with intitiating a Capital Campaign for the Phase 1 expansion of our Faith Formation classrooms, new multi-purpose room and kitchen. Also, the Capital Campaign General Chairs Committee has been formed.
May 4, 2026 – The Feasibility Study report was emailed to parishioners along with a letter from Fr. Joseph thanking the parish for their participation. View the report here.
April 30, 2026 – The Building Expansion Committee and Fr. Joseph met with the Diocese of Davenport and Bishop Walsh to review the results of the Feasibility Study report.
April 16, 2026 – Feasibility Study is complete. The Building Expansion Committee and Fr. Joseph met with the consultant, George Joseph, to go over the results.
February 19-March 10, 2026 – Informational Meetings were held at St. Mary Church and in parishioner homes as Feasibility Study begins. Confidential interviews were also conducted.
January 8, 2026 – The Building Expansion Committee along with George Joseph began preparing for the Feasibility Study by selecting casebook endorsers and informational meeting hosts.
November 16, 2025 – Brian Huddle presented an update at weekend Masses regarding the future Feasibility Study. See his presentation here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eru9cfsxFdw
November 6, 2025 – The Building Expansion Committee met via Zoom with the Diocese (including Bishop Walsh) to review the selected conceptual design.
October, 2025 – RDG proposed eight conceptual designs for a building expansion. The Building Expansion Committee reviewed these designs and narrowed it to one conceptual design complete with cost projections.
September 23, 2025 – RDG presented to the Building Expansion Committee a comprehensive list of our current and future needs based off the previous work session with parish commissions.
September 11, 2025 – RDG held a programming work session with various parish commissions to gain input.
August 12, 2025 – RDG Kick-Off meeting was held with the Building Expansion Committee.
June, 2025 – Architect interviews were conducted. After review by the Building Expansion Committee and Father Joseph, RDG Planning and Design of Des Moines was selected.
May, 2025 – RFQ’s (request for qualification) were sent to three architects and George Joseph from Joseph Consulting was hired for the Feasibility Study. Members of the Building Expansion Committee also met with the Diocese of Davenport Buildings & Grounds Commission to share our progress and receive additional guidance.
March 1/2, 2025 – Town hall meetings were held to gauge the interest of parishioners regarding the possible expansion and gather feedback.
December, 2024 – St. Mary received permission from the Diocese of Davenport to begin early planning steps and as a response to this, a Building Expansion Committee was formed.
June, 2024 – Some parishioners began discussing and evaluating space needs; our Masses, parking lot and Faith Formation programs are all at capacity.
LINKS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Capital Campaign-What’s Next – June 2026
Feasibility Study Report letter from Father Joseph – May 2, 2026
Feasibility Study Launch – letter to parishioners from Father Joseph – January 14, 2026
Update letter from Father Joseph regarding Feasibility Study – November 14, 2025
Update letter from Brian Huddle, Building Expansion Committee – September 26, 2025
Update letter from Brian Huddle, Building Expansion Committee – September 12, 2025
Father Joseph’s building expansion update – August 22, 2025
Update letter from Brian Huddle, Building Expansion Committee- July 18, 2025
Father Joseph’s bulletin message – June 29, 2025
Update letter from Brian Huddle, Building Expansion Committee – June 6, 2025
Father Joseph’s bulletin message regarding the Feasibility Study – June 1, 2025
Update letter from Brian Huddle, Building Expansion Committee – May 9, 2025
Father Joseph’s letter to parishioners regarding the potential building expansion for the Town Hall Meetings – March 1, 2025