From the Pastor’s Desk:
The Covid Virus took many things from us over the past 14 months, beginning with over 500,000 American lives. It has destroyed businesses, jobs and hurt education on every level. Governments across the world have sometimes acted together and at other times separately to protect their countries and peoples. But we have also learned from the pandemic. We have learned how to clean and sanitize, and how to work together for the good of all by wearing a mask. I bring all of this together today to say thank you for your support during this past year. Your notes, your e-mails, your financial support for the parish have all been encouraging to both Fr. Allen and myself.
I want us to take a look at a major project for the future. We have a great need for space. We NEED a parish center. A parish center would give us space for parish functions. At the moment all we have is the school cafeteria, which has limited availability, due to the fact that for 9 months of the year it is in use by the school. Through the pandemic we have been able to pay all of our bills on time and I believe that it is now time to move forward.
We began the ground work over two years ago when the Loretto House, whose roof was rotting and walls bowing outward, was taken down. Next a topographical survey was undertaken for the entire city block, including school, rectory, cathedral, Catholic Center and convent (Catholic Center helped with the cost). A survey had not been done in the over 100 years since the founding of the parish. Finally, working with the city, we needed to show the correct easement and waterline of what was Cherry street and to know where our property begins. All of this was behind the scenes before we could imagine and plan.
Now we come to the fun part, but also the hard part. What to build and how much money will we need to raise if we are to build? When we build, we will need to build a large enough parish center to have a variety of functions. If we are to serve meals, we will need a kitchen. What kind of meeting space will be needed for different organizations to meet during the school days. Should we include new parish offices? Do we hire a firm to help us raise money, or can we have a capital campaign on our own? I do not like giving money away, especially in the amounts that fundraising organizations charge. If we as a parish want a parish center then I believe that we are capable of raising the money ourselves without paying 4-6% of the fundraising goal for a company to tell us how to have a capital campaign. In the coming months we will be reaching out for your input. I place all of this before you the parishioners of St. Agnes Cathedral. Do we stand still? Or begin to move forward?