CAPITAL CAMPAIGN PLANNING/FEASIBILITY STUDY OPEN FORUM WEEKEND – MARCH 3/4
Murray McCarthy and Martha Asselin (M&M International Inc - a professional fundraising firm) are currently engaged in a Capital Campaign Planning/Feasibility Study in our parish. While just over 100 families have been contacted for personal interviews over the next few weeks, it is very important that each interested parishioner be invited to provide feedback on our church plans and fundraising capacity. This will be done by joining them for an Open Forum in the parish hall after each mass on the weekend of March 3/4. In preparation for the Open Forum, you may wish to read the Case for Support here. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend!
JANUARY 2012 CHURCH UPDATE
I wish to thank Architect Roberto Chiotti (Larkin and Associates) for being with us last weekend at each mass to present the drawings for the conceptual design for our new church here on our Yonge Street site. Special thanks as well to the members of the Building Committee who were on hand after each mass to answer questions and receive comments.
We were very pleased with the positive responses to the design and the maximizing of the use of our property, while still being able to incorporate green space and garden areas.
For those who were not with us last weekend, we will be leaving the model of the new church and display boards in the foyer for the next few weeks. As this is a conceptual design (and not a final design) we are open to your comments and suggestions as we move forward with the process- please feel free to contact Fr. Tim or any member of the Building Committee through the parish office.
Click on an image below to download a full-sized PDF concept drawing
OCTOBER 2011 CHURCH UPDATE
I wish to thank the 125 people who attended last Thursday evening’s information session how plans are progressing for our new church here in Aurora. Dennis Collins spoke on the work of the Building Committee to date and Brian Brennan spoke on behalf of the Finance Council. Architect Roberto Chiotti spoke on the various elements that informed the proposed location of the church (Yonge-Maple corner of our property), administrative offices ( connected to church along Yonge street side of property), and the parking, including the two-tiered parking structure (to the south of the church one level below grade…ramp entrance near Catherine Avenue entrance to lower level…lower level parking entrance to parish hall, meeting rooms and elevator ).
Concept Drawings from October 2011
Background
As announced in January 2010 we have formed a new Building Committee to begin to plan for the design of a new 1000 seat church and adequate parking on our existing site here on Yonge Street.
This plan would involve the demolition of all buildings on our present site, and the building of a new church and lower level hall, along with lower level parking on the southern part (Catherine Street) area of our property. These initial plans have been well received in both an open parish meeting and separate meeting with our neighbours in September 2009.
Our Building Committee has been reviewing a number of church documents relating to the design of new church buildings, among them the document Built of Living Stones (prepared by the Bishops of the United States in 2000). This document brings together in one place many relevant documents and ideas to assist the faithful in the building and renovation of churches. Read selected excerpts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why do we need a new church when we are not full at each of the Sunday masses at present? How has the 1000 seat capacity been decided?
The Town of Aurora has a current population of approximately 45,000 people and is expected to grow to 65,000 people within the next 15 years. Census data and Archdiocese of Toronto projections (based on current levels of mass attendance and Catholic percentage of population) indicate the need for an 1000 seat church to serve regular Sunday needs. We have already added one extra Sunday mass, but the expected growth cannot be handled by simply remaining in our current church with its capacity of 700 people. It was the recognition of this fact some years ago that led Fr. Don MacLean to begin the planning for a new church here in Aurora, and we have continued that process.
Q. Why can we not renovate and expand our existing church rather than build new?
Our current church, built in 1983, is a testimony to the work of many parishioners, who not only assisted with the planning and design, but physically helped to build the church, hall and rectory with their own hands and hearts. Some six years ago Fr. MacLean invited an architectural investigation of our current building which recommended that it not be considered for renovation for various reasons, including: its simple wood design (no steel or reinforcing beams), the need to totally replace its current heating/mechanical system (electrical heating and individual air conditioning units), and its lack of appropriate handicapped access to church and basement.
Last year the Finance Council requested an update of that study from A. Baldassarra Architect, which confirmed these earlier findings. The study also concluded that even if the current church were situated to maximize use of the property for parking (which it is not), it was built to residential standard rather than the increased quality and building standards now used for long term institutional use. As a result any proposed renovation would necessarily be based on residential rather than institutional standard and would again need retrofit within another 20-25 years.