Marian Helper • Fall 2023 • Marian.org 13 As announced in the last issue of Marian Helper, the Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception have launched their first-ever capital campaign, “Together for Christ and His Church,” to build a monastery and chapel on a vacant tract of land at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, atop Eden Hill in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. “The enthusiasm of the Marian Helpers to support our Marian Fathers has been extraordinary!” says Ben Davis, director of mission advancement. “So many have stepped forward to help, all with prayerful gifts to accomplish a long-term solution to our housing needs on Eden Hill. Many donors have made second or third gifts to ensure we can move forward next year without delay, and we are confident many more will join the effort to reach the goal in the months ahead. Thank you, Marian Helpers!” Blessed to help The Congregation has been making do for decades, housing men in buildings scattered across Eden Hill, but that’s not how you guarantee a healthy community life in a religious order. Of course, as they’ve grown, the situation has only become more unsustainable. “We feel very blessed to help!” say Josie and John DeStefano, Marian Helpers from Huntington, New York. “We love the Marians, and love visiting Eden Hill. We’re excited to help the Marians expand and provide the community the opportunity to come together in this special way.” “We enthusiastically support the Campaign because the Marians are bulging at the seams with new priestly candidates, as opposed to so many parishes that have merged due to lack of priests!” add Kathy and Larry Bolanowski from Essex, Connecticut. As Marian Helper went to press, the Campaign has commitments exceeding 90 percent of the goal, with gifts in hand at 73 percent of goal. “More than 9,000 donors have participated with gifts of every size,” Davis reports. “With just $3 million remaining, we hope to meet our goal by the end of this year.” “Our vocations boom has been made possible by the grace of God and the prayers, as well as the support, from Marian Helpers like you,” says the Very Rev. Chris Alar, MIC, provincial superior. “Your generosity so far has been outstanding — but there’s still a ways to go. Please join us!” Visit TogetherForChrist.org to follow our progress and participate in the campaign. are under attack in Poland, and the Philippines is facing a growing threat from China. There’s a lot going on right now, but when you are a follower of Christ, you’re always going to face persecution of some kind. Tell us about the plans to build a new Marian monastery and chapel at the National Shrine. This is so exciting. It’s our first-ever capital campaign, and the response has been overwhelming, and deeply humbling. To date, we’ve raised more than $25.5 million. We hope to break ground next year, and complete construction in 2025. We have not yet met our fundraising goal, so I invite all of our Marian Helpers to participate, as their hearts and means allow. This is the realization of a long-held dream and an absolute necessity. It will solve the very happy housing “problem” that we Marians have. We’re bursting with new vocations, the very future of our Church. The new monastery and chapel will allow our seminarians to live in community with the Marian priests and brothers, and experience the true religious way of life. We invite you to participate in the campaign to build a new monastery and chapel at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy. Visit TogetherForChrist.org. Full steam ahead!
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