Normally we take a break from weekly letters during the summer, but a special occasion calls for key communication. You may have heard the word on the street, but I offer you the official word. The key topic is our convent specifically, and campus more generally.

 

After a long process of discernment with Family Promise of Burlington County, the organization decided that collaborating on a family sanctuary in our former convent would not be the best course of action for their organization. In their own words: “The Board has decided to scale back our budget allocation for any shelter related efforts going forward and instead focus on preventive services.  Over the last few years the landscape and funding sources for homelessness assistance is changing and prevention and keeping families in their homes is replacing shelter efforts as the primary goal of organizations like ours.” I appreciate Family Promise’s honesty and foresight to step back from this joint effort. We received this news on July 20, 2023.

On Monday August 7, 2023, some of our team arrived to alarms sounding in the convent. Inspection revealed a water leak from a second floor bathroom which caused extensive damage to both floors, all the way to the basement. The same day, Serve Pro arrived to begin cleaning and remediation. Special thanks to Marianne Linka for her leadership and coordination with our Diocese.

 

On Thursday August 10, 2023, we gathered members of our Finance Council and Buildings and Grounds committee to discuss our options. We are in the discovery phase of this investigation and no decision has been made. Three options exist:

1. Restore the building to its original form.

2. Demolish the building and seek to expand parking.

3. Reconfigure the building for use more aligned with our mission.

 

There are many factors that must be weighed in a sound decision. Some factors are the expenses incurred in executing the decision and what expenses will be covered by our property insurance claim. The larger question is how our campus supports and reflects our mission. I try to keep our mission at the forefront: Building up the Body of Christ. I will be relying on a special team tasked with helping me to balance all options and make the best decision for our parish.

 

Oftentimes, we think of our parish as a stable or even static reality. Every week we come to worship in the same place; it looks the same. Since 1969, our campus has looked largely the same. That was the year the new school and convent were completed - 54 years ago. But things are ever-changing. I encourage you to visit our parish offices and take a tour of how we are transforming the rectory building for our mission.

 

The next century holds more change for the church than the last. Many orders of religious sisters are fading away. The number of priests and deacons is on the decline. The main actors on the stage of ecclesial history in the next century will be the laity. The Second Vatican Council predicted and called for as much. We have just been slow to adopt its wisdom.

 

I hope to do my best to equip our parish family to carry out its role of Building up the Body of Christ in our little corner of the world. Each of you is called to be a part of that effort, in service, in prayer, in sacrifice, in financial support, in this great work Christ Jesus has entrusted to us - advancing the Kingdom of God. Our mission depends on you. And I hope to do my best to prepare our parish for another century of mission in this little corner of the world.