Campaign FAQs

WHY/KEY MESSAGES 

Q. Why Are We Building a New Church and Adoration Chapel? 

A. Your Input 

During our spring parish-wide planning study to understand your hopes for the future of St. Louis de Montfort, we heard a strong and unified message. People are excited about the direction of our parish and were supportive of the plans to further develop our campus. It was clear that the new church and adoration chapel were seen as the two highest priorities and 92% of participants said they would make a gift to support a campaign. As we move forward, we remember the key reasons WHY our plan is so important. 

Growth 

Fishers continues to grow quickly, and our parish is growing with it. In the past three years, we have registered nearly 400 new families at SLDM. This increase directly affects how full our Masses are each week, and studies show visitors are less likely to return when a Mass is at or above 70% full. In 2025, the 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Masses have exceeded this level nearly every Sunday. According to the Fishers 2040 Comprehensive Plan, the city expects 30,000 new residents in the next 15 years. A larger church will allow us to welcome new families and remain a visible sign of faith for all who call this community home. 

Legacy 

We stand on the foundation laid by parishioners whose vision and sacrifice built our current church and school. Now it is our turn to prepare a spiritual home for the next generation. A new church and adoration chapel will continue our story of faith and create places where future generations encounter Christ in prayer and community. In doing this, we will also be able to convert our current church into a social hall giving us adequate space to gather and live our faith together. 

Community  

A unified campus will make it easier for parishioners to gather for worship and community life. It will help us host key large parish events like the seminarian dinner, back to school nights, the St. Nicholas Breakfast, our Feast Day Celebration, Mary’s Way and the Corpus Christi Celebration. Improved flow and hospitality will ease visitor confusion, support grieving families during funeral meals and strengthen community moments like coffee and donuts, catch up conversations and meaningful parent connections. 

Beauty 

The new church will draw on beautiful and timeless architectural elements that lift hearts to prayer and teach our faith through design. Our leadership team has studied this closely through research, tours and consultations with Catholic leaders. This vision is rooted in Starved for Wonder, the pastoral letter on the role of beauty in parish life. A copy of this letter can be found on the homepage of our website, in the narthex as well as the parish office. Beauty plays a key role in evangelization, and our church should help all who enter encounter God through wonder. 

 

Q. How will the school students benefit from Phase I? 

A. Specifically, the students will benefit from a new area for performances (plays, Christmas concerts), new prayer spaces on campus and an adoration chapel where a full class can spend time in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Every student will experience the beauty of the new Church as we worship at Mass during All-School Masses and those in 2nd grade will receive their First Confession and First Communion in this new space. Even our back to school night meetings or other parent meetings will be enhanced as we increase the space for large groups as we convert the existing church into a larger social hall with a stage. 

 

PHASES OF THE MASTER PLAN 

Q. What is included in Phase 1 that we are raising fund for now? 

A. The focus of the current capital campaign is construction of a new church and adoration chapel. This includes demolition of the parish office and preschool, remodeling the Ministry Center to move the preschool into that building, all required site and underground work, and connecting the new church to the existing church. The current church will then serve as an expanded social hall and gathering space. 

 

Q. What is not included in the current campaign from the original master plan? 

A. Based on the planning study, which assessed parishioners’ willingness and capacity to support a three-year campaign, we are limiting the initial build to the church, the adoration chapel and the associated site work. This means we cannot complete major remodeling of the current church into a social hall, add a full kitchen, move the Knights of Columbus club room, remodel the lower level into needed meeting rooms or add to the existing church to consolidate parish offices until a later phase. 

 

Q. What happens if we never move to Phase 2? 

A. Phase 2 includes a new school cafeteria and multipurpose room, as well as classrooms for the preschool and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. It also includes demolition of Craig Willy Hall and the Ministry Center. Until the parish chooses to begin Phase 2, the current cafeteria in Craig Willy Hall and the remodeled Ministry Center will continue to serve students in the part-time preschool and CGS. 

 

Q. What is the current estimated cost of Phase 1a? 
A. In March, Father Haan shared an update on project costs and campaign progress. View the whole video update here: https://vimeo.com/1174021194?fl=pl&fe=vl

Q. What happens to the funds if we do not raise enough to build? 

A. If the funds raised fall short of what is required to begin construction, we will review all available options to address the parish’s most urgent needs. This includes studying how we can phase the project, adjust the scope or scale furnishings and finishes in a responsible way, ongoing fundraising efforts beyond the official campaign timeline and exploring the use of savings to assist in getting to our goal. Every dollar will be used to support the priorities identified in the planning study and we will make the best use of the resources entrusted to us to move these projects forward. 

