Capital Campaign
Disciples Today! Disciples Tomorrow! Capital Campaign
Since arriving as the Chaplain and Director of the Sheil Catholic Center back in July of 2021, I have constantly been inspired by the dynamism of faith that is present in our campus Catholic community. The missionary impulse that I feel in our community of disciples is palpable.
As we stand in gratitude for 85 years of our mission, my heart has swelled with a desire to secure and grow the vibrancy of our mission for generations to come. I have met with a number of alumni, friends, and supporters of our mission to get their hopes, dreams, and ideas for our future. These conversations and my own experiences here have led us to the launch of a Capital Campaign to bring our beloved Catholic Center into its next 85 years. Sheil's Campaign "Disciples Today! Disciples Tomorrow!" will strengthen the bright light of faith that shines out from the Sheil Catholic Center onto the campuses of Northwestern University and indeed the world. Our goal for the campaign is $5 million and I am thrilled to say we have raised nearly $1.9 million already.
I invite you read below about what the campaign will support. Please pray for the success of the campaign which, in turn, leads to success in our mission to care for the spiritual lives of those who walk the journey at Sheil.
Fr. Bradley Zamora, Chaplain and Director
Fund for the Future - $2 million
The Fund for the Future will secure our mission as we continue to see to it that every generation of new Northwestern students has a place where they are accompanied on their spiritual journey. At Sheil, they meet fellow students on the journey, serve others, discern their vocation, and when they leave, become well-informed, prayerful, transformative leaders in their homes, parishes, communities, workplaces, and the world. This fund will help Sheil have the resources we need to continue our mission.
Institute for Catholic Spirituality and Wellness - $1.75 million
The Institute for Catholic Spirituality and Wellness, to be housed within the mission of the Sheil Catholic Center, would assist the Center in responding to the urgent need for accompaniment of students who are overwhelmed by the academic rigor and pace of university life. Filing a gap in the need for students to seek wellness opportunities on campus, the Institute would assist Catholic students, and others, in navigating mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness through a Catholic lens. With the creation of this Institute, a professional counselor who is not only trained in psychological services, but also has a depth of knowledge of Catholic spirituality, would be hired as Director and a member of the Sheil Catholic Center team.
Building Updates - $1.25 million
The buildings that have been handed to us have to be cared for in order for us to hand it on to future generations. There are needed masonry repairs to the south wall of the building, tuckpointing of the chimney, necessary upgrades to our chapel lighting system, HVAC updates, and the redesign of the lower level for a new student lounge. We also want to make all the entrance doors more handicapped accessible by installing automatic opening devices. These repairs will make the buildings safer, stop further damage, make them more accessible, and prepare for them for next decades.
Are you interested in securing a vibrant future for Catholic students? Please reach out to Walt Hansen, Director of Mission Advancement, via email here or 847.328.4648.