Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

"In the Spirit of the Future" Appeal
Long-Range Planning Committee Recommendations

FAQ's about the "In the Spirit of the Future" Appeal

What is the “In the Spirit of the Future” Appeal? What is our Building Fund goal? How will the Building Funds be used? Can you tell me more about the proposed building program? Is it true that some of our Building Fund Appeal contributions will go toward building a school in Uganda? How will our new Parish Education and Activity Center be funded? What is the timetable for the project? How should I begin to think about my gift to the Appeal? How can I make my gift to the Building Fund Appeal? What is meant by the “Hoped for Gift?” What are the Hoped For gift options? May I contribute gifts other than cash? What if my employer has a matching gift program? Is there an easy way to see how contributions will accumulate over five years? What happens at the end of the five-year commitment period? May we encourage friends and relatives to make a gift? Who do I call if I have additional questions? How can I help make our Appeal a success?

What is the “In the Spirit of the Future” Appeal?
Here at St. Francis Borgia, we have been blessed by the faithfulness and generosity of parishioners from past generations. Over the past five years we have grown from two faith communities into one. We now look to the future as we continue to grow, alive in the Holy Spirit. This Appeal is a parish-wide effort to raise needed funds:
 
Building Fund
To support our phase one building plans as recommended by the Long Range Planning Committee. Our new Parish Education and Activity Center will not only meet our current faith formation needs, but also the needs of generations to come. You will be provided with a form to make your five-year commitment to this Building Fund.

Annual Stewardship
To support our annual ministries and parish expenses for 2007. We are asking parishioners to renew their annual support for our ongoing ministries. You will be provided with a second form to make this one-year commitment.

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What is our Building Fund goal?
Our goal is to raise a minimum of $3 million, and as much as $5 million in initial cash gifts and five-year commitments. Raising this amount of money means we will need special gifts from all of our parishioners. These special five-year commitments should be OVER and ABOVE our regular offerings to the parish.

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How will the Building Funds be used?
The funds will be used for the following purposes:

• Phase One Building Program
  Our faith needs room to grow. By building a new multi-use Parish Education and Activity Center, we will be able to provide the necessary space for our school, Christian Formation, various parish ministries, committees, and pastoral staff. The estimated cost of this phase of our master plan is $7.5 to $8.5 million.
  

• Land Purchase Debt
  We will retire the outstanding debt of $475,000 incurred when we purchased the farm land on our North Campus.
  

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Can you tell me more about the proposed building program?
In January and February of 2006, we held parish information meetings and shared the following recommendations of the Long Range Planning Committee.

1. 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.
2. In a first phase building program, construct a multi-use Parish Education and Activity Center. Uses would include school, Christian Formation, youth ministry, adult and senior group activities, administrative offices, meetings and other parish ministries.
3. 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.
4. Continue to use the South Church as a chapel for weddings, funerals and special events. Plan for long term operational funding.
5. Sell the current school and Father Ed Center. Evaluate options for use of the playground/parking area across from the school.
6. 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.

We asked parishioners for their feedback through their comments and surveys. What did we hear? Seventy-five percent of the respondents approved of proceeding with a parish wide Building Fund Appeal to determine funding alternatives to support phase one of our long term plans. See the FAQs About the Long-Range Planning Committee Recommendations.

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Is it true that some of our Building Fund Appeal contributions will go toward building a school in Uganda?
Our parish council approved a proposal that one percent of the contributions to our Building Fund Appeal over the next five years will be earmarked to construct a primary school at our sister parish of St. Paul the Apostle in Mukono, Uganda. The cost to construct a two-classroom block is just $10,000. The cost to construct an entire 10-classroom school would be $50,000. Parishioners can specify how their own contributions to the Building Fund Appeal should, or should not, be utilized for a new school in Mukono, simply by writing their intentions anywhere on the Building Fund Commitment card.

