What happened after the ceiling fell!
What a shock it was to learn that day in August, that our church ceiling had tumbled down! We should have realized that it could happen any time after we watched the the cracks travel across overhead the past couple of years. Thank goodness, no one was in the building when it happened. We can certainly be grateful that no one was hurt.
I've decided to start a blog for St Elizabeth's. It will be open for our parishioners use only; because it might be a good thing for us to talk about our parish and what will happen to the church building. This will also be a place to exchange ideas on what to do that will be best for our parish community. Should we sell the land and buildings? Should we renovate? What are our options?
Please make comments and suggestions. Here's your opportunity. Let's hear from all of you and let's make this blog our parish voice.
Comments can be anonymous or can be signed with a nickname or your real name. The most important thing is to let your voice be heard.
Labels: ceilingdisaster
posted by mary ann @ Wednesday, November 22, 2006
4 comments
4 Comments:
Mary Ann, I think this is a GOOD thing. I thank you for doing this, I am sure it will be well received and I look forward to sharing my comments soon. Ronnie
Thanks, Ronnie. I hope people will make use of this blog and express their thoughts and ideas about the parish.
This blog has a lot of possibilities.
Sharing my TWO cents worth on the future of St. Elizabeth's parish.
I would love to see our parish continue as a truly vibrant community, AND I will continue to the best of my ability to support the decision that is made, BUT this matter should be considered with our HEADS, as well as our HEARTS.
As a past (birth)member of St. Joseph's, I have already experienced a closing parish, I love St. Elizabeth community just as much, BUT sometimes we might have to face reality, I have great faith, BUT sometimes there are other options that SHOULD be taken into consideration, in this situation, I am greatly CONCERNED about the ability of our community to re-pay a loan of the magnitude we will be faced with, we have an "AGING" community with very few young people there now to carry on.
Realizing that I am not financial saavy, my "HEART CHOICE" would be to sell the existing St Elizabeth property & MAYBE with that and the Diocese's backing, a new place could be built on the old St Joseph site, BUT I also realize that if we cannot raise enough for renovations, why think of building?...but since a church is the people, & if what most of us want is to keep the community together, my reasoning is since St Joseph property is diocesan owned... with the sale of the St Elizabeth property & MAYBE the Diocese's backing, it might be possible. My reasoning is maybe the diocese WOULD give more support for a new building on property that is already owned..then if St Elizabeth cannot continue on that site in the future, a new building would be easier to use otherwise BY the diocese OR to dispose of by sale, than an old one, which likely will need MORE renovations in the future than we would have done.
Realizing the above mentioned probably is not likely to happen or is not possible....as unpopular as this is to some.......my "MIND OF REASON CHOICE" is.... we might have to face the fact that maybe we should move on and join other parishes, we cannot keep on as we are now, "hoping" to get outside support for the task at hand AND "hoping" that we all could increase our present commitments, which is what is necessary, to re-pay the loan AND to CONTINUE operating as a parish. I, as many others in our parish are on a VERY fixed income, I thank GOD I have been able to continue as I have, but facing reality of aging..my situation could change drastically..then I would not be able to carry on as I would have hoped to. To sum all this up...my mind of reasoning is to just close & join elsewhere, although I will continue to support whatever decision is made, as best I can.
Veronica (Ronnie) Archer
Ronnie, you are right on target! These are the questions we, as a parish community need to face. I will start a special thread so that people can address these specific issues. Thank you.
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