Changing Lives Campaign - St. Philomena School

A Changing Landscape

In 2017, the State of Illinois created the Invest in Kids Scholarship Tax Credit Program, which allowed donors to receive tax credits while supporting Catholic school families.

Through the efforts of our generous donors, supported by our Finance Council, this program provided critical tuition assistance of $1.3 million over a five year period.

Now What?

Without the funds from the Invest in Kids program, scholarship funding has to come from parish resources or Sunday/Ordinary Income. Supporting our tuition needs at this level is not sustainable.

What Can We Do?

To ensure long-term financial stability, the parish has proposed a $3 million capital campaign to support our school endowment fund. This fund was started with $25 in 1985, and with this effort, will support our tuition assistance needs for decades to come. We ask you to prayerfully consider making a pledge to our Changing Lives Tuition Assistance Campaign.

The Need Today

Each year, parish families turn to us to help make a Catholic education possible for their children. These grants help ensure the continuation of a student’s education, welcomes new siblings, and helps families fully feel part of the St. Philomena community.

AT A GLANCE

$6,100 Tuition for one child (K-8) in 2026-27
$300,000+ – Scholarships needed annually
Over 25% of our total enrollment receives some level of support annually

The need is ongoing and has not declined. Families continue to rely on our commitment.

How You Can Help

Your support of the Changing Lives Tuition Assistance Campaign is a direct and lasting investment in the future of St. Philomena School and Parish.

Gifts of all sizes make a difference
Asking for 100% participation by our families
Contributions support families year after year
Donations will be invested for future scholarship needs

Together, we can ensure that no parish family is turned away from a Catholic education for financial reasons. If you are ready to make a donation and/or pledge, feel free to use the maroon donation buttons at the top or bottom of this page. If you prefer to make a donation by check, contact the parish office (309-682-8642 or parish@stphils.com).

Why Tuition Assistance Matters

St. Philomena Parish has a long-standing commitment to providing a Catholic education to every parish family who seeks one, regardless of financial ability. This promise, upheld by generations of pastoral and lay leadership, is central to who we are.

Tuition assistance funds allow us to welcome families, form disciples, and provide a Chirst-centered education where every child can grow in knowledge, character and faith.

A strong tuition assistance source helps us maintain a healthy enrollment and continue to invest in programs such as electives for our junior high students where they can choose to take courses of interest to them like home economics, music technology, ceramics and basketball. Continued financial stability will allow us to invest in further offerings and provide families with aid that can be the deciding factor in keeping their children in our school.

Assistance ensures that no family is turned away for financial reasons.

“Not all of us can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” ~Mother Teresa

What Our Families Are Saying

"St. Philomena School has been an extraordinary blessing to our family, helping to form our children in faith, virtue, and learning in a way that reaches both their hearts and their minds. Because of tuition assistance and the generosity of our parish community, our children are able to receive a top-notch Catholic education rooted in Christ and the sacraments, surrounded by exceptional faculty and staff who genuinely care about them. A faculty member once shared that at the first faculty meeting of a school year, the principal reminded everyone that their number one goal is to help the students get to heaven—and that says everything about St. Philomena. This clear and unwavering mission, made possible by our generous parishioners, is a true gift to so many families."

"There are no words to express how our family felt the love of Christ through the love and support of our Saint Philomena family. In a time of unexpected and devastating news, we were immediately met with emotional, spiritual and financial support. From teachers, administrative staff, our priests, and numerous families, we experienced support that was abundant, loving and generous. We are grateful for the support that this community provided at the start of our difficult journey, as well as the continued outpouring of love and support that continues to be provided."

"St. Philomena has been so generous in helping our family with tuition during a difficult time. The tuition assistance has been such a gift to us! St. Philomena is such a wonderful community- the teachers are phenomenal, and they truly go above and beyond to help students learn. St. Philomena also has so many ways for students to grow and get involved in extracurricular activities which helps them grow. And the way the faith is communicated to our students is so beautiful during Atrium and all school Masses and Adoration. We are so grateful for the St. Philomena school community. It is truly the best and is the best gift we can give our children!"

"We are so grateful that God led us to St. Philomena School 15 years ago. Since then, we've had five children graduate from St. Phil's. The experiences our children have had there shaped them into critical thinkers, problem solvers, artists, musicians, servant leaders, and ambassadors for Jesus Christ. St. Philomena School understands that there is more than just academics when it comes to developing the whole child. Their emphasis on bringing faith to life and life to faith isn't just a motto. It is put into practice every day within the walls of the school and carried out into the community in service to others. St. Philomena School will always hold a special place in our hearts. We truly believe it is the best school around, and we wouldn't want our children anywhere else!"

"If we had not received financial assistance over the years, we would not have been able to send our children to St. Philomena School. The generosity of others has allowed our children to experience a learning environment where they can feel safe, loved, and challenged to grow. We are incredibly thankful to those people who have donated to St. Philomena School's Tuition Assistance Fund. Because of them, our children have received an incredible education and have grown deeper in their relationship with Jesus Christ. That is an immeasurable blessing!"

"We knew that St. Philomena's had an amazing reputation as a premier private school but we did not realize the incredible lengths the parish and school community go to and all the ways they supports one another. St. Philomena School offers our children a safe school environment and community to learn and grow in their faith."

"Academically the school is exceptionally above where our public school district currently is. I especially love the focus on our faith. The kids have taught me so much in the years we have attended then I have learned throughout my formative years, which in turn has strengthened my faith."

"Parishioners support other families to be able to attend St. Philomena really shows the gift of God's love and the desire to share and spread the experience for anyone who needs it. The reality is that when we first started at St. Philomena would not have been able to afford to send all our children to school without tuition assistance."

"St. Philomena School & Parish is our home; it is our certainty in a world that seems uncertain at times, our refuge in tough times, our place to celebrate in times of joy, and our light in all of those spaces in between. I thank God daily that our children get to go to a safe school that cares about their spiritual AND academic formation. As Catholic parents, our children's spiritual formation is just as important to us as their academic formation, and at St. Phil's both are valued and lived out in our faculty and staff. We have a community that most people are searching for while raising a family. In fact, I have friends that have moved away and they are disappointed when they cannot find what they had here at St. Phil's. We are forever grateful for our school and parish!"

Changing Lives Campaign Prayer

Loving Lord, we give you thanks for the gift of our St. Philomena School. Thank you for our parish and for all who have helped make our school a great place for hearts to encounter you through Sacraments and prayer. We give you thanks for all the ways your love for us has been taught in our school classrooms and hallways and lived through our community life together as a family of faith. Thank you for all the lives who have been changed through their time here. We ask your blessing this day on our teachers, staff, students, and school families. May the success of our Changing Lives Tuition Assistance Campaign ensure that our parish stays strong and vibrant for decades to come. Lord, bless our Campaign and all who are able to contribute. May all our future students encounter you in our church and school, and may all grow deeper in knowing your love for us and sharing that love with one another. We ask all this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

St. Philomena, pray for us!

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