Answering the Call
As a faithful member of the Diocese of La Crosse, St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral holds a special role as the center of our Diocese. It is important to know that we are all connected to our Mother Church, St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral. This magnificent landmark is a spiritual refuge not only for those who call the Cathedral their home parish, but also for you.
It is here that your priests and deacons are ordained. They then bring Christ’s mission and their ministry to serve you in our parishes. Here, at the annual Chrism Mass, the holy oils are blessed, and the chrism consecrated to be sent and used in all of our parishes for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Anointing of the Sick. All the faithful of the Diocese are invited on this meaningful day. You see, while the Cathedral may be located in the city of La Crosse, its impact is diocesan wide.
It has been nearly 60 years since the dedication and time has taken its toll. Recently, it has become clear that moving forward with the renovation of St. Joseph the Workman Cathedral is both critical and urgent. Several heavy stone pieces from the steeple have already fallen, posing the risk of further structural damage and creating hazards. These fractures, left unattended, will only increase in size as will the cost of repair.
Measures have been taken to secure the area and restoration will begin shortly. We are now setting out prudently and swiftly to fund the costs of restoring our beloved Mother Church.
An Unprecedented Opportunity
In order to help fund this necessary and urgent restoration, St. Ambrose Financial Services, Inc. (the diocesan bank to which all parishes belong) has agreed to match $2 for every $1 generously pledged to this campaign up to $3 million. This is an exceptional opportunity for the Catholic community of the Diocese of La Crosse to unite and answer the call to restore our Cathedral.
The Christ Our Cornerstone campaign will repair the structure of our Cathedral and renew its impact diocesan-wide for generations to come.
How You May Participate
We are inviting every family within the Diocese of La Crosse to make a difference in the life of our Mother Church.
While one-time donations are appreciated, we encourage you to consider one of the three-year pledge plans. This allows your intention to flourish and take full advantage of the $2 for $1 matching opportunity.
Your gift may be tax deductible/exempt. Please consider:
- For those who itemize, all annual contributions to our campaign are tax-deductible.
- An IRA charitable gift up to $100,000, if you are aged 70½ or older, may qualify as part of your required minimum distribution (RMD). Only distributions payable directly to the Campaign are not taxed as income.
- Gifts directly to the campaign of appreciated stock, held for more than one year, qualify for a tax deduction and avoid capital-gains tax.
We thank you for your consideration and generosity!