Keep track of any renovation project updates and news right here! As the news comes in, we will post here so that you are always up to date on the progress! Check out our Renovations on our Gallery page. Pictures are always being added so that you can see the wonderful progress happening at IC!
SEPTEMBER UPDATE
As you know, our Church renovation project has been underway since June 22nd. Every week we have a “Job Meeting” where the Construction Manager, Rich & Gardner, updates on the progress and financials. I am happy to let you know that we are almost on target in regards to the timeline and still within budget! As with any construction projects there are always a few glitches. Fortunately there have not been many so far! But, due to a few construction details and to allow quiet time for the testing of the new sound system and the tuning of the organ and piano, we have delayed the opening by one week. So, our first weekend back in Church will be October 1-2.
ICC Renovation Committee
Pat Curtin Remarks May 14, – 15, 2016
Thank you, Father. Good evening/morning. It is a pleasure to speak to you today about the work of the Parish Renovation Committee. As you know, a very talented group of parishioners has been working for the last 2 years evaluate the tasks that should be undertaken to enhance the worship space of our church, and support of the mission of our Parish into the future. We feel it is our responsibility as good stewards to maintain our buildings and grounds in good order.
If you remember, in February last year we presented this project to you and asked each parishioner to give us feedback about the plans. And, quite frankly, the response was overwhelmingly positive. The enthusiasm for strengthening our parish was very gratifying. And your generosity during the Capital Campaign was truly amazing. THANK YOU for both your feedback and financial generosity. They are both witness to the service that we will continue to provide in our community. And we recognize the sacrifices that are being made to make these improvements.
In addition to your feedback, we also worked with a liturgical consultant to make sure our thinking was in line with current liturgical guidelines.
The feedback we received changed our plans in several ways.
- First of all, the 62% of responders felt we should refinish the pews rather than kill thousands of trees to buy new ones. And that refinishing work is the focal point of our summer construction schedule.
- Secondly, the baptismal font will be relocated to the center area at the back of the center aisle. This is a symbolic location for persons entering the church. Parishioners will be able to see the baptismal rites during mass, and we will have improved sight lines to the altar from all areas of the church.
- Thirdly, the chapel foyer will be expanded. In several discussions we focused on the perspective that this entrance is used six days a week for daily and Sunday masses, and should be more spacious to allow for guest safety and time for fellowship.
- Lastly, I am so pleased to announce that we have been able to obtain the stained glass windows that were in the original church in the Village of Fayetteville. We will be adding several scenes with our patroness, the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, and other pieces into the expanded foyer and the devotional areas. This will be a wonderful tribute to the heritage of our Parish.
I invite you to stop and see the architect’s drawings that are in the two foyers that reflect these changes.
Because of your financial generosity, we have added some aspects to this year’s capital project that would have completed from our operating budget over the next 3 to 5 years. These are items that will improve the safety and security of our campus.
- The first item is to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety on our roads and sidewalks. We will be changing the width of the roads, adding speed limits, stop signs and speed bumps. We recognize that we have many cars cut through our private roads, and we want to slow that traffic down to improve the safety of our children and seniors in particular. We will also be adding street lights for improved safety and security. Additional handicapped parking spaces will be added across the road from the main entrance.
- We will also be doing some other work while all the construction is underway this summer. This work is on the lower part of the old Church roof – the perimeter membrane and insulation of the existing foyer — as well as above the confessionals. The big copper roof is in good shape.
From a financial perspective, we want to state that any remaining funds will be held in reserve for future capital projects. We don’t know what that amount is, because we are still working on the engineering for the school HVAC project and don’t have complete costs for that project. We are also still working to get energy grants for both the church and school projects, and don’t know if these grants will be funded or not.
As you are aware, the pledges received during the Capital Campaign exceeded our expectations, and cash is being received ahead of schedule. The construction schedule has actually been accelerated from what we originally planned, having the expanded foyer completed this year rather than in 2017. We are so gratified that we don’t expect any construction delays due to cash flow concerns. We still anticipate that all projects will be completed and paid for by the 150th Anniversary of the parish in 2019.
