CLIENT
St. Luke the Evangelist Parish
Slidell, Louisiana
SERVICE
Feasibility Study &
Capital Campaign
CAMPAIGN GOAL
$6.7 million
CAMPAIGN GOAL
$7.1 million raised
The Challenge
St. Luke the Evangelist Parish faced a defining decision. Its existing worship space – never intended to be a permanent church – no longer served the needs of a growing parish.
Leaders identified three options: renovate the current structure at nearly the cost of new construction, build a new church on the same footprint, or do nothing. The parish needed an objective process that could test support, listen to the community, and determine whether its vision was financially achievable.
The Approach
St. Luke engaged ISPD to conduct a Financial Feasibility Study grounded in listening and discernment. An Executive Committee and Steering Committee were formed to guide the process.
Through parish-wide surveys, listening sessions, personal interviews, and questionnaires, community voices were invited and honored. While some opposition was vocal, more than 70% of respondents expressed clear support for building a new church.
ISPD concluded that the parish could raise between $5.8 million and $6.2 million – slightly below the $6.7 million needed to proceed. The study gave parish leaders the clarity required to make an informed decision and move forward confidently.
The Results
With confidence in the process and clarity of vision, St. Luke launched its capital campaign. Eighteen months later, the parish had raised more than $7 million – exceeding both the feasibility range and the construction goal. St. Luke the Evangelist can now build its new church.
70%+
of respondents supported building a new church
18 Months
from campaign launch to exceeding the construction goal
$7M+
raised for the parish’s new church
The Lesson
When leaders listen well, trust the process, and invite people into a shared vision, generosity follows.
This was the third ISPD-led campaign in the Slidell community to build a new Catholic church. The other two served Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Genevieve.
