On May 8, 11, and 16, three parish informational meetings were held to discuss proposed changes in the building program for St. John Neumann Church. Close to 100 people attended, representing newcomers to the parish as well as charter or long-time members. Representatives of the Building Committee and the Finance Committee, the project architect, and the priests of the parish were present at each meeting to answer questions and listen to input.
The following is a compilation of the questions asked and the suggestions voiced during the three informational meetings. More such opportunities for parishioner participation will be provided as planning continues on addressing our facility needs as we build the Body of Christ at SJN.
Input and questions from the meeting fall into five general areas:
Master Plan
Need for Space
Plan for Funding Capital Improvements
Design of New Facilities
Other
1) The Master Plan: Common questions or comments made regarding the overall building plans included the following.
When we will see the master plan? Preliminary plans from the architect are anticipated to be shared with the Building Committee in mid-June, with a proposal available for parish review at the end of June or in early July.
What is likely to be included in the master plan? The experts in church facilities who advised us recommended that we address our most critical needs by building a new, larger sanctuary first. Additional facilities most likely would include a chapel, a parish hall, and meeting rooms and offices for parish ministries. The value of having a master plan is that it will tell us what the parish will need over the next 15-20 years. That will allow us to construct what we need in a systematic and cost-effective fashion, rather than taking a piecemeal approach to providing the needed worship and meeting spaces.
Where will the new sanctuary and other facilities be located? We will know the answer to this question when the architect presents the proposed master plan for the parish’s consideration. The master plan will show the locations of all of the proposed facilities, taking into account the limitations of the current property. Approximately one-half of the existing acreage cannot be built on because it is a floodplain. The structures already on the site also must be taken into consideration. Since soil testing and site surveys have already been completed, the architect has a lot of good information to go on in designing a master plan that will meet the county’s land-use and planning requirements. That will save us time and money in the planning phase.
Will the master plan address parking needs? The number of parking spaces is determined using a mathematical formula based on the size of the sanctuary. The tentative projected seating capacity of the new church is approximately 1,100. We will have a better idea of the location and number of parking spaces we will ultimately have when the master plan is completed.
2) Need for New, More Spacious Facilities: Participants asked about the projected growth in parish membership in the coming years and the rationale behind the proposed changes in the building program.
What is the projected size of the parish in the years to come? From the beginning of the parish, St. John Neumann Church has been too small for the size congregation it serves. Designed for 800 families, the parish opened with 1,200 families registered. In the 1990s, two additional parishes (St. Stephen’s and St. Marguerite d’Youville) were created from the original St. John Neumann parish to address overcrowding. Still, growth continued and the facilities and clergy were stretched further and further. Projections for the county overall indicate population growth will continue for the foreseeable future, and a number of the new residents will be Catholic. While it is difficult to put a precise number on the projected size, there is ample evidence that larger facilities are needed to serve the current membership, as well as those expected to join the parish year after year.
What is the capacity of the current sanctuary? The current church provides seating for 521 worshippers. At the present time, the schedule of weekend Masses includes seven Masses in English and four in Spanish. The three full-time priests assigned to the parish must cover all of these Masses every weekend. In addition, weddings, funerals, baptisms, and other sacramental or ministerial duties must be performed by three priests, with the support of only two deacons. It is unlikely that additional priests will be assigned to the parish in the foreseeable future. In fact, there could be fewer priests in coming years. Therefore, it is becoming crucial that a larger sanctuary be built so each Mass can accommodate more people, thereby reducing the number of Masses needed.
Why not expand the current sanctuary or add a balcony? Those possibilities were explored with architects in the past but were found to be cost-prohibitive.
Will space be provided for other programs and ministries? Participants asked about facilities for programs such as pre-school classes and the youth program. Assurance was given that the space needs of those programs and others are being taken into account in developing the master plan. The current Neumann Center will continue to be used for parish activities. Rooms in the SJN school building that used to be available for parish needs have been transferred to school use only. That lost space will be recouped in the new capital program. The architect is considering all the needs of the church in designing a master plan that the property can accommodate and that will meet our needs well into the future.
3) Plan for Funding the Capital Improvements: A fair amount of discussion centered on the financial aspects of the proposed building program. Attendees expressed concern that a low percentage of the approximately 2,500 SJN families consistently contribute to support the parish. They would like to see greater participation in a capital campaign among all members of the parish who benefit from use of the facilities and their involvement with the worship community at SJN.
How much will the new plan cost? A budget for the new master plan will be developed along with the plan. The architect is crafting his preliminary design with a general budget figure in mind so that we do not end up with an extravagant plan the parish cannot afford to build.
Will there be another capital campaign drive? Funding the new plan will require more money than we currently have collected. When the final plans are approved, the Finance Committee will reactivate the fundraising campaign. The goal will be to generate excitement so more families beyond the “core” 700 to 800 families will agree to contribute to the campaign. The campaign will focus on the “community effort” needed to provide our parish the facilities it needs. A goal of at least 69% participation among registered families is the target. Participants agreed that how the capital campaign is rolled out will be important. A number of people expressed their support for the new plan, saying they have not participated up to this point, but the larger sanctuary and other facilities are a plan they can and will monetarily support.
Will the Archdiocese help us financially? The Archdiocese is supportive of the proposed new direction at SJN. Once the master plan is approved, the Archdiocese could be a source of a low-cost construction loan to augment what funding is already available. The parish has been approved for a $4 million project so far. More than half of that amount has already been collected from parishioner pledges to the former capital campaign. Contributions to the building fund continue to be strong every month.
4) Design of New Facilities: Attendees made a number of suggestions regarding design elements of the new sanctuary in particular.
Among their recommendations were:
- The sanctuary should feature a crucifix above the altar.
- The chapel should provide an intimate worship setting.
- The chapel should be situated so that it opens into the sanctuary and could be used for extra seating in the sanctuary if necessary.
- The tabernacle should be located where it is visible from both the chapel and the sanctuary at the same time.
- The church should include a cry room.
- The chapel design should lend itself to the encouragement of Perpetual Adoration at SJN.
- Handicapped accessibility issues must be addressed, from wheelchair access to the altar and the choir area, to the need for an elevator, to the need for audio support for hearing-impaired parishioners.
- The current stained glass windows should be preserved and have a use in the new facilities.
5) Other: Additional questions, comments or suggestions heard included:
Will the current sanctuary be usable during construction? (Yes.)
Credible, consistent communication during the roll out of the new building plan and capital campaign will be extremely important.
Outreach to Hispanic parishioners needs to be a priority.
The Building Committee needs broader representation of the groups that make up our parish family. (Hispanic and female members are encouraged to make known their interest in the Building Committee so the group can be made more representative of the parish itself.)
Rumors must be stopped as soon as possible with good communication. (For example, it is not true that the current sanctuary will be torn down, nor is the projected cost upwards of $16 million! Both of these statements are rumors that are false and are causing unnecessary concern.)
Monsignor Giusta and the Building and Finance committees are eager to hear from parishioners regarding the new capital plan and the campaign to fund it. Be watching for additional information on the SJN Web site, in the weekly parish bulletin, and in announcements from the altar on a continual basis. If you have a question or a concern, please send it to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
. You will receive as prompt a response as possible.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
