OUR LADY OF GRACE, MARICOPA, ARIZONA

Founded in the late 1950’s as a mission parish, Our Lady of Grace Parish in Maricopa, Arizona, has persevered for decades in its attempts to build a new church. With the help of Greater Mission, the parish charged through a $1.5 million goal to raise a total of $1.8 million in 2014 and can now finally build a new church.

Famous as the home of John Wayne, Maricopa was a sleepy cattle town for decades. Today, the City has grown to over 50,000 people and is projected to become a vibrant southern suburb of Phoenix with a population of 150,000 by the year 2025.

Over 500 households made faith-filled and generous sacrifices, enabling the parish to complete the six-month campaign successfully and raise a total of $1.8 million toward its $1.5 million goal.

The parish built a small building to seat 175 families in the 1960s and has since grown to over 1,200 families, nearly half of whom are Mexican-American. In the early 2000’s aimed to raise $2.5 million and aimed to raise enough to build a new church in 2010, but did not reach its goal.

In 2013, the parish hired Greater Mission to conduct a Feasibility Study and campaign, and the study indicated that at least $1.5 million could be raised. The parish subsequently launched “Christ Our Cornerstone,” its third and final campaign to build a new church, under the direction of Greater Mission.

Fr. Velásquez, the pastor, and a great campaign committee, which included several Hispanic leaders, inspired and mobilized the community. Many home gatherings and several large parish gatherings were held in both English and Spanish, and, using Greater Mission’s prayerful approach, parishioners were given the opportunity to discern their gifts privately and make their best sacrifice.

Over 500 households made faith-filled and generous sacrifices, enabling the parish to complete the six-month campaign successfully and raise a total of $1.8 million toward its $1.5 million goal.

Our Lady of Grace parish has already begun construction on its beautiful new church, which will have 500 seats.