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How will our new Parish Education and Activity Center be funded?
Funding sources for the building project would include:

• The financial commitments made in this five-year Appeal
• Cash proceeds from the sale of property no longer needed
• In-kind donations (construction materials & labor, landscaping, etc.)
• Borrowing

The results of this Appeal will help determine what our parish can afford to build. Your generous response to this Appeal will go a long way in making our project a success.

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What is the timetable for the project?
The Parish Council and the Building Committee will determine the timetable for construction once they know the results of this Appeal and have finalized the building and financing plans. A final decision should be made in 12 months. Thereafter, construction could occur, and our Parish Education and Activity Center could be ready to use near the end of 2008.

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How should I begin to think about my gift to the Appeal?
We encourage our parishioners to make a gift up-front, and then a five-year commitment. Our gifts should be OVER and ABOVE our regular offerings to the parish. For many of us, our giving to the Appeal will cause us to reevaluate our priorities. We are challenged to grow in our faith and generosity. We know our gifts will meet vital needs of our parish. All of us are asked to respond generously so we may move forward in addressing these needs.

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How can I make my gift to the Building Fund Appeal?
On September 23 & 24, we will be hosting a special Celebration Gathering. A brief presentation will occur during our liturgies. At the end of each Mass, you will receive an Appeal packet. Inside this packet will be your “Hoped for Gift” letter, as well as your gift commitment forms. In the letter, we ask you to spend the next several weeks praying and considering your commitment to this Appeal. Then we ask that you return your commitment envelope to Mass on October 14 or 15, or mail it to our parish office. Building Fund commitments begin November 1, 2006. You may fulfill your Building Fund commitment by making gift installments every month, quarter, or year. New envelopes, carrying the Appeal logo, will be made available for these contributions. Your contributions are tax deductible.

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What is meant by the “Hoped for Gift?”
You may ask: "What would you like me to consider giving so we can achieve our goal?"  The “Hoped for Gift” is an answer to this question. You will receive a Hoped for Gift letter. The letter suggests a range for the gifts we hope each of you will prayerfully consider when making your commitment to our Building Fund Appeal. The gifts we ask you to consider will be challenging. Receiving gifts within the ranges hoped for is necessary if we are to reach our goal. We believe our parishioners have the right and the responsibility to make their own decisions. We also know that God is at work in our lives helping us grow in our faith and generosity.

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What Are The Hoped for Gift Options?

Matching Existing Giving - As a starting point, we ask you to pray and consider matching or doubling your current regular giving over the next five years. For example, if you are currently giving $20 per week ($1,040 a year) to the church’s ministry, would you pray and consider giving an additional $20 per week to our Building Fund over the next five years, for a total commitment of $5,200?

Pacesetter Gift - We ask those who are in a position to give more, to pray and consider making a pacesetter gift of $5,000 to $30,000 over the next five years.

Major Gift - We invite those who have been financially blessed to pray and consider making a major gift of $30,000 to $250,000 or more over the five-year period.

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May I contribute gifts other than cash?
Besides cash, you may contribute gifts of property, stock, paid up life insurance and other securities. You may also wish to consider a charitable remainder trust, or a charitable gift annuity. If you wish to discuss making such a gift, contact our Director of Administrative Services at 262-377-1070 or send an e-mail.

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What if my employer has a matching gift program?
We strongly encourage all parishioners to inquire if their employer has a matching gift program. Many employers will match your donations to a church or school.

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Is there an easy way to see how contributions will accumulate over five years?
The following giving table may be helpful in planning your gifts. Here’s how a weekly gift can grow in size over five years:

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What happens at the end of the five-year commitment period?
In five years we will evaluate our parish’s financial responsibilities, and begin pursuing phase two of our master plan (church expansion). The need to conduct a second fund appeal would be determined at that time. If our current Appeal is successful, and gift commitments are fulfilled, we will be in the strongest position possible five years from now.