In order to be fiscally responsible, the Parish Finance Committee engaged the firm of Fust, Charles & Chambers to complete an audit of the Capital Campaign Fund. The results are a “clean” opinion that pledges and cash have been recorded correctly through October 31, of last year. We expect to have audits done in the future until the Campaign is completed.
SO – CONSTRUCTION IS ABOUT TO START!!! The final service will be the school graduation on Tuesday, June 21, and the church will close on Wednesday, June 22. Summer masses will be held in Dwyer Hall on the same daily and weekend schedules. We are scheduled to reopen the church interior for masses on the weekend of September 24 -25. The foyer addition will not be completed until later in the fall, with the side entrances being used for a few weeks.
In addition to expressing our gratitude to each of you, our dedicated parishioners, the Renovation Committee would like to express our thanks to the other parties in the parish that have been so supportive and encouraging – The Trustees, Parish Council, Finance Committee, Capital Campaign Committee, Music Ministry, our Parish staff and the Diocese of Syracuse. Hundreds of volunteers have made this project possible. It has been truly gratifying to work with each of these groups. I also want to personally thank Father Ryan for his leadership — and the members of the Renovation Committee, and the many sub-committees for their dedication during this project.
This is a very exciting time in the heritage of our Parish. This legacy project will allow our vibrant faith community to move our ministry and service forward with confidence for the next generations. IC Parish is known for its faithful stewardship in giving time, talent and treasure for the greater community, and I humbly thank you for your participation.
Renovation Plans Moving Forward
By Patricia Curtin
**Our final weekend in church will be Jun 18-19. Construction will begin Wednesday, June 22, 2016. The church will be closed until September 24-25, with masses being celebrated in Dwyer hall during that construction period.**
The Renovation Steering Committee continues to meet regularly to review construction issues and the timeline. Over the next few months, we will make decisions regarding flooring, finishes, lighting, etc. The first major phase of the project deals with the enhancement of our church building. We plan to have the final Masses in the church on the weekend of June 25-26, 2016. Work will begin immediately that week. The interior work should be completed by mid-September, with the church reopening at that time. The addition to the foyer should be completed later in the fall.
During construction we will move weekend Masses into Dwyer Hall. This is possible since attendance goes down during the summer. We will celebrate wedding and funeral Masses at one of our neighboring parishes.
The Baptismal Font will be relocated inside the main entrance of the church interior. The existing back wall in the center aisle (ushers closet and storage) will be removed and will open up the present vestibule as part of the main church. This aligns with liturgical guidelines as baptism celebrates entrance into the Church.
There have been many lengthy discussions about refinishing or purchasing new pews. The architect has assured us of the structural integrity of our present pews. We also considered the fact that these curved pews would not be of any use to another church and would only be recycled into wood chips. Finally, with Pope Francis’ admonition to respect the environment in his encyclical, “Laudato Si,” we felt that it was not necessary to destroy a forest of trees for the sake of new pews that are not absolutely needed. In listening to the strong voice of the parishioners who participated in the feedback process last winter, we will proceed with refinishing the pews.
To gain more parking closer to the main entrance, the island between the Foxcroft parking lot and the south driveway to Salt Springs Road will be removed and about 30 parking spaces with lighting and a walkway to the church will be added.
Since a number of gifts-in-kind were received from various parishioners who own companies, it was decided that a Construction Manager will be hired to coordinate the entire project, making sure that the timeline is met and the gifts are used.
For the purpose of fiduciary responsibility and providing transparency to the parish, the Finance Committee recommended that an independent firm prepare an audit of the Capital Campaign. In conjunction with this audit, you may receive a request from the auditing firm for confirmation of your pledge.
Engineering design is underway for the school HVAC system, and that system is scheduled to be installed during the 2017 summer break.
We hope you will be pleased with the results that we will accomplish together. We feel this work will continue to build our community of faith and give glory to God!
