Walker Road Expansion Coming

In recent weeks, I’ve shared some of the basics regarding the upcoming Walker Rd. expansion. Today, I’d like to provide more concrete details to ensure clear and consistent communication.

On October 15, Dana, Deacon Brett, and I met with a representative from Washington County’s Land Use & Transportation office. We learned that the previously delayed Walker Rd. expansion will begin in June 2025 and will take 2.5 years to complete. This project will bring the new sidewalk within 10 feet of our main parish office, which serves as the catalyst for everything to follow. Click here to see the map.

In response, I have formed a “Dream Committee” (or “Dream Team”) to explore how our parish should address the expansion, both in the short term and looking ahead 10 to 25 years. The committee will focus on:

1. Defining the parish’s mission.

2. Assessing our various ministries and how well our current facilities meet—or fall short of meeting—their needs.

3. Evaluating potential changes, such as adjustments, removals, rebuilds, or additions of facilities to meet these needs, considering both pros and cons.

4. Determining optimal locations on our campus for any proposed facilities.

The Dream Team is not tasked with making detailed decisions but rather providing a broad, high-level perspective. Once we complete this initial phase, which I hope to do before the holiday season, the committee will disband.

In 2025, I plan to form a new committee that will take the Dream Team’s recommendations and work with an architect (and possibly a contractor) to create preliminary professional drawings. Around this time, we’ll share these drawings with the entire parish and hold a meeting to explain our journey to this point and discuss the plan in detail. Updates will also be provided via bulletins, pulpit announcements, and my Friday video messages.

A feasibility study will follow to gauge Holy Trinity’s fundraising capacity for the project. If successful, a fundraising campaign will begin, and once completed and permits are secured, construction would commence.

How long will all of this take? It’s difficult to say exactly, as the permitting process can be lengthy. However, it’s likely that the Walker Rd. expansion will finish before we break ground on any new construction.

These are the current details and big picture as best as I can share. Many factors could influence the timeline, so I ask for your prayers. I believe wonderful things are in store for us in the coming years. Until then, let’s pray for God’s guidance and patience for everyone involved in this effort. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me, Deacon Brett, Dana Morano, Fr. Anthony, or Dr. Anne Erwin.

Mini-Campaign - Thank You - Church Dedication

Dear Parishioners,

This past week, we held our annual min-campaign for the continuing process of our Honoring Our Past - Building Our Future Capital Campaign. This process will continue annually through five years. The goal is to steward our pledge sources so as to ensure the stability of the campaign while also attempting to make sure everyone has an opportunity to participate. We are very aware that each year there will be parishioners who move, have a reduction in pay or hours, lose a job, get sick, have an unexpected change in finances, and even pass away.  This can destabilize a percentage of pledges. On the other hand, each year new people move into the area and join our parish, others get a new job or a raise, others come into a new-found financial prosperity, and others have completed their pledge and desire to continue to help financially. It is for these and many other reasons why the campaign program calls for an annual process.  

So, I want to thank all of you who generously made a pledge or renewed your pledge this past week. I also want to thank the crew of dedicated parishioners who came each evening to the church and made phone calls to prospective donors.  If some folks didn’t make a pledge, it was still important to reach and let them know that they are an important part of our parish and that we truly appreciate all their prayerful support. 

This is an exciting time.  I called the office of the Archbishop and got a tentative date for Archbishop Sample to come and dedicate our new church.  At this time, we are looking to September 1st.  Pencil that date in our calendars, but be prepared with your handy eraser too. As the completion date gets closer, I will make sure to let us all know with more certainty the date and time for our first Mass and dedication.

Blessings,

Fr. William Holtzinger
Pastor