MOVING FORWARD WITH PHASE 1 ESTIMATED COST FOR PHASE 1 $5.3 MILLION H abakkuk is an OT prophet who, growing impatient with God’s timing, asked, “How long, O LORD?” You may have said the same about the facility plan at Saint Andrew. For six years, we’ve been studying, working and praying to “chart a course to meet the needs of our generation and future generations of Saint Andrew parishioners and students” and, in the last two years, creat- ed a Master Facility Plan to best serve those needs. We, as a parish and school family, are now at a point where, like the prophet, can hear the Lord respond, “e vision…presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint.” (Hb 1:1, 2:3) Recently, we received the results of the Planning Study conducted by the Steier Group. Following suggestions within the report, we: 1) revised the Master Facilities Plan in light of the projections of what we could raise in an initial capital campaign; 2) proposed the new plan to parish leadership and reached consensus to present it to the diocese; and 3) received permission from the Diocesan Pasto- ral Finance Committee to move forward with our revised Master Facilities Plan and begin the process of raising the funds necessary to complete Phase 1 (see below) of the plan. CHURCH EXPANSION Constructing a wall around our existing outer wall and adding a covering to the front of the church will create a welcoming and accessible approach to the church. Expanding the vestibule will permit more space for gathering outside the sanctuary before and aſter Masses. Increasing square footage to the church allows for more seating and the addition of restrooms and a “cry room.” Making changes in this phase prepares the church for Phase 2 renovations for increased seating and a new chapel. CAFETERIA EXPANSION Adding square footage to the current cafeteria has many benefits. Namely, it: Increases seating for this space by 75-100 seats for school and parish use, Reduces the number of lunch periods, so children will be able to eat lunch at a time more appropriate to their physical needs and the cafeteria program will run more efficiently, Creates a comfortable space, with a kitchen, for both school and parish use, and Stages the school to add the middle school wing scheduled to take place in Phase 2. NEW PASTORAL CENTER Constructing a new Pastoral Center will replace the former convent presently used for parish offices. e current space has outlived its usefulness. e new Pastoral Center will: Be inviting, ADA accessible, attractive, aesthetically pleasing and energy efficient, Add much needed office and meeting space, and Provide quality dedicated space for our youth ministries. Cafeteria Expansion Church Pastoral Center Middle School Wing (Phase 2)
Transcript
MOVING FORWARD WITH PHASE 1
ESTIMATED COST FOR PHASE 1 $5.3 MILLION
Habakkuk is an OT prophet who, growing impatient with God’s timing, asked, “How long, O LORD?” You may have said the same about the facility plan at Saint Andrew. For six
years, we’ve been studying, working and praying to “chart a course to meet the needs of our generation and future generations of Saint Andrew parishioners and students” and, in the last two years, creat-ed a Master Facility Plan to best serve those needs.
We, as a parish and school family, are now at a point where, like the prophet, can hear the Lord respond, “The vision…presses on to fulfillment, and will not disappoint.” (Hb 1:1, 2:3)
Recently, we received the results of the Planning Study conducted by the Steier Group. Following suggestions within the report, we: 1) revised the Master Facilities Plan in light of the projections of what we could raise in an initial capital campaign; 2) proposed the new plan to parish leadership and reached consensus to present it to the diocese; and 3) received permission from the Diocesan Pasto-ral Finance Committee to move forward with our revised Master Facilities Plan and begin the process of raising the funds necessary to complete Phase 1 (see below) of the plan.
CHURCH EXPANSIONConstructing a wall around our existing outer wall and adding a covering to the front of the church will create a welcoming and accessible approach to the church.
Expanding the vestibule will permit more space for gathering outside the sanctuary before and after Masses.
Increasing square footage to the church allows for more seating and the addition of restrooms and a “cry room.”
Making changes in this phase prepares the church for Phase 2 renovations for increased seating and a new chapel.
CAFETERIA EXPANSIONAdding square footage to the current cafeteria has many benefits. Namely, it:
Increases seating for this space by 75-100 seats for school and parish use,
Reduces the number of lunch periods, so children will be able to eat lunch at a time more appropriate to their physical needs and the cafeteria program will run more efficiently,
Creates a comfortable space, with a kitchen, for both school and parish use, and
Stages the school to add the middle school wing scheduled to take place in Phase 2.
NEW PASTORAL CENTERConstructing a new Pastoral Center will replace the former convent presently used for parish offices. The current space has outlived its usefulness. The new Pastoral Center will:
Be inviting, ADA accessible, attractive, aesthetically pleasing and energy efficient,
Add much needed office and meeting space, and
Provide quality dedicated space for our youth ministries.
