See the Gathering In, Reaching Out Video
You might recall the St. Al's did $4.8 million in additions and renovations in 2001. There was an initial fund appeal and a 15 year mortgage. Every three years, we're subjected to another fund appeal to pay off the mortgage sooner. This one, at the six year mark, projects that it might take two more such appeals, which would mean the 15 year mortgage would be paid after 12 years.
If you've seen one of these appeals, you've seen them all. If you haven't seen one, here's the St. Al's video.
Based on what I knew about it's history and the actual state of the parish, most of this project made no sense in terms of mission or finance.
While at the time I argued against the project, and then against continuing to have a separate chapel, the design of the new chapel shown on the original fund appeal had some attractions. Our main church is a more or less typical Vatican II barn: no windows, stucco on concrete walls, plain suspended lighting; a Warehouse of Worship. The chapel as presented had a traditional long axis arrangement, with pews facing an altar and tabernacle. Despite all my objections, it got me to make a pledge.
I admit I doubted it would be built as shown, and it wasn't. But if they'd now arrange it as it was represented then, then I'd match my original pledge.
If you've seen one of these appeals, you've seen them all. If you haven't seen one, here's the St. Al's video.
Based on what I knew about it's history and the actual state of the parish, most of this project made no sense in terms of mission or finance.
While at the time I argued against the project, and then against continuing to have a separate chapel, the design of the new chapel shown on the original fund appeal had some attractions. Our main church is a more or less typical Vatican II barn: no windows, stucco on concrete walls, plain suspended lighting; a Warehouse of Worship. The chapel as presented had a traditional long axis arrangement, with pews facing an altar and tabernacle. Despite all my objections, it got me to make a pledge.
I admit I doubted it would be built as shown, and it wasn't. But if they'd now arrange it as it was represented then, then I'd match my original pledge.
posted by Terrence Berres at
5/20/2007 08:15:00 AM
2 Comments:
After reviewing this video, It reinforces why I am offically 'checked out' of the American Catholic Church. It is in ruins, it is protestant and I will have no part in it. I homeschool my kids catechism, and I grab Mass occasionally. What a sicking joke the Church has become.
Mark
Wouldn't checking out of the Church be kind of Protestant in itself?
I can't blame you for home catechetics; if some parents said they were willing to do that, I wouldn't tell them to send their kid to Sunday School instead (including sending them to my class).
I know you don't mean ruins literally, but don't bankruptcy or foreclosure fit better even as metaphors? They just don't have the cachet of that St. Francis anecdote.
If you're still at Mass, you're less checked out than something like two-thirds or three-fourths of Catholics.
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