1. MASTER PLAN PRESENTATION Saint Clare of Assisi Parish
Swedesboro, Gibbstown, Paulsboro
Diocese of Camden, New Jersey
Rev. David A. Grover, Pastor

2. Consolidation of 3 Parishes into St. Clare of Assisi
Where are we today?
Parish formed in 2010
Consolidation of 3 Parishes into St. Clare of Assisi
Parish covers a large geographic territory and 4 separate municipalities - Paulsboro, Gibbstown/Greenwich, Logan, Swedesboro/Woolwich
The Parish Census indicates that a relatively stable base of parishioners since the merger.
There are 3624 households registered at the end of June 2016, compared to 3475 in 2011, and increase of 4%

3. Where are we today? Parish Demographics
Three municipalities have stable populations but little growth
Swedesboro/Woolwich Twp. has experienced dramatic population growth projected to continue into the next decade
Swedesboro/Woolwich is double the population of the next largest municipality in the Parish
Swedesboro/Woolwich population projected to double in next decade
Our parish boundaries are large (76 square miles), including 4 distinct municipalities – Paulsboro, Gibbstown/Greenwich Twp., Logan Twp., and Swedesboro/Woolwich Twp.
A majority of students at the school, and a preponderance (75%) of students in the Faith Formation program reside in the Woolwich Zip Code.
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4. Where are we today? Buildings/Land
3 separate campuses and 13 buildings
Buildings are aging and costly to maintain
Maintenance is big drain on Parish finances
Parish owns 28 acres of land adjacent to Diocese Cemetery/Land in Woolwich Twp.
Buildings include:
3 Churches
3 School Buildings
2 Halls
2 Rectories
2 Convents
Office
Garage
In addition to the buildings, St. Joseph’s Parish purchased land in 2007 on Paulsboro Rd. in anticipation of the need for a new church.
The site sits in Woolwich Twp. and is currently used as farmland. Although the land has been rezoned and is not in consideration to be developed by the Woolwich Twp. Master Plan, it remains valuable to the parish as we own Transfer Development Credits on the land that may increase in value as the Woolwich Master Plan is executed over the next decade.
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5. Where are we today? Spirituality
Parish has over 3600 registered households
Approximately 20% regularly contribute via envelope or on line giving
Faith Formation program has 723 children registered
Guardian Angels Regional School (GARS) enrollment is at 242 pupils in Pre-K through 8th grade.
Majority of students in GARS, and a preponderance of students in Faith Formation program reside in the Swedesboro/Woolwich zip code
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6. Where are we today? Financially
Parish has experienced deficit 4 of the last 5 years
Causes include decrease in ordinary income and increase in expense of maintaining 13 buildings
Deficits are depleting savings funds and jeopardizing future
GARS had surplus in 2016/17 fiscal year
Improved enrollment in K-8, and pre-school are driving surplus
The GARS surplus was accomplished thru an increase in Pre-K enrollment and tuition income, along with tight management of expense.
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7. Where are we today? Financial
Offeratory Income
2013/ / / /17
$840, $791,600 (6%) $737,457 (7%) $810,457
The large loss in 2015/16 was mostly attributable to necessary capital projects associated with the Churches at Gibbstown ($363k) and Swedesboro ($25k).
Offertory income has declined since the fiscal year ending The most recent year ending June 30, 2017 reversed a 2 year trend of declining income thanks to an Increased Giving Campaign in October 2016.
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8. Where are we today? Financial
Operating Expenses (2016/17)
Utilities $190,655
Maintenance $203,587
Capital Expenditures - $62,111
Total $456,353
Expenses to maintain our 13 buildings are substantial, and a an impediment to our pastoral goals.
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9. Where are we today? Financial
Saving Funds
June 30, June 30, 2017
$2,626, $1,725,612
The Capital Expenditures and frequent operating losses have caused us to deplete our savings funds by over $800k since the merger.
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10. Where do we want to be?
One Parish, One Church, On One Campus for all activities – Worship, School, Faith Formation, and Fellowship
Based on this data, the Diocese has approved a future parish campus located within the boundaries of Woolwich Twp.
The Parish has set forth a vision of having the St. Clare faith community utilize one campus and one Church for all activities – including worship, faith formation, catholic education, adult education, and fellowship – within the next 10 to 15 year time horizon.
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11. Execute long term strategic plan – four Phased approach
How do we get there?
Execute long term strategic plan – four Phased approach
Maximize the value of our assets, and minimize financial risks – sell first, subsequently build new, in steps
Maintain commitment to elementary school but avoid premature commitment of capital to new school building
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12. How do we get there? Phase 1
Sell real estate on Paulsboro campus – Consultors approved Church and Rectory for sale in June 2016
Maximize assets in all three campuses -
St. John’s Church relegated from Sacred to Secular in September
Sell Rectory in Gibbstown
The Church and Rectory in Paulsboro are currently listed for sale at $995k
The School and Diaconate Center are not part of the sale, but could be if there is interest. In that case the parish would look to leaseback the school building to continue to educate the students until the new facility is built.
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13. How do we get there? Phase 2
Utilize proceeds from Phase 1 to build Multipurpose Facility in Woolwich Twp.
Consideration of 3 sites
28 acres owned by Parish
Cemetery land owned by Diocese
Woolwich Twp. Regional Center
Facility to include Hall/Gymnasium, convertible into worship site, and classrooms / office space.
We anticipate the cost of the new Multipurpose Facility to be around $3M, part of which would be realized from the sale of the Paulsboro Campus in Phase 1.
The new facility would include a gymnasium type of hall, utilized for an athletic facility and parish hall, and convertible into a worship site.
The facility would also include multiple classrooms for GARS, the Faith Formation Program, and adult education.
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14. 28 ACRES STONE MEETING HOUSE ROAD WOOLWHICH TOWNSHIP
Property owned by St. Clares
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15. REAR PORTION OF SAINT JOE CEMETERY
OAK GROVE ROAD
WOOLWHICH TOWNSHIP
REAR PORTION OF SAINT JOE CEMETERY
Property owned by the Diocese
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16. Cemetery Land Property owned by the Diocese
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17. How do we get there? Phase 3
Sell the Swedesboro Campus and commence building new Church
All Parish activities in Swedesboro can be done at multipurpose facility or Gibbstown Campus
Proceeds from Swedesboro campus used as down payment for new Church construction next to multipurpose facility
Once the multipurpose site is built, the Swedesboro Campus would be sold, as the Faith Formation Building would no longer be needed, and Church services would take place at the new facility and at St. Michael’s in Gibbstown.
The proceeds from the sale of the Swedesboro campus would pay for a substantial down payment on the new church construction.
The Gibbstown Church, School, and Convent would still operate as usual through this Phase.
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18. How do we get there? Phase 4
When Church is completed, exit Gibbstown campus
Use proceeds towards debt, or additional classrooms/school to the new campus
By this time, we will have a clearer picture of the need for Catholic School Elementary education in the community, and can make a decision on the need for additional school space.
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