2026 Beautification Campaign
For nearly seventy years, our community has served as a cornerstone of Catholic life in Stamford. Today we find ourselves renewed in hope, as both our parish and the school are thriving.
The number of families in our parish has increased by nearly 10 percent since 2020.
Average weekend attendance at Mass has increased by 200 people in the past two years.
Enrollment at the Catholic Academy of Stamford is 340 students – which is full capacity, a 16 percent increase since 2020.
The great challenge we face is that our facilities need significant attention. In particular, our parking lot and our parish hall are in poor condition.
The Parking Lot
The condition of the parking lot has deteriorated to the point that it has become a serious safety concern.
The Parish Hall
McDermott Hall is the largest gathering space on campus, apart from St. Cecilia Church. But it lacks functionality and accessibility, and needs a new, fresh appearance.
Limited Functionality – the kitchen needs a new range, the floor tiles show damage from past water infiltration, and the windows are single-pane. The only lighting options are the fluorescent light fixtures in the ceiling.
Limited Accessibility – those with limited mobility can only access the space using a chair lift system that is old and complicated to use.
Appearance – the space needs to be repainted, and the exposed support columns need to be enclosed.
The floor plan below indicates the installation of a new range in the kitchen and an extension of the stage area. It also shows the new ramp we plan to install in the hall along the north wall, which will make the space accessible to those with reduced mobility.
The ramp will be installed along the north wall of the hall, creating easy access to the hall from the handicap parking area outside.
In the above image you can see that we plan to beautify the space with a fresh color scheme, light fixtures on the enclosed pillars, and a new floor that replaces the current floor which is damaged from (since-remedied) water infiltration.
The Campaign
The cost of these projects is as follows:
- Parking Lot Renewal: $1,000,000
- McDermott Hall Renovation: $700,000
- Architect and Engineering: $50,000
- Total Project Cost: $1,750,000
Funding Structure of the Projects:
- School Contribution to the Parking Lot: $500,000
- Parish Campaign Goal: $1,250,000
As of 3/1/26, The Parish of St. Cecilia-St. Gabriel has raised $600,000. With your help, we are confident that we will reach our parish goal of $1,250,000. We have structured this campaign with three-year pledges in mind. Please give prayerful consideration to your support of this campaign. Only with the generosity of the members of the parish will we be able to make improvements to our facilities that will be enjoyed by future generations who will call our beautiful parish their spiritual home.
The Parish of St. Cecilia-St. Gabriel 