Just over a decade after the completion of the new church and five years after students were first welcomed into the new school, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Columbia is pursuing another major construction project.

As outlined in a pamphlet shared with parishioners, the church and school complex at 409 and 411 Palmer Road is looking to add a number of substantial outdoor features to the site.

The largest item on the list of additions is a collection of turf athletic fields which includes the Zac Epplin Soccer Field, additional practice fields that can also be used for baseball or softball and a nearby parking lot further down the road from the school’s lot.

A pavilion between these fields and the school is also planned, offering an outdoor space for various parish functions as well as outdoor amenities like a restroom and concession stand.

Additionally noted is a path meant to serve as a walk through the Rosary and the Stations of the Cross.

Finally, a 4-foot-by-10-foot digital sign would be added near the Quarry Road roundabout to share any messages from the parish.

Also included in the pamphlet are letters from Fr. Steve Thoma and ICS Principal David Gregson.

Thoma’s letter opens by speaking on Pope Francis’ Laudato Si writings from 2015 in which he called Catholics to care for the created world including themselves, maintaining their body, mind and spirit.

Following the first and second construction phases for the parish which provided the church and school, respectively, Thoma said phase three “will further develop our balance of living meaningful Catholic lives.”

His letter goes on to note how the Rosary/Stations of the Cross Walk will allow both children and adults to experience the Catholic prayers amid God’s creation.

Additionally, the athletic complex will allow the school to host games and tournaments, while the large pavilion will be available for the whole parish as a place for community activities.

“Phase three is about continuing the dream,” Thoma stated in the letter. “It’s also about living a balanced life, spiritually, emotionally and physically.”

Gregson expressed similar sentiments in his letter and while speaking with the Republic-Times.

Speaking as principal, Gregson discussed the prayer garden and path as a means for students to worship in an outdoor setting.

“The prayer garden, the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross I think will be a very nice aspect for kids, classes to go out there individually,” Gregson said. “I don’t foresee quite the whole school going out there at the same time, but teachers will have the opportunity to take their classrooms out, maybe during religion class or just for a peaceful day of prayer. Really help them develop their faith in a different way outside of the classroom.”

He noted that the athletic fields will be convenient to have in one area, allowing for the school to host tournaments as well as the school’s traditional Field Day.

“It just gives the teachers more tools to help further the growth of students, mind, body and soul,” Gregson said.

Offering additional comment on the athletic fields was ICS Executive Secretary Beverly Epplin, the mother of Zac Epplin for whom the soccer field would be named.

Zac was a graduate of ICS who was diagnosed with cancer his senior year at Gibault Catholic High School. He passed away soon after his high school graduation.

As Beverly described, Zac’s main passion in life was soccer, and he was even able to briefly play at the start of the championship game his senior year when the team won state.

Beverly offered some perspective on how it feels to have her son honored with the planned ICS field.

“As a mom that has lost a child, it always warms your heart to keep your child’s name alive,” Epplin said. “Part of what has helped me get through the hardness of that is just hearing his name and talking about him and memories, and the fact that his name will be on the soccer field here at ICS, it’s heartwarming.”

Altogether, the substantial additions to the Immaculate Conception grounds are set to cost $1.6 million,  though the parish is also seeking $2.7 million to address current debt and $200,000 for any unforeseen future expenses, leaving the total fundraising effort for phase three at $4.5 million.

Gregson said the beginnings of this capital campaign are currently underway. Hopes are high that members of the parish and community will be able to offer the same generosity that they did with the construction of the church and school.

“We’re in the process of that right now,” Gregson said. “It takes the buy-in of everyone in the parish to hopefully see the value of this and find it in their hearts, pray about it to see what they can contribute just like they did when we built the church and built the school. It takes everybody, and we have great parishioners and great supporters at Immaculate Conception.”

More details on the campus enhancement project – including a donation pledge form – can be found at icc-columbia-il.us through the “Capital Campaign” tab at the top of the page.

With this hopeful addition to the parish and school, Gregson also offered a comment on the general state of ICS and the hopes he has for the school’s future in Columbia.

“The teachers are incredible people, the staff are incredible people,” Gregson said. “They continue to sacrifice and give whatever they can to ensure that we continue to nurture the mind, body and soul of our students… We want to develop good people, good students and good people. We’ve been very successful with that at ICS, and I hope we can continue that success.”

For more information on Immaculate Conception Church, call 618-281-5105. To reach the school office, call 618-281-5353.