St. Bernard Roman Catholic Church

The recent capital campaign for the new St. Bernard's church has raised $1.8M. While this is a significant amount, it is not sufficient to allow us to proceed with the construction phase at this time. Our records show that this money was donated by 31% of the people registered in the parish, which is a relatively small portion. Statistics from our diocese suggest we should expect an average closer to 50%. Our goal continues to be 100% participation.

We have begun efforts to improve the situation, including updating the parishioner database, reevaluating the requirements for the new church, and exploring other fund raising opportunities. We feel it is important to inform parishioners about the conditions of the current church and the rest of our property. The following table identifies the major repairs and updates needed for the current facilities.

Asset	Repairs Needed	Estimated Cost
		2001	2005
Church	- Replace roof and repair leaks - Repair walkways and steps - Improve handicap access and seating - Install Air Conditioning - Improve parking lot access - Refinish wood floors and replace carpet - Repaint	$164,000	$205,000
Rectory	- Replace siding and windows - Reinforce foundation - Renovate bathrooms and kitchen - Repaint and insulate	$125,000	$156,250
Parish Center	- Add classroom space for CCD program - Upgrade heating system and insulate - Repair roof and replace septic system	$370,000	$462,500
Halloran Hall	- Repair center beam - Replace asbestos shingles - Replace heating system and insulate - Replace doors and windows - Improve handicap accessibility - Construct new bathrooms and kitchen	$186,000	$232,500
Total Estimated Cost		$845,000	$1,056,250

It is important to note that, these figures do not include any improvements to meet current fire and safety codes. Also, even with these improvements, we would have a number of serious limitations in our facilities that can be corrected only by a new church and campus. The following table provides a comparison of some important factors.

Factor	Current Church	New Church
Capacity	350 people, which is insufficient for First Communion, Confirmation, and holidays	Minimum of 550 people
Parking	Limited, congested area, poor traffic flow, and dimly lit. Discourages socializing after mass	More accessible, lighted, with additional handicap spaces
Dividing Highway	Serious safety issue, requires recurring cost of crossing guard	Eliminated
Handicap Access	Steep ramp, narrow doorways, and no seating area	State of the art, safer, with access to altar, sacristy, etc.
General Access	Number, condition, and rise of stairs hinder safe access for many parishioners	Minimal, low rise steps
Weddings and Funerals	Congested aisle interferes with solemnity of service, difficult for Communion	Comfortable and functional
Air Conditioning	Adding ductwork to existing structure adds to installation expense	Integrated in design
Choir Location	Cramped and view is obstructed	Integrated in design for improved acoustics
Parish Center Multi-Purpose Room	Insufficient size, not adaptable	Re-configurable, with seating up to 175
Baptism	Rolling baptismal font interferes with aisle	Permanent font in dedicated area
First Communion	Capacity forces splitting class	Combined celebration for entire class
Confirmation	Capacity forces limited seating for family and friends	More conducive for extended family attendance

St. Bernard's Parish is capable of ministering more effectively to the people in our community, but our current campus is a hindrance. The goal of a vibrant, new facility that encourages worship and communal activities is nearly within our reach. If we convince you to join the 31% who have given already, we can achieve our goal. In approximately two years, we could be celebrating the first Mass in our new church, and generating new enthusiasm in our mission as Christ's disciples in this community.

It is difficult to ask for donations. We know that you are bombarded with requests for your treasure. We also know how generous this parish is when asked to help those less fortunate, such as Catholic Charities and the victims of Hurricane Katrina. We are building a testimony to our stewardship that will outlive all of us. We are asking you now to help your own faith community, your parish family. We are asking you to sacrifice just as the first parishioners of St.Bernard's did in 1874.

Fr. Dennis	Fran Dwyer	Liz McGrath	Arlene Gardiner	Martha Dwyer
Tom Orsi	Ray Vallee	John Gibbons	Nancy Delaney	George Silva
Jane Allen	Carol Sarro	Peter Nigri	Mark Delaney	Walter Pannone
Ed Zajac	Joe Capaldi	Susan Keimig	Carol Bender	Susan Murphy
Dan Bell	Ed Cooney	John Santos	Ange Giacchi	Mark Bamford
Susan LaPerriere	Joe Taraborelli	Gerry Grabowski	Joyce Zambarano	Steve Zambarano

For additional information or questions, call the parish center at 295-0387, or email to parishcenter@sbcwickford.org.

Status Report, November 2005