St. James Catholic Church
Office- 530.756.3636
Fax - 530.756.5342
1275 B Street
Davis Ca 95616-2003
Office Hours:
Monday-Friday 8am-4:30 pm
Renewing Our Community of Faith Campaign
We at St. James are socially-minded Catholics who value every human being as a gift from God. We cherish our traditions and sacraments; and , provide our children an education that emphasizes out Catholic faith, exploration and openness. We take seriously our impact on the environment and the need to sustain our community and world for subsequent generations. We combine our strengths and unique perspectives to work collectively to achieve the mission of our parish and serve one another and out community.
How You Can Help
Finance Update
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Dear St. James Parishioners:
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Blessings to you and your families and Merry Christmas. I realize these are unprecedented times and wanted to send out a short note of gratitude and hope from the Finance Council for the coming year.
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First, clearly the pandemic is exacting an extreme toll on many of us both from a physical/mental health perspective and from a financial perspective. Our prayers go to all of those who have been personally impacted as you deal with severe challenges from illness, loss, and dashed expectations from what we consider “normal”. Whether your burden is heavy or light during this pandemic, we are all feeling the weight of it and feel true compassion for those hit hardest.
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Second, I wish to thank Fr. Rey, our Pastor, and his Parochial Vicars, lay staff, volunteers, and parishioners for their on-going support of our Parish. In addition to the important spiritual work that lifts us and helps us navigate these difficult times, I’m thankful for the offertory support you’ve given towards our expenses to operate our Church, our Memorial Center, and our facilities. Additionally, with the help of your contributions to the “Renewing Our Faith” Campaign during the past 2.5 years, we’ve updated the Church, installed the baptismal font, renovated the water fountain, renovated the kitchen and living areas of the Rectory, painted the Memorial Center and updated the audio/visual systems, replaced roofs on the School, installed energy efficient LED lighting throughout the facilities, and funded portions of the solar panel system. While during 2020 our offertory receipts are down 30% from normal collections, we have made up for the difference with additional one-time donations and by managing expenses. I am so thankful for the sacrifices made by St. James parishioners and for your generosity during a very difficult year for the Church. Thank you to the Finance Council members for your dedication to ensuring the Parish remains in good financial condition.
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Finally, we enter the new year hopeful that we will be stronger because of what we’ve experienced in 2020. With the introduction of vaccines and improved treatments, I am optimistic that we will be celebrating Mass and gathering in ministries together soon in person. We will get through this pandemic and resume all of our activities in person to enrich our faith.
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I’m hopeful that we will finish out our “Renewing Our Faith” Campaign projects in 2021, including paying off our solar panels/LED lighting loan from the Diocese and completing our last major project which is expanding the Kindergarten/TK classrooms at St. James School. Please continue giving to the Campaign in 2021 based on your pledges made in 2018 as you are able. Your support is so essential to carrying on the good work of the Church in Davis.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
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John Brennan
Chair – St. James Finance Council
For more than 100 years we have been blessed with a strong family of faith. We now take this very important step of approaching you, our congregation, to seek your support for Renewing Our Community of Faith. Recognizing that all of our treasures are gifts from God, we are asked in the Gospel to give back part of the gifts in thanksgiving for God's generosity and goodness to us.
Our campus is ageing. The recent failure of our church's HVAC system and leaking roof compelled a thorough assessment of our buildings and grounds. We discovered multiple deficiencies requiring our prompt attention - needs which impede celebration of the sacraments and carrying out of ministry, education, faith formation, and community engagement activities. Renewing Our Community of Faith will fund renewal of our facilities and reinvigorate our spirits and faith.
We will address these needs while simultaneously committing ourselves to greater stewardship of our planet's dwindling resources, reducing our carbon footprint through greater energy conservation.
An integral part of Renewing Our Community of Faith is growing our faith life and greater Christian love for one another. Our concurrent spiritual renewal initiative encourages personal prayer, reflection, service and the important role of stewardship
as a way of Christian living.
Renewing Our Community of Faith requires a minimum investment of $1.5 million over the next three years to meet projected costs of our revitalization plan. Our campaign is an outward reflection of our values: to ourselves, our neighbors and the larger community. Your investment in Renewing Our Community of Faith will preserve our past, renew our parish of today and leave a vibrant legacy for future generations of this dynamic Faith community.
