  Dear Friends of Making Room for More,
This is indeed a momentous day for all of us at St. Leo's Parish! As you look around our beautiful new church, the result of all of us working together, you will see that we have truly been blessed to "Make Room for More".
Our "Making Room For More" campaign was very successful, and we have indeed made room for more. Our new challenge, and also our opportunity, lies in the over 425 children now registered in our Catholic education classes, as well as our many new adult parishioners. When this campaign began a year ago, we could never have known that our parish community would increase by 819 families in just one short year! We now have 2,187 families registered at St. Leo's!
Our Parish Life and Education Center has been redesigned to accommodate our expanding family. Its size will be increased from the originally proposed 25,000 square feet to 34,000 square feet - a 40% increase. There will be 14 classrooms, a library, a children's playroom, and a new assembly hall that will accommodate 500 people for dining, or 800 seated for additional Masses when needed.
Father Stan's dream is that this center will be an important part of our parish life, and that parishioners both young and old will experience a real sense of community here.
Some of its many uses will include:
- Increased faith formation for both adults & children
- Retreats & Spiritual Conferences
- Prayer Groups
- Community Outreach Groups such as Families Helping Families, Alcoholics Anonymous, Drug-Anon,
- Thanksgiving Dinners
- Wedding receptions
- Sacramental Celebrations
- Ministry Meetings - Liturgical, Spiritual, Respite
- Grief Support
- Widow/Widowers Group, Singles Group
- Social gatherings for the Knights of Columbus or the Ladies of St. Leo's
Our new challenge is to raise the additional cost of this expanded need, but the wonderful news is that we have another matching grant opportunity! I am pleased to announce that we have until the end of April to take advantage of an additional half-million dollar matching fund to help top all this off. From now until April 30th, we can add one extra dollar for every two we receive.
According to diocesan rules, we must have 80% of the final cost in hand before construction begins. With this challenge we need to raise the final one and a half million dollars, which will allow us to start construction this spring and finish "Making Room For More" in record time. We ask those of you who have yet to become part of this exciting time in our parish, or those of you who feel you can do more, to consider making your gift now to take advantage of this special opportunity.
Colored renderings are at each door today illustrating all the details for your consideration. Pledge envelopes are available with your bulletin this week. We ask that you prayerfully consider responding to this special opportunity for our St. Leo's Family.
Palm Sunday Weekend and & Easter Sunday Weekend would be the perfect time to give thanks and fill our collection baskets for the benefit to all.
On behalf of Father Stan and all of us, thank you for your generosity - for all you have done, for all you continue to do.
~The Making Room for More Leadership Committee
|
