Building a Home for Future Saints

In the fall of 2024, Chesterton Academy - Queen of Martyrs opened its doors for the very first time in a rented space. We are incredibly grateful to Father Vince and the parish community at Epiphany of the Lord Parish for making that possible. Their generosity allowed us to begin our mission with very limited financial resources and gave us a place to call home during our first years.

Because of their support, we were able to welcome our first students, build our community, and begin forming young men and women in truth, goodness, and beauty.

From the beginning, however, we knew our time in that space would be temporary. As our school has grown, we have prayerfully searched for a permanent home where our students can continue to flourish.

Today, it gives us great joy to announce that we have found one.

Through the incredible generosity of a benefactor, a building will be purchased and leased to our school at a rate that is far more manageable for our young and growing community. While this opportunity is an enormous blessing, moving into a permanent home comes with significant costs.

Our current space was fully furnished, and because of that, we own very little. Our new building is essentially an empty canvas waiting to become a school.

Now we need your help.

Your support will help us transform this building into a place where students can learn, pray, grow in virtue, and encounter Christ. Every desk, chair, crucifix, whiteboard, and classroom supply helps create an environment worthy of the important work taking place within our walls.

Some of our immediate needs include:

Outdoor and entrance signage (estimated $4,000)
Putting in an Emergency Door on the east wall (estimated $7,500)
Install ADA-complaint door closers and accessible door hardware to ensure doors can be opened and operated with minimal force and close properly (estimated $17,000)
Purchase and install two new high-security entrance doors with accessible hardware (estimated $5,000)
Install a solid safety fence around the perimeter of the property (estimated $120,000)
Exit signage above all doors (estimated $3,000)
Door fob system and cameras (estimated $10,000)
Interior logos and branding (estimated $1,000)
Paint and building supplies (estimated $5,000)
Rugs (estimated $1,000)
Desks, tables, chairs, and lockers
- Stackable chairs for classrooms (quantity 40) (used chairs estimated cost $500)
- Regular desks for offices (quantity 4)
- Tables for Cafeteria (prefer circle or rectangle tables, quantity 6) (estimated $1,500)
- Lockers (estimated $5,200)
Whiteboards and smart boards (estimated $4,000)
Wall Crucifixes for classrooms (8)
Digital Clocks (estimated $250)
Security and lock systems
Cleaning supplies and equipment
Trash cans and trash bags
Toilet paper, paper towels, tissues, and hand soap
Vacuums, mops, brooms, and other cleaning equipment

We are also happy to accept gently used items. If you have any of these items, or come across them at garage sales, thrift stores, or local businesses, we would be grateful to receive them.

If you prefer not to give to the general fund, we have created an Amazon wishlist and additional item-specific giving opportunities.

If you purchase an item directly, please contact us at contact@chestertonqofm.com so we can avoid duplicate purchases.

Thank you for your continued generosity, prayers, and support. Because of you, our students will soon have a long-term home, a place where future saints can be formed for generations to come.

Together, we are not simply furnishing a building. We are building a home for future saints.

*If, due to any unforeseen circumstance, the purchase of this property does not ultimately move forward, all funds raised through this campaign will remain dedicated to securing and preparing a permanent home for Chesterton Academy – Queen of Martyrs and will be applied toward whatever future location best serves the needs of our school and students.

A Note About Estimated Costs

All costs listed in this campaign are estimates based on the information and pricing available to us at this time. We have intentionally planned conservatively and, where possible, budgeted for the higher end of expected costs. We would much rather plan for the worst and celebrate when we are able to secure better pricing than find ourselves unprepared for an unexpected expense.

That said, we know that one of our greatest resources is the generosity and expertise of our community. If you are willing to donate your time, skills, professional expertise, materials, or knowledge to help us complete these projects more affordably, we would love to hear from you! Your generosity could help us stretch every dollar and make an even greater impact on the future. You can reach us at contact@chestertonqofm.com

Any funds raised beyond what is needed for this campaign will be directed to Chesterton Academy – Queen of Martyrs’ general operating fund to support the ongoing mission and needs of the school.

Help Us Move!

A Permanent Home for a Higher Purpose