Welcome Home – St. Mary Parish Pastoral Plan
During our 2010 strategic planning process, the idea of building a new Church or expanding our existing Church was proposed. After a prayerful discernment process, supported by a Parish survey and feasibility study, I decided upon a 5-year phased plan called Gather & Grow that was presented to Parishioners at a meeting last November.
Below is a brief update of our plan since the November meeting, with more details provided on the following pages:
Plan approved by Bishop Caggiano
Project implementation accelerated
5 rental properties sold
Bids sent to general contractors
General contractor selection expected in July/August
Church renovation & Gathering Space construction begins January 2019
I am deeply grateful and thank you all for your support and encouragement as we embark on this exciting and much-needed project.
Msgr. Larry Bronkiewicz
Pastor
THE ROAD TO GATHER & GROW
St. Mary Parish Ridgefield, CT
Our Clergy
Msgr. Laurence R. Bronkiewicz, S.T.D.
Pastor
Fr.
Fr. Lourduraj Pitchai
Deacon Jerry Lambert
Deacon
Robert Salvestrini
1881 Parish Founded
1896 Original Church Built
3,050 Number of Families
251 School Enrollment
7 Weekend Masses
350 Church Capacity
400 Parish Hall Capacity
923 Religious Education
Newsletter Date
Volume 1, Issue 1 GATHER & GROW
SUMMER 2018 UPDATE
Facilities Master Plan
Developed Strategic
Plan
Master Plan Committee Formed
Preliminary Survey
Conducted
Feasibility Study & Analysis
of Options
Gather & Grow
Announced
2010 2014 2015 2016 2017
Gather & Grow Page 2 of 4
BISHOP APPROVAL
In March of this year, Bishop Caggiano approved the phased approach to our Church project, Gather & Grow.
MODIFIED & ACCELERATED IMPLEMENTATION
After refreshing the interior of our Church and adding the new Gathering Space in the first half of 2019, we expect to proceed with moving the Adoration Chapel to the existing Sacristy in the Church, and constructing a New Sacristy in mid-2020. Funding for this phase will become available to the Parish from its share of contributions to the Diocesan Capital Campaign.* The expansion phase of the project will then follow as planned in 2023.
Phase I (2019)
Refresh interior of existing Church
Add Community Gathering/Meeting Space
Funded by sale of Parish rental properties & two donations
ORIGINAL PLAN
Phase I (2018-2019)
Refresh interior of our existing Church
Add Community Gathering/Meeting Space to our Church
Funded by sale of Parish rental properties
Phase II (5 years and beyond)
Expand our Church o Increase
seating from 350 to 600/700
o Add Adoration Chapel
o New Sacristy
Funded by future fundraising campaign
New 3-Phase Plan
GATHER & GROW – UPDATES
Welcome Home – St. Mary Parish Pastoral Plan
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Construction Timeline
Gather & Grow Page 3 of 4
Welcome Home – St. Mary Parish Pastoral Plan
OUR VISION
For the past 121 years, our Parish Family has
gathered in our beautiful and historic Church to
celebrate the sacraments.
As our vibrant Community continues to grow, we must look forward and make sure that we are prepared for the next chapter of St. Mary
Parish’s illustrious history.
Our Parish today is a testament to the generosity
of previous generations, and it is now our opportunity to ensure our faith Community continues to Gather & Grow.
Expanded Seating
Sacristy
Altar
Fro
nt
Do
ors
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Sacristy
Co
nfe
ssio
nal
Adoration Chapel
Gathering Space
Expanded Seating
Adoration Chapel
Co
nfe
ssio
nal
Restroom
Back Entry
Expanded Seating
Sacristy
Phase II (2020-2021)
Move Adoration Chapel to current Sacristy space
New Sacristy
Funded by Diocesan Campaign Sharing
Phase III (2023-2024)
Expand Church
Funded by Parish Capital Campaign & Diocesan Campaign Sharing
Gather & Grow Page 4 of 4
RENTAL PROPERTIES (5) UNDER CONTRACT
4 will close by mid-July; the other by the end of 2018
Proceeds of $2.5M - 3.5% better than originally planned
Grotto on sold property to be moved to Church property
BIDS FOR CONSTRUCTION WORK
Sent out in June 2018
Selection of General Contractor by July/August
RENOVATION BEGINS
Renovation of Church interior begins January 2019
CHURCH CLOSED
JANUARY 2 - APRIL 24 (Reopening Holy Thursday, 4/25)
All weekend Masses will be celebrated in Parish Hall during this
timeframe
The Mass schedule will stay the same except for the 11:15am, which
will be suspended during this period
Weekday Masses will be celebrated in the Day Chapel (the space
behind the altar in our Parish Hall)
Confessions will be heard in our Parish Hall
GATHERING SPACE CONSTRUCTION
Construction start date depends on the weather
COMPLETION
Completion of all construction expected by June/July 2019
55 Catoonah Street Ridgefield, CT 06877
PHONE
(203) 438-6538
FAX (203) 438-4406
www.smcr.org
Welcome Home – St. Mary Parish Pastoral Plan
Diocesan Campaign - We Stand With Christ
*A minimum of $75M is expected to be raised over the next three-to-five years as part of the Diocesan campaign, We Stand With Christ, which will provide a solid basis for meeting both urgent needs and much needed long-term security for our Diocesan family. Our Parish’s goal is 2.7M, approximately 50% of which will come back to our Parish for our Gather & Grow Church project. Thank you to all who have and will contribute
to We Stand With Christ and in turn support the future of St. Mary Parish.