From the Pastor...

July 25, 2010

In the last two bulletins, I described the major repairs and renovations to our parish buildings and grounds that we have done this past year and those we plan to do in this present year.  This week I want to identify some of those major repairs and renovations to parish buildings and facilities that we expect to undertake in the next five or six years.

As I mentioned last week, we have initiated multi-year projects to repair and restore the stained glass windows and the pipe organ in the church.  We will continue these over the next several years.  Of much greater significance, we are considering a major project to repair and renovate our school buildings and theater as early as 2014.

We know that the exterior masonry and roofs of the school and theater buildings need major work.  This past spring, a consultant evaluated the condition of the buildings’ exteriors and roofs. Regarding the masonry, the consultant concluded that there are a “number of potential problems and areas of concern” that “should be rehabilitated at the earliest opportunity.”  Regarding the roofs, the consultant also concluded that the roofs on the school buildings and theater were “nearing the end of their serviceable lives and should be removed and replaced.”  If possible, we’d like to do this masonry and roof work as part of a larger, comprehensive renovation of the school and theater. 

For many years, we have been applying “band-aids” and making ad hoc improvements to our nearly 100-year old school buildings in an effort to stay one step ahead of the kids.  It is time to consider doing a major renovation of those buildings.  The School Advisory Board is currently doing a strategic plan for the school.  That plan will help us identify the sort of facility that will be needed to meet the needs of the parish for years to come.   Once that strategic plan is completed, we will do a major parish facilities plan that will incorporate the findings of the recently completed theater renovation study and recommend a phased program of specific improvements to the upper and lower school and theater.  (You will recall that the theater renovation study we did this past year concluded that it was feasible to renovate the theater and adjacent school areas to create a large, open general purpose space as well as additional classrooms, storage areas, and offices and expanded, modern bathroom facilities.)

This project could cost several million dollars.  We are preparing for this by increasing our annual contribution to our replacement reserve fund from $150,000 to $300,000.  This fund was established several years ago to help pay for major capital projects that are bigger than the annual operating budget can bear.  By the end of this fiscal year, the balance in that fund will be nearly $1.5 million.  Still, it is virtually certain that we will need a capital campaign if we are to be able to finance this major project.

Parishioners have been and will continue to be involved in these plans.  We will not proceed with this or any other major project without your approval.   If we can convince you that this project is needed to carry out our parish mission, I am confident that you will not only say yes; you will also enthusiastically support it.

Fr. Mark