Posts Tagged ‘discernment’

The Discernment Committee, guided by the Holy Spirit, has completed its work.

Below are two documents with the reports

The entire parish community, invited to an All Parish Meeting on June 17, 2010 discussed these recommendations and as an added bonus, met with the new pastor.

The Documents may be opened by clicking on the titles.

Discernment Committee Recommendation - Final 2010 May 5

Parish Mtg 10 0617

Our Lady of the Woods ~ Discernment Committee Recommendation

Regarding the Building of New Church Facilities – May 2010

On May 1, 2010 at the end of a day long meeting, the Discernment Committee reached consensus regarding the overall direction for the future of the parish and specific recommendations for new church facilities for Our Lady of the Woods.  We have discerned the most practical and cost effective approach for us to implement is:

v  Retain all current property as the home of Our Lady of the Woods Parish.

v  Begin as soon as practical a “Phased Development Plan” to build onto and renovate the current church.

v  Phased Development proceeding within the financial guidelines provided by the Diocese.

History and Purpose of the Discernment Committee

At a Parish Town Hall Meeting in the Fall of 2009, the Steering Committee was given a consensus direction to investigate more fully the option of building a “Two-Story Shell Core Addition” onto the west end of the existing church.  Subsequent to that meeting the church was approached by a developer within the Woodland Station project and asked to consider a concept whereby Our Lady of the Woods could be located in a prominent location on the plaza of the new Woodland Station development.

Given this important development, the Steering Committee felt this option should be presented to the entire parish for input and consideration as well as to determine the best direction for our parish to take for the future.  They also felt that the best way to proceed with such a complex challenge was to ask for the assistance of the Diocese.  Through the generous donation of their time and talent, Diocesan employees and volunteers, Ed Gaffney, Nick Colarelli, Al Peterson and Carol Meyer formulated a Discernment Process specific to the needs of Our Lady of the Woods and have guided and mentored us through that process during the past few months.

The Discernment Process

After an open invitation to the entire parish to participate in the process at any level, ultimately the challenge became the mission of the Discernment Committee which was composed of five sub-committees:

v    Woodland Station

v    Parish and Diocese

v    Current Location

v    Civic

v    Prayer

The range and scope of each sub-committee was diverse, extensive and comprehensive given the task to research the many diversities of the committee and distill the results into a recommendation.  The recommendation could have sub-categories or stages if needed but those should be as clear and concise as possible.  Dozens of volunteers spent thousands of hours in research, interviews, meetings and refinements in order to achieve sub-committee recommendations.  After months of dedicated effort, the sub-committees proposed and brought forward for parish feedback five options:

Five Committee Options

v  Option A … The Proposed sale of the currently-owned six-acre church Property and facilities, followed by relocation to a gifted parcel of land at the Woodland Station Development site that would include a sanctuary, multipurpose space and a residence for the pastor.

v  Option B … The Proposed sale of the current church facility, rectory/administration buildings and land that fronts on Hwy. 24; followed by building a new facility on Kavanagh Field, that would include a sanctuary, multipurpose space and a residence for the pastor.

v  Option C … The Proposed remodeling and constructing of additions, including increased sanctuary and multi-use space, to the existing facility on Hwy 24 frontage, and retaining Kavanagh Field for future needs and use.

v  Option D … The Proposed maintenance of our current facility with minimal improvements – certain expenses and upgrades are necessary (safety, health and accessibility); with this option there are no new Construction plans or any sale of property proposed.

v  Option E  … The Proposed Construction of a new facility on Kavanagh Field and linking it to our present facilities;  this option utilizes the entire current 6 acre parcel by building structures to include a sanctuary, multipurpose space and a residence for the pastor.

There followed four All-Parish meetings in April to gather parishioner comment and pros and cons regarding the five options. On Saturday, May 1, 2010, the Discernment Committee as a composite group of all the sub-committees met in a day long meeting to consolidate the five options down into a single consensus recommendation to be forwarded to Fr. Don Dilg for consideration and action. Parishioner inputs as well as the research of the prior four months by the committees were key elements in this effort.

Reaching Consensus

The process of reaching consensus on Saturday was one of personal soul-searching, great compromise and hours of discussion conducted so that anyone who wanted to voice an opinion was allowed to do so.  The Holy Spirit truly was part of the process manifested in the voices of those who participated which allowed a unified recommendation of option C to emerge at the end of the day.

Throughout the refinement process a series of informal “Guidelines” were developed for consideration and inclusion as any future committee moves forward with the implementation of the Discernment Committee recommendation.  Those included:

Parish Guidelines

• Honor the history of the parish
• Must do something given the needs of the parish
• Move forward in phases and stages
• Remain in our current location
• Preserve Kavanagh Field for now, future OLW Master Plan uses field
• Build and Renovate current church building and parish center
• Add multi-purpose accessible space essential to the needs of the church such as classrooms, flexible meeting space, additional restrooms, extended kitchen, choir space, additional sanctuary seating and an elevator
• Administrative space should be a serious consideration in the expansion so that the Rectory may be converted back to a residence for the new Pastor
• Some of the highest priority needs include expanded space for youth programs, classrooms, ministry space and total accessibility
• Cost efficiency is essential
• Sweat Equity is highly desirable if this is to be a phased effort, there is potential for many parts of the project to be built with talented time and “barn-raising” efforts by our parishioners
• Maintain unity of the parish – honor the fellowship of all ages and generations
• Consideration should be taken to see that future development on Kavanagh Field should maintain a connectivity to the Main Church

Pursuant to Father and the Bishop agreeing, the process of implementing the specifics will require continued communication, transparency and involvement from the entire parish.

An unforeseen benefit of the Discernment Process is that it allowed a variety of talented, open-minded and compassionate parishioners to come together in a unified cause – to define the future of Our Lady of the Woods as our founders did 54 years ago.  What has emerged from the process should be a unified parish moving forward in a clear and concise direction.  Our chosen direction allows the parish to be visionary while at the same time being responsible stewards of our resources by re-using and renovating our existing facilities where possible.  This also allows for the expansion of new facilities where needed in a practical and fiscally responsible manner.

Therefore it is with the greatest hope that the wishes and voices of the parish family known as Our Lady of the Woods have been honored by the process and recommendation herein presented.

Respectfully submitted,

The Discernment Committee – May 1, 2010

(Approved – Bishop Michael Sheridan, Fr. Don Dilg, Our Lady of the Woods Finance Council – May 11, 2010)

Our Lady of the Woods Parish

Health & Safety Repairs and Renovations

            The list of Health & Safety Repairs and Renovations listed below were implemented in March and April of 2010.

We are all acutely aware of the need to protect and safeguard those who come to our parish to worship and pray together, study and learn in small groups, educate children and socialize in our parish center. We also desire to provide a safe environment for support groups and service organizations who meet in our buildings.

Fr. Don Dilg, our parish administrator, realized early in 2009 that it was past time to recognize and act upon these necessary measures. Therefore, we engaged a contractor, Colarelli Construction, to do an analysis of our buildings and his recommendations and preliminary cost estimates were presented in a Property Condition Report – April 2009.  Findings were divided into four categories – Building Code Issues, Energy Use Concerns, Aesthetic/Repair/Maintenance Issues and Life Safety/Safety Concerns.  The report was considered by the Finance Council, the Steering Committee, the Parish Administrator and the staff. After input from all reviewers, the list of items needing immediate attention was reduced to include only those items that were deemed Life Safety/Safety Concerns (Health and Safety Issues).  Although the list is self-explanatory if you need more detailed information or feel there may be additional Health & Safety concerns we overlooked, please let us know.

The final cost for all these repairs and renovations is approximately $96,000 and includes work yet to be performed in two areas. The first is sitework comprised of the drainage and new landscaping on the north side of the building and the second is the coffee bar.  It was decided to delay the Sitework until the Discernment Process was completed so that those improvements could be coordinated with the direction given for the new church.  Early in 2010, based upon current cost estimates from Colarelli and his sub-contractors, the Finance Council directed Fr. Don to request permission from the Bishop to proceed with these improvements in the amount of approximately $100,000. These funds were taken from an account that had $118,000 in it in August 2008. The Capital Campaign “Growing Church in the Center” began in September of 2008. Therefore, no campaign commitments were used for these Health & Safety repairs and renovations.

Health & Safety Repairs and Renovations ~ Spring 2010

ELECTRICAL

• Upgrade from 200 amp to 400 amp service to Church Building Includes new electrical panels at meter pole and in church basement. This was a very much needed addition in the parish hall food service area to eliminate frequent power outages and snaking extension cords.
• Added outlets (on poles) near serving line for waffle breakfasts, pot lucks, etc.
• Added outlets in kitchen and at new coffee bar. Plumbing/sink also being added so that coffee pots can be filled and washed in this area.
• Emergency lighting. Exit signs with emergency light attached above all doors.
• Safety Measures: Numerous and sundry minor safety measures such as moving exposed light bulbs, replacing loose outlets, 3-way switch behind altar area, removed unused old lights and wiring from south side roof area.
• Exterior Outlets: Hotwired exterior outlets at East Door. Installed new outlet and light fixture in carport.

FIRE AND SMOKE ALARM SYSTEM

• High quality Honeywell smoke and fire detectors and fire and smoke monitoring system was designed and installed by Commercial Specialists of Southern Colorado and RESI Electric.  
• The monitoring service is provided by Criticom at a cost of $30.00 per month. The alarm signal goes to the monitoring company (Criticom) who notifies the Fire Department immediately.
• We are checking with the insurance company and hope to have an offset of these costs with lower insurance premiums.

HANDICAP ACCESS:  A ramp was installed on the small bridge on the north side of the church to afford wheelchair accessibility.

DOORS:  Crash bars installed on all exterior doors of church building, both upstairs and downstairs. Any door can now be exited without a key.

BELL TOWER:  Repair and waterproof bell tower. Colarelli installed dins glass over the louvers which should keep out water and birds yet allow light and sound.

