FROM FATHER ROGERS - March 30, 2023

As promised at Mass last weekend, here is a comprehensive look at where we were when we started, where we are now, and where we hope to be in the coming weeks. We knew that building a generational church was going to offer special challenges. And while still nothing like those faced by our ancestors who built the landmark churches we still enter with awe and reverence; our challenges are significant and unique to our day. But like those who sacrificed so long ago, we remain determined and with God’s help, will find the best way to build a church and facilities to serve our current and future needs.

Why did we start this journey?
Some have asked this question, and it is a legitimate one. The simple answer is that we are out of room. Our parish church is at capacity. By that, I mean that we cannot add any more weekend Masses given the frequent weddings, funerals, and our Saturday morning Daily Mass. On some weekends we have eight or nine Masses celebrated at St. Andrew the Apostle. This is not happening in too many parishes in America. Also, our acclaimed parish school and youth program are out of room. Families are coming from all over for what we have at St. Andrew’s, and we simply can’t take them in. If nothing else, our shared faith requires we find a solution.

Why build such a beautiful church? Why so big?
These too are legitimate questions. Why such a beautiful church? Answer: Because God deserves the very best we can offer and objective beauty attracts people to God which is our calling.

Why such a big church? Answer: it’s not really that “big.” Our new church will seat approximately 1100 people. Our parish has grown 300% in the last 12 years. We are now over 1500 families and at our current rate of growth will be pushing 1700 when we open our new doors. Moreover, this will enable the local Catholic Church of the future, perhaps with fewer priests, to accommodate more worshipers with fewer Masses. 

How did the price shoot up so much?
The "Monday Morning Quarterbacks" will say that they saw this building environment coming. That may be but seeing a tornado coming doesn’t do much to stop it. When we set out to design and build the most beautiful church we could afford, we consulted the top experts in classical church architecture, design, and construction. With our vision and dreams in hand, these experts looked at market conditions and forecasts and confirmed that what we wanted was ambitious but doable. You then made “doable” a reality raising all the money we needed with a sacrificial giving campaign unprecedented in the history of the Diocese. The challenging market in which we began became by all accounts, the most punishing building environment in any of our lifetimes— “challenging” doesn’t quite capture this moment. Our “Church for the Ages” the one you were promised, nearly doubled in price over the last year and a half—and… wait for it… we changed nothing about it! We did not alter the size or scope or design elements. This price increase was a result of the inflationary pressures of which we are all too familiar.

What was the original master plan?
The original plan was to create all the new space we need in a single new building attached to the existing buildings. The glorious new church, bridal room, and gift shop on top and a new parish hall, kitchen, classrooms, dedicated youth space, mechanical room, etc., below. This had advantages and disadvantages (I will treat those more specifically in the next section). All the “non-church” facilities in the lower level add up to approximately 23,000 square feet and their location under our massive church raises the construction cost of the church above and especially the cost of these “non-sacred” spaces below.

What is the proposed solution?
We are studying moving our new church, as envisioned and designed, a little to the south and without a basement. Doing so, according to the initial thoughts of construction professionals, should lower the cost by several million dollars. How many millions? That is truly the question and one which we will not know for a couple of months. Then, of course, we can build the hall, and the other elements, also above ground, for much, much less with overall savings again, hoped to be in the millions of dollars.

What are the advantages to this solution?
Well, the most obvious advantage is that we still have a chance to build our church! The old way became completely unaffordable, even when looking at stripping the church of the things that we love and reducing its size. Now, by moving it and not having a lower level, we can keep the church as glorious as we designed it. Other advantages include: a much less disruptive construction site during the building phase with more ease of parking, attending Mass, and going to school. Also, we are now able to explore ways to repurpose the current church building – an option not available before - and design a building to accommodate our classroom and parish hall needs rather than conforming them to the footprint of the new church. While exploring these options will delay the groundbreaking of the project by a few months, they make a future groundbreaking possible and will shave an equivalent time off the construction schedule due to the lack of a basement and more room for the contractors to work freely - away from the school and current church.

What are the disadvantages?
The primary one is that the new church will not be connected to the existing school building. We will obviously be exploring ways to move people from school to the new church and facilities with as much ease as possible. Possibly even connecting without having to go through the gym as originally designed. Likewise, we will be sensitive to similar considerations concerning the new Parish Hall.

Some final thoughts:
Friends, none of this is a “done deal.” But we’ve come a long way in only a few days since it was a “no deal.” And as we look at these new options, we are seeing scenarios frankly, that might even be better than the original. Your sacrifice to bring this vision to reality is unprecedented. Your patience and understanding of the journey to date is equally edifying and ineffably appreciated. There is no question that Satan does not want this church built. With God’s help, we’ll find a way to build His church and overcome these challenges, offering an unapologetically Catholic witness to a troubled world.  

Thank you again for your patience and understanding. Be assured of my prayers for a fruitful Holy Week and a Blessed Easter Season for you and your families. 

Father Vince Rogers