Fifth Sunday of Easter

Dear Parishioners,

    I would like to use my column this week to report on the costs for the Tier I and Tier II projects associated with our Capital Campaign.  All bills have been received for the remodeling of the first floor of the Lee Center into an apartment for the priests to live in. 

    As you remember, the budget for our Tier I projects was approximately one million dollars. The budget for our Tier II project of providing new living space for the priests was three hundred thousand dollars.  These budgets were established about three years ago as we began to raise money for the TTT campaign.  The breakdown of costs is as follows.

Tier I

Tuckpointing of Church      154,023

Stained Glass Restoration 819,349

HVAC Lee Center                 60,873

                                        1,034,245

Tier II

Cost of New Priests’ Apartment and Garage    338,063

Special donation for brick facing on Garage       32,000

                                                                          306,063

     The good news is that for the first two phases of our capital project we almost met our budget goals.  A couple of factors impacted the budget estimates.  One issue was that the limestone frame fell out of the Melchizedek Window in the sanctuary.  This caused $42,750 in additional cost. If this had not happened, we would have been well under budget for tier one. In the tier two project two parishioners volunteered to offset the cost of brick facing for the garage. This was a $32,000 donation.  I deducted this from the total for the Tier II total because it was a donation that offset a particular cost of the project.

     A few of the items included in the priests’ apartment remodel included insulating the entire apartment, putting in new wall board and installing new windowsills.  Ductwork for the HVAC was rerouted, and all new ceilings were installed throughout the apartment. The old convent kitchen was kept but re-laid and new cabinetry was installed. Old appliances were replaced. Three bathrooms were either built or remodeled for the three bedrooms.  Several new doors were installed. New carpeting and floors were also added. Parishioners donated their time to repaint the apartment and make and install drapes and blinds.

     The intent of parish leadership is to always try to be as transparent as possible with finances.  Your donations to TTT have been put to good use and the facilities committee tried to save money wherever they could.  They spent hours making sure every dollar was well spent.

     The new rectory apartment is very comfortable, and Fr. Matthew and I are very grateful for this healthy living environment.  The space that we remodeled was vacated by the school and we had no long-range plans for it.  Now it is occupied.  In the long run we will save money on utilities, insurance and repairs.  I think this is showing good stewardship of parish resources.  Many thanks to Hodge Construction for being the general contractor.  They did a great job.

My Our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over you today.

Fr. Mark