HIGHLANDS — Our Lady of the Mountains Mission has launched a capital campaign – its first in more than 30 years – to build a new church that can provide more space for the active congregation’s needs.
The campaign theme – “Building a Beacon of Catholic Faith” – is rooted in the congregation’s vision statement: “To become a beacon of Catholic faith on the plateau by giving due glory to God and greater love to our neighbors.”
Founded in 1875, Highlands is a popular summer resort destination that sits atop a plateau in the western North Carolina mountains at an elevation of 4,118 feet.
Our Lady of the Mountains Mission, established in the 1930s, is located on one of Highlands’ main thoroughfares.
The present church, built in the 1950s and expanded in the late 1980s, presents challenges to the growing congregation of 275 families, said Father Jason Barone, pastor, and Greg Thompson, campaign co-chairman.
“The OLM family is a vibrant combination of full-time residents and seasonal families who are with us about half of the year,” Father Barone said. “God has blessed OLM with wonderfully generous people, a beautiful setting, and love for God and one another that is a joy to witness. They deserve a worship space that optimizes all that those blessings provide.”
The campaign aims to fund construction of a 9,000-square-foot church that can accommodate up to 300 people. The new building would include several amenities the current church lacks, including a choir loft and dedicated spaces for a confessional, baptismal font and sacristies. In addition, the new church would have a narthex where parishioners could gather for fellowship before and after Mass – space the present church does not have.
The new church would be constructed on OLM’s 2.5-acre site, adjacent to the existing church. Based on preliminary discussions, it is possible the current facility could be used for Mass while the new church is being built.
The campaign seeks to raise at least $7.5 million, the minimum amount deemed necessary in today’s construction economy. Campaign leaders acknowledge that the cost could be higher as plans for the new church are finalized. “Ultimately, the generosity of our OLM family will determine what we are able to build,” Father Barone said.
The goal is to build “a new church that would reflect God’s glory and the spiritual commitment of our community,” Thompson said.
Initial architectural plans for a Baroque-style church have been drawn up by Washington, D.C.-based McCrery Architects.
“Baroque-style churches are growing in popularity due to their traditional appeal and historical significance,” Father Barone said. “We believe that everyone who worships with us will experience a deeper reverence for the Mass and the sacraments in the church we hope to build. And the OLM family will develop a deeper sense of shared faith and fellowship as we work together to achieve this goal.”
Father Barone, Thompson, Campaign Co-chair David Goodrow and a team of parishioners have been hard at work for several months to prepare for the campaign’s launch.
“We have done our due diligence in exploring the parish’s readiness to embark on such a campaign,” Goodrow said. “A consultant was enlisted to help determine the level of parishioners’ interest through personal interviews, an online survey, and a parish-wide focus group. Father Barone also spoke from the pulpit at several Masses about the idea of building a new church.
“What we learned from the feasibility study and informal feedback was that the members of Our Lady of the Mountains not only have the interest in trying to build a new church, but they also have the financial capacity to make this dream a reality. We feel confident the OLM family is supportive and the time is right to pursue this campaign.”
Goodrow also noted that the mission has no existing debt, owns its 2.5-acre property in downtown Highlands, and has seen growth in its offertory collections, even during the pandemic.
Father Barone and Thompson said they are grateful for the assistance and advice provided by Bishop Peter Jugis and staff of the Diocese of Charlotte, including Jim Kelley, development director.
“It is transformational when a community builds a new church, particularly when the last church was built almost 70 years ago,” Kelley said. “OLM’s capital campaign is very effectively led by Father Barone, David, Greg and the rest of the committee. The diocese is fully supportive of their efforts and is working with them side by side.”
Father Barone and campaign leaders said they are optimistic that parishioners will be inspired to invest in a beautiful new church where they and future generations of Catholics in Highlands can worship.
“We are asking our fellow parishioners to prayerfully consider how they will support this effort,” Father Barone said. “Throughout the campaign our motto will be: ‘Holy Spirit, what do You want to do through me in ‘Building a Beacon of Catholic Faith on the plateau?’”
— Catholic News Herald. Provided photo