A Place to Belong

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Overview of Town Hall Meeting May 12, 2005
To Build or Not to Build?

BACKGROUND:

70 parishioners of Holy Spirit gathered on May 12, 2005, to discuss the topic of building a Parish Center. The Parish Center would be a multi-purpose facility with adjustable walls that will increase parish space by about 10,000 square feet. This multi-purpose center would be built onto the east side of the building at the end of the restroom corridor.

The need for a Parish Multi-Purpose Center was validated during a Facility Study conducted as a component of the Long Range Planning process. The Study provided the following information:
• There is a critical need for a large meeting room for Generations of Faith/religious education purposes
• A space for social gatherings is a parishioner priority
• Currently, staff members are sharing an office that was designed to be a storage room
• There is a critical need for storage for liturgical, administrative and maintenance purposes

WHAT WE LEARNED:

The Parish Facility Study clearly defined the need for additional space to provide for religious education, social gatherings, parish ministry meetings, storage and administrative areas. Parishioners attending the Town Hall Meeting validated the need for additional space.

Parish growth has surpassed financial growth. We have 746 registered families/members. Envelopes are utilized by 490 families/members.

It costs $25 per week per registered family to operate the parish. The average contribution is $12 per week.

Our mortgage debt is approximately $1.2 million. Only 147 members contribute to the mortgage payment in addition to their weekly operating contribution. In order to make the mortgage payment of $18,000 per month, we transfer money from operating income on a regular basis.

Parishioners attending the Town Hall Meeting indicated that the current mortgage needs to be paid off prior to starting another building. If the 490 families/members who are regular contributors would immediately designate an additional $50 per month for the mortgage payment, the debt would be paid off in 2 to 3 years.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TODAY?

• Increase your weekly contribution to the Ordinary Collection for operating expenses by at least $5 or more.
• Make a Mortgage Payment Commitment of $50 per month in addition to your weekly operating donation. [Contact the office at 661-0644 or place attached form in the collection basket to make a mortgage commitment.]
• Skip a fast food dinner and donate the money to the parish each week.
• Invite others you know to join the Holy Spirit community of faith.
• Share this information with at least two other Holy Spirit members.
• Pray for the success of our Stewardship efforts.
• Create a gift for the benefit of Holy Spirit in your estate plans.

Mortgage Payment Commitment

I want to join the current group of Holy Spirit Stewards and ensure the future of our parish. I promise a share of my treasure, in addition to my contribution to the ordinary collection for operating, to help retire our parish mortgage in the amount of $____________ per month.

Name:

Address:

Phone: E-Mail: