From the desk of Fr. Barry
How did August go? I have to say that this last month has been a breath of fresh air. Not driving back and forth from St. John’s to Christ the King and then back again is a true blessing. One in which I hadn’t really realized how much time was actually taken up in the car. Thank you to everyone who has helped make this a reality! As the finishing touches continue on the rectory and offices, we have a structure that will serve our community and future priests for many years to come.
So how did the construction phase go? Pleasantly well! Our initial predications were that the cost of the offices and rectory would be $200K, building on a slab. It was realized that we didn’t really have any storage on property; Christmas trees, Lent, and Vocation Bible School supplies were all stored off property. One of our parish families saw this need and covered the cost of a basement to be added, $26K. With the new addition of the basement along with the maintenance shop, and widening (handicap accessible) the original plans to allow for the hallway in the office area, our bid for building was $250. Above and beyond that would be sewer hookup, permit fees and excavation of the land. I’m happy to say our final cost of construction, with discounts from the various contractors, is $246,084! To pay for the project, we had initially counted on our savings account, $80K. The sale of the old rectory would add $70K. That meant we would need to raise $100K from our parish families. After the kick off, the Knights of Columbus graciously presented us with a check for $50K from the sale of their hall. This left us with $50K to raise.
I am happy to say that we have paid for all construction costs with a total of 131 families contributing to phase one (we have 325 registered families). Phase two has 70 families pledging to rebuild the savings account held at the diocese over the next 3 years. With that said, we did not end up going into our savings account to the extent as previously predicted. Our balance in savings is over $40K and with the pledges recorded, we will be over our initial amount of $80,000 in our savings at the end of the 3-year mark! Your generosity and sacrifice will serve this parish for many, many years to come.
What does life look like for me now that I am living on this property. Well, daily Mass requires me to get up at 6 now instead of 5:30 (no more drive, woohoo!). Nights that I have evening meetings now allows me to relax in between, whereas before I hung out in the Seton Center until they began. 14-hour days allows me to get in a nap in the afternoon, I was getting crabby without these!! Life is good!
With the new school year beginning, the middle school as been eliminated from my responsibilities by Bishop Callahan. This means I now am responsible only for the high school, while Fr. Daniel Williams will assume responsibility for the middle school. I will celebrate Mass on Tuesdays for the high school every other week and will be at Columbus Tuesday’s and Thursday’s from 8 – 2:45. This also helps the parish off- set my salary, as Columbus pays 25% of that expense.
So in answer to my question, August was a blessed month! This was in part because of many of you. Your love and commitment to Christ the King is a joy to witness and be a part of. The dedication of so many in stepping up to the varied changes we have experienced during COVID-19 is a testimony of your love for God and His Church. You make me proud to say I am from Christ the King.
Fr. Barry
How did August go? I have to say that this last month has been a breath of fresh air. Not driving back and forth from St. John’s to Christ the King and then back again is a true blessing. One in which I hadn’t really realized how much time was actually taken up in the car. Thank you to everyone who has helped make this a reality! As the finishing touches continue on the rectory and offices, we have a structure that will serve our community and future priests for many years to come.
So how did the construction phase go? Pleasantly well! Our initial predications were that the cost of the offices and rectory would be $200K, building on a slab. It was realized that we didn’t really have any storage on property; Christmas trees, Lent, and Vocation Bible School supplies were all stored off property. One of our parish families saw this need and covered the cost of a basement to be added, $26K. With the new addition of the basement along with the maintenance shop, and widening (handicap accessible) the original plans to allow for the hallway in the office area, our bid for building was $250. Above and beyond that would be sewer hookup, permit fees and excavation of the land. I’m happy to say our final cost of construction, with discounts from the various contractors, is $246,084! To pay for the project, we had initially counted on our savings account, $80K. The sale of the old rectory would add $70K. That meant we would need to raise $100K from our parish families. After the kick off, the Knights of Columbus graciously presented us with a check for $50K from the sale of their hall. This left us with $50K to raise.
I am happy to say that we have paid for all construction costs with a total of 131 families contributing to phase one (we have 325 registered families). Phase two has 70 families pledging to rebuild the savings account held at the diocese over the next 3 years. With that said, we did not end up going into our savings account to the extent as previously predicted. Our balance in savings is over $40K and with the pledges recorded, we will be over our initial amount of $80,000 in our savings at the end of the 3-year mark! Your generosity and sacrifice will serve this parish for many, many years to come.
What does life look like for me now that I am living on this property. Well, daily Mass requires me to get up at 6 now instead of 5:30 (no more drive, woohoo!). Nights that I have evening meetings now allows me to relax in between, whereas before I hung out in the Seton Center until they began. 14-hour days allows me to get in a nap in the afternoon, I was getting crabby without these!! Life is good!
With the new school year beginning, the middle school as been eliminated from my responsibilities by Bishop Callahan. This means I now am responsible only for the high school, while Fr. Daniel Williams will assume responsibility for the middle school. I will celebrate Mass on Tuesdays for the high school every other week and will be at Columbus Tuesday’s and Thursday’s from 8 – 2:45. This also helps the parish off- set my salary, as Columbus pays 25% of that expense.
So in answer to my question, August was a blessed month! This was in part because of many of you. Your love and commitment to Christ the King is a joy to witness and be a part of. The dedication of so many in stepping up to the varied changes we have experienced during COVID-19 is a testimony of your love for God and His Church. You make me proud to say I am from Christ the King.
Fr. Barry
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