May/June 2006 Parishioner Feedback - comment cards and emails

1. BUILD NEW CHURCH

Build a new church, more people come and we would be at capacity again.
Will there be organs in our new church if we have one?
Many older people have a very difficult time walking on slanted floors, like in the new church.
Build new church—renovating would become a money pit.
I gave money for a new church—that’s what I want. (3)
New church would be convenient for school children to enter from school.
Would have adequate bathroom and handicapped accessibility features.
New altar design would bring everyone closer to the Eucharistic celebration—allow direct view.
Most folks buying a home prefer new with less maintenance up-keep and an appealing interior. Worship space would be more cheery, well-lit by daylight, would lead to evangelization.
Variety of worship possibilities. Newness, freshness.
No basement problems, leaking roof, or foundation problems
Have more modern look, more prestigious.
New is always nice. Things that have been allowed to slide for many years will be taken care of. The division and animosity will end.
Only option I would not consider is a smaller new church, since I feel too much space would be lost for use by ministries.
If some ornamentations of current church could be incorporated in new church, you may have more support for new church from older parishioners who have a sentimental attachment, such as stone wall, stained glass windows, wood ceiling.

2. NEW CHURCH, smaller version

What would we lose with the smaller version of a new church?

· This would be my choice, since the price needs to come down to afford new.

I want small new church, but only if we can add on in the future.
Do we have any predictions on space needs in the future? This version has 12% fewer seats than what we currently have, and also fewer than the big new church.

**New Church – either version above preferred over renovation of existing church

· Strongly feel that we need to be focused on the future. Why spend money on 45-year-old building if repairs can’t be positively guaranteed?

· We need expertise of good fundraising organization and should do some benchmarking of other parishes that have been successful at meeting their financial goals. “Fear” of not being able to raise enough money should not be the primary driver of the final decision.

If the offices, day chapel, vestment room, etc. are not put in at the beginning, what is the price tag then?

3. REMODEL CHURCH – comments from those preferring this option

Pews give feeling of drawing us together
Plan is warm & welcoming
Incorporate some of the new church plans into remodel
Current church beautiful
If we cannot have a new church with basement, remodeling would be better.
Lower cost/parish could support
Cost is less than building a new church. Old supporters from old church may continue or add more pledges to renovate.
Have a lot of family history here (baptism, 1^st communion, weddings, etc.)
Could there be security around the tabernacle so that the chapel could always be open for anyone who would like to come to pray at any time of day or night?
We need the basement space for gatherings and meetings.
Reconsider the cost of the chapel. Eucharistic chapel would be a luxury, but if we need to cut expenses, then let’s keep the tabernacle where it is.
Is there an alternative for the tabernacle?
Explore the possibility of a walkway from parish offices to the current church.
Remodel church, but on a smaller scale. Cut corners—do what the community needs to have space and room for church and community activities.
Feel it is wrong to tear down a viable building for new construction.
Let’s go with re-doing this church. It is ours. Tearing it down would bring heartache.
I think this option gives as much space as possible.
I think a larger crucifix would be nice.
Is a bell tower thought about?
Reasons to renovate: money, money, money
Keep our church—fix what needs to be fixed and add on what we need.
Renovating preserves what we love about St. Hubert’s and repairs what needs fixing. Shows good stewardship.
When the roof is redone, can we do something about the skylights? Note seating arrangement (especially at 10:45) everyone has to slide far to our left so we’re not blinded! Or worse, when the fans go on, it’s almost a strobe-light experience!

Many did not state preference, but submitted these questions/comments about REMODEL

Feasibility of renovated church:

Is our church really salvageable or would we be pouring good money and effort on top of bad—band-aid on cancer as it were?
What about the foundation?
Leaks…can they be stopped?

Where will we worship while renovations are taking place? Where will I learn answers to the questions I have written?
How cost-effective is it to invest so much money in a 45-year-old building?