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May we encourage friends and relatives to make a gift?
Yes, please encourage your friends or relatives to make a commitment or a one-time gift. If you would like us to mail them information and a commitment card, please share their name and address with our appeal secretary, Janice Dorn, at 262-377-1070, or send an e-mail.

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Who do I contact if I have additional questions? 
You can contact our Appeal Chairpersons Jim & Linda Myers and Tom & Mary Sheffield with questions or comments by sending an e-mail.

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How can I help make our Appeal a success?

• By prayerfully responding to God's gift of love with your generous gifts.
• By attending one of our Celebration Gatherings on September 23-24.
• By returning your commitment forms at Mass on Commitment Weekend, October 14 & 15.
• By praying for the success of our Appeal and asking God to bless us as we embrace our past and grow into our future.

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FAQ's about the Long-Range Planning Committee Recommendations

Affordability
How can we determine if the parish can afford this plan?
How do we afford this project and maintain our operational budget?
How much of the current school budget is supported by the parish subsidy?
Does the parish currently have debt?
What options are there for selling property at the south campus?
How would we provide for parking at the south church?
On the north campus, are all 63 acres utilized in the plan, or could part of it be sold?
Who ultimately owns parish land and assets – the parish or the archdiocese?

Planning and Timing
What is the priority for the parish? Build a new school or expand the worship space?
Is a phased approach more costly than doing everything in one phase?
Have we gotten approval for the plan from the Town of Cedarburg?
What is the timeline? When do we make the final “go” decision?
Is there a contingency plan if we don’t approve the recommendations?

Fund Appeal
What exactly is a building fund appeal?
Will there be more than one building fund appeal?
Does a building fund appeal include new parishioners who register after the drive is completed?
Where can I find detailed information about the Building Fund Appeal?

Parish Education and Activity Center
What about remodeling the existing school? (revised)
If we build a parish education and activity center, will the school student capacity increase?
Could we move the upper school students (grades 6-8) to a new facility at the north campus and leave grades K-5 at the current school?
What square footage is needed for the school, and what are the associated costs?
Will extended day care still be at the south church?
What about building a high school?

Church Expansion
How will church expansion or a new church affect our new pipe organ?
What is the commitment to the south church and why?
What is the difference between Option A & B? What is the cost difference?
With expanded facilities, is it possible to host wedding or other celebrations?

Miscellaneous Topics
Why does the parish need five more staff members?
We have two priests. Where would they reside?
Have we looked at more economic/environmental construction ideas?
Are we planning any collaboration with St. Joseph Parish?

Communications
What are the plans for communication to the parish?
Who can I contact with comments or questions?

AFFORDABILITY

How can we determine if the parish can afford this plan?
Based on a consultant’s review of our giving patterns, we should be able to raise $3 million to $5 million through donations. In-kind contributions (e.g., landscaping, carpentry, materials) could add another $250,000. The sale of excess property at the south campus could yield $2 million. We also can borrow up to 50% of the capital needed. (The Archdiocese limits borrowing to not more than 50% of the project cost.) Conducting a building fund appeal is the only way to really know for sure how much we could raise.

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How do we afford this project and maintain our operational budget?
A building fund appeal is in addition to regular stewardship. It is important for everyone to continue funding the parish operational budget through their Sunday envelopes. In 2005, roughly 1,600 households gave $1.4 million to support the parish. A building fund appeal will determine how much more families are willing to give to support the long range plan.

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How much of the current school budget is supported by the parish subsidy?
Approximately 40% of the school’s budget ($636,600) is supported by our parish. The remainder of the $1.6 million budget comes from tuition, school fundraisers, and grants.

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Does the parish currently have debt?
Yes, there is debt of approximately $475,000 on the 47 acres of land that we purchased at the north campus.

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What options are there for selling property at the south campus?
The south church would not be for sale. The recommendation is to sell the school as well as the Fr. Ed Center and/or the parking lot. If sold, we don’t know what the buyers would do with the properties. Rough estimated value of these properties is $1.5 million-$2.0 million. No appraisal has been done to date.