Capital Campaign FAQ
Capital Campaign Brochure
Renovation Steering Committee Proposals
The architectural drawings of the proposed enhancements to our Church building can be found either in the Rectory vestibule or the main entrance. Please take a moment to review them. You will also find samples of the pews: a new pew and one of our present pews refinished. If you have not already done so, we invite you to let us know your thoughts about each of the proposed areas by filling out the survey that can be found near the drawings. The drawings and surveys are also online at our parish website: www.icfayetteville.org Our thanks to so many who have already taken the opportunity to respond to the survey. In order to continue our planning in a timely manner, surveys will be accepted through the weekend of March 22nd. The upcoming Capital Campaign to support these enhancements will allow us to have a long-term plan for all of the buildings and grounds on our campus.
Renovation Committee Remarks by Chairperson Patricia Curtain Jan 31 – Feb 1
Renovation Proposals/Architectural Drawings/Survey Jan 31 – Feb 1:
Your opinion is very important to us! :
Please take a few minutes of your time and complete an online survey regarding your thoughts and opinions of the Parish Renovation Project. Your opinion is very important to the committee.
For those of you that would prefer to use your smart phone, just scan the qr code below.
Taken from Fr. Ryan’s January 11th Pastor’s Column :
And the mission continues… It continues, and will continue for generations, as we accept our responsibility in a faith-filled and sacrificial way. Along with me, our Trustees, Parish Council, Finance Committee, and staff continuously review programs, services, and projects which are necessary to make I.C. so present in the community. As I have mentioned at various times over the last two years, the 150th Anniversary of our parish is an opportune time for us to review long-term planning for this campus and, more immediately, for our Church building. As the building is almost 50 years old, most will agree that it is in need of some upgrading and refurbishment. Other than the organ and roof beams, very little has been done on this particular building. So, with the recommendation and support of the Trustees, Parish Council, and Finance Committee, we established a Renovation Steering Committee last April. It has been meeting regularly and reviewing the entire campus with emphasis on the Church itself. After a series of request for proposals and interviews, we recently engaged the services of the architectural firm, Daniel Manning, Architect PLLC. Dan Manning is the Principal in the firm and is a parishioner of I.C. The initial phase is to designate areas in need of improvement and repair, as well as long-range planning for all of our buildings. Our immediate, major concern is the Church itself. Some areas that need to be addressed are fairly major:
- Replacing all of the floor covering – carpet and tile (asbestos abatement necessary)
- Refinishing or replacing the pews (substantial veneer) and kneelers
- Updating the light system for better light and energy efficiency
- Upgrading the sound system with audio-visual capability
- Repairing the wall behind the Tabernacle Moving the Baptismal Font into the Church
- Enhancing the Stations of the Cross
- Refurbishing one of the old confessionals as a Shrine for the statues of the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph
We are also considering the expansion and upgrading of the main entrance of the Church, with the addition of restrooms, to make it more welcoming and allow a comfortable gathering area, especially for funerals and weddings. It is our desire to maintain most of the green-space across from that entrance while still incorporating some new parking there. An obvious concern is our financial capability for these projects. It is very probable that a Capital Campaign will be necessary. The Finance Committee and Parish Council will make a recommendation over the next weeks.
Your input into these plans is most welcome. Please feel free to contact any of the representatives on the Steering Committee
- Patricia Curtin, Chairperson
- Fr. Thomas Ryan, Pastor
- Steve Helmer, Trustee
- Kathleen (Casey) O’Connor, Parish Council
- David Kennedy, Finance Committee
- Peter Olson, Finance Committee
- Matt Davidson, School Advisory Commission
- Doug Klepper, Parish-at-Large
- Mark Hance, Parish-at-Large
- Beth Steigerwald, Parish-at-Large
- Bea Deshaies, Staff Rep.
- Ed King, Diocesan Facilities/Construction
- Dan Manning, Architect
I am very grateful to these people for their time, professional expertise, dedication, and advice. We will attempt to keep you updated on the progress.
