Pastor's Corner
January 22, 2017
Many thanks to the generous volunteers who helped clean out the community center the last two weekends. It is in much better condition now, and I hope the groups that use it work hard to maintain its present condition. It is a resource that many groups use each week.
I also know that many of you want to know the status of our renovation project. We had received permission from the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the city of LA to repair the broken truss and damaged wall in the large room on the second floor. This repair will include preparing the room for our use again. Once final approval for the repair is given by Bishop Brennan, we hope to begin the repair of the large upstairs room, perhaps as early as the end of February. We have collected more than enough for that project, thanks to your generosity. It seems the repair should not disrupt the use of the first floor much.
On February 6, the architect, Mr. John van Dyke of VanCrest construction and I will make a presentation to the Archdiocesan Building Commission (ABC) regarding the renovation of the remainder of the building. We have been working with the archdiocesan building consultant, who has explained that we may not begin a capital campaign until the archdiocese has approved the renovation plans. When Fr. Peter made his original proposal, the ABC asked some questions that needed to be answered before the proposal would be accepted. Then when he was made President of our graduate school and I became pastor, the project stalled.
I have asked for input from groups in the parish regarding the renovation, we have a development director helping the project along, and an excellent development committee that Fr. Peter formed is working hard behind the scenes. We are following the archdiocesan guidelines regarding building projects and capital campaigns, and I hope to share more information with you after our meeting with the ABC. In the meanwhile, please pray for the swift completion of this project!