Building Question and Answers

In October 2000, Father Terry commissioned a long range planning committee to study the parish's facilities among other things. The committee is composed of various 14 people of different backgrounds. This group met with various construction professionals, parishioners involved in liturgy and studied census data from the city of Ames and church records. They examined and listed the needs of the church complex, future expansion of church population, and concluded that the present church needed to be expanded or rebuild. Thus the long range planning committee evolved into a long range building committee. Since the building committee has been formed, study of church documents as well as discussion with various church organization members, have unveiled many reasons why building makes sense for the future of our parish. Documents indicate that in near future the parish may be forced to only have two Masses on Sunday. There will be insufficient room in the current Church to only have two Masses. A bigger building will be necessary.

Why can't we just have more Masses to accommodate growing numbers? Why only two Masses on Sunday in the future?

The simple answer is the lack of priests to celebrate Mass. As per the Archdiocesan Priests' Welfare document "The multiplication of Masses has created a burden for pastors, especially when they are placed in charge of two or more parishes". To alleviate this burden the Priests COuncil appointed a committee to study issues concerning the well-being of priests That committee proposed that "a priest should normally not be scheduled to celebrate more than three Masses on a weekend and never more than four Masses." Priests are limited in time but unlimited in duties. Between Masses our pastor is stopping in on the Faith Formation program, RCIA and attending to other activities as they take place. Also, the more Masses you have, the more you splinter your community; liturgically speaking the ideal would be for one Mass. However, we know this is impossible. Also to consider are that the resources of musicians and other ministers are limited and it is unreasonable to accommodate a large number of what would be ineffective liturgies.

To answer this question we must address the entire planning process, which involves present parish requirements, our history, vision for the future, and projections of what our parish and church will face in years to come. Nevertheless, we will try to address the question in this short space.

The existing church was not built with future expansion in mind. The structural design of the existing church does not allow for effective remodeling due to the use bearing masonry wall construction. These walls also have no insulation resulting in high energy costs.

There are existing structural problems in the clerestory window area that contribute to water leaks and roof problems.

The roof design is poor (we have continual roof problems) and changing of the roof design is impractical.

The floor space needed for seating 1000 people is significantly larger. Trying to reuse the existing while adding more seats would require columns in the seating area. This would result is restricted views and an interior space that would not be as open and inviting as we would like.

The current heating and air conditioning systems are beyond their useful design life and must be replaced. The current system uses concrete trenches in the flow for the supply air ducts which would not like be able to be reused for new systems.

Any major remodel work would be required to meet current building codes rather than the codes that were in place at the time the original church was built. For example, we would have to improve ventilation, add fire protection systems, replace the electrical service, etc.

In short, the costs of remodeling very quickly approach the costs to build new. As such, trying to reuse the existing church would result in a compromised design with likely very little if any savings. The committee decided to pursue a new building.

Is the parish growing or shrinking?

Fewer people appear to be attending mass. The population of the parish has grown at a slow steady pace for a number of years. The parish gains and loses parishioners every month. Statistics we read from around the country, in all denominations, not just Catholic, are that a smaller percentage of registered parishioners of churches attend services on a regular basis. At Saint Cecilia, we also appear to fall into that category. However, the present church cannot accommodate two Masses on a Sunday if all those attending the three Masses held now still want to attend on Sunday. Even with nil growth, a larger church will be needed when Sunday Masses are reduced to two. Also be aware that a new more inviting church could raise attendance.

What do you mean when you say our church has some liturgical shortcomings?

The post-Vatican II church design principles provide for a superior worship experience. Since Vatican II, the Catholic Bishops have produced two documents to be used as guidance in any new church building or renovation of existing churches. Both of these documents, the latest called "Built of Living Stones: Art, Architecture & Worship", make obvious some inadequacies of our present worship space when it comes to the "full, conscious, and active participation in the liturgy" that Vatican II calls for. The full text of "Built of Living Stones" is available on-line. Another document titled "General Instruction of the Roman Missal" is also used for design guidance. If we are considering a new church, these guidelines would be used in the design of the new worship space in accordance with the current design principles. The archdiocese of Dubuque has also issued its Policies for Building/Renovating Worship Spaces (page 3 of this Liturgy Bulletin) in regard to "Built of Living Stone".

In Saint Cecilia Parish some inadequacies are the lack of a sufficiently large gathering space. Also misplacement of the baptismal font and tabernacle.

Why do we need a baptismal font large enough for immersion?

Vatican II documents indicate that the Rite of Baptism be revised. Our authority comes from the guidelines of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops which makes clear that the baptismal font be able to accommodate adult baptisms. Water is the center of the font and should be a symbol of living, flowing waters. Information about baptismal fonts is readily available in most liturgical documents (Built on Living Stones sections 66-69)

What makes the building committee the authority on whether we should build new facilities?