 

Q. Will the various projects of the 15-year master plan be completed in a specific order?  

A. St. Louis de Montfort’s Master Plan will have 2 key phases.  

Phase IA: New larger church and adoration chapel, including site work 

Phase IB: Remodeling of the current church to a social hall, renovation of the lower level to become meeting space, construction of a new kitchen for the social hall and an addition for parish offices.* 

Phase II: New school cafeteria and multipurpose room, and an education wing for the preschool and CGS.* 

* We will evaluate needs and assess order of these projects at a later date. 

 

PROJECT DETAILS 

Q. Do the plans for the new church account for possible future growth? 

A. The current design of our new church structure will be constructed to seat 950 as we open the Church (up from 700 today). 

 

Q. Will we need a height variance for the new steeple? 

A. We are currently in the design phase of our new church and adoration chapel so nothing has been finalized. We would like to add a basement under a portion of the new building if it is financially feasible. The choir loft and moving our existing organ into this space is in the current design as well. The Narthex of the new church will connect into the existing church, which will become our social hall providing access to other spaces and we are designing some multi-purpose rooms that can provide areas for weddings, funerals and other celebrations typical in our church. 

 

Q. How are we ensuring ADA considerations for all new spaces, entrance to church and pews in church? 

A. In partnership with our architect and construction management companies, we will be assessing all aspects of our design to ensure our parishioners and visitors with disabilities are accommodated so their worship experience is enhanced.  

 

Q. What is the capacity of the new Adoration Chapel? 

A. The current design of our new Adoration Chapel will accommodate 40 people to ensure an entire classroom can fit in the space. 

Q. Will the new church include a cry room? 
A. The new church design features a larger narthex with viewing windows into the sanctuary, providing a welcoming space families can utilize during Mass. 

 

Q. Have we thought about underground parking? 

A. We have considered this, but our evaluation indicates underground parking is cost-prohibitive.  

 

Q. Can we see renderings of the new Church and Adoration Chapel? 

A. Current renderings can be found here: https://sldmfishers.org/campaign-renderings.
We also have display boards with renderings, watercolors and layouts of the new Church in the narthex.  

 

COST/EXPENSES 

Q. Does the budget include security and IT needs? 

A. Yes. 

 

Q. How can I make a donation? 

A. There are several ways to contribute to the Capital Campaign, including one-time gifts, pledges and planned giving options. Every registered parishioner will receive a campaign packet of materials with instructions in how to make their commitment. Payments on their pledge or a one-time gift can be made by check, cash or online. In addition, we accept alternative ways of giving such as stock, IRA distributions and donations from a trust or foundation. 

 

Q. Are we taking on any debt as a part of this plan? 

A. We do not currently plan to take on debt. The Diocesan standard is for 100% of funds to be pledged for any capital campaign and for 2/3 to be in hand for us to break ground. We have been diligent over the years to be good stewards of the money entrusted to us. 

 

APPROACH 

Q. Who is leading the Capital Campaign? 

A. The campaign is being led by our pastor, Father Haan, along with the parish leadership team and a dedicated team of 4 General Chairs: Tom & Mandi Crishon, Dave & Jane Reitz, Tom & Meg Ryder and Jon & Rosie Zatkulak. Our professional Capital Campaign partners, The Steier Group and St. Louis de Montfort Leadership will support the General Chairs and additional volunteers who will be recruited to serve on the Campaign Cabinet (14 individuals/couples) and Campaign Committee (40 individuals/couples).  

 

Q. Can I volunteer to help with the campaign? 

A. Absolutely! We welcome and encourage volunteers from our parish community. Whether you want to assist with administrative tasks, events, or communications, there are many ways to get involved. Please contact the parish office or a campaign general chair for more information about volunteering. 

 

Q. How are we incorporating fasting and prayer during this campaign? 

A. The St. Louis de Montfort Prayer Campaign Committee meets on Saturday at 9 a.m. in the main church to pray for our parish's capital campaign. 

 

All are invited to join the group for 15-30 minutes to pray for the success of our efforts to build a new church and adoration chapel and renovate our parish campus. As Scripture teaches us, 

"... where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Mt 18:20). We are also asking people with regular adoration hours to offer the capital campaign as a regular intention during their time. 

 

Q. Who is leading construction? 

A. We have been working with Browning Day, the architectural firm throughout our long-range plan and now in the design phase of our Church and Adoration Chapel. Our team unanimously selected Brandt Construction to serve as the contractor for our projects. This company will be responsible for continuing to bid out portions of the work to ensure we are finding high quality and cost-effective companies to complete the construction. 