Layout of renovated church:

Where would choir be located? I think they would be better placed to the side of the priest & altar. Then, no one would be seated behind them.
For choir: where do the rest of the instruments go? (Drums, brass, guitars, etc.)
What about the day chapel behind the altar? You didn’t mention it in your homily. Could this area have devotionals to Mary & Joseph and the corner areas be used for seating, giving it a more rounded appearance?
Day chapel is not cost effective, since it would not accommodate people at daily Mass.
I believe $315,000 for a 20 chair chapel is out of our budget.
Tabernacle on renovated building seems awkward as shown.
Access to tabernacle is poorly conceived. Mass coordinators would have to walk to other side. Another solution: tabernacle with access from both sides.
If there is 24-hour adoration, doesn’t someone have to be in attendance at all times?
Bring back the color panels in the ceiling (skylights). Stop summer blindness.
What will happen to cry room?
Would like a cry room—could pews be added behind glass partition dividing the church form the narthex?
Needs to be seating in Narthex for parents who need to spend the entire Mass there.
Will bathrooms be remodeled?
With regard to extra seating, wasn’t there space in the narthex that could be used for extra seating for special events?
Narthex: what does the transition between the high church ceiling and the current narthex ceiling look like?
Will basement be redone if we remodel the church? I think the ideas are great. Keep up the great work. I can’t wait to hear about the decision.
Will basement be updated and waterproofed?
Do not need private music room downstairs.
Don’t want to lose long aisle of current church. Too many aisles in model are confusing for communion.
Will there be a special place dedicated to Mary or statue of Mary by a meditation place?
What is seating capacity of remodel and that of the new church option?
Put in vigil lights
Save the organ pipes.
Will there be Stations of the Cross in the new church?
Glad to hear at first renovation vs. rebuilding discussion meeting that there may still be consideration given to modifications of proposed basement plan. Suggestion: keep showers and kitchen functional—they would be an asset for a PADS site in the future.
Reasons to renovate: Less money, familiarity, less wasteful.
What happens to the 60K in bricks if we renovate?

KNEELERS:

· 26 responses asking to keep kneelers

1 response asking to keep a section with no kneelers
1 response to eliminate all kneelers/save dollars

STONE WALL – 10 requests to “save the wall” or part of it

Keep the Stone Wall behind the altar.

Can we keep any portion of the wall behind the altar?
Can we gain access to the basement without removing the wall?
If wall cannot be saved, could stones be used to make grotto or other meditation area?

MARBLE ALTAR & AMBO –10 comments to keep these

CRUCIFIX

Will there be a full-sized crucifix in the new or reconfigured church? Parishioners use crucifix as focal point when they receive communion.
Would like to keep present crucifix. (3)

4. JUST REPAIR CURRENT CHURCH

Why not just make necessary repairs? It does sit as many people as a new one and more than the reconstructed version.
Fix existing church, but add an elevator.
“If it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” “If you cannot pay for it don’t buy it.”
Would cost the least.
As a parish of lower middle-class members, money is very tight, especially if laid off or loss of overtime pay. A “make-do” attitude would win over more parishioners to support. Inventory major repairs and spread repairs over 3-5 years.
Renovate with basics: update plumbing, wiring, electrical, roof, furnace, air conditioning, bigger bathrooms, and make handicap accessible. Keep building the way it is, but safe. We can afford this. Then let’s move on and spend our energy on healing and unity and the church’s mission.
What specifically does $1.3 million repair estimate include? What type of work guarantees do we have for each repair item?

SCHOOL

Who will pay for the school’s AC system—congregation or school tuition?
I support air conditioning for the school.
Please help the children first.
How will school scholarship system be funded?
Will neighboring parishes that have children attending our school also have to fund the air conditioning & endowment fund?
Are the endowment fund & air conditioner fund optional for parishioners or are weekly collections going to be allocated for these purposes?
We are asked to support the school, yet there nothing to support/encourage families whose children attend Religious Ed program. There is no way to give the young or teens ways to be involved, especially if you don’t attend this school. What is this parish willing to do to support children in Religious Ed to feel a valued part of this community?
Suggestion: Fence is needed around Early Childhood Center

COST questions/comments:

