Part of the construction costs of Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School in Cranberry Township, shown in this April photograph, is being paid through funds raised by the Pittsburgh Diocese's fundraising campaign, Our Campagin for the Church Alive. The new $71 million school is expected to open in August 2014.

PITTSBURGH — The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh announced this week its Our Campaign for The Church Alive had raised more than $50 million toward its goal of $125 million.

The diocese said all 11 of the parishes in the initial phase of the campaign surpassed their targets, reaching 110 percent of their collective goal.

Fundraising now is under way in another 41 parishes. Two more 16-week phases will launch in the parishes in September and January 2014.

The goal of Our Campaign for The Church Alive is to raise a minimum of $125 million over the next five years in more than 200 parishes of the diocese in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence and Washington counties.

According to the diocese, the initiative will meet the extraordinary needs of parishes and the diocese by investing in Catholic spiritual, educational and charitable ministries.

The clergy have led by example, pledging more than $2.54 million over the next five years, nearly five times their target of $500,000.

The campaign has received nearly $32 million in leadership commitments personally raised by Bishop David A. Zubik.

“Our Campaign for The Church Alive is a historic endeavor to ensure that our Catholic community can continue to do God's work and effectively minister to his people,” Zubik said.

The fundraising effort is focused on the parishes. For every dollar raised in a parish campaign, 40 cents will be returned to the parish to fund its locally determined priorities. The remaining 60 percent of funds raised will support ministries and programs benefiting the entire Church of Pittsburgh.

When a parish exceeds its target, it will receive 60 cents of every dollar raised over its target, and 40 percent will be invested across the diocese.

All funds will be overseen and allocated by an independent nonprofit charitable corporation to ensure that donations are spent according to the case for support.

The diocesan-wide ministries and programs receiving support include need-based tuition grants for Catholic schools, religious education, technology for secondary schools, evangelization programs, Catholic communications, Catholic Charities, Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School, seminarian formation and support for retired priests and other senior citizens.

The new $71 million school is being built on 70 acres near Cranberry Township's border with Seven Fields. It will hold more than 1,000 students and is expected to open in August 2014. Construction continues at a rapid pace at the site, which is next to Route 228.

Donald Teti, assistant superintendent of secondary schools for the Diocese of Pittsburgh, said the Cardinal Wuerl program of studies would incorporate a “forward thinking” method of learning, designed to simulate a real-world work environment, by focusing on project-based learning techniques.

To learn more about the diocese's fundraising effort, visit www.ChurchAlivePgh.org.