A New Church At What Cost ?

Barb Maclean – First SOCA Chair Ends vs Means “Is it your intention to drag me, kicking and screaming, into your new church”. Barb Maclean – First SOCA Chair   “The end cannot justify the means, for the simple and obvious reason that the means employed determine the nature of the ends produced”. Aldous Huxley

Case Statement For New Church - 2007

Breakdown of Estimated Costs of New Church In 2007 Land Cost (10 acres) – $4.5 million Architectural, Fundraising, Management Costs - $2 million Construction Costs - $13.5 million Total cost to build a new church in 2007- $20 million Value of 3 Churches - $3 million Current Bldg fund - $1.8 million Fundraising Goal - $15.2 million

Estimated Timelines Construction was to begin February, 2010 Church Was to Open March 2012

Table of Suggested Contributions A three year financial commitment over and above existing donations was requested

Today’s Situation – The Cone of Silence NO comprehensive outline of costs NO fundraising goal and how that will be reached NO clarity regarding what parishioners are expected to contribute NO clear breakdown regarding monies raised to date NO clarity as to what will be included (or excluded) once the church is ready to open

Our Case On the Financial Realities of Building A New Church

Assumptions on Financial Position Current Building Fund Savings $4,700,000 Sale of three churches $2,000,000 (amount and timing is a large variable) Regular donations from parishioners now $850,000 (excluding other revenues)

Assumptions on Cost Original estimate (2010) $21,000,000 Cost of new church Original estimate (2010) $21,000,000 5% increase in construction index $110,000 Accommodation for clergy $500,000 TOTAL $21,610,000 Whether completed in whole or over time the cost is the same Diocesan rules state that ½ cost of new church ($10,000,000) must be raised before construction can begin

Construction in 2018 Less cash $4,700,000 Cost of new Church $21,600,000 Less cash $4,700,000 Less Sale of Churches (??) $2,000,000 Funds Required by mortgage $14,900,000 4% mortgage over 15 years Monthly payments $1,320,000 annually

Parishioner Implications Normal contributions $850,000 Mortgage payment $1,320,000 Total Required annually $2,170,000

Parishioner Implications cont’d All parishioners must increase their donations to 2 ½ times current levels for 15 years Parishioners giving $10 per week must contribute $25 per week Parishioners giving $25 per week must contribute $63 per week Parishioners giving $100 per week must contribute $250 per week

Options/Mitigating Factors If interest rates drop or increase Pay for church over 25 years Build cheaper or smaller church Sell existing churches for more than $2,000,000 Diocese pays interest (almost $600,000 if built in 2018) Diocese provides loan with no/low payments Significant benefactor(s) Special fundraisers of significance

What Is Included In $21 Million Cost? Land cost ? – Diocese purchased 53 acres for $2.7 million in 2015 Land preparation ? Bell Tower ? Full Parking lot ? Columbarium ? Cost to remove and install stained glass windows from existing churches ? Aerial view of new church site

What Costs Will Be Deferred ? Cost of the Land ? ½ Parking Lot ? Columbarium ? Will All Saints face a “House Rich, Cash Poor” scenario ? All costs will need to be paid – Now or Later Proposed design of new church by Ferrari, Westwood Babits

What Else Will We Lose If We Build A New Church ?

Loss of History Loss of our Catholic roots in Lethbridge St. Patrick’s Church dates back to 1887 in Lethbridge and 1913 at its present location. St. Patrick’s is a direct link to our City’s past and to those who built this community. City supports maintaining St. Patrick’s as an active parish and historical site.

Loss of Neighborhood Three existing churches with no mortgages serving the North, Central and Southern parts of our City. Accessible to the areas they serve Our identity and sense of belongingness as Catholics is directly connected to these buildings which our ancestors built with sacrifice and love.

Roman Catholic Churches in Lethbridge

Loss of Facility Existing Churches 3 churches centrally located 10 meeting rooms of different sizes and locations 3 smaller church halls of different capacity Little to no cost for parking New All Saints Church 1 Church facility in SE outskirts 4 rooms (2 of these rooms can be divided) 1 large hall for large gatherings Maintenance costs to clean and repair large parking area.

What Have We Lost Already ? Our unity as a Catholic parish community. The ability to practice our faith within our home parish. Family and social cohesiveness as this dispute has caused relationships to fray and fracture. Loss of time, talent and money as parishioners move to other Catholic churches The loss of our religion as some leave to join another denomination or abandon their religion entirely.

In Summary Parishioners have no say in the decision to build a new church, but are expected to bear all costs. Are we not then entitled to a full and honest accounting of what it will cost individually and collectively? Is the plan to build a new church financially viable? Many other parishes in the Diocese are struggling financially even with no mortgage burden. What will be the financial impact on other programs the parish supports (i.e. Youth Ministry; Refugees; Forward In Faith) Could we LOSE OUR CHURCH if fund raising goals are not met?