BUILD OUR FUTURE, TOGETHER AT IMMACULATE CONCEPTION CATHOLIC CHURCH
Dear Parishioners of Immaculate Conception Parish (IC) and Parents of Immaculata Catholic School (ICS),
As any parent knows, children frequently grow out of one size of clothing and require another larger size. While the resulting trip to the clothing store can cause a financial hit on the household budget, it is also a positive and joyful sign of life, health and growth.
Blessed by God and by the faith of so many wonderful members, ICC and ICS are growing and thriving—and we are in need of some updates to our facilities as a result.
For this reason, Fr. Manuel Viera, O.F.M., who was then pastor, approved the launching of a deliberate, collaborative planning process to evaluate the long-term facility, ministry, school and community needs of our campus and to determine whether the time is right for a potential capital campaign to fund our needs. Having recently returned as your pastor, I heartily endorse this endeavor, which is already underway.
Perhaps the first thing for us to note is that this planning process did not begin with fundraising. Rather, it began with listening, and we are still in the listening phase. Only after careful listening to our 'stakeholders' (e.g., parishioners, school families, and families of the Emily K Center) will we continue with the planning and discernment phases.
The goals of the planning process are to:
The objective of the planning process is to provide parish leadership with the information necessary to determine whether a capital campaign should proceed and, if so, establish the appropriate priorities, scope, financial goals, leadership structure, timing, and strategy.
As any parent knows, children frequently grow out of one size of clothing and require another larger size. While the resulting trip to the clothing store can cause a financial hit on the household budget, it is also a positive and joyful sign of life, health and growth.
Blessed by God and by the faith of so many wonderful members, ICC and ICS are growing and thriving—and we are in need of some updates to our facilities as a result.
For this reason, Fr. Manuel Viera, O.F.M., who was then pastor, approved the launching of a deliberate, collaborative planning process to evaluate the long-term facility, ministry, school and community needs of our campus and to determine whether the time is right for a potential capital campaign to fund our needs. Having recently returned as your pastor, I heartily endorse this endeavor, which is already underway.
Perhaps the first thing for us to note is that this planning process did not begin with fundraising. Rather, it began with listening, and we are still in the listening phase. Only after careful listening to our 'stakeholders' (e.g., parishioners, school families, and families of the Emily K Center) will we continue with the planning and discernment phases.
The goals of the planning process are to:
- identify and prioritize campus needs
- develop a comprehensive Campus Master Plan supported by conceptual designs and preliminary costs
- validate those priorities through an independent feasibility study.
The objective of the planning process is to provide parish leadership with the information necessary to determine whether a capital campaign should proceed and, if so, establish the appropriate priorities, scope, financial goals, leadership structure, timing, and strategy.
Who is leading the planning process?
Glenn Phillips: Glenn chairs our Parish Campus Planning Committee and has volunteered to lead the facilities, engineering, architectural planning, and Campus Master Plan work. A long-time ICC parishioner and former engineer, he brings significant institutional knowledge and experience with major capital projects involving the ICC/ICS community.
Glenn participated in the 2005 ICC/ICS capital campaign and building project, which raised more than $1 million in philanthropic support and secured approximately $2 million in Diocesan financing to construct the current church. He also contributed his engineering expertise to the Emily K Center's 2006 building project and served on the Building Committee for the Emily K Center's 2021 expansion.
Glenn will lead the Parish Campus Planning Committee effort to update our Campus Master Plan, including the architectural and engineering work, the Diocesan planning process, project scope, preliminary costs, campus circulation and parking considerations, and potential project phasing
Glenn participated in the 2005 ICC/ICS capital campaign and building project, which raised more than $1 million in philanthropic support and secured approximately $2 million in Diocesan financing to construct the current church. He also contributed his engineering expertise to the Emily K Center's 2006 building project and served on the Building Committee for the Emily K Center's 2021 expansion.
Glenn will lead the Parish Campus Planning Committee effort to update our Campus Master Plan, including the architectural and engineering work, the Diocesan planning process, project scope, preliminary costs, campus circulation and parking considerations, and potential project phasing
Randy Garcia: Randy, also a long-time ICC parishioner and ICS parent, leads the development and campaign-readiness work, including the Moss+Ross engagement, formation and coordination of the Pre-Campaign Committee, historical donor analysis, identification of representative households for the feasibility study, preliminary case development, communications planning, and preparation for a potential capital campaign.
Please note that the facilities and development work are intentionally proceeding in parallel. The Campus Master Plan will establish what ICC/ICS may need to build, improve, or invest in, while the feasibility study will independently assess community priorities, philanthropic interest and capacity, leadership potential, and overall campaign readiness.
Parish Campus Planning Committee:
The members who have served are Glenn Phillips, Margaret Johnston, Deb White, Kirk Wagenseller, Carmen Denise Caraballo, Randy Garcia, Patrick Kurz, Margie Burton, Michael Wengenroth (Diocese of Raleigh), and Fr. Manuel/Fr. Larry.
What has been done so far?
Under the leadership of the Parish Campus Planning Committee, input was gathered over the past two years from the Parish Council, Finance Council, Immaculata Catholic School leadership and parent groups, and other parish stakeholders. Several priorities consistently emerged from this consultation:
- an update of the 2003 Campus Master Plan
- an increase in campus parking and improved traffic circulation
- an expansion of parish meeting and ministry space
- an improvement of the functionality of school and campus facilities
- an improvement of ICS access to, and utilization of, the Emily K Center gymnasium.
- preserving flexibility for future campus growth
In the last month or so:
- An agreement has been signed between ICS and the Emily K Center to facilitate an improvement of ICS access to and utilization of the Emily K Center gymnasium, and to preserve flexibility for future campus growth.
- ICC received Diocesan approval for the initial planning process expenditures.
- Moss+Ross has been engaged to provide pre-campaign counsel and conduct an independent feasibility study.
- Emerson/Linton/Ballentine has been engaged to support survey, architectural, facilities, and campus Master Plan work.
What comes next?
Our listening will continue through interviews with a representative sampling of stakeholder households and with the opportunity for parishioners to offer feedback on the priorities that have thus far been identified. This will be discussed in more detail in the next Planning Process update.
In the meantime, let's pray together for the success of our planning process as we continue to respond in faith to the growing needs of our vibrant parish/school family.
Peace and all good!
Fr. Lawrence J. Hayes, O.F.M.
Pastor
In the meantime, let's pray together for the success of our planning process as we continue to respond in faith to the growing needs of our vibrant parish/school family.
Peace and all good!
Fr. Lawrence J. Hayes, O.F.M.
Pastor