An anonymous donor’s gift of $1.25 million will help jumpstart a fundraising effort to refurbish the Newman Center, an Orono gathering place for Catholic students at the University of Maine.
The College Avenue building has been part of campus life since 1946, but in recent years has needed renovation, including structural repairs, according to the Parish of the Resurrection of the Lord, of which the Newman Center is part.
The anonymous gift will go toward the “Rebuild His Church” campaign, which to date has raised $2.6 million. The parish hopes to raise $3.5 million total.
The parish “is so grateful for this overwhelming and unexpected offering of financial support that will help many Catholics of today and tomorrow to live their faith fully and authentically,” said the Rev. Kyle Doustou, pastor of the parish.
Construction is expected to start in spring 2022, said Dave DiNapoli, development director for the Diocese of Portland.
Upgrades will include a multi-purpose meeting space, separate entrances for the chapel and main hall, a student lounge, garden and bell for the steeple.
Other churches in the parish are also due for improvements, including those in Old Town, Bradley and Indian Island. The repairs will be included from the $3.5 million being raised, though the bulk of that will go toward the Newman Center work, a spokesman said.
