St. Mary's Cathedral 2025 Capital Campaign

By Very Rev. Jaimes Ponce, J.C.D.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I greet you in the peace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As rector of St. Mary’s Cathedral, I am privileged to witness the vibrant and diverse faith life of our community, and I am deeply thankful for the support and dedication you all show to the Church. It is with gratitude and a spirit of collaboration that I come to you today.

As you may be aware, our cathedral is not only a place of worship for our local community but also the mother church of our diocese, serving as the sacred seat where the Bishop and the faithful gather for significant diocesan celebrations and special liturgies.

With this unique responsibility comes the need to care for and maintain this holy building — a task that ensures it remains a fitting place for worship, fellowship, and service to God. Many of you have already contributed greatly to the upkeep and beautification of the cathedral, and for that, we are truly grateful. Yet, as with any structure of such significance, the passage of time brings new challenges and necessitates continued investment. We invite you to join our ongoing efforts to repair and enhance the cathedral, as we strive to create a more welcoming space where people gather for worship and fellowship. As we prepare for the future, several pressing needs require our attention:

1) HVAC system: Our current system, which provides comfort to all who gather here, is in need of significant repairs. One of the units burned down; thankfully, we were in the building, so the firefighters were called and averted a catastrophe.

2) Expansion of Bathrooms: The present facilities are insufficient, especially when large diocesan events are held, and we need to accommodate the growing number of attendees.

3) Building of offices: Additional office space is needed to support the growing staff who serve both the cathedral and the wider diocesan community.

These improvements will ensure that the cathedral remains a place of warmth, dignity, and hospitality for all who come to worship and gather in communion with one another. Our cathedral is not only the site of Mass but also where we come together to witness God’s grace at work in the life of the Church as we celebrate diocesan-wide events, such as ordinations to the diaconate and priesthood, priests’ funerals, the Chrism Mass — where the sacred oils are blessed for use throughout the diocese — the Blue and White Masses, and other special gatherings of various diocesan organizations such as Legatus and the Serra Club.

While the cathedral community may be small in comparison to many other parishes, the faithful who worship here represent a larger, interconnected body of believers. It is a place that unites us all, whether we live within the cathedral’s parish boundaries or not. For this reason, the care and maintenance of the cathedral are not only the responsibility of its immediate parish community but of all who benefit from its central role in diocesan life.

As we continue to nurture and strengthen the life of the Church, I invite you to join me in supporting our efforts to maintain and enhance the cathedral. This is not just about preserving a building; it is about ensuring that the cathedral remains a vibrant and welcoming space for all the faithful of our diocese to gather in worship and fellowship.

Thank you for your ongoing prayers, dedication, and support. Together, we will continue to strengthen the bond that unites us as the Body of Christ, and we will ensure that our cathedral, as the mother church of our diocese, remains a place where God’s love is made manifest for generations to come.

Contributions may be sent to:

St. Mary’s Cathedral

22 W Kiowa St.

Colorado Springs, CO 80903

For donations made by check, please write “Capital Campaign” on the memo line. Donations can also be made online at https://www.stmaryscathedral.org/capital-campaign, or you can visit in person to make your donation and see the progress of the campaign.

May God bless you all abundantly.

In Christ,

Very Rev. Jaimes Ponce, J.C.D.

Rector

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the faith, I invite you to pray for the needs of St. Mary’s Cathedral, the mother church of our diocese, and if the good Lord touches and moves your heart, please send any contributions directly to the cathedral. May Our Lord bless your generosity.
— Bishop James Golka.