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I have some good news to share with you.
Archbishop Gregory has written me and approved the initial steps we are taking, regarding our parish’s desire to raise the funds we need and to build a new worship space, create a parish hall and construct needed additional meeting rooms. The letter has been included in this week’s bulletin, for all to see.
In the last paragraph of the Archbishop’s letter, just before his promise of prayer and blessing, you’ll see the names CCSI (Catholic Construction Services), the Archdiocesan Development Department and the Archdiocesan Finance Department. These three departments assist the Archbishop in the many aspects of his Episcopal ministry; in fact, these departments are already assisting SJN in this early phase of our project. The dollars that you and I are called to give, in supporting the 2008 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, pays for all the support SJN has received and will receive from the Archbishop’s curia, as we step out in faith and build in faith... together... united.
We are calling this great undertaking Building a Legacy of Faith. Teams of parishioners are already planning for the reinvigorated Capital Campaign. Other parishioners are beginning to sit together with our architects, to discuss what we hope to see in our new worship space. We are Building a Legacy of Faith, and this legacy of faith will serve us and our children and their children, in offering the body of SJN a new sacred space for worship, a new communal space for Christ-centered fellowship, a new set of meeting rooms, for heartfelt & heart-driven ministries. Though we are in the beginning phase of the project, several important committees have been formed. Others will follow. Take a look at what your fellow parishioners have already agreed to do together, in building our legacy of faith. Steering Committee: This committee will offer the over-all guidance for the project, “steering” all the other committees so that we are all working as one, together. Joe Creighton will chair the Steering Committee and will serve as the over-all coordinator of the project. Design Review Committee: The committee members of the DRC will work with the architects in the planning of the exterior and the interior of the new worship space. I will be chairing this important committee. The members were drawn from the body of parishioners that studied together on the 2005-2006 Parish Design Committee. In addition to the parish membership, I have asked two members of the Archbishop’s curia to join us in the work. Ed McCoy, who directs the Office for Persons with Disabilities and Fr. Theodore Book, who directs the Office of Worship, will offer their expertise as part of our DRC team. Communications Committee: Bernie Kirkland will chair this group and will strive to keep us all “on message”, as we work together in Building a Legacy of Faith. Fund-raising Committee: Stark Harbour will chair this committee, and will work with his team and with the consultants we have brought in, to go about raising the funds we need. As Deacon Gary Womack so eloquently puts it, “we have all the money we need... it’s just that it’s still in your pocket!” Along with these committees and the others that will be formed in due course, our Finance Council will over-see every phase of the project, making sure that we act as good stewards, in dealing openly and honestly with every dollar given in faith. “Transparency” is the guiding principle for our Finance Council and for me.
AMDG
Msgr. David |