Taken from Fr. Ryan’s January 4th Pastor’s Column :
As you know, our Renovation Steering Committee has been meeting since last April reviewing the various parish projects that we would like to consider before our 150th Anniversary in 2019. As we look over the entire campus which is almost 50 years old, there are some major renovations and upgrades that need attention. Our Parish Council and Finance Committee, as well as the Trustees and the Diocese have been kept up-to-date regarding this. Now we would like to keep you up-to-date! On the weekend of Jan. 31-Feb.1, Mrs. Patricia Curtin, who is chairing the committee, will speak at all of the weekend Masses regarding the upcoming renovations. After each Mass that weekend, there will be architectural drawings of the expanded main entrance of the Church and the sanctuary on display in Dwyer Hall. Additionally, there will be a sample of a refinished pew as well as a new pew; we hope you will take a look at these samples and vote for the one you feel we should consider. Our architect, Dan Manning, and Committee members will also be available to answer questions. Be sure to stop by!
NOVEMBER 30th UPDATE:
The IC Renovation Steering Committee
The Steering Committee would like your input about the pews in our church. The pews will be removed in order to replace the asbestos tile floor in the church. We have two choices: purchase new pews or refinish the 45 year old pews. Two sample pews will be on display in the foyer over the next few weeks. Please stop by, sit a spell, and let us know what you think.
Taken from Fr. Ryan’s October 12th Pastor’s Column :
Along with me, our Trustees, Parish Council, Finance Committee, and staff continuously review programs, services, and projects which are necessary to make I.C. so present in the community. As I have mentioned at various times over the last two years, the 150th Anniversary of our parish is an opportune time for us to review long-term planning for this campus and, more immediately, for our Church building. As the building is almost 50 years old, most will agree that it is in need of some upgrading and refurbishment. Other than the organ and roof beams, very little has been done on this particular building. So, with the recommendation and support of the Trustees, Parish Council, and Finance Committee, we established a Renovation Steering Committee last April. It has been meeting regularly and reviewing the entire campus with emphasis on the Church itself. After a series of requests for proposal and interviews, we recently engaged the services of the architectural firm, Daniel Manning, Architect PLLC. Dan Manning is the Principal in the firm and is a parishioner of I.C. The initial phase is to designate areas in need of improvement and repair, as well as long-range planning for all of our buildings. Our immediate, major concern is the Church itself. Areas that need to be addressed are fairly major:
- Replacing all of the floor covering – carpet and tile (asbestos abatement necessary)
- Refinishing or replacing the pews (substantial veneer) and kneelers
- Updating the light for better light and energy efficiency
- Upgrading the sound system with the addition of audio- visual capability
- Repairing the wall behind the Tabernacle (acoustical mesh for organ pipes)
- Moving the Baptismal Font into the Church
We are also considering the possibility of expanding and upgrading the main entrance of the Church, with the addition of a restroom, to make it more welcoming and allow a comfortable gathering area, especially for funerals and weddings. It is our desire to maintain most of the greenspace across from that entrance while still incorporating some new parking there. An obvious concern is our financial capability for these projects. It is very probable that a Capital Campaign will be necessary. The Finance Committee and Parish Council will make a recommendation over the next month or so.
Your input into these plans is most welcome. Please feel free to contact me or any of the representatives on the Renovation Steering Committee:
- Patricia Curtin, Chairperson
- Fr. Thomas Ryan, Pastor
- Steve Helmer, Trustee
- Kathleen (Casey) O’Connor, Parish Council
- David Kennedy, Finance Committee
- Peter Olson, Finance Committee
- Matt Davidson, School Advisory Commission
- Doug Klepper, Parish-at-Large
- Mark Hance, Parish-at-Large
- Beth Steigerwald, Parish-at-Large
- Bea Deshaies, Staff Rep.
- Ed King, Diocesan Facilities/Construction
I am very grateful to these people for their time, professional expertise, dedication, and advice. We will attempt to keep you updated on the progress.
Have a great week!
Fr. Ryan