Pastor's Page: Fulfilling Our Dreams 2010 And Beyond
September 26, 2010
By God's grace, and your generous response to the Spirit of God that enlivens you, 160 families in our parish pledged over $630,000 to the building of a Parish Center. Those pledges, payable over five years, will enable us to provide space for an expanding parish community. Ministry meetings, prayer groups, support groups, room for parish dances and festivities, and eventually offices for outreach and faith formation for all age groups will be housed in the new facility-a testimony to your faith in Christ and proclamation of the Gospel in Manorville.
In October, 2009 we completed a Feasibility Study that indicated your desire to sacrifice financially even in these very difficult economic times. You believe that a new building on Wading River Road can capture the attention of the Manorville community.
Catholics, both lukewarm and committed, will be drawn both to worship and to community building in the new facility. How good it is to celebrate God's love, not only at the Eucharist, but whenever the people of God come together with Christ in their midst!
"Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God lives within you?" (1 Corinthians 3:16)
We will be building our Parish Center in three phases. Phase 1 will involve the accumulation of funds toward the $500,000 in cash that our diocese requires before we can take bids and go to contract. Once we receive permission to begin the bidding process, the approved contractor chosen by the Parish Building Committee, will construct the two-story building on land parallel to the existing church. In this first phase, we will complete the basement excavation only, finish the ground floor entirely and leave the completion of the second floor to Phase 2.
The Council, Finance Committee and Parish Staff believe that once parishioners see that their dreams are coming true as the Center is constructed, many will come forward with new pledges, and some will increase their initial pledge. This will enable us to complete the second floor area and its office space for outreach, faith formation, youth ministry, and the pastor's office.
Phase 3, the completion of the excavated basement, including a kitchen area to serve parish dances and other celebrations, will be the final effort in our building campaign.
I am edified by the generous response of so many in our parish community. Your stewardship of the Gospel is a powerful witness to your faith in Jesus Christ. I am deeply grateful for all you do to bring the good news of God's love alive in our parish!
If you have not been able to pledge, for any reason whatsoever, please feel free to make a pledge as your means allow.
You are always in my prayers as we struggle with the worst economic downturn since the Second World War, and the ongoing impact of the clergy abuse crisis internationally.
Peace,
Father Bruce
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