CEILINGS and Roof:  Replaced or repainted all water damage ceiling tiles. Fixed leak in Administration Building roof; repaired ceiling.

COFFEE BAR: Will include new electrical outlets, small sink and plumbing, cabinets and storage for cups, pots, coffee supplies. Local cabinet makers and plumber are building the plumbing, storage cabinets and a surface serving area for up to 3 coffee pots.

BROKEN WINDOWS:  Replaced all cracked windows.

PARKING LOT:  Pursuant to its Use/Maintenance Agreement, the City of Woodland Park sealed most of the cracks in the Parking Lot. Re-stripping of the lots will be done by the City after the landscaping has been completed.  As noted on the other side of this page, Sitework has been delayed pending recommendations from the Discernment Process.

TREE REMOVAL:  The two bids for removal of the two trees in question were (a) $500 and (b) $700. If a removal decision is made, slash will be removed by the tree cutting company but trunks will provide firewood for Help the Needy.  Concern for loss of parking spaces unfounded. The advantage for tree removal is to cut down on ice hazard caused by the trees’ shaded areas.

DRAINAGE/LANDSCAPING WORK: Decision on scope of work on the north side of the church is postponed until later in the spring.

PROJECT COST: $96,000 approximately. These funds are not from those contributed or committed in the recent Capital Campaign. These funds were in a special Capital Project account in place in 2008.

FOOT BRIDGE TO KAVANAGH FIELD:  Added running lights to base of bridge for night walking.  Fred Mais and Colarelli Construction are also coordinating an Eagle Scout project to build handicapped ramps for this bridge later this spring.

Discernment Committees Proposed Options … April 2010

Options

1. Woodland Station
   1. Give up current space
   2. Move to town square
   3. New buildings, church, multi-purpose, rectory
2. Current Location ~ Sell front and move to back
   1. New buildings, church, multi-purpose, rectory
3. Current Location ~ keep front stay on same land w/new construction
   1. Keep field
   2. Sell field
4. Current Location ~ maintenance of current facility
   1. No new building
   2. Minimal renovation

Accessibility
Health
safety

1. Current Location ~ build here and on field w/connecting bridge
   1. Keep all property
   2. Build on all property

Needs

• Worship Space
  • Gathering
  • Choir
  • Clear safe aisles
  • Increased space around sanctuary
  • Accessibility
• Administration Offices
  • Meeting rooms
  • Volunteer work space
  • 5 offices
  • Accessibility

• Multi-purpose space (educational, social, outreach)
  • More and larger classrooms
  • Larger more functional kitchen
  • Library
  • Nursery/pre-school
  • Youth room
  • Accessibility
  • Storage Room
  • Restrooms
• Residence for Pastor

Options repeated with additional detail ………

OPTION A

The proposed sale of the currently-owned six-acre church property and facilities, followed by relocation to a gifted parcel of land at the Woodland Station Development site that would include a sanctuary, multipurpose space and a residence for the pastor.

List of facts gathered:

• The current 6 acre site and facilities would be sold to a tax-paying buyer.
• The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) would deed, to the Diocese, a parcel of land within Woodland Station (approximately 1 acre) between West and Park Streets which we would own free and clear.
• OLW would use the proceeds of the property sale (plus capital campaign funds) towards construction of a new church, on the public plaza, in the Woodland Station development.
• All parties/business entities within Woodland Station would be required to join a Property Owners Association, so we would have shared control of the Woodland Station Development.
• Common Area Maintenance would be incurred by the parish.
• OLW has received a Letter Of Intent for the purchase of our current 6 six acres for $2.1 million.

Unknowns:

• What would be the timing of a property sale to a new facility move–in?
• What is the probability and timing of the entire Woodland Station Development?
• Long-term costs associated with a POA and Common Area Maintenance fees.

Based on the assumptions we have made, our rough estimate for this option is $5.5 mil.

OPTION B

The proposed sale of the current church facility, rectory/administration buildings and land that front on Hwy. 24; followed by building a new facility on Kavanagh Field, that would include a sanctuary, multipurpose space and a residence for the pastor.

List of facts gathered:

• Proceeds from the sale of the frontage property (approximately 2 acres) would be used for funding the new facility.
• Moving the facilities to Kavanagh Field would provide more space for future expansion.
• Kavanagh Field is a better piece of land, from a construction perspective.

Unknowns:

• Potential revenue from the sale of the frontage property.
• The potential time involved in getting the sale completed.
• The potential time involved in building a new facility.

Based on the assumptions we have made, our rough estimate for this option is $5.5 mil.

OPTION C

The proposed remodeling and constructing of additions, including increased sanctuary and multi-use space, to the existing facility on Hwy 24 frontage, and retaining Kavanagh Field for future needs and use.

List of facts gathered:

• We currently have two buildings and adequate parking.
• Space is available for future expansion and growth.
• Property is currently debt free.
• Current church is 50 + years old and has defects and inadequate space.

Unknowns:

• Future needs (growth).
• Possible asbestos exposure problems with current facility.

Based on the assumptions we have made, our rough estimate for this option is $3.5 mil.

