A LETTER FROM OUR PASTOR...

Dear parishioners,
     As I begin my fifth year as your pastor, I continue to be inspired by, and grateful for, your faith, hard work, and generosity. I am grateful for the generous and sacrificial way that you give of yourself and your time, talent, and treasure, in support of our parish and ministries. Whenever I have asked for your help, in volunteering your time, or in giving money, you have responded generously.
     Thanks to God, and to the hard work and generosity of our parishioners both past and present, our current parish buildings have served us very well over the years. But, as our parish has grown, both in numbers of parishioners and in the number of ministries and activities, we have outgrown our current buildings and need additional space for all the good things that we want to do.
     Some years ago it was determined that our current location will not be adequate for our current and future needs, so new property was purchased on Highland Avenue with the intention of relocating there. Since we cannot afford to build everything all at once, we will be relocating in phases that we can afford. The consensus has been that we will continue to worship in our current church for the foreseeable future, and so we will build and relocate everything but a new church.
     As I recently announced during the weekend masses, the first phase building will provide space for a new elementary school and also a new parish hall and kitchen facilities that will be about double the size of our current parish hall. The new building will contain multi-purpose space that can be used by all parishioners for both small and large group activities. And, by re-locating the school from our current physical plant, the whole parish will be able to use the current school building and parish hall with increased flexibility.
     Now it is time for us to raise the funds to begin building. We are beginning a capital campaign and our goal is $2,700,000 in gifts and pledges. Thanks to your generosity in a previous campaign, we already have approximately $500,000 in our building fund.
     In order to build the first of our new buildings, I am asking that all of us consider making a significant sacrifice and encourage our fellow parishioners to do the same. Obviously, we all cannot pledge the same amount of money, so instead, I am asking that all of us take a good, honest look at our own personal finances, and at the future of our parish, and then, prayerfully, make as generous and sacrificial a gift as is possible.
     Let us pray for one another, and ask God to help us during this important time in the history of our parish. May God bring to fulfillment all of the good work that He has begun in us.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Mark Wood Pastor

OUR CHALLENGE...
      Over the last ten years, our parish has grown both in numbers of parishioners and in the number of ministries and activities. This growth is a wonderful thing and has continued to add life and exuberance to our parish, however it has caused us to outgrow our current buildings. We are past the time when we need additional space for all of the important things that we need to do. To plan for our future, our parish leadership, with input from our ministries, has begun formulating a Master Plan for the future development of this community. Some years ago, it was determined that our current location was not adequate for the expansion that we need, and so our parish purchased 20 acres on Highland Avenue. Currently, we do not need a new church and so we will continue to worship here in our present church for the foreseeable future. In the meantime, we will begin construction of new buildings, which will provide space for everything except for a new church. Since we are not financially able to build everything all at once, we will be relocating in phases that we can afford.
     The growth in the parish is most visibly seen in our ministries and parish groups. One of the most pressing needs faced by the parish is the limited meeting, classroom, activity and gathering space for various parish functions. The continued growth of the parish will only increase the demand for space. Therefore a new Parish Center is urgently needed. Phase I of the Master Plan calls for the construction of a new school, parish hall and additional community rooms for the entire parish. By moving the school to the Highland Property, the current school building will be freed up for all of our other ministries and groups to use.
     Together, these buildings will provide a wonderful first step in our growth for all of our ministries. The projected cost of the first phase is $4,ooo,ooo. A parish wide campaign entitled "Our Faith...Our Gift...Our Future" will be under taken to raise $2,700,000 or more toward construction costs. The remainder of the money will come from approximately $500,000 in parish savings and a loan from the Diocese of Little Rock.
HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED...
Throughout the campaign, Father Mark Wood, the campaign committee, and volunteers will reach out to all members of our community to communicate our dreams for the future and describe how everyone can get involved. Every family in the parish and school is asked to consider the information contained in this brochure and then make a prayerful decision about how they will support this effort. Those who do not respond will be personally contacted by volunteers who will share their time over several months for the success of the campaign. The volunteers, who are members of your parish or school community, will be giving their time to undertake the vital task of contacting parishioners and increasing the awareness of this campaign. Whether you participate by attending a campaign reception, by graciously responding to a volunteer, responding at Mass or by mail, it is your act of involvement that will make this campaign a success.