Those of you who have been at OLPH for a short time may not be aware that the Parish has wanted a Hall for a long time.  Many parishioners have been working hard and giving extra in order for it to become a reality.  I am happy to report to them and to you that the time to BUILD has come. Before we move ahead, a short review from where the Parish has come is helpful.  (The story has many more details than are mentioned here.  For a more thorough history you can read a longer report below.) 

Far back in 2014 a vision to bring about a Parish Hall came to be.  Following from that vision in fall 2015 a three-year Campaign called GATHER AND GROW was started.  The amount of $500,000 was set aside from Parish Savings and the Parish Building Fund into a Capital Campaign Account. Through personal pledges, Parish Festivals and monthly campaign Collections the Parish set out to raise at least $2.6 million.  That goal would be 50% of the $5.2 million total budget estimated for the Capital project.  The other 50% would be financed by a reasonable loan and steady parishioner stewardship. In 2015 the vision not only included a large Parish Banquet Hall, but also a new school cafeteria with a shared kitchen, meeting rooms, a new parking lot and accessible walkways to other parish buildings.

In fall 2018, when the three years ended OLPH had banked $2.4 million.  Because it was slightly short of the goal the building plan was slightly reduced, but it still included the banquet hall, a shared kitchen, new cafeteria and new parking lot.  The construction documents were made and in summer 2019 the project went out for bidding.  Sadly the bids were far above budget.  The dream of this major capital improvement was too big and too expensive for the Parish.
In fall 2019 the Parish Building Board went back to the drawing board.  They reduced the project further to see whether even the Hall alone could be built.  A more modest structure away from the schoolyard, near existing parking was studied.  Unfortunately at the same time OLPH Mass attendance and collections began to decline.  Parish operation costs had risen. The capital project had to be put on hold.  Shortly thereafter everyone knows what happened.  In spring 2020 the pandemic hit, Church ministries were curtailed and great economic instability came.  Fortunately in summer 2020, ministries in the Church and the school found ways to persevere, parishioner attendance and contributions leveled off and rose back up.  In spite of such good signs capital construction prices and transportation costs soared.  There was no eagerness to move on the Hall project until fall 2022.  Father Jeff, the Parish Pastoral Council, Finance Council and Building Board felt it possible to resume work on the Parish Hall Capital Project.  Conversations, research, estimates and the economy were studied.  Parishioners responded to surveys in 2022 showed enthusiastic support.  

It has become clear.  The Parish needs to build a Hall.  This improvement is important for our campus.  It will bring more opportunities and satisfy more needs for our people.  It will enable us to gather for extra events, large get-togethers, receptions for families and guests and grow in faith and number.  Working with a general contractor OLPH has planned a PARISH HALL for a total budget of $4.5 million.  We have banked $2.8 million in the Capital Account.  With over half of the total budget we can proceed and build soon. In a campaign called Build, Gather, Grow, the parish aims to raise the balance of $1.7 million in pledges from parishioners that can be fulfilled over the next three years from March 2023 to March 2026.