The building committee is certainly no authority on church buildings. However, they are 14 people who have volunteered and committed to a 3-5 year project and have spent much of the last two years trying to study and understand the needs of our parish community and how to meet those needs within liturgical guidelines. The committee has prayed and reflected on what is best for the future of Saint Cecilia's parish community and is striving to continue as we are led by the Holy Spirit. We know we need to embody a parish that will speak to the youth and future generations of our community. The committee has hired a liturgical consultant to better educate itself and the parish concerning how our worship space should be configured.

How much will it cost?

While no firm figure can be given because no firm building plan is in place, a good estimate would be about $150 per square foot. The building committee has been discussing a master plan which includes Church, Social Hall and Narthex (Gathering Space), however, it is premature to say when each will be built, if they will be built all at the same time or in phases. Much depends on the fund-raising efforts spearheaded by the fund-raising committee. The preliminary discussions lead us to believe the master plan would cost between $5,500,000 and $6,300,000. This is an estimate of the total plan.

How will we pay for it? Can we afford it? How much will I have to give?

These are all important questions that must be answered fully before the first brick is laid. However, the complete answers cannot be given as we are still unsure what the costs will be and when the funds will be needed. The funds will be derived from the offerings (not assessments) of parishioners. Part of the funds will be borrowed. This is a faith experience. If we as a parish stay true to building facilities to serve the Lord and His people, we are sure that money issues will be taken care of. We also know that initial fund-raising efforts will set the pace for the project. We can't afford not do this project. We know that our facilities are inadequate for the future. New facilities will mean some increased expenses but it will also mean new efficiencies and initially savings with regard to maintenance costs. When a building plan begins to unfold, a complete study of projected costs will have to be done. It is premature at this time to know all the answers to the money questions.

Why might the priest be forced off-site to another home?

Though the current design does not require the priest to move off-site, the Archdiocesan Priests' Welfare document states that "in future planning for parish buildings, the priest's residence be separated from the place where he works." This will allow the priest to live a personal life of their own with some privacy.

How does the parish have input on the project?

The building committee members are the parish representatives and are willing and available for any discussion a parishioner may want. Attending all-parish meetings and small group discussions are also an important part of sharing your concerns and excitement. Of course, your questions and concerns can always be discussed with the pastor and question boxes in the back of the church have been and will be again available for you to use. If you are active in any church organization, your input will be gleaned through those groups as the building committee continues to meet with those organizations to assess and meet their facility needs. Very soon more subcommittees of the building committee will be formed to help study how the facility will be used. Ideas from these subcommittees will be used to better form the spaces.

Who will make the final decisions?

Ultimately the final approval of the project is by the Bishop. Our Bishop requires that we have about half of the money in the bank to begin building. There is a specific process our parish must go through to even ask the Bishop for his final approval and we are still in the midst of this process. The committee has been in constant contact with the Bishop and other Archdiocesan offices thus far and the Bishop, through his committees, has encouraged us to continue in the process. The upcoming decision to hire an architect is still not the final go ahead, merely a step in the process to give visual aides to fund-raising efforts. The final decision will come from parish meetings leading to the Parish Council making the decision to proceed or not, subject to Archdiocesan approval.

What will new facilities accomplish?

Saint Cecilia Parish will have new facilities which will enhance our liturgical celebrations, further enabling our community to grow. New and expanded facilities would meet the need for accessible social space. All facilities would be handicapped-accessible. We recognize the sacrifice of the priesthood and their need for adequate housing space. New facilities will also make the parish more attractive to incoming priests as it becomes more difficult to attract the ever-declining population of priests. Another question to consider is what are the implications if we don't build. The reduction of priests will force the a SUnday Mass schedule of two Masses in the future. A bigger church will be needed to accommodate the parishioners.

What is a "gathering space"?

Our faith today is both about private worship and assembly as a community. The body of Christ is present uniquely in the Eucharist and in the participants of the liturgy. We need to reclaim our church as a community, knowing the church is the people. Gathering together is what we are doing in the mass. We must reconnect with one another to develop an appropriate spirit that leads to a desire to celebrate Eucharist together. This is meant to be a transitional space to ready us for the experience about to happen. It also allows flexibility to take off your outer garments and prepare to enter the worship space. The space fosters community, fellowship and the social side of church. We envision versatile space for wakes, bridal rooms, overflow seating and small group meeting space. Every building committee we have spoken with, says that the gathering space has been the best part of their projects!

We have recently put money into the roofs, A/C, etc.. What will happen to all that, is it wasted money?

No, putting money into those projects needed to happen as we must continue to have a functioning facility for our celebrations. It was those projects in fact, that led to the formation of the long-range planning committee; the pastor and parish council members began to ask how much more was needed.

What if I don't think that building new facilities is a good idea? First, is your opinion informed and substantiated?

It would be suggested that you study documents and/or dialogue with those that have been studying the topic. There is a certain level of trust that is implicit in any big project, not everyone can have the same level of understanding or knowledge. We must also have a certain level of trust with the experts and statisticians we have used to come to the consensus to build. None of us will truly know if this was a good idea, until we celebrate our first liturgy there... however, as this project moves on, the Lord will confirm its validity each step we take.

Will the new church make us better Christians?

Ultimately, being a better Christian is a personal decision. However, new facilities will accommodate a renewal of ourselves and our community... the buildings are an expression of that. Why would we build if we didn't think we would be improving and building our community? New facilities will enable us to have new opportunities for social events and enhanced liturgies. All things that will help us be better Christians.

Why is there a need for a Liturgical Consultant?

When designing a new space for the liturgical action, teamwork and preparation by the congregation, clergy, architect and consultant are essential. An architect will benefit from the assistance of a consultant in liturgy and art, in the discussion stages of the project and throughout design and building. Church building projects benefit from the expertise and assistance these consultants provide. Liturgical consultants are highly qualified people versed in addressing sacred space needs. The Archdiocese of Dubuque expects that a liturgical consultant will be hired by the parish to help facilitate a building project of the size we are considering.

What Does a Liturgical Consultant do?

A liturgical consultant wears several hats. They oversee the dialogue between architect and parish, ensuring that the right questions get asked which will lead to design choices that best serve the worshiping assembly. It is unrealistic to expect that architects be well versed in Church history and ritual, even if they are practicing members of the denomination. The consultant will help parishioners identify key characteristics desired for worship areas.
Responsibilities of a Liturgical Consultant:

Assisting in the selection of an architect
Assists in vision analysis
Help the parish become a better client, by enabling the parish to articulate its liturgical and ritual needs to the architect. This responsibility involves a process of reflection by architect, pastoral staff, building committee, and the larger parish, offering the local community a means to articulate its identity and to transform that identity into tangible materials which not only express and proclaim that identity, but enable the kind of worship that will make the community more of what it already is: the body of Christ.
Facilitating an educational process that not only will inform the committee and the larger parish, but also initiate a journey of spiritual formation. The completed worship space is to be a tool in an ongoing formation experience, not an end to itself. The liturgical consultant helps the parish employ the construction project as an opportunity to generate the building up of the community and the renewal of its common life.
Critiquing, from a liturgical perspective, the architectural designs in the schematic and construction documents phases of the project.
Advising the planning committee concerning the most effective conceptual design of ritual objects. These include: baptismal font, altar, ambo, cross, tabernacle, processional cross, vessels and display of the sacred oils, candleholders and stands, devotional images, stained glass images, stations of the cross, festival hangings or processional items, and vesture.
Helping to identify artists for commissions, assisting in the dialogue with artists, and negotiating contracts with them.
Designs liturgical furnishings.
Assists with the planning of the Rite of Dedication for the completed worship space.

The number of priests a parish has is not based on how much we are assessed, or on whether or not we build a new church. The diocesan guidelines are that a parish must have 3200 families to qualify for two priests. (As we lose more priests, this number continually increases). We only have 2100 families. Some smaller parishes could appear to have more than one priest for a number of reasons. For example, a retired priest could reside in a parish and still preside at masses on a weekend – he does not count as a full-time priest. Likewise a priest could work full time at a mission house, a hospital, or a college, and reside at a parish – since he only says masses on a weekend, he does not count as a full-time priest. None of these part-time priests are presently available to us. If we were to build a new church, with only one priest here, we could not increase the number of masses (a priest is limited to 2 masses on a regular basis). The number of masses could be increased only if we found outside priests to help with masses, which, as pointed out in a prior question, is becoming difficult to do.

What does the diocese contribute financially to the parish?

The diocese does not contribute money directly to the parish. The diocese does not assist financially in capital expansion other than providing building loans at a very good interest rate substantially lower than normal commercial rates.

Are there any role model parishes as far as financial condition is concerned?

There is no satisfactory answer to this question since no two parishes are alike. Many factors contribute to the financial status of a parish. Not the least of which are whether a school is involved or not, the age and size of the facilities, the number, age, and wealth of the parishioners, and many other factors.

Can't we look for ways to cut costs/expenditures?

This is an ongoing process for the Finance Committee. Almost every dollar that is spent must be justified. All outside contracts must have three bidders. Ministries submit annual budgets and are held to them. We believe we are doing everything possible to hold down costs.

How many parish families do not use collection envelopes and what we can do about that?

As shown in the recently issued 2001-2002 Financial Report, 33% [will verify this number] of our families do not use collection envelopes. Compared to other churches nationally, this number is low. Most churches have 30-40% of parishioners who do not use envelopes.

Can we afford to build anything substantial in the present economy, and would younger parishioners be able to afford it?

The answer to these questions is what we're attempting to determine at this time. All we have decided so far is that something must be done to solve the problems in the parish. The present phase is to determine, on a priority basis, what we can afford to build based on what the parishioners will support. A recently held fund-rasing planning study report conducted by Walsh and Associates claims that fund-raising could raise an amount between $2.0M to $3.0M using various indicators and findings. One concern turned up in the study was the potential lack of volunteers within the parish to conduct a fund-raiser.

Why can't a Capital Renewal Fund Drive be established immediately?

We believe that a capital campaign should not be started unless we know exactly what and when we are going to build or upgrade. People need to know exactly what it is they would be contributing to before we could ask them for money.

Why not spend the money on the poor?

Currently the parish of Saint Cecilia contributes funds or material to the following charities: Catholic Charities, Good Neighbor Emergency Assistance, Emergency Residence Project, Birthright, American Red Cross, Habitant for Humanity, Free Medical Clinic, Free Dental Clinic, MICA Food Vouchers (plus food items donated to the Food Pantry). We believe we are doing our share of providing donations to the needy. If we were to have a parish campaign to raise money for the poor, we believe it would not be very successful because the parishioners would feel they've already given generously for the needy through the Social Concerns black bag collection conducted each month. In addition, if we are to be helpful to the poor, we need to be more involved in social justice rather than simply pouring money at the problem. Money can offer a temporary relief to the poor but what's really needed is to go after the root cause of the problem. We are planning to organize a Social Justice Activity in the parish to address those very problems.

What is a Reservation Chapel and why is one needed?

The Reservation Chapel is a "space that is dedicated to Christ present in the (reserved) Eucharist and that is designed so that the attention of one praying there is drawn to the tabernacle that houses the presence of the Lord." Built of Living Stones #73.

The document also states that the Reservation Chapel is to be integrally connected with the worship space and conspicuous to the faithful, but separate from the altar of celebration. The Reservation Chapel is a separate space from the nave and sanctuary. Having a Reservation Chapel allows for prayer and adoration even when the main church is locked as it will have an outside entrance.

What will happen to the existing Burke Chapel after a Church and a Reservation Chapel is built?

The Burke Chapel will still be used for morning Masses. The School , Religious Education and Youth Ministry will make use of it as a worship space during their activities. Eucharistic Adoration will take place in the Reservation Chapel.

Where is the Tabernacle to be located

The tabernacle will be located in the Reservation Chapel and will be the central focus of that space. The space will be designed to allow easy access for people in wheelchairs and those with other disabilities to be near the tabernacle for prayer and adoration.

How is parking going to be increased?

The parking will be increased to meet city code. WIth a 1000 seat church, extra parking will probably come from the south side of the parish lot. At this time we hope not to use school playground area or the take out the tree stand on the west side of the existing parking lot. However, some of those trees on the south end may have to be removed to accommodate a bigger church and change of entry off the street to the parking lot.

Do we need to begin purchasing adjoining property for future growth?

The committee has recognized that any future expansion will need to be done to the south if the parish stays on the existing site. That will mean purchasing some of the house lots immediately south of the parish site. No plan is in effect yet, but it is being considered.

Should we consider moving to a different site?

At this time moving is not necessary as a bigger church will fit on the existing site. It could be considered if buying property to the south turns out not to be feasible.

Why cannot video of the Mass be broadcast to the Social Hall or another room instead of enlarging the Church?

This does not meet liturgical guidelines. There is no way a person can fully participate in the liturgy of the Mass when not physically present in the same space as the presider and community of worshipers. Only in extreme emergencies is a video broadcast of the Mass acceptable to another close by location. Examples might be a very large funeral or, while rebuilding a church, the temporary worship space is too small to fit the congregation.

For which parishes does the pastor of Saint Cecilia normally need to preside at Mass?

On July 6, 2003, Good Shepherd parish in Jewell will close and the priest at Saint Cecilia will no longer need to travel there to preside at Mass. On July 1, 2003, Saint Peter and Paul parish in Gilbert will be handed over to Saint Thomas Aquinas, Ames. The Saint Thomas priests will be presiding at Saint Peter and Paul Parish. Henceforth, the priest at Saint Cecilia will only be responsible for Saint Cecilia's Parish. How long this will continue is unknown and will probably change as the priest shortage gets worse.

Last updated: 22 November 2005 wjh