Can you compare projected maintenance costs of new vs. remodeled building?
I thought graph displayed in narthex showed we had raised approx. $1 million. If I heard correctly, we have about $500,000 in the bank & about $350,000 in CDs. Where is the rest? Some have already pledged multiple times.
Need to be fiscally responsible, not spending more than necessary.
How much extra is the chapel and removal of the wall costing?
How much money is needed before proceeding forward?
Will the church conduct a feasibility study to determine how much money can be raised?
Why are we not teaching parishioners to tithe? To educate us to tithe, there will be no begging at Mass. Are we afraid people won’t agree on it? It’s in the last book of the Old Testament.
“There’s something between a Cadillac and a VW.”
We have 3 options, but no plan articulated for how to pay for it. How can you make a decision if you don’t have funds?
Where will money come from? Who will pledge again? What about those who haven’t pledged? How many years have we already tried this?
I will choose to give a certain dollar amount no matter what choice is made for the church.
Prefer a new church, but think we will not be able to raise money.
Suggestion: Fundraiser at Fox & Hound.

MISCELLANEOUS:

Will there ever be a rectory on the premises again?
Will priest serve communion from other places in new or renovated church, or only serve from the south side to the exclusion of the other parishioners?
Choir loft or balcony
Seems to be openness to listening and dialogue for resolution.
Don’t think I heard about this meeting through St. Hubert School. It would be a good idea to get the word out to parents about meetings and project plans/options for church through the school more.
What is the plan for handicapped seating in either the new or remodeled church? Will there be pew cut-outs to accommodate wheelchairs? If so, we suggest that they not all be in the front, since behavior of our handicapped child can sometimes be a distraction for others.
I think it is only school parents who want the basement to remain; it does not matter to older folks.
If building or renovation happens next year, what do you tell all the brides who expect to be married in the church?
I am not interested in the structural layout of the church, but rather the feeling of holiness inside.

(OVER)

Comments/Questions from Town Hall Meeting – June 14, 2006

Has there been any consideration of getting more than one quote on remodeling of church? Have any other people been consulted? If not, why not?
Can any existing pews be used?
What would the time frame be for the different plans?
In plans 1 and 2 you speak of phasing things in. Can offices be phased in later? How much money would it save to not put those in?
Would remodeling the existing church provide the most space?
Suggestion that we consider hiring a Project Manager over a General Contractor. Would be on-site, in-house. Could coordinate plans and save money.
Can the foundation on the existing church be repaired?
If there is a new structure, where would the band rehearse? The Boy Scouts meet? Many of the parishioners are seniors who have pledged 3 times, and this is not going to be our church in 10-15 years. What are the feelings of the younger generation regarding renovation or building when the money has not been forthcoming until now?
The roof needs to be re-roofed differently so that it won’t leak. Change or get rid of the canopy. Suggest gabled roof.
Do we know the current seating capacity of other churches in the area – St. Marcelline, Holy Spirit, St. Matthew?
Will the only entrance to the Eucharistic Chapel be on the outside of the building? Can we not get to it from inside the church?
Did anyone think of working with a “Design/Build” firm?
What space will the choir utilize in the worship space? What’s being allocated for them? Can you comment on the sound system? (for both plans remodel and new)
Does information on demographics exist? What about future growth in this area? What about growth in school attendance?
Does the Archdiocese request that we have a Eucharistic Chapel? Would we save money if we didn’t have it?
What about usable space? Would the amount of usable space be greater in the renovation? Would we get more value for our money (as far as usable space) in the renovated space or new space?
In the remodeled church plan, looking at the repair line item of $1.3 million, can you give us specifics on what it includes and the type of guarantees? Is it responsible to spend $1.3 million on an aging, 45-year-old building?
This comment has to do with demographics. Most parishes in the Chicago area seem to have diminishing numbers of Catholics. In building a church for the future, what kind of future are we looking at?
What is the time frame for renovation of the present structure? The new construction?
In the #2 option (smaller new church), how much space would we lose? Would the smaller, new church plan include office space?
What is going to happen next? Will plans be finalized, and will the parish vote on it?
Do we have an idea of how the parish has gone these last few years in terms of numbers?
Do we have any idea of number of parking spaces in each of the plans?
Has the Village been approached on the remodeling option plan? Would they accept the site plan with the church remaining where it currently is?