Dear Parishioners of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament,
I am writing to you with an important update regarding the To Teach Who Christ Is Capital Campaign (TTWCI) that you generously supported. Since the time of that campaign, several changes have taken place within our parish community, most notably the unification of our two former parishes. This unification has brought about a series of transformative changes, affecting our worship, ministry, and overall approach to serving our community.
As we navigate these changes and continue to grow into our new reality as Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish, I have spent time with our director of operations and our finance council to carefully evaluate the capital needs of our parish. While the original goals of TTWCI addressed specific needs at the time, our current circumstances have led us to reevaluate these priorities. After thorough consideration, we are asking to redirect the funds collected through TTWCI to address needs that have become more pressing and aligned with our current mission as Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish.
St. Julian Eymard
TTWCI at the former St. Julian Eymard Parish focused on evangelization through the proposed construction of a modest building to house a pre-school, creation of a dedicated Youth Ministry space, and strengthening the ongoing formation and training of leaders and volunteer catechetical staff.
Our Queen of Rosary School now fulfills the need for a pre-school, and the Youth Ministry’s need for dedicated space has been addressed through the creation of a Teen Center in Rooms 4/5/6 of the former St. Julian Eymard School of Religion, thus eliminating the need for new construction for these purposes. However, we do have to make some other structural repairs and improvements. We would like to direct the TTWCI funds towards projects such as repairing the ADA ramp on the northwest side of the Church, repairing specific areas of the parking lot, and completing other projects for the overall wellbeing of our parish community.
Additionally, while there has been some formation for our leaders and catechetical volunteers over the last several years, we recognize the need to do more. Thus, we plan on investing in this training and formation so we can be empowered in our most important mission: evangelization.
Queen of the Rosary
The former Queen of the Rosary Parish originally focused on repairing/replacing the parking lot in its TTWCI campaign.
That work was put on hold as efforts were made to work out a compromise with the Elk Grove Park District regarding usage and maintenance of the lot. Unfortunately, those discussions did not produce an agreement acceptable to both parties. We will have to continue work on some parking lot repairs this summer. In the meantime, the heating, ventilation and cooling (“HVAC”) system has begun showing its age. Both the boilers and the air handler should be replaced in the near future, but most critical is replacement of the boilers.
Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament
To provide the greatest flexibility in addressing our present needs as Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish, I would ask that we reposition the two separate campaign funds as one combined buildings and capital needs fund. I understand that redirection of the TTWCI funds may come as a surprise, and I want to assure you that my commitment to transparency and accountability remains steadfast. Your generosity has played a crucial role in sustaining and enhancing the mission of our new parish, and I am confident that your understanding of these changes will further strengthen the sense of unity within our community.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at (847) 979-0901 or frdan@olbsegv.org. Additionally, you may always set time to meet with me by visiting go.oncehub.com/frdan. I value your input and I remain committed to maintaining open lines of communication with all of our parishioners. Together, we will build a vibrant and flourishing community that reflects the shared values and commitment of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Dan FolwacznyPastor, Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish