When I arrived at St. Mary’s nearly three years ago, I was struck immediately by the deep sense of commitment and pride found among so many members of this faith community. St. Mary’s is clearly a very important part of people’s lives. This is evident in the amount of activity that takes place in any given week and the number of people involved in the various ministries and organizations.
Although our more than 8,000 parishioners vary in age and background, they all have one thing in common – their church. Throughout the years they have always contributed generously when the church needed their support. In 1923 parishioners oversaw the construction of the first St. Mary’s Church, a much smaller wooden church on Summer Street. The present church and school were built in 1960 thanks to the generosity and commitment of parishioners of that generation.
Throughout the course of the past ten years there has been a great deal of discussion and planning with regards to our parish facilities. Since the completion of the 2006 Carlton Co. feasibility study, a more specific plan has emerged. We have now embarked on a Capital Campaign, and I am pleased to announce that more than $2 million has already been raised! The architectural firm of Jordan O’Connor & Associates from Petersham, MA and construction manager, Lauring Construction Co. from Worcester will oversee the expansion and renovation of our parish buildings to serve our present and future needs.
Please take a few moments to read the information found in the enclosed brochure which explains the various components of our building project. I also invite you to attend a parish meeting on Tuesday, April 8th at 7:00 pm in the parish hall when our plans will be explained more fully. Indeed it is an ambitious undertaking that will require a commitment from all of us. I ask you to consider making a sacrificial pledge* over the next 3 – 5 years. Because there is such a wonderful sense of community that exists in our parish, I am confident that our efforts will be successful and that we will continue our mission for generations to come.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Rev. Michael F. Rose
Pastor
Explanatory Brochure
PHASE I
Phase I includes expanded church seating, an expanded church hall, upgraded amenities, and a new gathering space. The images below show the church as it is today, along with the architect’s renderings of the planned additions.
Expand Church Seating (4,035 Sq. Ft.)
Expanded seating will be located on both sides of the existing church and will eventually provide seating for an additional 418 parishioners, raising the total seating capacity to 932.
Expand Church Hall (4,580 Sq. Ft.)
Classrooms (4) will be located on both sides of the church hall and will be used for religious education, meeting rooms for various parish ministries, community activities, etc.
• Install air-conditioning
• Additional parking
• Redesign for handicap accessibility
• Add new lighting and sound system
• Install elevator for improved access
• Install sprinklers and fire alarms to code
Gathering Space (8,555 Sq. Ft.)
This new gathering space will have a dual lobby arrangement to allow both church and school entry while providing the required security. The first floor will provide meeting space for family gatherings after funerals or other social functions, and will accommodate 80 to 160 people. New school offices will also be located on the first floor.
PHASE II
The timing of Phase II will be determined after the completion of Phase I. The major elements of this project will include renovations to the existing kitchen, replacement of existing school windows with energy efficient models, the purchase of a house for the rectory, and finally, the construction of a new Parish Center.
• Provide rest rooms on the main and lower levels
• The existing library and computer room will move from the parish hall to the new addition where they will be housed in a new Media Center on the second floor. This Center will be available for use by both members of the parish and the school. The second floor will also provide a meeting room with a capacity for 60 to 125 people.
The projected total cost of the gathering space, church expansion and renovations is estimated at $7,500,000. We anticipate obtaining the necessary funds from the generous support of our parishioners who will be asked to voluntarily support this vital parish initiative.
With your support, we will break ground for the new gathering space in June 2009. We anticipate that the entire project will be completed within approximately18 to 24 months.
