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Dear Parishioners,
Last weekend, we initiated our capital campaign to raise funds
to make our parish rectory a safe and healthy place for future
priests to live and work, and for our par-ish staffs to serve
our parishioners. I am aware that not every parishioner was able
to be in attendance, and the snowfall may also have kept some
people away, so I shall recap what I shared at all the masses
last weekend. First, it seems important to state at the outset
that I have prayed and prayed, and consulted numerous
individuals in ascertaining how to move forward with the
rectory. I, along with the Parish Council, the Finance Council,
the Parish Staff, and the many others with whom I have spoken,
have determined that the best course of action is to complete
the project that we began several years ago. You can see that we
have a beautiful worship space. Our school building is overall
in good working order, and Murphy Hall functions well (though
the temporary office space has taken away 1/2 of its previous
size). The only real problem among our parish facilities is the
rectory. Several years ago, at the time we were prepared to
initiate a rectory capital campaign, the Archdiocese intervened
and explained that every parish must support the To Teach Who
Christ Is Campaign. Our own plans were put on hold, but the 60%
of the raised revenue from the campaign was earmarked
exclusively for the rectory project. Our share of the revenue
came to $520,000. There were a few parishioners who made direct
donations to the parish for the rectory, and we were also able
to save some money, bringing our grand total saved for the
rectory currently $980,000. This includes the $100,000 in
expenses for professional architectural and also demolition
ser-vices. The challenges have been many; here are the main
ones:
•
The rectory is inhabitable due to toxic mold and air-borne
asbestos.
•
One-half of Murphy Hall was needed for new office space. The
Tuesday night homeless shelter ministry was therefore forced to
move to another location. (I hope that we can bring the shelter
ministry back here once the rectory is again operational.)
•
Prior to beginning the rectory project, we also had the
difficult task of eliminating our $1.2 million debt to the
Archdiocese. (Currently, we have a $500,000 debt to the Arch,
stemming from our challenges with the former parish school.)
•
Our progress was delayed by several years as the To Teach Who
Christ Is Campaign pledges had to be ful-filled by parishioners.
Additionally, we received only 60% of the revenue from that
campaign. Now, we are finally poised to take this final push to
complete the rectory project. This time…
•
100% of the revenue raised will stay at St. Edmund’s. • If every
parish family shares in the cost of the project, raising
$700,000 will not be overly burdensome. For example, if 300
parish families support the campaign, then each family would
need to donate $2,333. Divided by 3 years, that comes to $65
monthly for 36 months. |
Most
of you have heard about the Archdiocesan Re-new My Church
initiative. In order to have vital and sustainable parishes,
over the course of several years, the Archdiocese will be
combining and/or closing parishes. It is an important endeavor
and one I support. We do not know with certainly what the future
is for St. Edmund Parish, or for any parish of the Archdiocese
of Chicago. What I do know, however, is the following:
•
We, you and I, have a responsibility to take care of our parish
buildings for the future use of the Church.
•
In doing so, we are being the good neighbors that we are called
to be—today.
•
We are well more than half-way to our goal and all of the
revenue already received is earmarked for the exclusive use of
the rectory project.
•
We are a vibrant, active and also the most visible Catholic
presence here in the heart of Oak Park.
•
We serve our parishioners and the local community through the
sacramental life of the parish and through numerous and ongoing
social justice initiatives and endeavors. To name only a few:
o
Our ministry to the homeless;
o
Our support of those who are poor and marginalized; o Our
outreach to the hospitalized and homebound;
o
Our commitment to the rights of the unborn and all vulnerable
human beings;
o
Our advocacy for women and children seeking a way out of
domestic abuse;
o
Our commitment to protecting the environment; o Our commitment
to ending gun violence;
o
Our commitment to ending the sin of racism;
o
Our support for those who are grieving and our commitment to
bury our beloved dead
The
Church needs what we do and so, I feel very confident that
whatever changes may come, there will always be a Catholic
presence right here where we are now planted. In making the
rectory functional and safe, and with accessibility for
everyone, including those with disabilities, we are paving the
way for a bright future. Whatever that future may precisely look
like, we cannot know for sure, but with all that we do know
today, it is my hope and prayer that you will join me in this
important endeavor. St. Edmund Parish will, of course, always be
more than its buildings. What makes it most attractive is its
beautiful, beating and generous heart, found in the people of
every age, race and background who are welcoming to all and
whose shared faith makes us one. Sincerely,
In the
weeks to come, you will find regular rectory project updates in
the bulletin, on the parish web-site, its Face-book page and in
mailers. On the following page, you can see how far we’ve come!
The rectory has been gutted and we’re almost ready for the
construction. To see more pho-tos of the current state of the
rectory, please check out the St. Edmund Parish Facebook page.
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