"Buy a CD, build a church"

That’s the theme of a unique fundraising campaign underway in Sioux City, Iowa.

Details, from CNS:

Father David Hemann is putting the profits from sales of a CD he recorded — his seventh – toward construction costs of his parish’s new church. He even has a slogan: “Buy a CD, build a church.”

The new church is for Sacred Heart in Ida Grove; he also is pastor of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Holstein and St. Martin Church in Odeboldt.

Sacred Heart has about 240 families, and the parish is in its second three-year fundraising campaign; they still have $1 million to raise for construction of the church and parish hall, which will cost more than $2.8 million…

…Titled “Oasis,” it is the seventh CD he has recorded. It’s his first instrumental-only release. There is a big call for “peaceful, spirit-filled, anointed intrumental music that puts you in the presence of God without the distraction of words.”

The diocesan paper, The Globe, adds:

A groundbreaking was held for Sacred Heart’s new church last July. It is in a Romanesque cruciform style.

“When you walk into the church, there will be no question as to the fact that it is a Catholic Church. We took all of the ‘diamonds’ out of the old church like the windows, statues and various things and we are placing them in a new setting,” said Father Hemann, who equated it to an old, tarnished ring that had many valuable jewels that would be placed in a new setting.

Construction is proceeding well, he noted, with anticipated completion at end of October this year.

For more, check out the good padre’s own website to find out how you can buy a CD and support the cause.