OPTION D

The proposed maintenance of our current facility with minimal improvements – certain expenses and upgrades are necessary (safety, health and accessibility); with this option there are no new construction plans or any sale of property proposed.

List of facts gathered:

• Current classroom space is inadequate.
• Current choir space is inadequate and interferes with procession from communion.
• Current facility not handicapped/disabled accessible.
• Upkeep of an ageing facility is very expensive.  Recent updates for health and safety needs as well as electrical upgrades have improved the facility.

Unknowns:

• Possible asbestos exposure problems with current facility.
• Future growth and expansion of ministries needs.

Based on the assumptions we have made, our rough estimate for this option is $660,000.

OPTION E

The proposed construction of a new facility on Kavanagh Field and linking it to our present facilities;  this option utilizes the entire current 6 acre parcel to include a sanctuary, multipurpose space and a residence for the pastor by building.

List of facts gathered:

• We would have room for future expansion without purchasing land in the future.
• Allows for work to proceed in stages with minimal disruption to parish activities (primarily worship activities).

Unknowns:

• Stability, growth and/or decline of national / local economies.
• Will parishioners be able and willing to finance facility growth?

Based on the assumptions we have made, our rough estimate for this option is $6.5 mil.

These are the final reports of each Discernment Committee.

This research and data gathering informed the options presented to the Parish on April 18 & 21, 2010.

After these meetings, the comments of parishioners will be added to the process for selecting one option to proceed with.

Click on each report title for full report.

10 0327 Discernment Committees Summary Report

OPTIONS Discernment Committees w flow chart

10 0327 Parish and Diocese Committee

10 0327 Parish Demographics updated numbers

10 0327 Current Location Committee report

10 0327 Current Location Comm Options Proposed

10 0327 Civic Committee

10 0327 WOODLAND STATION REPORT

Our Lady of the Woods Meetings

For Parish Healing and Preliminary Discernment Committees Discovery Reports

Sunday, April 11 and Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Report Notes:

• · This report is the preliminary discovery reports of the Discernment Committee(s).
• · The final presentation of Options Discerned will be presented at the meetings of Sunday, April 18th (10:45am – 12:30pm) and Wednesday, April 21st (7-9pm) … both held in the Church.
• · All comments made and reports presented here for both meetings of April 11 and 13 are combined under corresponding subject headings. The agenda for each meeting was identical as the second gathering was a repeat of the first with different attendees. Combined attendance 138.

Fr. Don:  Opening prayer and comments

Psalm of Lament … pray where you are; if angry … offer your anger in the context of faith. We pray: God I trust in you, why are you doing this? Pray in honesty and faith. The first part of this meeting will help us hear things accurately, please share in honesty any concerns, anger, frustrations or comments you may have.

Ed Gaffney, Diocesan Director of Mission Effectiveness; Here to help facilitate the sharing.

There is a significant amount of frustration that we need to hear in a public forum so we cannot make any mistakes in the future. This will focus on the past. Which will prevent your from hearing the options that will be presented next weekend’s meetings.

Open floor to those who want to express anything that might stand in the way to really hear and evaluate options. Open it up for Q & A.

COMMENTS of those present

• Give an example of some of the anger seen in the surveys. Ed: e.g. too many people on the discernment committees; on the other hand another comment about why don’t you open it up to other people more people to be involved.
• What is holding us back? Are there many things holding us back from building a new church. Ed: obstacles people may have that prevent them from participating. What is stuck in your craw that will enable you to be more engaged in the process?
• Volunteer efforts are difficult and thankless. Thank you all and Fred especially. Fred: extends the appreciation to all those who participated.
• Hear about city wanting to trade land … what is that likelihood of that? Ed: one of the parts of today’s presentation will address that issue. Next week’s meetings will share the options. The options will be presented to get input from the parish … not finalized decisions.
• What are the details of that land swap … details will be presented in next week’s meetings.
• Current member of committee has positive mindset with process; however, formerly was frustrated and felt bad about the process before this. Now I think that looking to the future is the hope. Participating in this process is satisfying.
• As member of parish and general contractor, I am interested in where we are right now. Notice safety and health issues are seen being done now. How close are we to making any decisions? Ed: Right now, we are on the verge of being able to bring options forward … for parish input … next week. Then discernment committee will analyze parish input and make some decision options to present to pastor and parish.
• What has been happening? Ed: Diocesan planning consultants have been working with the parish for the last three months to establish committees to discern the parish directions. (Ed, Al Peterson and Nick Colarelli) There are 45 parish members on the committees.
  • Prayer committee
  • Woodland Station committee
  • Parish and Diocese  committee
  • Civic committee
  • Current facility committee

Are there any other points of anger or complaints that we invite you to air?