Cafeteria Expansion
Church
Pastoral Center
Middle School Wing (Phase 2)
The goal in the original Master Facilities Plan was $10 million for Phase 1. Now it is $5.3 million. What changed and how does that affect the phases originally proposed? The results of the planning study conducted by the Steier Group projected - given the response to the surveys and comparing Saint Andrew to parishes of similar size and demographics (that have had successful campaigns) – a more realistic target of $4.75-$5.25 million for Phase 1. Given this reality, we re-sequenced our plan to have four phases instead of the original three. No projects in the original Master Facility Plan were eliminated.
Where can I find the results of the Planning Study and the revised Master Facility Plan?These, along with other materials related to the pastoral and facility plan and campaign, can be found on the parish website: www.standrewcc.org
Why did we decide to move forward with the three priorities in Phase 1 listed above? Several factors led to the decision. The priorities chosen were the three that received the greatest support in the planning study. The combined cost of the three priorities is closest in-line with the fundraising projection indicated in the planning study. Completing these three projects first makes the most sense construction-wise as subsequent projects are dependent on these happening first.
Why are we considering a campaign at all? Do we really need one?The short answer is YES. We need this campaign to raise the funds necessary to keep our church and school alive in the service of Christ and His people. Financial planning for maintenance and repair of parish facilities is complicated by several factors. The cost of maintaining and repairing current facilities over the next 5 years is more than $1.2 million. However, two of those buildings are in such poor condition they are not worth repairing. In addition, research and analysis from our master planning efforts have identified school and other pastoral needs that current facilities cannot support, even if properly maintained. A capital campaign will allow us to address these needs in a financially responsible manner.
Are we confident the time is now?We are fully committed to remaining a strong dynamic parish with a vibrant school. We have invested the time and energy necessary to develop a Master Facility Plan that shows the facility path we will follow to satisfy this commitment. We have studied our capacity toward raising adequate funds to complete the projects we start and have received diocesan approval to proceed with a capital campaign. We have selected the Steier Group as our partner to help us prepare for and conduct a successful capital campaign. The depth of these preparations should provide confidence that we intend go forward and successfully conduct a capital campaign.
If everything goes according to plan, approximately when would construction begin for Phase 1?The timing of a Phase 1 construction start is largely dependent on how quickly the parish can raise funds to meet funding requirements established by the diocese. Before construction can start, the parish is required to have 40% of the estimated project cost in cash, an additional 25% in pledges and can receive a loan for the remaining 35% of the cost from the diocese. So construction start is largely dependent on (1) receiving adequate pledges from parishioners and (2) parishioners quickly paying those pledges.
I’m sure we are no different than any other parish in that we have a lot of families that are “registered” but aren’t active. What is the plan to reach everyone who is “registered” in the parish?You are correct in your assumption. We have many, many registered families that do not participate in the life of the parish or, at best, are infrequent in their participation. Our plan is to reach out and communicate - individually and personally - with as many families as possible. The key to success for this effort will be getting as many volunteers as we can. So, if you care about our parish and school and want to do something that not only helps raise money for these much needed projects but also reconnects families to Saint Andrew, please call the office and volunteer right away to be a part of this incredible and timely opportunity to make a difference in the life of our parish and school.
What’s involved in being a volunteer?Volunteers will be asked to contact no more than 10-12 families over an eight week period. There are only four meetings that last one hour each: orientation, training and two progress meetings. Our campaign manager from the Steier Group, Dominic Felix, will help you every step of the way…no prior experience is necessary.
Beyond the facilities, what is the general assessment of the parish and school?Both the parish and school have money in savings, we are paying all our bills and have no debt. An increase in offertory, of course, would be greatly welcomed, because it would make possible a number of things we would like to do, but lack the needed funds.
Without the facilities plan moving forward, we would be unable to increase programs. As it is, there are regular difficulties in scheduling day-to-day events and activities that are essential to our mission as a parish and school.
Any chance we’re going to have a parish-wide presentation on the Facility Master Plan, Phase 1 and the campaign?YES, definitely! We have three presentation opportunities scheduled and you are invited to attend whichever one works for you.
The dates and times of the presentations - all to be held in the church - are as follows:
Tuesday, November 29 @ 7:00 p.m.Wednesday, November 30 @ 2:00 p.m.Saturday, December 3 @ 7:00 p.m. (after the Saturday, 5:30 p.m. Mass)
