Parishioners at St. Matthew Korean Catholic Center have embraced Called to Renew, which will not only provide for crucial repairs but improve the Catholicity of their church. “This building was used as a Protestant church,” said Father Jiwan Kim, pastor. “It was built in 1955 and the building condition is not good.” But planned changes — including a bell tower and new stainedglass windows — will ensure the Sunland-Tujunga and La Cañada communities see St. Matthew as the Catholic church it now is.
Although explaining the need for the campaign was challenging at first, inclement weather helped Father Kim drive home how vital Called to Renew was for St. Matthew. “There was heavy rain, and our roof was leaking, so people understood we need to fix the building,” he said. To date, St. Matthew has raised more than $1 million on its $180,000 goal. That is 577% of their goal, the highest percentage achieved to date across the Archdiocese.
Once all the pledges are fulfilled, the parish will have enough funds to address its many needs. Besides replacing the church’s plain windows with stained glass and the leaky steeple with a bell tower, the interior and exterior of the church will be painted and a new storage area built. The current storage area, which is adjacent to the parking lot and education building, has become infested with termites.
Father Kim is grateful for the help he has received during the campaign from both the Archdiocese and parishioners. With the assistance of five ambassadors who helped him meet with their fellow parishioners and ask for gifts, three committees have been formed to bring the projects to reality. “It’s a holy space, and it’s important to have a beautiful home,” Father Kim told his parishioners. “You should make it a precious place.”