Help The Church of Saint Raphael Find Our Forever Home
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$2,000 raised of $50K
15 donations
Help The Church of Saint Raphael Find Our Forever Home
A sanctuary for the wounded.
A permanent home for healing hearts.
OUR STORY: Where Mercy Meets Reality
What if a church practiced the mercy that it preached? Not just talked about it, but lived it?
I'm Father Mark Kurowski, and for the past two and a half years, The Church of Saint Raphael the Archangel has been answering that question. We've become a beacon of hope for people who thought they'd never find their way back to faith.
We're not your typical church. We're a community built specifically for those who've been hurt by the church before. Since August 2023, we've grown from 4 members to 21 and counting, creating a place where:
- Divorced and remarried Catholics can receive communion without conditions
- All baptized Christians are welcome at our table
- Our priests can marry and understand the challenges of family life
- Social justice isn't just preached, it's practiced
THE CHALLENGE: Growing Beyond Survival
Our current building has gone up for sale, but this isn't a crisis. It's an opportunity.
We've proven that our ministry works. We've shown that a church built on mercy looks different, and it should. Now it's time to take the next step: finding a permanent home here in Hammond, Indiana, where we can truly put down roots without the threat of future displacement.
OUR VISION: A Permanent Sanctuary for the Wounded
We are at a turning point.
For the first time, we have the chance to secure a permanent home - a place where no one will ever again be told they don't belong.
- Secure Our New Location. Find and establish a permanent home that won't be threatened by sale or development.
- Expand Our Music Ministry. Expand the worship experience our community deserves.
- Strategic Community Outreach. Launch awareness campaigns to reach more people in Northwest Indiana who need healing.
- Operational Sustainability. Cover essential costs during our transition period as we grow toward full self-sustainability.
We are asking for $50,000 to make that possible.
WHY THIS MATTERS: The Bigger Picture
21 people served weekly, and growing - but we know there are hundreds more in our community who need what we offer.
- We're a mercy-led National Catholic Church (ICAB) parish in Northwest Indiana - there is a deep need in Northwest Indiana for a Catholic community that leads with mercy and that’s exactly what we provide.
- Our impact extends beyond Sunday mornings - we're building a community that doesn't just check boxes on Sunday and disappear on Monday.
What Makes Us Different
- Radical Inclusion. We welcome everyone the traditional church has left behind.
- Authentic Catholic Worship. All seven sacraments celebrated with reverence and beauty.
- Real-World Understanding. Our married priests understand the challenges families face.
- Social Justice Focus. Following our founder Bishop Carlos Duarte Costa's commitment to the poor and oppressed
How Your Support Creates Impact
Cheerful Giver ($25 - $99)
"God loves a cheerful giver." Supports the mission at the grassroots level.
- $25 - Helps cover one week of utilities in our new location
- $50 - Supports our community outreach for one month
Saint ($100 - $499)
Faithful supporters helping sustain weekly worship and outreach.
- $100 - Funds music ministry for one Sunday service
- $250 - Covers advertising to reach 1,000+ people
Angel ($500 - $4,999)
Strengthens and expands our ministry in Northwest Indiana.
- $500 - Supports one month of rent in our permanent location
- $1,000 - Becomes a founding supporter of our permanent sanctuary
Archangel ($5,000+)
Founding supporters of our permanent sanctuary leaving a lasting legacy of mercy.
- $5,000 - Becomes a visionary for expanding our healing ministry
Our Commitment to You
- Complete Transparency. We'll provide regular updates on our location search, move progress, and community growth.
- Faithful Stewardship. 100% of funds raised go directly toward operational and growth needs: securing our new location, expanding our music ministry, and reaching our community. None of these funds will go toward Father Mark's salary or personal support. Every dollar will be used exactly as described, with full accountability to our supporters.
- Lasting Impact. Your investment creates a permanent home for healing that will serve our community for generations.
THE URGENCY: Why Now Matters
We have momentum. We've grown 400%+ in less than a year. People are finding healing. Lives are being transformed.
But momentum can be lost. Without a permanent home, we risk:
- Losing the community we've built
- Missing opportunities to reach more wounded hearts
- Stepping backward just when we're gaining ground
September is our target to secure our new location and begin this exciting transition.
Join Our Mission of Mercy
This isn't just about finding a building. It's about establishing a permanent sanctuary for people who've been told they don't belong anywhere else. It's about having the stability to love people with "church hurt" back to wholeness for years to come.
We've proven that a church built on mercy looks different, and it should.
Help us secure our permanent home, so everyone who needs to know they belong at this table can find us for generations to come.
Who is Father Mark Kurowski?
With over 40 years in ministry and nearly 20 as ordained clergy, Father Mark brings deep pastoral experience to our community. A graduate of Indiana University, Duke University, and Mundelein Seminary, he's known for his pastoral care, powerful preaching, and unwavering commitment to radical mercy.
Follow his journey: @TheJoyfulPriest
Stay Connected:
Website: LINK (Raphaelnwi.org)
Email: Contact us for updates and prayer requests
Current Location: 6635 Hohman Ave, Hammond, IN
⏰ Mass Time: Sundays at 10:00 AM
Every dollar brings us closer to our permanent home and helps us continue this ministry of healing.
Because when the church practices the mercy it preaches, lives are transformed.
The Church of Saint Raphael the Archangel is a parish of the National Catholic Church (ICAB), maintaining apostolic succession and traditional Catholic sacraments while embracing progressive pastoral care.
Organizer
The Church of Saint Raphael the Archangel, Inc
Beneficiary