contents WINTER 2025
SACRED PLACES
The Magazine of Partners for Sacred Places
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St . Adalbert ’ s Catholic Church : An Immigrant Story
FEATURE ARTICLE
Philadelphia Organ Festival Draws Community into Sacred Places
Moment or Movement : Reflection After A National Convening
Match Made in Heaven : Space-Sharing in Chicago
Preserving an Oasis : Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fort Myers in Transition
Professional Alliance Directory
Partners for Sacred Places is the only national , nonsectarian , nonprofit organization dedicated to the sound stewardship and active community use of America ’ s older religious properties .
Partners builds the capability of congregational leadership for building care , shared use , and capital fundraising through training programs , fundraising assistance , and organizational and facility assessments . In the process , Partners becomes a trusted resource and guide as congregations examine and weigh opportunities .
Partners engages with congregations to focus on critical areas such as :
• Asset-mapping and community engagement — assisting congregations to develop new relationships with neighbors and potential community partners .
• Strategic partnerships and space sharing — brokering agreements between sacred places and arts , food justice , health , education , and social service programs .
• Planning for capital campaigns to support repairs and renovations that preserve significant historic features and make spaces usable for new community programs .
• Collaborative initiatives among unrelated congregations in a neighborhood to encourage coordinated outreach , space usage , joint marketing and interpretive events , and coordinated work with public agencies for lighting , signage , and streetscape improvements .
Concert goers arrive at a Gulf Coast Symphony performance at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fort Myers , a consulting client of Partners for Sacred Places . Mike Shapiro
Cover Photograph :
John Walthausen performs at the Unitarian Society of Germantown as part of the Philadelphia Organ Festival in March 2024 . Daniel Kontz
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