 

FUNDRAISING

Q. Who will be asked to support the effort? 

A. Every parishioner will be asked to make a commitment to support this campaign 

 

Q. How will funds be raised? 

A. Primarily through donations from our parishioners. We will provide every parish household with a packet of information in early January, including a request for a specific commitment to the campaign to ensure they can prayerfully discern their gift. We will be assessing possibilities for grants as well and plan to submit for these if appropriate. 

 

Q. What is the difference between a gift and a pledge? 

A. A gift is a one-time contribution made immediately, with the funds transferred to the campaign at the time of donation.  

A pledge, however, is a commitment to donate a specific amount over the course of the 3-year campaign. Instead of paying the full amount upfront, parishioners can fulfill their pledge in installments (weekly, monthly, or yearly), providing flexibility in how and when they contribute. 

 

Q. How will we make people aware of alternative giving opportunities such as IRA gifts, stock, donor-advised funds, family foundations or trusts? 

A. We will encourage alternative giving options for parishioners who want to support the campaign in tax-efficient ways. The information below is not financial advice and parishioners who wish to give through alternative giving are encouraged to speak with their financial advisor/accountant prior to making their commitments. 

IRA 

Parishioners can make charitable gifts directly from their IRAs at any age by requesting a distribution to the parish. For those who are 70½ or older, a Qualified Charitable Distribution is also available. A QCD allows donors to transfer funds from an IRA straight to the parish without counting the amount as taxable income, and it can satisfy part or all of a required minimum distribution once those apply. IRA giving can be a helpful option for parishioners who want to reduce taxable income, meet RMD obligations or make a significant gift without using cash on hand. It is often easy to complete through a simple form from the IRA custodian.  

Appreciated Stock 

Donating appreciated stock can be a tax-efficient way to make a gift. When you transfer shares directly to the parish rather than selling them, the parish receives the full market value and you generally avoids capital gains tax on the appreciation. This allows some parishioners to make a larger gift than they could in cash. Transferring stock is usually done through a simple form provided by the donor’s brokerage firm. 

Donor-Advised Funds 

A donor-advised fund allows individuals to recommend grants to charitable organizations from an account they have already funded. Parishioners who use DAFs can recommend a gift to the campaign at any time, and many prefer this method because the money has already been set aside for charitable use. DAF gifts typically require only a few steps through your DAF provider and can be a straightforward way to make your commitment. 

 

Q. Are we considering any fundraising events? 

A. We have been guided by our partner, the Steier Group in approaches to fundraising for this kind of capital campaign. Typical practices include events where parishioners can hear firsthand about the vision for the project and the designs. Most parishioners will hear about these details when we conduct our parish kickoff in early January. 

 

Q. How much savings does the church have? Can it be used for this? 

A. We have benefited over the years from the generosity of our parishioners and the good stewardship of our pastors and leaders in the parish which has resulted in a substantial reserve. In consultation with our finance council, we will make determinations on how much to keep in reserve for future situations and what is available for this effort. Our campus is also an aging campus with buildings that will need repaired, so we will be prudent with how we decide to use any savings we currently have. 

 

Q. Will our parish tithe to other organizations stay the same during a campaign? 

A. We intend to continue our practice of tithing 10% to organizations in need from the top of our weekly collections. This practice is at the core of our belief that all we have is a gift from God and we are called to give back to him from the first fruits of these gifts.  

 

Q. Will there be a visible way to recognize donors (i.e. bricks with parishioner's names on them)? 

A. We have not finalized exact ways to recognize our donors. There are many approaches we will continue to evaluate. 

Q. How many registered families are there currently and how many contribute regularly?  
A. 1,200 registered households made a gift to SLDM in 2025. 
 
Q. If this is a 15-year plan, can we expect another capital campaign?  
A. We will be assessing additional fundraising efforts needed for additional phases after Phase 1 in complete. It is likely we will have another campaign to raise funds for Phase 1b and Phase 2. 

 

Q. How do we listen to God and discern our gift? 

A. Throughout our master planning process and as we continue to design the new Church and Adoration Chapel, we have taken specific questions into prayer to hear what God’s vision is for our parish. We encourage the same approach as you prayerfully discern your gift to the campaign. This is a gift to the future of our parish and it will require sacrificial giving from all of us.  

Just as our master planning process and architectural design efforts have been rooted in prayer, your gift to the campaign should also be a fruit of your prayer.  

