Dear Parishioners,

Blessed Advent! As we prepare our hearts for the coming of our Lord, I wanted to provide an update on the Walker Rd. expansion and how it may impact our parish. A month ago, I shared a bulletin article and a Friday Reflection video outlining the potential ramifications of this project.

The most immediate concern is our parish office building. Once the expansion is complete, the sidewalk would be just 10 feet from the building’s outer wall, making it unsuitable for our pastoral needs. Additionally, the disruption caused by construction may require us to set up a temporary modular office until a more permanent solution can be found.

The Dreaming Summit

To address these challenges and plan for the future, we started with a “Dreaming Summit” to develop a 25-year vision for our campus. This committee included 25 parishioners who are leaders in various parish ministries. I affectionately called them the “Dreamers,” and they embraced the task wholeheartedly.

Their goal was to reflect on our mission, parish history, and how our current facilities support—or hinder—our ministries. From there, they brainstormed overarching principles to guide future construction and envisioned ways to improve the campus. Importantly, they didn’t focus on construction details or costs—they were free to dream big.

The Process

Each committee member sketched their vision for the campus on a map. Then, they divided into three groups to discuss the pros and cons of each plan. Each group ultimately created a consensus drawing representing their collective vision (Drawing 1, Drawing 2, Drawing 3). With this accomplished, the committee’s work was complete, and we now have three potential 25-year site plans to consider.

These drawings are not perfect, and it’s unlikely any one plan will be followed exactly. However, they provide a valuable starting point for envisioning our future and addressing the challenges we face.

Next Steps

In early 2025, a new committee will form to take the next step. This group will include some of the original Dreamers along with parishioners with expertise in site planning, designing, permitting, and construction. Their job will be to refine the Dreamers’ work and develop a single, detailed 25-year site plan. They may choose one of the current plans, combine ideas from all three, or create something entirely new.

Additionally, I will work with this new committee and my Parish Leadership Team (PLT) to set priorities for moving forward. While we cannot accomplish everything in the short term, establishing clear priorities—what needs to happen first, second, and beyond—will allow us to create a strategic plan for the campus. This approach will help us focus on “how” to achieve “what” is most important in the immediate future.

How You Can Help

This process has been incredibly inspiring. It has brought parishioners together, fostered new connections, and embraced a synodal approach to decision-making. Your role in this process is simple but powerful: pray. Pray that God’s will is done above all else.

As we move forward, I will continue to keep you updated. If you have questions or thoughts, please feel free to reach out to me, Dana Morano, our Business Manager, or Deacon Brett, our Pastoral Associate. Let us journey together with faith and hope as we prepare for what God has planned for our parish.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor