June 8, 2008
Dear Parishioner:
Eight years ago the leadership at St. Charles, inspired by Sister Benedict,
agreed that building a Parish Community Center would strengthen our
Christian community and enhance our Parish School. The initial cost
estimate for the Center was daunting but with faith and your generous
gifts through two fund-raising campaigns, "Build
the Spirit" and "Rooted
in Faith ~ Forward in Hope," we raised a considerable portion
of the total cost.
Now, three years after the official
opening of the Center, our expectations have been realized. On any
given day or evening, our Center is bustling with activity as our ministries
go about their work on behalf of our entire community and serve those
far and wide, as well as generations of our own parishioners. Sundays
there's hardly an empty room to be found as our young members are formed
in the Gospel of Jesus in both English and Spanish. Additionally, our
Center has hosted wedding receptions, Quincenera parties, as well as
numerous parish-wide celebrations such as the Mardi Gras and Polka Party,
International Festival, St. Patrick's Day Party, and our annual Volunteer
Appreciation Dinner. Our Center is used each day by our school and also
hosts our pre-school children. Basketball games, including the annual
8th graders vs.
teacher end-of-the-year game, are held in our gym. Lastly, the Center
recently hosted over 300 parishioners and school alumni who gathered
to celebrate at Sister Benedict's Appreciation Dinner. Special events
like these strengthen us as a parish community and are only made possible
because of the beautiful facility that we built together.
The Community Center is the first achievement in our long-range plan
to invest in capital improvements on our parish campus. There are still
many facility issues we must address. In the coming weeks, the Finance
and Facilities Committees and St. Charles' School representatives will
work strategically to focus on short and long term capital improvements
needs. We must continue our outreach for financial support as
an investment in our parish campus.
Our first priority is to reduce the debt on our Community Center loan.
While much of the Center was paid for through the two fund-raising campaigns,
St. Charles required an additional $2.3 million loan from the Arlington
Diocese DIAL Account - (Diocesan Investment and Loan). Currently, St.
Charles has a balance of $1.2 million on this loan with monthly principal
and interest payments of about $17,400. Building Fund second collection
receipts are averaging about $6,400 per month which requires a monthly
drawdown of over $11,000 from parish savings to meet this loan payment.
It is anticipated that at this rate, St. Charles will deplete our Community
Center building fund savings by early 2009.
And so, again, we must ask for your financial support. Please consider
some of these ways you can help invest in your parish community.
Honor your pledge commitments.
It's not easy tracking a pledge made several years ago, but
we can assist you in honoring your "Build the Spirit"
and "Rooted in Faith ~ Forward in Hope" pledges. Build
the Spirit letters will be sent to those parishioners with an outstanding
pledge balance. The Diocese also mails monthly reminder letters for
the Rooted in Faith campaign pledges. Your help in completing
these commitments will be greatly appreciated.
Make a new commitment.
If you have graciously completed your original building pledge; if you
are new to the parish or have never made an initial pledge, please consider
making a dedicated monthly commitment contribution to the Building Fund
second collection. Second collection receipts are applied directly to
loan payments or used for capital improvement needs. Note "Building
Fund" on your check memo line and use your Building Fund envelopes.
Please note that Building Fund envelopes must be used for cash donations
in order to be credited to your account.
Additionally, please keep the Parish Community Center in mind for private
parties and events. Consider renting space in the Center for weddings,
birthdays, family reunions or business meetings, and tell your friends
and neighbors about the Center. To inquire about renting the Center,
contact Ray Watson at 540-295-7518.
The sense of community that now thrives in the new Parish Center proves
that our "Build the Spirit" Campaign was indeed a manifestation
of the Holy Spirit. As we prepare to celebrate the centennial anniversary
of St Charles Borrromeo's founding, let us pray for the strength of the
Spirit as we invest again in our future.
Feel the Spirit,
Gerry Creedon
