For months now, I have been telling you that we must soon begin a capital project and raise one million dollars. The patio behind the church is crumbling and under that deteriorating patio are the mechanical systems that keep our church and the friary operating. The electrical system is many decades old, maybe from the 1960s. It is way past its useful life and could die at any time. The air conditioning for the upper church is also past its expected life. We have been nursing it along for the past few years and this can’t continue much longer.
I have worked with an amazing team of advisors, expert contractors. Our project has been approved by the Archdiocese. They understand that it is necessary for the survival of Saint John’s. We do not and cannot expect that the Archdiocese will fund any part of this project. But we are now authorized to begin.
I have a team of marketing and graphic arts professionals, our parishioners, working on capital campaign materials—video, brochures, power point. Soon all of this will be shown to our parishioners and friends. We are not using a professional fundraising company. Every dollar raised will go to the project, not one dime will pay for an outside consultant fundraiser.
We have hired an architectural firm at the cost of $94,000. It is a lot of money but we have no choice. We have to do this project or close our doors. And we won’t close our doors. When the project is presented to our parishioners and friends, you will see that we have some commitments already and some cash already donated. We will take $100,000 from our Historic Preservation Fund. With that withdrawal and soft pledges, we have about $400,000. This includes an expected donation from an estate.
We hope to do the project in 2025.
We aren’t quite ready to begin the capital campaign. But please think now of donating, of making a generous donation for Saint John Church. I don’t anticipate another such campaign for the foreseeable future. Please give this time.
