Sixth Sunday of Easter

Dear Parishioners,

     Thank you to all who have filled out questionnaires for our feasibility study.  Presently, The Steier Group is conducting the last of the interviews.  We hope to have about 100 people consulted in the five parishes taking part.  The parishes are St. Mary, Sacred Heart, Christ the King, St. Maria Goretti (Coal Valley) and Our Lady of Peace (Orion).  Seton School parents are also being interviewed.  This information, along with the open meetings we had, and the written and on-line questionnaires will be the basis of any decision that is made about going forward with any building projects.

     We hope to have Steier’s assessment at the end of May.  The next steps will be to determine which projects are a go and which are not.  There are some things that complicate the picture when you are working with six different institutions.  One reality is that there is presently no pastor now in Coal Valley and Orion.  The new pastor will not be in place until mid-June.  We need to give him a chance to absorb the information and make decisions with his parish leadership.

     The other aspect that is beyond our control is that we must keep the Diocese of Peoria informed.  We must share the results of our study and ask permission to move ahead with an actual capital campaign, if indeed, things are favorable. Without approval from the diocese nothing can happen. 

     Finally, each institution involved will have to determine whether their project is a go. So, there is a lot yet to be decided.  Please continue to pray that we will move as the Holy Spirit wants and that we will make wise choices.  This is a big moment for the Catholic Church in the Moline area. Nothing has been settled yet.

Happy Easter,

Fr. Mark

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FIRST HOLY COMMUNION CLASS OF 2018!