Parish Gathering Space

February 28, 2011

Dear Parishioner,

When I came to Guardian Angels almost 9 years ago (time does fly), I was presented with a 3 part vision to improve and enhance our parish campus.

Part one of this vision was our Parish Center.

Part two was a new and secure main school entrance.  No one had used the original front entrance to school on Beechmont Avenue for years even though the principal’s office was still located there.  It was rightly believed that we needed to move the school offices creating a more accessible, attractive, secure and welcoming location/entrance for our students, staff, parents and guests.  We did.  We have. And it is great.

Now we need to address the third part of the vision by creating a new, attractive, welcoming and convenient main entrance for God’s House.  True we have a beautiful main entrance to our church which like the old school entrance faces Beechmont Avenue and like the old school entrance few people use.  The real main entrances to our church are off the parking lot.  These rear entrances are where most people enter our church.  The majority of our church family enters here as do most guests for weekend Masses, weddings, funerals, First Holy Communions, Confirmations, etc.  These rather non-descript hallways were never meant to be our main welcoming area, our Gathering Space.

You might ask, If we couldn’t afford it before how can we afford it now? Is this money coming from our recent stewardship drive?

The fact is that we are very blessed to already have gifts totaling 70% of the cost of this project.  We did not conduct the increase stewardship campaign in order to erect a Gathering Space.  Those increases are generously given and used for the general operations of our parish and school.

So the goal of this letter is to raise the remaining $300,000 in gifts needed to complete this important addition to our church.  The Archdiocese has stipulated that we must have all monies pledged before we break ground in June.  Therefore all pledges need to be received by the end of May, 2011 and all payments complete by December, 2011, when this project, this vision is scheduled to be completed.

I know that not everyone can participate financially but your prayers for the success of our efforts would be a great blessing.

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Fr. Thomas M. King
Pastor