St. Michael's Church Preservation Society Begins First Fund Raising Campaign

The St. Michael’s Church Preservation Society is beginning to raise money during this Lenten season to continue its mission. It was back in June 2015 when we realized that the Parish of St. Michael was to be dissolved. To stop any further erosion of the historic and spiritual value of St. Michael’s Church, or its sale, we established the nonprofit 501(c)(3) St. Michael’s Church Preservation Society (SMCPS). Many of you quickly responded with petitions, letters, personal messages to the Diocese, and finally an official appeal to the Vatican. After months of uncertainty St. Michael’s Church did not close and is now one of three churches in the Parish of St. Monica serving visitors and residents alike. St. Mike’s stands as a beautiful cultural message of the mission of the Catholic Church in Atlantic City that began with Italian immigrants in the early 1900s and is now being shared with newer immigrants. In almost three years we see these hopeful signs that were accomplished by many volunteers and with the cooperation of our Pastor Fr. Jon Thomas, Bishop Sullivan, and the Grace of God. 1) The former rectory is now a convent for the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal CFR who work with the needy and poor of Atlantic City. 2) St. Michael’s Church is used frequently for weddings and funerals. 3) St. Michael’s Church was the seat of the Parish for all liturgies during the four month renovation of Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in late 2017. 4) Sunday Mass is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month at 10:00 am throughout the year with special ethnic celebrations or feasts. 5) Sunday Mass is celebrated weekly at 10:00 am from June to September for parishioners and visitors. 6) Refurbished Dante Hall is now under an annual contract with Stockton University for community theatrical productions. 7) Quaremba Hall improvements have been completed and is now in demand for religious and community events. 8) The St. Michael’s Elementary School classrooms located above and around the Church, not used since 1989, are being prepared for use by non-profit community groups. The last item mentioned, the renovation of the classrooms, is the focus of this first fundraising campaign for the SMCPS. The most immediate need is to repair and renovate the bathroom directly above the Church. This will prevent any structural problems and allow the classrooms to be used. This will cost approximately $8,000. We also foresee other projects in the days and years ahead to maintain the Church and also to promote St. Mike’s and the campus as an important part of the neighborhood. The mission of the SMCPS is to assure the preservation of St. Michael’s Church for the next 100 years. At this time the future looks bright for St. Michael’s Church. We also understand that while we work very closely and cooperatively with the Parish and Diocese we do not expect guarantees to accomplish this. The SMCPS wants to promote and establish St. Michael’s Church and campus as a unique center of spiritual, cultural, educational, and social life. This was Fr. Quaremba’s legacy and is now the best way to assure the continuation of St. Michael’s Church. The SMCPS will use all funds for special projects such as the bathroom renovation. We will also look for new ways to use the Church and its terrific facilities for the benefit of the Parish of St. Monica and the Atlantic City community. We now ask for your financial support. Your donations can fulfill a pledge you may have made in 2015 or it can be a new gift. All donations are tax deductible. Please make checks payable to: The Saint Michaels Church Preservation Society: SAVE ST. MIKES PO BOX 1375, ATLANTIC CITY, NJ. 08404. Please include your email address so we can send you a receipt and updates on the activities of the SMCPS and events at St. Michael’s Church. For more information visit our Facebook page at SAVESTMIKES or call Robert Venafro at 703-802-0150. Thank you for being part of this work especially during Lent. Our work on behalf of St. Michael’s Church reaches into a place that touches who we are, where we have been, and what we want for the future! Bob Venafro