Parish Planning

November 2008

Building Project Alternatives Considered: Three Options Under Review

Plans for the new parish education and activity center continue to move forward, and revised options will be presented to leaders of the St. Francis Borgia Building Project Leadership Team by the end of 2008. Three options are being considered: two on the south campus, and one on the north campus. The Advent/Christmas Messenger includes an article about this important project. We are also providing a lengthier version status report here on the parish website.

Other Recent Messenger Newsletter Articles:
Focus Changes: Building Options Being Explored (Fall 2008)
Building Project at a Crossroads (Summer 2008)

November 2006

SHAPING OUR FUTURE
These are exciting times for our parish. As a result of the good work of our Long Range Planning Committee, and significant input from our parishioners, we have the following recommendations to shape our future:

• Develop a phased master plan for construction of new parish facilities at a single campus on the 63 acres the parish owns. A single campus setting would provide a greater spiritual unity while also allowing for more efficient use of facilities for multiple purposes.

• In a first phase building program, construct a multi-use Parish Education and Activity Center. Uses could include school, Christian Formation, administrative offices, meetings, youth ministry, fellowship and athletic activities for members of all ages.

• In phase two, as parish growth continues, build a new church or expand the existing church and connect it to the new Parish Education and Activity Center. Continue to use the South Church as a chapel for weddings, funerals and special events. Plan for long term operational funding.

• Sell the current school and Father Ed Center. Evaluate options for use of the playground/parking area across from the school.

• Parish cemetery and parish shrine should be maintained and improved. Road paving at the cemetery and a long range plan for both the cemetery and shrine are now being considered. Plan for long term operational funding

In September 2006, the St. Francis Borgia Parish Council approved a proposal that one percent of the contributions to our Phase I Building Fund Appeal over the next five years be earmarked for a school at our sister parish in Mukono, Uganda. Those contributing to the Appeal can specify whether their own contributions to the Building Fund Appeal should, or should not, be utilized for a new school in Mukono.

The response from the parish to the recommendations has been very supportive.

We encourage you to check out the details by clicking on any of the links below.

Long-Range Planning Committee (2004)
Recommendations for Parish Expansion
Parishioner Support of Recommendations
Parish Council Request and Archdiocesan Approval to Begin Fund Appeal
Building Fund Appeal (“In the Spirit of the Future”)
Video for the Building Fund Appeal
Additional Information

Long-Range Planning Committee (2004)
In May 2004, a long range planning committee (LRPC) was formed at St. Francis Borgia, with the following mission:

1. Seek, gather, and deliver objective information pertaining to the long-term growth requirements of St. Francis Borgia parish.
2. Develop a master plan that incorporates all the parish ministries and the associated space requirements as our parish grows over the next five years, and beyond.

Back to Top

Recommendations for Parish Expansion
In late 2005, the committee met with the parish council to present its long-range plans to meet the future growth of our parish. In January 2006 a “Long Range Planning Committee Report to Parishioners” was mailed to all parishioners. The report outlined the findings of the LRPC and included preliminary possible site plans for a multi-phased building project.

Back to Top

Parishioner Support of Recommendations
Parishioners had the opportunity to attend information meetings and were encouraged to return a survey to provide their feedback on the recommendations. Seventy-five percent of the survey respondents expressed support for a building fund appeal.

Also see the Messenger article “Parishioners Learn About Expansion Recommendations” (Lent/Easter 2006).

Back to Top

Parish Council Request and Archdiocesan Approval to Begin Fund Appeal
Based on the recommendations of the James Company, the comments at the listening sessions and a review of all parishioner survey responses, the parish council decided in March 2006 to move ahead to request archdiocesan approval for a building fund appeal to raise money for a multi-use Parish Education and Activity Center. The archdiocese gave its approval.

Back to Top

Building Fund Appeal (“In the Spirit of the Future”)
In May 2006 an Appeal Leadership Team was formed to conduct the campaign with the help of fellow parishioners under the general direction of the James Company. Appeal chairpersons were Jim & Linda Myers and Tom & Mary Sheffield.

Sept. 23-24, 2006– Appeal Gatherings - All parishioners were invited to special Appeal Gatherings at the Masses on the weekend of September 23-24. At each Mass there was a brief presentation about our In the Spirit of the Future Building Fund and Annual Stewardship Appeal. Masses were followed by fellowship and refreshments in the SFB-North church hall. Parishioners who were unable to be with us on this special weekend received their Appeal packet through the mail.

October 14-15, 2006 – Commitment Weekend – Parishioners were asked to return their commitment cards at Mass on this weekend.

Back to Top

Video for the Building Fund Appeal

This is the Building Fund Appeal video that was shown at the September 23-24 Appeal Celebrations.

Instructions
Due to large size of this file, we recommend downloading this video to your computer before viewing. To do so, right-click the link below with your mouse and choose "Save Target As..." or "Save this program to disk".

NOTE: This will take about 4 minutes to download on a high speed connection. It should play with Windows Media Player.

Building Fund Appeal video (50MB)

Back to Top

Additional Information
For additional information, see the Messenger newsletter articles:

Building Project Moving Forward (Lent/Easter 2007)
Two Major Commitments: Parish Stewardship and Building Fund Appeal (Advent/Christmas 2006)
In the Spirit of the Future – Building Fund Appeal Underway (Fall 2006)
Building Fund Appeal Underway” (Summer 2006)
Parishioners Learn About Expansion Recommendations" (Lent/Easter 2006)

For more information, contact the Office of Stewardship and Development at 262-377-1070, ext. 229 or send an email.

Back to Top