Kansas bishop says capital campaign reached $60 million, exceeding all expectations

The Diocese of Wichita recently concluded their capital campaign and raised $60.1 million in gifts and pledges, exceeding their goal of $50 million by over 20%, Bishop Carl Kemme announced this week.

“This profound moment marks far more than the successful close of a capital campaign,” Bishop Kemme stated in the Sept. 17 report. “It stands as a milestone in the life and health of our local Church – a shared witness to what is possible when thousands across our diocese come together in faith, unity, and hope.”

The bishop added that 11,450 households participated, from parishioners at all different stages of life, and many others supported through prayer and service.

“I will long remember this effort not simply for what was accomplished, but for how it was embraced: with joy, sacrifice, and a renewed sense of belonging to one another as members of the Body of Christ,” he wrote. 

The funds will increase Catholic school teachers’ salaries, restore the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception’s domes and windows, and benefit each of the 90 parishes in the diocese. It will also go to Camp Kapuan, a diocesan youth camp named after Servant of God Emil Kapuan. 

“Please join me in giving thanks to God – and to one another – for this remarkable season in the life of our diocese,” the bishop concluded. “May we continue to grow in unity and missionary discipleship, all while being fully alive in Christ.”