Below is a list of the most frequently asked questions regarding the new church design:
IS THERE ROOM FOR CHANGES IN THE NEW CHURCH DESIGN? The only significant change that could be made to the new church design is the elimination of the dome, which would save about $200,000. There are no other significant changes that would save money and maintain the integrity of the design. The design has been carefully studied and meets our needs.
WILL THE CHURCH FLOOR BE FLAT AND THE ALTAR ELEVATED? Yes, the floor is flat. The altar can be seen from anywhere in the church. There will be steps leading up to the altar as well as a ramp on the side for handicapped access. The choir will be located behind the altar at floor level.
TELL US ABOUT THE BAPTISMAL FONT. It will be located at the front entrance to the church proper, at the back of the nave. It will be sunken and large enough for adult baptisms and will also be designed for infant baptisms as well.
WILL THERE BE STAINED GLASS WINDOWS? The current plan does not have stained glass windows, but these can be added later or included should we exceed our goal.
WILL ELEMENTS BE BROUGHT FROM THE OLD CHURCH TO THE NEW? Yes, as many as possible will be brought to the new church. For example, the tabernacle and statues will be moved into the new church. However, the pews will not be reused--new pews will be purchased.
WHAT ACCESS IS THERE FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED? Presently, they would enter through the main entrances to the building along with everyone else. The design committee will be looking more closely at this important issue of easier access for the elderly and disabled.
WHAT ABOUT THE ROOF ON THE NEW CHURCH, IS IT PITCHED? Yes, the roof is pitched. It is higher than our current church roof. The roof area surrounding the dome appears to be flat, but it has an adequate pitch to allow for proper drainage and will be constructed of the best quality product to prevent leaking.
HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL THE NEW CHURCH HOLD AND CAN MORE SEATING BE ADDED? The new church is built with 800 permanent seats. (Our present church seats 475.) It is designed for an additional 200-300 overflow along the aisles, around the baptismal font, and in the narthex. It is not possible to "add on" to the building to increase seating capacity.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE PRESENT CHURCH BUILDING? Since the present church building was designed to be a parish hall/gym it will be easy to convert it into a space for a much needed parish hall. (The space that is presently used by our parish and parish school as a gym will remain a gym.) In the short term, members of our parish have volunteered their labor to remove the pews and do some basic work on the floor to make the space usable for large parish gatherings. In the long term, which is Phase #2 of the master plan, the space would be completely remodeled into a beautiful parish hall complete with large, movable dividers to carve out four meeting rooms and the addition of a large kitchen, all at the cost of a little over $1 million.
WHERE WILL DAILY MASS AND ADORATION BE HELD AND WILL THERE BE CHANGES TO THE SUNDAY MASS SCHEDULE? Both Daily Mass and Adoration will continue to be held in our current chapel. Any decisions regarding the weekend Mass schedule will be determined once the new church is built and will depend on both the needs of the parishioners and the availability of priests.
SINCE THE NEW CHURCH WILL TAKE UP PART OF THE EAST PARKING LOT, WILL NEW PARKING BE ADDED? Yes, new parking will be added in the two lots that the parish owns which are located on the corner of Greystone Avenue and Hefner Road. Also, parking will be added south of the present church building, taking up part of the playground area.
SINCE THE NEW CHURCH WILL DISPLACE THE BALLFIELD ON HEFNER ROAD AND NEW PARKING WILL TAKE PART OF THE PLAYGROUND, WHAT SPACE WILL THE SCHOOLCHILDREN USE FOR PLAY? The ball field in the far southeast part of our property will remain (near the Vineyard Retirement Home) as will the play space where all the big toys are located. Many schools in the OKC area have to use the "blacktop" as play area, and our students already do so at times by making use of the school parking lot. The overall master plan has a large playground space west of the school, which means the rectory needs to be moved. Our parish also owns two lots south of old Utica Drive (the western entrance off Greystone to the school parking lot), where a new rectory could be built or a fenced playground space could be used.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO MAINTAIN THE NEW BUILDING? A rough estimate of the costs, including property insurance, heating and cooling, and cleaning expenses, is around $100,000, or between $8000-9000 per month. (Since the building is being designed "green" with plenty of natural lighting, the expense may be even less.) From 2002-2007 our parish paid a monthly debt payment of almost $17,000 out of the Sunday collection, with help from donations made using the Building for Millennium envelopes. Since the debt was paid off in October 2007 using new church funds, our parish has been making a monthly "debt payment" to our new church fund in the amount of $14,400 out of the Sunday collection with help from donations to the Building for Millennium envelopes. So, our past financial history shows that our parish is more than capable of maintaining the new building.
IS THE PLEDGE FOR THE NEW CHURCH IN ADDITION TO MY REGULAR SUNDAY OFFERING? Yes. the work of the parish must continue during this period of time. We still have religious education programs, our parish school, and other important ministries that need our regular support. In addition, we have to maintain our current facilities, and very importantly, must pay our staff.
IF I PLEDGE TO SUPPORT THE NEW CHURCH, WILL I NEED TO CONTINUE USING MY BUILDING FOR MILLENNIUM ENVELOPES? No. Take what you have been giving to Building for Millennium and use that as part of your new church pledge. The "debt" that our parish is paying off to itself ($14,400 monthly being transferred from the Sunday collections and donations in Building for Millennium envelopes to the New Church Fund) will be finished by March 2009.
WHEN WILL THE NEW CHURCH PLEDGES START AND WHEN WILL CONSTRUCTION BEGIN? The pledges need to start now. It is necessary that we have at least $3.75M in cash and an equal amount in pledges before we can break ground.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO COMPLETE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW CHURCH? It will take 12-18 months from groundbreaking until the building is ready to open.
HOW DO YOU MAKE DONATIONS TO THE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN? As of January 2009, the monthly New Church Fund envelopes that are part of the mailed envelope donation packet will be replaced by "A Legacy of Faith: Raising Up a Holy Place" envelopes. Until then, you can use the New Church envelopes, or on a loose check put "Legacy of Faith" in the notation line. If you pledge to give weekly, you will receive from the parish office a special envelope packet with weekly "Legacy of Faith" envelopes. There are a number of other giving options: credit card, electronic transfer of funds (ETF), or through giving assets such as property, stock or other gifts in kind.
SHOULDN'T WE HAVE 100% PARTICIPATION EVEN IF IT'S ONLY $5 A MONTH? Absolutely. This parish has been blessed with so many gifts, that we need to remember who gave them to us, and we should give some back. However, not all of us have the same gifts or resources. Remember the widow's mite. God does not judge us by what we have, but by our willingness to sacrifice and return to Him a share.
WHAT HAPPENS IF MY FINANCIAL SITUATION CHANGES? Whether you are able to increase your pledge or reduce it, you need only call the Parish Office and advise them.
