11 June
2002
Dear
Parishioner,
The
plans below presents to you the revised building plans for
our Foundation for the Future campaign. As you know, last
fall we were able to receive pledges of $2.6 million toward
the building of an educational/office wing and the enlargement
of our church. Because our original plans were budgeted
at $3 million, it was the decision of the building committee
to revise our plans so that we would stay with the $2.6
million pledged. To that end a parish-wide survey was taken
to determine which parts of the project were most important
to the parish. The results of that survey placed the educational/office
wing as the first priority, the church second, the blessed
sacrament/prayer chapel third, and the new narthex last.
The
revised plans presented here have been based on those priorities.
These plans are estimated to cost $2.1 million for construction.
This will allow $500,000 for furnishings, loan costs, inflation,
and building contingencies. The building committee is confident
that, excluding any unforeseen developments, we will be
able to realize these revised plans within our $2.6 million
budget.
These
revised plans have been approved by the staff, the building
committee, and the Parish Pastoral Council. Last week I
presented them to Bishop Pilla who gave them his support.
However, before these plans are considered final, it is
important that they have your support. This letter presents
the revised plans to you for your consideration. You will
see that these plans not only meet our budget but also address
several concerns which were raised by parishioners during
the fundraising phase. Obviously compromises had to be made
as the plans were revised. It is, however, my conviction
that these plans still meet most of the aims which initiated
this project and will serve our parish well for years to
come.
Therefore,
I ask you to review the three diagrams which are included
in this mailing together with the explanation which follows
this letter. On the weekend of June 22-23 members of the
Parish Pastoral Council will be available after all the
Masses to answer any questions and receive any comments
you may have concerning the plans. Additionally the following
members of our Parish Pastoral Council are willing to be
contacted by phone:
On
the weekend of June 29-30 we will distribute a simple survey
at all of our parish liturgies. On that survey you will
have three choices:
1) I accept the revised plans as presented;
2) I accept the plans with the following reservations;
3) I do not accept the revised plans because of the following
reasons.
If
the plans receive the support of the parish, we will consider
them final plans and begin to proceed toward construction.
If the plans do not receive parish support, we will look
to revise them again.
It
is my sincere hope that these plans will be supported by
our community. Therefore, I ask you to review what is presented
below and decide whether you can accept these plans as our
Foundation for the Future.
I
would like to thank those who have given many hours of work
to this project so far: those designing the plans, those
assisting us in the pledge campaign, those who expressed
their ideas and suggestions, and the members of the Pastoral
Council and Building Committee. Without their effort and
skill we would not be poised as we are today to move forward.
Finally, I would like to thank every member of our community
who has supported this project through their financial committment
and/or through their prayers. Your support has been invaluable.
In Christ,
Fr. George Smiga
In
the following descriptions, the letters found in brackets
{ } refer to the three diagrams shown below.
BRIEF
OVERVIEW OF REVISED PLANS:
Since
the new educational/office wing was given the highest priority
in the survey, with the exception of a few interior rearrangements,
it remains unchanged from the way it was presented during
fundraising. A diagram of both the entry and lower level
of the new wing can be found below.
Since
the new narthex was given the lowest priority in the survey,
it has been omitted from the revised plans. The present
narthex will remain as it is. This will allow the present
planting in front of the narthex to remain as well. There
will be a few minor changes to provide more interior room
in the narthex, and the addition of a glass section into
the present wall to increase visibility from the narthex
into the church.
Since
there was significant support for a Blessed Sacrament/ Prayer
Chapel, the revised plans call for such a chapel but one
which is smaller and more simple in design.
The
revised design for the church attempts to include the numerous
suggestions gathered through the fundraising, interview,
and survey process. The desire for increased seating has
been met by lengthening the north transept of the church
{F} by about 20ft and pushing out in two additional sections
{D & U}, as was suggested in the original design. These
additions will provide a maximum seating of 765 which is
165 more than the church presently seats.
DETAILED EXPLANATION
Educational/Administrative
Wing. Since the revised plans do not envision a new narthex,
the educational/administrative wing would now be connected
to the present building through a hallway {R} which leads
through the north glass wall of the present narthex. Storage
space which was going to be located beneath the new narthex
has been moved to storage areas on both the first and second
floors of the new wing {X}. The revised plans do not envision
a new vesting sacristy. The sacristy as it presently exists
in our building will continue to be used as a place for
priests and servers to vest before Mass. An additional sacristy
to store and clean the vessels {N} will be located close
to the altar. The space originally planned as a new vesting
sacristy will be used for a larger food pantry {V} and clothes
drop off area as well as additional storage. The lower level
of the wing still includes a nursery and five classrooms
as well as a connection to the present basement which will
function as a youth drop-in area {W}.
