Dear Church,
Over four years ago, as we began this journey together, we implemented a strategic plan that helped us to identify and prioritize our goals, both for the short-term and the long-term. It helped us to shape and guide what the parish does, and clarify why it does it. It enabled us as a parish to actively pursue specific identified goals as opposed to simply reacting or merely drifting. In that short time we have freed ourselves from all our debts, cut our operating costs, implemented regular property maintenance, and began the necessary repairs to our property and capital improvements that have been deferred for years.
In order to keep everyone up to date, here is a summary of what we have accomplished so far; we have moved the parish offices to the parish center to allow for handicap access, centralized all staff offices to the first floor of the parish center, replaced the decayed front and back porches of the rectory, improved security for the offertory collection through the use of new offertory collection bags and a drop safe within the Church, installed a new sound system in the lower Church, set up a regular two-year schedule for the parish to be professionally cleaned, implemented monthly pest control services, installed automatic sinks and LED lighting in the parish center to save money, obtained a new piano for the church and have replaced portions of the carpet in the Church.
As we move forward within a few weeks, we will repair and replace the stairs and the deck on the Pomeworth Street side of the Church which is also decayed as well as have the stucco portions of the parish center repainted after 12 years. We will obtain estimates to repair all the stained glass window sills in the main Church which are rotting and putting the windows in danger of falling out, repair the water damage affecting the masonry around the parish center, gather estimates to repair the gutters and trim around the parish center and continue to pursue the manufacturer of the roofing tiles used on our parish center roof which are failing after 12 years (they are supposed to be 40 year shingles!).
As mentioned by our school principal, Mr. Anthony Fontana, in last week's bulletin there is a lot of work being done around the school buildings as well. On top of all the painting, new trim, and refinishing of doors that is going on in the middle school and main entry way, we are constantly working to create the safest environment for our students. New security doors are being installed to limit access to the classrooms upon gaining access to the main office through the exterior door. New offices are being prepped for the guidance counselor and the new assistant principal and new water bottle filling stations are being put in to replace the old drinking fountains in both schools. We are also very excited that the rubberized surfacing for the new playgrounds which are being built for the children in the front and in the back of the old school building have arrived with the play structures coming the first of August. The playgrounds should be ready for the first day of school on August 30th.
Long range plans for the parish include improvements to the lower Church; moving the tabernacle to the center of the Church, redoing the altar area, painting the church, change of lighting, and changing the confessionals.
We are moving forward Church on many fronts ! Our Lady of Mount Carmel pray for us!
~ Fr. Mario