• We don’t have the money to give the church. We’ve been told no when volunteered our help. In the past, we were not wanted.
• Is there a need? The economy is so bad … can we place our priority in different places than building? Is the parish growing? Ed: Yes there is a trend of growth in the parish.
• How did we reach the cost numbers to build a new church? Fred: the process started over 10 years ago on the premise on an 8% growth. A study group was formed to study all the issues involved at that time. Over the period many different schemes were studied … new church in upper parking lot, additions to old church, new church on Kavanagh field. As the study moved forward, studies and surveys of parishioners 40 thousand square feet was needed, that was pared down. Looking forward we looked 25 years ahead and also looked at immediate needs with expansion possibilities. An initial premise was to build on Kavanagh Field … a number of different architectural drawings were designed. Nothing was decided. Nothing went out to bid to contractors. Another option was to look at whether we can renovate and enlarge the current structure.
• Maybe we are not hearing what God is saying to us. Maybe shouldn’t build at all. What is God calling? What is God asking us as parish to do as a community? What should we be doing as a committee rather than build?
• We appreciate the parish allowing the city to use Kavanagh field for children’s activities. The Spirit is present in our community. It has to with a lot of people working together. We address safety and growth. That is good.
• Why now? Al P: The WP DDA would like to have this parish on their development at Woodland Station. They’ve made a proposal, but not in writing. We need to decide how to respond to that proposal. Do we accept? Do we stay?
• Everyone is frustrated about the last ten years. I think we should not move from here. Ed: One of the options is ‘do nothing’.
• However, a new structure will stimulate more growth in the WP community. A new church construction might bring people in … in evangelizing.
• We realize this is a contentious process. However, our church is too small. If we focus outside without dealing with our current issues, build a strong structure to work from, we will not be able to help our greater community. We have to take care of ourselves, before we can help others.
• We have to have a structure that will enable us to do more for our larger community with a larger space.
• There are certain needs that our community cannot provide to our own people without a better structure. E.g. a cry room that would encourage young families to come to Mass. Having a better facility will help us serve not only the larger community, we our own people.
• We need to be a praying as the Body of Christ to be of help for all of our in our parish and our city.
• What happens after the proposal goes to Fr. Don … what happens … especially as we are looking to a new pastor the end of June? Ed: Fr. Don will go to the Bishop for further discussion.
• How will it end? Is there going to be a vote? How is the decision going to be made? Ed: The next two meetings will gather input about the options. That input will be analyzed and formed into a recommendation to present to Fr. Don.
• When we do come to these proposals to give to Father, are still going to be a split parish? Will the decision be acknowledged as one that was put together with prayer and hard work? Ed: Each person will have to look into their own hearts about that?
• Nick: The discernment process was an open invitation to everyone in the parish. The call was to be indifferent and to be open. Please think about whether you have a fixed opinion, then being part of the committees would not be the best way to serve the community. Those people should be at the meetings to look at the options. The people who are on the committees are staying as open as they can and without preconceived notions are doing the research and will come up with a proposal. Working on staying open and trying to listen on what God is saying is an important piece of this discernment process. The proposal will not be a construction decision … it will be (if to build) where to build considering the priorities of our people… what we understand our needs to be.
• At one time most people on the original committee thought we would be given real estate property and a church built by the city. Original survey said 95% said to move. Vicki: inaccurate information –  82%  of that specific survey said stay in the center of town.
• Fred: Offer from city was to swap acreage in out 67 for our property. Nothing was in writing. Many other options were explored.
• Was there a decision made recently to renovate and add on? Why was this not happening? Ed: The initiating event that started this discernment process was the proposal made by DDA to have OLW be part of Woodland Station. Before making any decision, it was thought we needed to engage the discernment process
• Fred: The original “needs assessment” revealed a need for 40K sq feet; this was reasonably pared down to 10K sq ft.
• People do not give to their church. Only heard 3 or 4 homilies about money.
• Money was never shared. Most of salary went to Roger. Why did we hire Cargill which cost 57K? Why were we never told our fund drive failed? One reason was of course the stock market failed the same week as the beginning of the capital drive.
• How much money was wasted? People feel they’ve been victimized.
• Can we publish the salaries?
• We had originally planned on Fr Mark Pranaitis leading the capital campaign from the Diocese for no charge;  however his order transferred him out of state. He recommended Cargill and we interviewed three companies before deciding on Cargill.
• Full disclosure of finances. There needs to be an increase in transparency. These things should be shared.

Reports from Discernment committee members … backdrop in preparation of sharing of options next Sunday and/or Wednesday.

PRELIMARY DISCOVERY REPORTS OF SPECIFIC DISCERNMENT COMMITTEES

General Report on All Committees by Carol Korzekwa.

First of all, I want to say thank you to all of those committee members in the past who have worked so hard for our church. Having spent the last 10 weeks working on this committee, I know they put a lot of time and effort into the work they did.

I am just one of about 45 people on the Discernment Committee(s) that have been gathering facts over the past 10 weeks. As a part of this process, we have had many people give a lot of their time and energy to our church in trying to formulate a plan that will carry us through the next 50 years. This plan is not only about what we are going to do about the much needed space we lack, but also about being in a better position to reach out and touch more lives in the community. As part of the fact finding mission, the Discernment Committee has gone out into the community and done more than 50 interviews. We, as a group, interviewed people (listed below). From those interviews we have tried to gather as much data as possible to give the Parish enough information to make an informed decision about our future for the next 50 years

Combined, over the last ten weeks, we have spent more than 2,000 hours in meetings and conducting interviews, summarizing facts, reviewing documents and preparing for our All Parish meeting. As you will hear coming up, we have tried to anticipate not only what we will need as a parish, but also, what Woodland Park as a community will need in the years to come.

Documents and Interviews reviewed

• Parish History
• Steering Committee Minutes for past year
• Needs Analysis performed by all ministries
• PERCEPT … Demographic Study for Catholics of Teller County
• Woodland Park Comprehensive Plan (171 pages)
• Parish Survey of March 2010 … to interpret the findings.
• 50+ interviews of parish and community individuals

Discernment Committee members

Steve Hall, Paulette Krueger, Joe Krueger, Greg Schilling, Bob Schlut, Mary GIEGERICH, Lou Occhi, Jim Moriarty, Kathleen Moriarty, Jean Wittich, Cindy Weiss, Randy Dygert, David Kilman, Mary Schlut, Ted Bonner, Susanne Leininger, Carol Meyer, Carol Ward, Anne Kozleski, Chuck Callender, Dana Braatz, Dan Rector, Lucie Haskins, Liz Walker, Leo Vetter, Maura Hall, Deb Rocco, AI Peterson, Connie Von Ruden, Trudie Layton, David Luplow, Sheri Basey, Ross Calvert, Kay Calvert, Todd Wiseman, Mary McSorley, Carol Korzekwa, Bob Korzekwa, Steve Leininger, Paula Strobl, Sonny Strobl, Bill Armstrong, John Moragues, Dena Moragues, Paul Cooper, David Langley.

Interviews Conducted by Each Committee:

Parish Group

• Vicki Rector- update demographic/population trends
• Bishop Sheridan,
• Msgr. Robert Jaeger – Diocesan Vicar General
• Janis Balentine – Diocesan Buildings, Properties, and Facilities Manager
• Finance Committee Members: Fred Mais, Lorraine Bailey Fr. Don
• Vicki Heffner – faith formation needs Parishioners – (simple survey at mass)
• Mary Bielz, Aspen Mine Center

Civic Group

• Aspen Mine Center: Mary Bielz
• Help the Needy: Mary Gonzales
• City of WP, Parks & Rec., Cindy Keating
• City of WP, Planning: Sally Riley
• Woodland Retail Alliance, Jan Cummer
• School Superintendent/Principal Rhonda in Ed Gaffney’s office
• Vicki Rector
• Fr. Don
• Vicki Heffner
• Julie Culwell-Gates
• Habitat for Humanity
• Choices
• Community Cupboard
• Teller County Social Services
• Methodist/Episcopal/WP Community churches Local ministers
• Sharon Roshek
• Young Life Build-A-Generation
• City Manager/Mayor of the cities of WP (Dave Buttery), CC, Victor
  • Teller County Commissioner, Jim Ignatius
  • Womack Ministries
  • American Cancer Society Fund raiser
  • Blood Drives
  • Democratic Party Caucus
  • Girl Scouts
  • Help the Needy Garage Sale
  • Jerusalem Olive Wood Sales
  • K of C
  • La Leche League
  • MS Support Group
  • Race for the Cure (Amer Cancer So)
  • Republican Party Caucus
  • Share CO

Current Location Group

• Vickie Heffner (Faith Formation Director)
• Vicki Rector (OLW Business Manager)
• Fred Mais (Headed the Steering Committee)
• Vince Colarelli (current contractor)
• Dave Langley (parishioner/architect)
• Gene and Anne Kozleski
• Deacon Roger Eberwein (Past Parish Dir)
• Janis Balentine (Diocese Dir of Properties and Construction
• Bob Doerfler (CFO Diocese of CS)
• Our Lady of the Pines: Black Forest

Woodland Station Group

• Steve Randolph – Mayor of Woodland Park
• Beth Kosley – Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Executive Director
• Dale Schnitker – DDA Board Member Arden Weatherford – Primary Developer – Woodland Station \
• Kip Unruh – Woodland Station Developer

PARISH AND DIOCESE COMMITTEE

Data and Report of Survey by Jean Wittich and Connie Von Ruden

The Parish and Diocese Discernment Committee’s survey has shown that we are:

1. A parish family which began as a mission of Cripple Creek/Victor churches.
2. A worshiping community with a strong prayer and devotional life.
3. An industrious people willing to tackle problems and initiate solutions.
4. An apostolic group willing to forge ahead with or without a pastor to guide us.
5. A community that recognizes the importance of Catholic/Christian education, both the education of our adult members as well as that of our young people.
6. A people who enjoy celebrations and gatherings.
7. A community that tries to be responsive to the needs of our members.
8. A part of a larger community, trying to be a good neighbor – one who takes care of his fellow man in need.

In short, we are the Catholic Christian family of Teller County with mission churches in Victor and Cripple Creek. We work together in preparation for our Sunday worship, in arranging meals for the bereaved following funerals, in providing our facilities for blood drives and food distribution. We are a family who instruct our young people their Catholic heritage and provide for the growth of our adult members. We play and work together and thus become a community through the social interactions of men’s yearly camping retreats, coffee and donuts, pot lucks and talent shows that we are a family who pray as the children of one Father at mass and as individuals in adoration; but, we also pray for one another. We celebrate our new members, we grieve the losses to our family, and we are saddened by the departure of those who must leave.

As with any family, we have internal problems that concern us. The Parish and Diocese Committee have identified, from interviews, surveys and previous studies, some issues that require careful reflection.

1. While the parish has no debt, Sunday collections are barely adequate to meet expenses.
2. Less than 40% of active families contribute financially to the family home.
3. 53% perceive our current space to be seriously inadequate for ministries involving our children, and 43% perceive the same to be true for adult ministries.
4. There is a serious lack of simple things such as closets and cabinets and we have no place to’ put them if we had them
5. More than 90% believe our current facilities are now inadequate or will be within five years.
6. More than a third of our people say we have suffered due to the absence of a full time pastor.
7. Almost 50% feel that facts and information are not really available.
8. Almost two-thirds want to see a clear picture of where we are going.
9. Many note the limitations our building presents to the elderly and the handicapped.
10. And, while 55% rate the parish as very high on being inclusive of all its members, 15% do not feel included or welcomed.

Many family members have nurtured and developed the gifts the Spirit has given them. Some have worked to strengthen and enlarge the music ministry in order to bring joyful sounds to our Sunday masses, but they have a cramped space from which to lead the singing and know that they create an obstacle to the flow of people during mass. Members utilize their gifts to develop new and expanded educational opportunities for our youth and adults, but classrooms are small, some without heat, storage is lacking, ventilation is poor and mold is a potential hazard. Kitchen facilities are inadequate for the many people frequently working there.

Our parish family is now ten times its original size, when this church was built, with ongoing growth predicted. Though we have many accomplishments to be proud of, we could work harder to make all feel welcomed to participate in all that we do. We could reach out to our estranged and non-member families, joining them more fully to the family of Christ. We could develop the foundation necessary for teens and young adults to continue as active participants in the life of our parish family and assist them in their efforts to deal effectively with the issues of young adulthood and parenting. We could address the issues that make our physical environment less that hospitable, to; the elderly and disabled. We could set up regular gatherings with our mission churches. This family has talents that have gone untapped and abilities that are underutilized. There are so many possibilities that remain unrealized and so many needs that remain unmet. Our mission is that of all Christians: “Love one another as I have loved you.”

Our bishop has promised us a pastor. He has encouraged us with the assurance that all or part of our land can be used as we see fit in order to realize our goals. He has voiced his support for the dreams we may have. The vision is ours to realize. It is up to us to create that vision, now and together.

When we plan for our future, we hear Fr. Don Dilg say, “Our ministries should drive our budget, not the other way around.”

Civic Committee Report – Vision: Observation of and Needs in Teller County by Connie Von Ruden

Presented for consideration in planning for the future of Our Lady of the Woods.

1. I. How does the neighborhood see us?

• A long history of service to the community
• Clear association with certain organizations
• Reliable source for support
• Well supported by church members, financially and through volunteerism
• Provides meeting space for outside organizations to meet and serve
• Provides for the homebound and sick

1. II. What does the community presently look like?

• Average household income is $73,000
• 1/3 of community will likely need to use social services/outreach to get by
• Unemployment rate is currently 8.8%
• Segments of the population who are always vulnerable
  • Unemployed and underemployed
  • Disabled
  • Single parent families
  • Elderly
  • Most critical needs not being met at the present time
    • Transportation for youth
    • Senior housing
    • Senior daycare
    • Low income housing
    • Affordable transportation

1. III. What could our future community look like?

• An interfaith/ecumenical/ministerial alliance which coordinates volunteer efforts: pools talents and skills; tackles problems too big for one organization to handle
• An ignited growing boomer population
• An involved and growing group of young volunteers
  • 71% of 18-31 year aids volunteer
  • However only 21% of same group attend church
  • Increased church membership by offering opportunities for:
    • Spiritual development through Bible study and retreats
    • Personal development through marriage enrichment and parent training
    • Social and recreational activities for youth, young adults and families

We want people who come into our community to know they are visiting our home.

We want them to feel that OLW is welcoming and will provide for their needs.

Parish and Diocese Committee FACILITY NEEDS Report by Kathleen Moriarty

Teller County Catholic Community serves all of Teller County plus the edge of each of the four counties to our North, South, East and West. I’ll focus today on the facilities at OLW. The TCCC parishioners who attend Mass in Cripple Creek and Victor find their facilities adequate for their current needs. They have their own budget and pay for their expenses.

1: Worship

I see others in this group who can remember with me that 50 years ago when we came to Mass, we had a priest and two – maybe four – altar boys to prepare in the sacristy and to be “on the altar.” We went into our pew and stayed there except for Communion and the occasional seasonal procession.

We are now much more actively involved in our liturgies. More liturgical ministers mean more people preparing for celebration, more people moving into and around the sanctuary.

