One of the priorities the Council has identified is to make
sure that we have facilities in place to support our rich array
of liturgies, ministries, programs and events. Central to that
effort is a path to completion of the John Paul II Activity
Center at the St. Elizabeth Seton site.
The Center was designed with two wings. The first wing is the
recently completed Gymnasium/Hall. The second wing -- on the
plot of land in front of the current Center – includes
four large meeting/gathering rooms, a conference hall, a kitchen,
and storage. At roughly 12,000 square feet, it is larger in
area than the 10,000 square foot Gymnasium/Hall.
While we originally hoped to build the entire Center at one
time, rapidly escalating construction costs in 2006 and 2007
made it necessary to divide the project into two phases. It
is now a year since the dedication of the Gym/Hall (Phase 1).
It has proven to be an invaluable facility, hosting parish wide
events, ministry gatherings, youth activities, and CYO basketball.
Our growing community and its ministries are in continuous need
of more space to gather. I can imagine evenings at a completed
Center where a multimedia presentation and discussion are held
in the conference hall, youth meetings occur in another room,
a Bible study in a third room, and a committee planning meeting
in a fourth.
The kitchen will enable a far greater range of programs at
the Center, supporting--for example--the hosting of funeral
need. I can see parish-wide events and dinners held in the large
Gym/Hall with a wonderful variety of ethnic food and refreshments
from the kitchen.
The Council is excited about the opportunity to complete the
vision and construct Phase 2. Fortunately, much of the pre-work
for Phase 2 is complete. The lengthy and complex City of Pleasanton
process for the Center resulted in approval for both phases.
Additional City approvals to complete the Center will not be
necessary.
We also recognize that this project represents a significant
challenge for the parish. Over the coming months, the Council
and a team of parishioners will explore potential paths to completion
of the Center. While multiple avenues such as foundation grants
will be pursued, the bulk of funds would be provided through
pledges made and fulfilled by us, the CCOP community. The initial
campaign for John Paul II involved pledges made in 2005 and
fulfilled over five years from 2006 through 2010. The Council
is considering a similar campaign which would occur in the second
half of 2010, with pledges commencing in 2011. The campaign
would allow us to pay the balance due on Phase 1 and build Phase
2.
Building cost escalation since the original 2005 campaign made
the Center significantly more expensive than originally anticipated.
The total Phase 1 cost, including loan interest, is about $6.2M.
Our best estimates are a remaining loan balance for Phase 1
of $1.5 million, after all initial campaign pledges are fulfilled
by the end of 2010. We expect to refine cost estimates for Phase
2 over the coming months. The current estimate is a cost of
$3.5 - $4 million for Phase 2 or a total requirement of $5 -
$5.5 million from all sources.
This would involve a level of commitment comparable to the
campaign for Phase 1.
We realize this exploration is occurring at a time of high
economic uncertainty. Lack of employment security, risk in assets
and retirement funds, and an unknown financial future are a
reality for many. At the same time, economic prospects for the
future are much brighter today than a year ago. In the long
run, costs will escalate, so building sooner rather than later
will ultimately be more economical for our parish. The facility
we hope to construct will benefit parishioners for ten, twenty,
even fifty years into the future. In addition to contributors
to the initial phase, we are also blessed with many new parishioners
who could assist in the effort.
We ask for your prayers and input over the next few months
as we work with Father Padraig on the plans for the completion
of our John Paul II Center.
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