Fourth Sunday of Easter
Dear Parishioners,
This week removal of the asbestos at the rectory on 17th Avenue will be complete. We then will be tearing down the building beginning the first of June. Our plan is to level the site and to continue the planning for the gathering space. We are presently starting to work with an architect.
As I have sat at meetings during the past few months it has been said several times by the contractors on our facilities committee that one of the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting recession is that the cost of building materials (wood, steel, concrete, etc.) has increased dramatically, if these materials are available at all. This has slowed construction of new buildings. Factories have been shut down, goods are not being delivered from other countries and a host of other problems have developed that were not anticipated two years ago. People who were planning to build new homes have had to call off their projects because of these issues.
Our facilities committee and development committee are analyzing the situation. The hope is that cost of building materials will decline. There is no way of knowing. I am very confident in the leadership of the parish as we wrestle with these unexpected surprises. We all pray for wisdom as we move forward with our building plans. No one could have predicted the issues which we now face.
The first two tiers of our three-phase plan have been achieved. The good news is that we have been close to budget. God has blessed our efforts. I will be having a more detailed summary of our costs for tier one and two projects in the bulletin soon. We have just gotten some final bills for the new rectory apartment in the Lee Center this week.
May Our Lady and all the Angels and Saints watch over you this week.
Fr. Mark