"A community committed to welcoming, stewardship and evangelizing since 1868."
Committee Members:
Nancy & Barry Strelow - 952-448-4363, Chuck & Nancy Tuma - 952-448-2456, Bill Hays -bhays02@yahoo.com
Richard Vogel - 952-466-3872, Mike Shelley - 952-368-9261, Paige Siegfried - 952-448-4473
Parish Center Addition Update! This past Wednesday a team from St. Nicholas (Barry Strelow, Barb Swanson, Bill Hays, Jodee Korkowski and myself) met with John Bierbaum, CFO of the Archdioceses and Mike Kratochvil, a representative from Catholic Finance Corporation who has been assisting us with the financial aspect of our project. We presented our modified building plan and how we intend to pay for the project. We revised our plans to complete the entire outside structure and only finish the upper level of the addition which will add four classrooms and an office. This will cost about $250,000 factoring in our in-kind donations, which is what we have in our building fund today. John was very impressed with our plans and said that we did every thing they asked us to do. At this point we have sent a letter to Archbishop Nienstedt indicating our plans and asking for his approval. John Bierbaum will also send a letter to the Archbishop indicating his support of our project. We hope to hear back from the Archbishop in the next week or so. If he approves it, we could start the building process immediately. At this point there is one potential issue that could delay our project. Archbishop Nienstedt has commissioned an 18 month study of the Archdioceses to look at all parishes and then create a plan for the future of the Archdiocese. Since none of us can predict what the Archbishop will decide, at this point we must remain hopeful and pray that God’s will be done!
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U
Sitio
June 5, 2009
Dear friends and family of St. Nicholas,
A few weeks ago we submitted our revised plans to expand our parish center to John Bierbaum the CFO of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. He then presented them to Archbishop Nienstedt for his consideration and approval. Archbishop Nienstedt has reviewed our plans and recently responded to our request. While he is impressed with our parish and that we have been diligent in raising the funds needed to complete the initial part of our project, he has asked that we wait until next spring before he makes his final decision on the expansion project.
This past February, Archbishop Nienstedt commissioned a study of the archdiocese. The Strategic Task Force for Parish and School Planning has been asked to study and evaluate every parish and school, current and future population trends and the number of priests available. While the study is in progress, the Archdiocese has placed a moratorium on ALL building projects, not just ours. They are doing this to make it fair to everyone.
While our first reaction may be disappointment, it is critical that we do not get discouraged. This does NOT mean NO! It is merely a delay. We must stay strong and rally together as a parish. This delay will allow us to get further ahead in raising money for the Parish Center expansion. It also gives us the opportunity to show the archdiocese and the taskforce what a vibrant faith community we have. Our parishioners have always generously shared their time, talents, and treasures and it is important that you continue to do so in a consistent and thoughtful manner. Now is a great time to get involved in many of the ministries that we offer. Our parish festival will be here before we know it and it takes all of us working together to make it successful. You continued financial stewardship is also critical.
We ask that you learn about the Archdiocesan Planning Process and participate in the study this fall or whenever the opportunity presents its self. We will post the time line of the study as well as any updates we receive on the bulletin board in the back of church. You can also get updates in the Catholic Spirit or on the Archdiocese website at http://www.archspm.org/planningprocess/index.html.
We have been given an opportunity to continue to work on our plans for the future. We can be, if we choose to be, in a much better position a year from now. The Archdiocese is in a position to decide and we want them to decide in our favor. We need to show the Archbishop and the Task Force that we are a vibrant community committed to our youth and that we have a strong Faith Formation and Youth Ministry Program.
In Christ Jesus,
Father Thomas Joseph Property & Finance Board Building for Today & Tomorrow Committee
Jodee Korkowski
St. Nicholas Church
Ph. 952-448-2345
Fax 952-368-0502
www.stnicholascarver.org
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