Promoting Spiritual Renewal through our Physical Environment
St. James School provides the finest Catholic education in the region: bestowing academic excellence, growth in faith and values, and opportunities for success in a small, caring environment. Students find a sense of belonging and a feeling of community at St. James School. Our faculty and staff know each student as individuals helping each develop to their fullest potential. Nearly 300 students from across Yolo County benefit from this proud tradition started over 50 years ago; academic excellence and Catholic values coalescing in a caring Faith-based community. In partnership with school families we have created an intentionally inclusive environment removing barriers of ability, race, nationality, and scoio-economic status, so that any deserving child can receive a St. James School education.
St. James School
St. James has a long and proud history of influence extending far beyond the Davis area. Thousands of Catholics from around the world have been part of our unique and diverse community. Yet, after decades of use, our parish campus, the church itself, school, rectory, memorial center and parish grounds are in need of renewal. The magnitude of these issues exceeds available resources from offertory income and parish savings. This is where you come in! Through your commitment of time, talents, and sacrificial support, collectively we will renew our beautiful and welcoming home for this generation of generations to come.
Campaign Objectives
*Pew & Kneeler Replacement
* New Baptistery
* Church, Chapel & Vestibule Flooring Replacement
* Reupholster Chairs in Church & Chapel
* Video Projection System
*Chapel Stained Glass Lighting Repair
* Repaint Exterior & Clean Brick Wall
*Memorial Center Exterior Repainting
*Water Fountain Improvements
*Landscape Back Parking Area
*Technology Upgrades
*Memorial Center Appliance Replacment
*Repair Parking Lots & Play Areas
*Refurbish Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine
*Kitchen Renewal
*Interior Renovations
*Dry Rot Repair
*Window/Door Replacement
*New Carpet/Flooring
*Repainting Exterior
Rectory Renewal - Projected Cost: $246,000
As residence and place of respite for our parish priests, our rectory just like your own home requires attention - to maintain its livability. It has been several years since any improvements were undertaken to the rectory, thus today it requires considerable remediation, to enhance the comfort of our clergy and protect our investment. Renewing Our Community of Faith will fund:
Solar Array & Energy Efficiency - Projected Cost: $531,500
Renewing Our Community Faith seeks to reduce our carbon footprint-harnessing the Valley's abundant sunshine, drawing energy from an array of solar panels Slated for installation atop newly constructed covered parking area, the solar array will light our parish facilities, offsetting more than $61, 000 in annual utility expenditures.
Mirroring the new solar array are planned improvements in energy efficiency of our parish campus. Our plan entails replacing fluorescent and incandescent lighting with LEDs; motion sensors; retrofitting outdoor lighting; and, other energy-saving initiatives.
A loan from the Diocese of Sacramento is financing the solar array and energy efficiencies. Proceeds from Renewing Our Community of Faith are allocated to retire our debt by early 2021, thus avoiding $57,500 in interest expense had repayment been extended over the loan's scheduled ten year term.
School Renewal - Projected Cost $330,000
Renewing Our Community Faith will support advancements to the long-range vision for St. James School. Our Vision entails curriculum enhancements; expanded educational resources for school faculty; and, facility improvements providing our students the tools and resources to meet the demands of tomorrow.
Renewing Our Community Faith will invest $330,000 over the next three years with proceeds earmarked for building a small group/collaborative learning center; expansion/re-purposing for the faculty/administration center; renovation of junior high school restrooms; building a covered walkway; and roof/gutter replacement.
"Our Church is the center of our parish community life. Though only a structure of stone and morta it has serve us as a place of worship, a place where we gather, and a place where generations of families have celebrated the major sacramental events in their lives.
"St. James School is a vital part of the teaching mission of the Church, nurturing a positive and safe environment for academic excellence. We embrace this role as a vital ministry of the greater St. James Parish community."
"The Finance Committee has worked hand in hand with Fr Rey and his Organizing Committee establishing a fiscally responsible solution to restore and improve our parish facilities. Renewing Our Community of Faith Campaign is the most prudent way meeting the substantial costs of our extensive revitalization plan."
"Our Church is the center of our parish community life. Though only a structure of stone and morta it has serve us as a place of worship, a place where we gather, and a place where generations of families have celebrated the major sacramental events in their lives.