I have mentioned several times in this bulletin column that we have a major capital project ahead. Although I don’t have the specifics of cost, I do know now the scope of the project.
Overall, our buildings are in good shape. We have kept up with ordinary maintenance, quickly repairing things when they are broken. There has been and always will be the constant need to fix broken pipes and sidewalks, to make electrical repairs, to patch roof leaks and repair ceilings, etc. We are responsible for two buildings, the church and the friary. Both buildings are overall in good shape, though the friary is a bit shabby. But the friary is not in need of a major overhaul and we can’t afford to do a makeover that is not necessary.
Our offices are in the Connelly House. Because they are part of Connelly House, Project Home is responsible for their upkeep and they are kept in tip top shape. Project Home is our tenant for the land and we are the tenant of Project Home for the offices. We pay modest rent and we have no worries regarding maintenance.
That said, we have one major area of need. If we take care of this one big problem, Saint John Church is likely secure for the next 20-25 years or more.
Behind the church and the friary, there is a courtyard. Under the courtyard is a basement which houses all of the church and friary mechanical systems. We no longer have a boiler or furnace—we buy our heat from the steam company. We do have an electrical transformer and air conditioning chillers for the church. Our water pumps are there also, but they are new and in fine shape.
The courtyard is deteriorating and needs repair or replacement before it collapses. Our AC chillers are at the end of their usefulness; we are merely nursing them along year by year. Our electrical transformer is from the 1960s and is deteriorating and could cease functioning at any time.
Thus, we have three major problems:
- A deteriorating patio
- AC chillers are at the end of their usefulness
- An electrical transformer which is way past its expected useful life.
It is our hope that we can buy our electricity from the Connelly House, thus avoiding the need to purchase a new transformer. This would save us a lot of money. Project Home is open to helping us in this way, but more investigation is needed.
Even with Project Home’s helpful cooperation, we have an expensive project to keep Saint John Church open for the next quarter century. I don’t know yet what this will cost, but soon we will have estimates.
In this day and age, we cannot expect the Archdiocese to rescue us. We will have to raise the money. We will raise the money!
Also, keep in mind our $700,000 debt for past insurance bills and the work on the church towers. That must be paid, though the Archdiocese has been patient, accepting a modest payment each year and not charging us interest.