What is the "Lift High the Cross" campaign? The "Lift High the Cross" campaign is a fundraising initiative to expand Saint Rita Catholic Church’s campus in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. This includes building a parish grade school (grades K-8), creating a new main entrance from Highway 98, and expanding parking to better serve our growing community. We call it the “Campus Development Plan”.
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Why is Saint Rita Catholic Church expanding its campus? As the community in South Walton County continues to grow, there is a need to provide more space to serve the increasing number of families and individuals seeking to grow in their faith. The new school will ensure that the faith is passed on to future generations, and the improved access to the church grounds will better accommodate our parishioners and visitors. Walton County is the third-fastest growing county in Florida, and there is currently no Catholic school in the area, leaving a significant unmet need for educational options.
 

What is the purpose of building a parish school? The parish school will serve students from kindergarten through 8th grade, offering an important educational opportunity for faith-focused families in the community. There is currently no Catholic school in Walton County, and the new school will address the need for faith-based education while providing school choice for local families.
 

What challenges does Saint Rita face that prompted this expansion? Saint Rita Parish has witnessed significant growth, and existing facilities, such as the church (2000), rectory (1993), preschool (2007), and Family Life Center (2020), have well-served the parish. However, the lack of Catholic school options in Walton County, the congestion in the existing parking areas, and the need for better access to the church from Highway 98 have all led to the decision to expand. Walton County's public schools are operating at or beyond capacity, and there is no Catholic school option available in the county.
 

 Why is now the right time for this expansion? Walton County is one of the fastest-growing counties in Florida, and Saint Rita Catholic Church is the fastest-growing parish in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee (which is the 4th fastest-growing Diocese in America based on conversions). With the rapid growth of the area, the demand for faith-based education, and the increased availability of state funding through school choice programs, now is the ideal time to move forward with this expansion.
 

​What is the vision for Saint Rita Parish School? Saint Rita Parish School will focus on integrating faith and reason, cultivating academic excellence, and nurturing students to become joyful witnesses of Christ in the world. The school will serve as a beacon of Catholic education, offering both spiritual and academic formation. The goal is to form the next generation of disciples, rooted in the Eucharist, guided by truth, and inspired by love. Curriculum will follow a “Classic” model.  
 

What will the first steps of the expansion involve? The first stage of construction will include building a new main entrance from Highway 98 to allow better access to the church and school campus. Alongside this, a new paved parking lot will be added on the west side of the new entrance. These improvements will enhance safety, ease of access + egress, and improve the overall infrastructure of the church campus. 
 

​When is the new school expected to open? The new school, which will accommodate Kindergarten through 8th grade, is planned for opening in Fall 2029. However, we will welcome K5 students in Fall 2027. And in Fall 2028, we will enroll First Graders.
 

What are the financial benefits available for families? Thanks to Florida’s “Step Up For Students” education funding model, qualified students in Walton County may be eligible for nearly $10,000 annually in state scholarship funds. This makes Saint Rita Parish School both spiritually enriching and financially viable for local families. While tuitions have not been established, expectations are of similar amounts.  

Official Website: https://www.stepupforstudents.org

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See the County-by-County funding grid here:

https://go.stepupforstudents.org/hubfs/Scholarship%20Info/FTC-FES-EO-PEP-Award-Amounts.pdf
 

How can I contribute to the campaign? We ask that you prayerfully consider making a sacrificial gift to this important initiative. Contributions can be made in various ways, such as one-time donations, pledges, or through planned giving. Every contribution, no matter the size, will help us reach our goal.
 

Why is this a sacrificial giving campaign? "Sacrificial giving" refers to giving in a way that may require individuals to make personal sacrifices for the greater good of the community and faith. This campaign calls on all parishioners to consider how their contributions can have lasting, eternal consequences for the growth of our Church and its mission.
 