 

SPECIFIC NEEDS 

Q. What is the upside to moving the food pantry off campus? 

A. While the number of guests we serve at our Food Pantry continues to increase, the current location creates many difficulties for volunteers and our guests who we are serving. Not only do our volunteers need to carry the pallets of food down a flight of stairs or through the lobby of the church to get to the elevator, our guests also need to navigate stairs to receive their food and then carry bags back up to their cars. We also feel that the location of the pantry, in the middle of our campus, doesn’t provide the privacy and confidentiality we would prefer as we respectfully serve our guests. An offsite location could provide us not only a more suitable, one story location for distribution, we would be able to better design the space to possibly provide more options for our guests.  

 

Q. When will the offsite location for the food pantry be secured and open? 

A. We anticipate at least maintaining the number of hours we have currently on campus in the new location, but we also anticipate future needs might adjust those specific times. Specific hours for an offsite pantry will be determined by the needs we see at the time consistent with our approach to annually evaluate the services we are offering.  

Q. Where are we currently at with plans for the Food Pantry?  
A. While no official decisions have been made yet about where the Food Pantry will be located, we do know with 100% certainty that this ministry will remain a part of what St. Louis de Montfort does, especially as we see the need continue to grow and SLDM’s leadership is incredibly proud and supportive of this outreach! A committee will be created to evaluate all possibilities and prayerfully discern recommendations for a future location and Food Pantry volunteers will have the opportunity to formally share their input as the committee works through its research. 

 

Q. How are families with babies and young kids needs being addressed in the plan? 

A. As a growing church, we value having our families with young children join us for Mass, Adoration and building fellowship with other families. We want them to be in Mass with us to model for their children, even through the squiggles, our worship of God. Our current design will have an adequate narthex with seating for families and an open glass area so they can experience Mass if they need to step out of the main space. We anticipate more seating spaces in our social hall where parishioners can gather, which will be ideal during the day for parents with littles who want to connect. 

 

Q. Will we be able to preserve the memories, symbols and pieces of our current church such as the organ, bell tower, stained glass, altar, Fatima Shrine and outdoor stations? 

A. Our current plan is to move the organ into the new choir loft, while decisions about other elements will be made as the designs develop. We are taking an approach that considers the overall design of the church and campus first, then determines which existing items can complement the new space. No final decisions have been made, but we are consulting with liturgical experts about what might work best. Items with particular meaning may not be placed in the main church, but we may find ways to preserve their legacy and heritage. 

 

Q. How long will preschool families be in the ministry center and where will their cafeteria space be? 

A. We can’t predict how long this space will be needed until we are able to plan for the completion of Phase II, however, we are confident the redesigned Ministry Center will provide a beautiful space for our current part-time pre-school students and teachers with adequate spaces for their learning and cafeteria needs. Our leadership team has been in communication with the current preschool staff to determine needs and share ideas. 

 

COMMUNICATION/TIMELINE 

Q. What is the timeline for the campaign? 
A. We officially launched our campaign at the beginning of January of 2026. We will be actively securing campaign pledges through through Commitment Weekend on April 18-19, 2026..

Q. How can I make a pledge or donation?
A.  Every parish household received a packet of information in January, including a request for a specific commitment to the campaign so you can understand the plans and prayerfully discern a sacrificial gift to help us achieve this exciting project. 
If you received a pledge card in their mailed packet. If you received a pledge card, please complete it and drop it off at the parish office.

If you did not receive a pledge card in your packet, a campaign volunteer has your pledge card and would like to schedule a meeting with you to give you your pledge card and visit about the projects and campaign. If you have not received a call or email from a volunteer by the end of January, please email [email protected] If a volunteer reaches out to you, please respond. Our campaign volunteers are making a generous donation of their time and we appreciate everyone returning their volunteers outreach!

Q. When should I start making payments on my pledge? 
A. Please begin payments on your pledge as soon as you are able. The parish accounting office has recorded any payment start dates and schedules you indicated on your pledge card. If you indicated you will be paying online, you can set-up recurring payments through OSV. If you have questions about how to make your pledge payments, please contact [email protected]. 
 
Q. Will I receive reminders about pledge payments? 
A. Yes! Pledge reminders will be sent beginning in May, after the public phase wraps up in April. These reminders will be sent according to the payment schedule you selected on your pledge card. If you set up a recurring online payment, you will not receive a reminder. 

Q. What else can I do to support this effort?
A. We ask everyone to pray for God’s will in this effort by using the Capital Campaign Prayer and frequently praying it with their family. (Prayer Cards can be found in the Narthex and online it is available here - sldmfishers.org/master-plan.