In anticipation of our 175th anniversary, we have put together an exciting plan for St. Mary’s, one that cares for the needs of today with a vision for tomorrow. It calls for renovating and expanding our current campus in multiple phases.

Phase One

In Phase One we’ll replace our outdated HVAC system and pay down at least half of our debt, if not all of it. We’ll also replace our gymnasium floor and improve the inside of our church, depending on members’ generosity.

New Heating and Cooling System

At the top of our “to-do list” will be replacing portions of our 1964 heating and cooling system.
•    First, to make the upgrade possible, we will upgrade the electrical system for the entire building. Our plan is then to install new, energy efficient boilers and chillers to heat and cool the cafeteria and church. A new programmable, temperature control system with area thermostats will regulate the temperature in each space. No longer will parishioners be blasted with cold or hot air, depending on the season. Not only will worship and fellowship activities be more comfortable, but with the efficiencies of today’s units, we’ll see a drop in our utility bills.

Paying Down Our Debt
Our second priority is to pay off our loan with the Diocese. Having come this far, we have the potential and opportunity to pay off our loan within three years if members respond sacrificially to this effort. Paying off the debt will:
•    Bring 20+ years of debt payments to an end, giving us much to celebrate!
•    Save us tens of thousands of dollars in interest, freeing up dollars for ministry programs and ongoing facility maintenance.
•    Fulfill what the Diocese requires of us, removing a barrier to our pursuit of future projects.

New Gymnasium Floor
Depending on members’ generosity in this campaign, we hope in Phase One to cover the old tile floor in our gymnasium with a durable, slightly cushioned surface that is designed for sports and for other activities with heavy foot traffic. This will enable us to continue our very active school sports programs as well as accommodate any large group or all-parish activity too large for our other spaces.

Worship Space Enhancements
So that we not waste energy efficiencies gained by our new HVAC system, and to improve our church for worship, we also hope in Phase One to make improvements to the inside of our church. Again, depending on members’ generosity in this campaign:
•    We’ll replace our 20-year-old roof and insulate it in the process.
•    We’ll replace the carpeting, install new wall coverings and make adjustments to the altar platform to make room for musicians and choir members.
•    We’ll also replace the single-pane windows with insulated, energy efficient windows. New window trim on the interior and new facing on the exterior will improve the appearance of our church inside and out. 

Once this portion of our plan is complete, we’ll have a church that feels more like a church and that’s comfortable to worship in year-round!

Phase Two

In the next phase or phases, we will complete HVAC improvements to the rest of our building and accomplish our long-term vision of having a church that looks like a church. The feedback gathered in our feasibility study indicated a high level of acceptance among members for the plan to renovate and expand our current entryway. To make certain we are united as a parish community in how we will move forward in Phase Two, we will continue to explore this and other options in greater detail so that, when we do move forward, we can do so with one accord.