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How would we provide for parking at the south church?
We will consider various alternatives. If the playground/parking lot is sold, a potential solution is to keep the Fr. Ed Center property and make that into a parking lot.

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On the north campus, are all 63 acres (current grounds plus the purchased land) utilized in the plan, or could part of it be sold?
The sale of excess property on the north campus, totaling approximately 10-15 acres, could be considered for raising additional funds. Someone might be interested in purchasing  this property for residential development. No decision has been made about the sale of this land and it may be prudent to keep it if possible because once it’s gone it’s gone forever. The property has not been appraised to date.

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Who ultimately owns parish land and assets  – the parish or the archdiocese?
St. Francis Borgia is a civil corporation under Wisconsin law, controlled by a legal board of five members: the archbishop and bishop, pastor, and two trustees. So the parish owns the land and assets, but the archbishop is the president of the legal board. The pastor is the legal vice president and chief executive officer.

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PLANNING AND TIMING

What is the priority for the parish? Build a new school or expand the worship space?
The priority, meaning the first phase, is to build a multi-use parish education and activity center. Uses for the facility could include school, administrative offices, Christian formation, youth ministry, meetings, athletic activities and fellowship for members of all ages.

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Is a phased approach more costly than doing everything in one phase?
Yes, but the feasibility of raising enough to afford the full $14 million to $16 million project in one building fund appeal is questionable. Construction costs are likely to rise at least 5% per year, meaning we could save nearly $2 million if we could afford both phases at once, compared to waiting five to six years. If there is an extraordinary response from an initial fund appeal, we could evaluate combining both construction phases into a single building phase to eliminate the inflationary effects of waiting 5-6 years to consider phase two.

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Have we gotten approval for the plan from the Town of Cedarburg?
We have met with the Town Planning Commission and they are very supportive of our plan. Official approval comes after specific plans are submitted.

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What is the timeline? When do we make the final “go” decision?
There are several decision points affecting timing:

• The parish council and the long range planning committee will assess whether or not the parish will support the project.
• If there is parish support, the parish council could decide to start the building fund appeal soon afterwards, with the appeal lasting approximately six months.
• The completed appeal amount plus other funding components will determine what we can afford.
• Once the project is within our means, a go decision could be made. A final go decision could be made in 12 to 18 months.
• Thereafter, allowing two years for preparation and construction, a Parish Education and Activity Center could be ready to use near the end of 2008. Delays at any stage could extend these timeline estimates.

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Is there a contingency plan if we don’t approve the recommendations?
If we don’t go forward with these recommendations, long range planning will continue. Significant maintenance costs are inevitable on our aging buildings so we would still need to plan for funding.

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FUND APPEAL

What exactly is a building fund appeal?
We ask members to pray and consider a special five-year commitment over and above regular offerings that goes just to the building program. 

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Will there be more than one building fund appeal?
If parish support exists, there will be a fund appeal for phase one (i.e., for the parish education and activity center). Prior to approving phase two (church expansion), a decision to complete a second fund appeal would have to be made. There could be a third fund appeal many years ahead to retire remaining debt incurred from completing both phases.

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Does a building fund appeal include new parishioners who register after the drive is completed?
Yes, we will communicate with them also.

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Where can I find detailed information about the Building Fund Appeal? 
See the FAQs About the “In the Spirit of the Future” Appeal above.

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PARISH EDUCATION AND ACTIVITY CENTER

What about remodeling the existing school? (REVISED)
It would cost about $1.8 million just to bring most of the school into minimal compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). According to our architectural consultant, it is impossible to bring the art and music rooms into ADA compliance. We do not have estimates for doing additional remodeling, making the school more energy efficient, or adding additional space. Also, there’s not enough land to satisfy the city’s green space requirements and so we would need to buy additional property before the school could be expanded. We cannot determine the cost or timing of acquiring additional property. We also want to be a one-site parish (Note: This answer is a correction to what was published previously in the Lent/Easter Messenger newsletter and on the website.)

