Southern Nebraska Register
Students at St. John the Apostle School in Lincoln participated in a big way to support the parish’s new capital campaign to raise money for construction plans.
“The campaign has a two-part name, ‘Cherish our Home’ and ‘Grow our Legacy’ because we are going to pass this school and parish to this next generation,” said Father Lyle Johnson, pastor of the parish and chief administrative officer of the school.
To help involve students in the campaign, the school led a project in which students made 330 Christmas ornaments. The ornaments made by the students were sold for free-will offerings with a suggested minimum of $5 before and after Masses.
The ornament sales raised $2250, and students brought up the money during a Mass collection, to be the first public donation to the capital campaign.
“Our mission is to get the children of the parish, the youth, involved in the stewardship and the ownership of this beautiful school and church,” explained Barb Wallingford, co-chair to the capital campaign youth committee.
“The kids’ engagement is not just for show,” stressed Father Johnson. “We want them to be a part of this enthusiasm that the whole parish wants to be a part of for the campaign.”
Construction plans began this summer when the church and school roof had to be replaced. The 40-year-old lighting system in the church was replaced, as well.
Further updates were identified in a parish-wide strategic plan survey in 2022. After remodeling the tree remaining school wings from 1958, the church’s heating and air conditioning will be replaced. The parish then hopes to add a multi-purpose facility to increase social hall capacity, expand meeting room space for parish groups, potentially add an adoration chapel, and ensure all are closer to the church and existing parking.
Roxie Prunty contributed to this report.
