St. Mary of the Woods Catholic Church in Whitesville is formulating a plan to raise funds to build a new building that will house St. Mary of the Woods School and Trinity High School. Church leaders cited continued growth as the primary inspiration for the capital campaign.
Leadership expects the new building to cost $12 million and will use Generis — a faith-based, nonprofit consulting firm — to conduct an initial feasibility study. Church pastor Fr. Brian Roby said the church would be asking its parishioners in the days ahead for advice and counsel as they consider how to best proceed with the project.
“It’s my hope that we are inspired to secure this graced moment and continue to build upon the hopes and dreams of generations gone before us who sacrificed much to provide what we now enjoy today,” Roby said. “We are now being called upon, as it is our turn, to build for the present and future needs of our parish.”
Total enrollment for PreK-12 is 382, which puts the current facilities at full capacity according to state regulations. Roby said they have a waiting list for all grade levels except one, and the parish has grown by more than 250 families since 2016.
“For the past 6 years, we have grown enrollment consistently each year,” Roby said. “We wholeheartedly believe the reason for this growth is due to our people. They contribute to the success of these schools.”
School and church leaders also cited increasing maintenance issues and “aging beyond repair” as additional incentives for the build.
Catholic school education began at the parish in 1879. The present high school was constructed in 1954, with the current grade school erected a mere decade later. The school later razed their old gym, commonly referred to as “the Barn,” in 1970.
The St. Mary of the Woods Horn Community Center is the most recent expansion effort of the church. The facility houses both Trinity and St. Mary athletic programs, along with a community activity center.
Director of Advancement Anna McDaniel said the schools secured some temporary trailers to accommodate the overgrowth. She added that the addition of an extended-care facility, multiple preschool rooms, and a desire for smaller learning environments were also just causes for the new addition
“We all know that these buildings are just that — they are buildings,” she said. “It is what happens on the inside of those buildings that matter. And I can tell you because I am in them daily — great things happen there.”
Roby attributes the recent growth to revitalized marketing strategies encompassing a new website, a new logo, a new search engine strategy, and a more substantial social media presence. He said building a new school will give them another opportunity to shine a light on the many positive attributes of the church campus.
“We are a constant here in eastern Daviess County, and a new school will push that message even further and let everyone know we are not going anywhere,” Roby said. “This new school will be an investment for the future, and it is an affirmation to all those who have come before us and poured their time, talent, and treasure into Catholic education for the past 143 years.”