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If we build a parish education and activity center, will the school student capacity increase?
Our current school is at capacity with roughly 440 students. If growth patterns continue, and if we can provide the needed space, enrollment could reach 475 in five years. A new facility will accommodate 500 students initially, and will be designed to allow for easy expansion.

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Could we move the upper school students (grades 6-8) to a new facility at the north campus and leave grades K-5 at the current school?
Operational costs at the current school would not go down with this option. At the same time, we would have the cost for the new parish education and activity center, so total school costs would increase substantially. Also, we need one large space to accommodate the more than 700 youth in the Christian formation program.

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What square footage is needed for the school, and what are the associated costs?
The allowance is 120 square feet per student; 500 students would require 6,000 square feet. The cost per square foot is estimated as $100-$115 per square foot. Cost for furnishings is included in the estimates.

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Will extended day care still be at the south church?
Extended day care would move to the north campus.

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What about building a high school?
We have heard that the contemplated high school plan is not moving forward at the Washington County location. However, this is not an issue for us, because a high school would not fit on our property.

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CHURCH EXPANSION

How will church expansion or a new church affect our new pipe organ?
The organ was designed to be moved if necessary into a new or expanded church.

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What is the commitment to the south church and why?
Plans are to keep the historic south church operational. It is a presence in the city, and will be used for weddings, funerals, and special events. This could include use as a historic shrine or adoration chapel.

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What is the difference between Option A & B? What is the cost difference?
The initial phase of both options begins with the construction of a new parish education and activity center. The difference between Option A and B primarily involves the second phase where we increase the available worship space. In Option A, we construct a new gathering and worship space to the north of our current church and remodel the existing church for use as a parish hall. In Option B, we increase our worship space by remodeling and expanding the current church and constructing a new gathering area and parish hall. Option A is about $1 million more than Option B. In choosing the best option, we must consider not only cost but also other issues such as uncertainties of remodeling, design constraints, feasibility of subsequent expansion, and use during construction.

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With expanded facilities, is it possible to host wedding or other celebrations?
It sounds like a nice idea, but experiences at other parishes show this leads to problems. People are often “over-served,” leading to a host of issues. There would also be conflicts with the Saturday evening Mass and parking, as well as cleanup before Sunday morning Masses.

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MISCELLANEOUS PLANNING TOPICS

Why does the parish need five more staff members?
An additional five staff members is our projection of additional staff required in the next few years. As parish growth continues, we are projecting increased support in the following areas:  adult catechists for young adult and adult education, additional maintenance staff, a secretary, parish nurse, information technology assistant, and an administrative position. The staff will only increase if the operational budget will sustain these positions.

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We have two priests. Where would they reside?
The recommendation is for the rectory to be on the north campus. However, nothing has been decided. The Father Ed Center, where Fr. Mike now lives, would not be an option. The rectory should be big enough for two priests and be located near the church and school. Although we only have a two-year commitment for Fr. Mike, our chances of getting a replacement are enhanced if we have room for two priests in one location. Off campus housing is an option, but less desirable.

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Have we looked at more economic/environmental construction ideas?
To ensure that the latest “green” construction practices are utilized, the architect chosen to assist our parish will be required to have expertise about the most current environmental, building, and technology practices.

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Are we planning any collaboration with St. Joseph Parish?
We are in the same cluster with St. Joseph’s, and the Archdiocese encourages collaboration within our cluster. We have no specific plans to combine services but our teachers regularly talk with their teachers.

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COMMUNICATIONS

What are the plans for communication to the parish?
Communications about this project will come through direct mailings, the weekly church bulletins, the Messenger newsletter, postings at the church entrance, announcements at Mass, special meetings and here on the parish website.

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Who can I contact with comments or questions?
You can contact our Appeal Chairpersons (Jim & Linda Myers and Tom & Mary Sheffield) with questions or comments by sending an e-mail.

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