Narthex.
A few small alterations are intended to increase the usable
floor space of the narthex. The structure by the main doors
{S} which attempts to block wind when the doors are opened
will be removed. Serving windows would be created on both
sides of the narthex {T}, allowing service from kitchenette
areas. This will eliminate the need to set up tables within
the narthex for coffee and donuts.
A glassed-in area as wide as the present three doors leading
into church and 9ft high {J} would be inserted into the
present narthex wall. It will provide visibility for overflow
seating at Christmas and Easter and also offer visibility
for parents who need to remove their children from church,
thus rendering the narthex a suitable cry-room.
Blessed
Sacrament / Prayer Chapel. The size of the Blessed Sacrament
Chapel {P} has been reduced from the original plans. The
roof design is lower but still includes a wall of 9ft high
windows on the north wall {Q} . The chapel would seat 48
which will still render it usable not only for personal
prayer but also for class and parish-group prayer services
as well as weekday Masses.
In
the Chapel addition there is also included a confessional
room {M}, a sacristy to wash liturgical vessels {N}, and
a music storage area {L}.
Church.
Several parishioners expressed the desire to retain some
of our present pews in the church. The revised plans attempt
a tasteful combination of the present pews with flexible
seating. The two sections to either side of the center aisle
{E} are comprised of our present pews. The rest of the seating
in the church is comprised of flexible "pew chairs."
The color of the pews and chairs will match to minimize
the distinction between them. The revised plans do not allow
for different seating arrangements as did the original plans.
They do, however, present a single seating plan which includes
flexibility in a number of ways. The flexible seating will
permit adjustment in the seating adjacent to the music area
and the area around the baptismal font. Moreover, in times
when less seating is needed, flexible seating can be removed
from the back rows of the north transept {F}, thus gathering
the assembly more evenly around the altar area. Flexible
seating also allows for the removal of seats to provide
space for wheelchairs in areas immediate to the altar.
A
new baptistery {C} will be located at the head of the north
transept in proximity to the altar. Since baptisms occur
regularly during our weekend liturgies, this location will
allow for greater visibility by the assembly. The location
would also give the font a stronger visual connection to
the altar, thus emphasizing the close relationship between
Baptism and Eucharist. The baptismal font will allow for
adult immersion which is the preferred method of baptism
within the Catholic Church. A small window niche {G} will
be opened up in the west wall to form an Ambry (a place
for the blessed oils to be located).
The
revised plans call for the present altar platform to be
shortened in width and that space relocated in front of
the altar. This space in front of the altar platform is
seen as an extension of the sanctuary. It will place in
the midst of the assembly an area in which many actions
of the liturgy can occur. The revised plans call for the
continued use of our present movable ambo. Thus the ambo
can be located on the same level as the altar {B1} or it
can be moved to various places in the area in front of the
altar platform {B2-3}. Thus, the area in front of the altar
can be used for the reading of the Word and the homily.
This same area will provide a better location for the casket
at funerals, the bride and groom at weddings, the various
rites for RCIA, as well as the communion procession at our
weekend liturgies.
A
new stone altar {A} will be designed to fit the smaller
altar platform. Materials from the present altar will be
reused in the Blessed Sacrament chapel {P}. The altar platform
will remain the same height (3 steps) and the present slate
will be retained. Similar slate is envisioned as the flooring
of the church. Having the entire floor of slate would maximize
the unity of the church, tying together the sections of
pews and flexible seating together with the altar and font.
As flexible seating is added or removed, it will always
look appropriate because the floor is consistent. Moreover,
the hard surface of the slate will increase the resonance
of the building which is desirable for music and congregational
singing. Marc Weagraff and other music directors of the
area who were consulted support the value of increased resonance
in the church.
The
large round stained glass window will remain in its present
location as part of the narthex wall {J}. The window of
Jesus' baptism will be relocated as part of the new construction
in the north transept {I}. The Holy Family Plaque will also
be located in the north transept {H}. New stations of the
cross are envisioned. Their style and location will be determined
by the artist in consultation with the parishioners who
have memorialized them.
The
music area will remain in its present location {K} with
the additional space occasioned by the removal of the present
music storage closet. The rotation of its position suggested
in the former plans was seen as unnecessary since the enlargement
of the church will now occur by extending the north transept.