Will donations be tax-deductible? Yes, all donations to the campaign are tax-deductible. Saint Rita Catholic Church is a 501(c)(3) organization, and contributions are eligible for tax benefits as allowed by law. Consult your Tax Advisor/CPA for more information.
 

How will the funds raised be used? The funds will be used to construct the new parish grade school, create the main entrance from Highway 98, and build additional parking options. These improvements will help enhance the church’s presence in the community and make it easier for families to access our facilities.
 

​How will the growth of Walton County impact the success of the campaign? Walton County’s rapid growth, along with its status as one of Florida’s wealthiest counties, provides a unique pool of financial support. The community’s growing number of families, many of whom have second homes or vacation homes in the area, creates an opportunity to gather the necessary resources for the success of this project.
 

When will construction begin and be completed? The timeline for construction will depend on the success of our fundraising efforts. Planning and permitting steps are underway now. Once sufficient funds have been raised, we will begin the construction process, with construction anticipated to begin soon after. The main entrance and parking areas should be completed in 2028. The new school is targeted for opening in Fall 2029.
 

How will I be updated on the progress of the campaign? We will provide regular updates to the parish community through church bulletins, email newsletters, and our website. You will be informed of our progress and any milestones reached during the campaign.
 

Can I donate online? Yes, we have set up an online donation portal to make it easy for you to contribute. Please Click Here to donate online.
 

 What are the costs that Saint Rita will incur for the “Campus Development Plan”? The costs, estimated currently, are just over $16M. Our campaign goal is $8M, and the Diocese would then loan the parish the remaining amount owed for construction and opening.  Full estimates are shown in our official brochure. Click Here to download.
 

How many classrooms are planned? Current plans are for two (2) rooms per grade, so 18 classrooms total. Designs have not happened yet in terms of space per room.
 

Where is the land for this expansion plan? The land for this plan is just north of our existing property. Saint Rita attained the majority of the available land on Highway 98, stretching from just west of the Goodwill store all the way to just east of the Electric Cart Company, located at the corner of Moll Drive and Highway 98. Please see the Site Map in the Official Brochure or visit the Project Overview page for a better view.
 

Has the cost of attaining that land been retired? Not completely; there is a balance just over $2M remaining, and the 2nd Collection helps to pay it down. The balance is included in our cost estimates referenced above. To be noted: 2nd Collections are trending at 2X in year-over-year comparisons as the announcement from the pulpit during Mass makes reference to our debt and new development plans.
 

How is the Diocese helping Saint Rita with the expansion? In many ways, the Diocese, beyond the broad support provided from Bishop Wack, is fully engaged and providing technical support as well as helping to guide this campaign. Additionally, the Building Development Committee will receive guidance from the professionals at the Diocese who oversee new school and church construction projects. Third, the refinancing of an existing loan to far more favorable terms was recently arranged. The work that will be accomplished at Saint Rita is a priority with the Diocese, and Father James spent the last 12 years with the Cathedral and school in Pensacola. Finally, the financial support will come in the form of the loan (at favorable rates) it will provide the parish to ensure completion.
 

 Will non-Catholics be allowed to pledge? Of course, we will welcome all who wish to help make our plan a reality to add Catholic-Christian educational opportunities to Walton County.
 

Will non-Catholics be allowed to enroll? To be sure, the school will offer a Catholic curriculum, and our goal is to fill the classrooms first with our parishioners.  However, as space is available, parents who wish their children to attend the school will be welcomed to apply for enrollment with the full understanding of the curriculum.
 

Can I donate Stock?  How about RMDs from an IRA?  Real Estate? The answer is yes to all the above and more. Plus, they all provided substantial tax deductions that you may not be aware of. Please see the website under “Get Involved” and contact info for Diocesan Development support in this area. There are many tax-advantageous methods beyond a cash contribution, and your Tax Advisor will guide this decision.
 

Can payments toward a pledge be spread out? Yes, with a 10% down payment, your pledge can be spread evenly for a period up to three years, as often as you like:  annually, monthly, quarterly or weekly.