Inspired by the Spirit Campaign

Dear St. Francis Parishioners,

The Diocese of La Crosse has embarked upon a fundraising endeavor, the “Inspired by the Spirit” Campaign and all 157 parishes of the Diocese are participating in this capital campaign. This campaign is an invitation to all the parishioners of our Diocese and in particular, our parish, to invest in the future of the larger Church and, most importantly, our parish. This campaign effort brings together Catholics from all throughout our Diocese to discuss our collective future and how we can have a lasting impact on our Church’s future.
The focus of this campaign is the strengthening of each individual parish to provide for current and future capital improvements.  The goal for the campaign is $40 million with $26 million reserved for parish projects.

The remaining $14 million will benefit the Diocese of La Crosse, fulfilling each parish’s 2022-2023 Diocesan Annual Appeal, funding the newly formed Catholic Foundation which will help fund the ministries of parishes and schools now and in the future, and much-needed improvements to our Diocesan Center building, most especially Christ the King Chapel.

St. Francis Parish will directly benefit from the Inspired by the Spirit Campaign.  Our assigned goal is set at $610,000 pledged over five years.  Sixty-five percent, or $396,500, will be returned to our parish to be utilized for new flooring in our church, refinishing or even replacing the pews depending on which is more economical, and setting aside a significant amount of money for repair and replacement of the roofs on both the church and the school. If we exceed our goal, our parish portion of funds raised will increase to 80%.   

Since coming here in March of 2021, I have focused on catching up on deferred maintenance and making some minor changes.  While we have done much good work together, the capital campaign will give us the opportunity to focus on some of the more expensive items like floors and roofing which either need to be done now or need to have money set aside for work in the next couple of years.  St. Francis Parish is celebrating our 125th Anniversary and this capital campaign presents the incentive to prepare for the major repairs we will have as we move into the next decade or so of our work serving Christ.  
I personally invite you to join with me in this endeavor. Please take a moment to review this brochure and share in the vision for the future of our Church. Your prayerful discernment of a sacrificial pledge commitment is greatly appreciated. Let us all open our hearts so that we may be Inspired by the Spirit! 

Yours in Christ,

Rev. David P. Olson
Pastor