Catholic Schools Move Further in Faith with Loretto Foundation

Breaking ground on a new school is a challenging endeavor, both financial; and logistically. For parochial schools projects as lofty as new school construction often comes down to the generosity of donors both private and parishioner. The upcoming St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School project in the Kansas City area was made possible by the philanthropy of the community. Leading the charge in the Forward in Faith campaign initiated by the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese was Lamar Hunt Jr. and his wife Rita with their gift of $3 million.

Hunt’s commitment to Catholic education can be traced to his conversion to Catholicism 24 years ago.Echoing the sentiments of those who spoke to the over 200 people attending the May 3 groundbreaking in Lee’s Summit, Hunt added that “Catholic education will equip the next generation with the tools to survive and transform a culture that is dominated by materialism, superficiality, and consumerism.”

Hunt and the Loretto Foundation, in addition to their financial contribution, lent assistance in the form of technical support and individuals to help oversee the project. The building of St. Michael’s continues Hunt’s and Loretto’s longstanding practice of supporting local efforts, including those faith-based. Loretto Charities is a regular backer of area agencies such as Catholic Charities of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS), Theology of the Body Evangelization Team, Little Sisters of the Lamb, and St. Paul’s Outreach, along with numerous other church and secular organizations. On his donation, Hunt commented, “We’ve been blessed and we wanted to pass these blessings along.”