• § Our seating capacity is generally sufficient – except for Easter and Christmas.
• § However, we really need a gathering space. It could also serve as overflow seating.
• § We need clear, safe, aisles so we don’t trip while processing – including returning to our seats from communion.
• § How many of you were at the 9:30 Mass on Easter Sunday? Did you see the Paschal candle almost tip over? We need floor space when we celebrate sacramental rites…like baptisms and weddings.

2 and 3: Rectory and Administration Offices

Bishop Sheridan expects to assign a full time priest here as pastor. He also expects that a home be provided for a pastor on or near the Parish grounds. If a rectory is not part of Parish facilities, something needs to be rented.

In the absence of a resident pastor, our rectory became an Administration building including offices and classrooms. A split entry is not very “accessible” and a garage makes a very cold classroom. Our children should not have to huddle in blankets for religion class.

If the Admin building is returned to use as a rectory, it will need to be “refreshed” to be returned to use as a home after the hard use of the last several years.

Other space will need to be provided for the offices and meeting rooms that are there now. Administration offices need accessibility, privacy, and wiring for modern technology. There needs to be room for volunteers to work and meetings to take place.

4: Multiuse Space

Educational, Social and Outreach functions can share multi-purpose space. However, we DO need MORE space! Last month 96 meetings or events were on the Parish calendar. To continue to offer hospitality to community groups that need a place to meet, we need to have enough space for ourselves and for them. We need more rooms, of various sizes.

We need space to socialize, to get to know each other. A sense of belonging is the glue that binds communities. We like to be “where everybody knows our name.” Maybe we could introduce ourselves to those 15% who do not feel included.

• § We need, at least two large rooms and a larger more functional kitchen
• § We want our youth to feel that they belong to the community. We need a Youth Room where they can bring their friends and gather to enjoy being with each other, in a safe, secure environment.
• § To encourage young families to attend Mass and programs, we need  space designed to accommodate new-borns to age 5

To continue to exist as a Catholic community, it is essential that we educate and form our children and youth in the teachings, values and practices of the Catholic faith, and that as adults we continue to strive to understand and live the faith. We need to reach out to our non-Catholic or non-practicing Catholic neighbors and to offer them opportunities to learn about our faith.

Our classrooms are crowded. We have 10-12 students and 2 teachers in rooms designed for 8. Heaven help us if we’re trying to fit in 12 adults.

Ventilation is poor. In some, the heat is inadequate. Educational experts have identified at least seven different ways in which people learn. Our classrooms need to have room for the students to get up out of a chair and engage in activities. We need larger, healthier, classrooms

In addition, two needs that surface across all ministries are: Accessibility and storage.

Data shows that our Teller county community is trending toward retirement age. But accessibility is not just an issue for the elderly and those in wheel chairs. You may not see other health issues that make a flight of stairs a formidable challenge. Even a few steps and heavy doors are problems for baby strollers as well as for crutches from that skiing accident. Try juggling a baby carrier, diaper bag, supplies for teaching religion class and shepherding one or more children and you will think about accessibility.

Don’t forget, once you get to your pew, meeting, or potluck…is there a restroom that you can get to without climbing stairs or walking around the building? We need accessible restrooms

All of our ministries are pleading for more storage. We need it in admin offices, classrooms, sacristies, kitchen and library. Where do we keep the baptismal pool from Easter to Easter?

This is not a wish list of things we want, that we’d like to have. This is space that we need to continue the Parish identity described by Maura and Steve, to retain our youth, to attract young families and to serve parishioners of all ages.

Civic Community Profile Report: How the Greater Community Perceives TCCC by Maura Hall

My name is Maura Hall and I have lived in Woodland Park for over 5 years.  I am one of the members of the Civic Community Discernment group. The Civic Committee’s task was to do an assessment of our neighborhood  in Woodland Park and the surrounding communities.

In 1954 the small parish family said: will the  people in the neighborhood know that we are here…. will they know who to ask? The   people knocked and said: we are hungry, we are thread bare and chilly, our homes are cold, And Greg Shilling led a group of volunteers to form  Help the Needy”

In 1984, Some people from OLW got together to begin our first community blood drive.  At that time there was one blood drive a year and if Penrose needed more of your blood you were invited to drive to Colorado Springs and take at least half of your day to donate.

By 1990, Ann Kozleski said: “yes, and she continued to plan and organize the Blood Drive.  It has now grown to 6 blood drives a year, with an average of 85 people donating each time.   75% of the donors are not parishioners of OLW but the majority of the cookie and food and other support comes from our parish

In 2005 the people knocked and said: We need help with our taxes and the gov’t keeps changing the rules, but it costs so much to get them prepared and Dan and Vicki Rector said we can organize a group of volunteers and use our parish center.  And VITA was born.

And the neighborhood said “It is good, we know who to ask”. Our committee has learned that the neighborhood identifies OLW as the source of these efforts

As time went on, our neighbors knocked and said: “we have seniors in need, can you save the unborn babies, can we get a ride to our appointments, and can you help us when we are sad and broken.  Can someone build us affordable housing?  And OLW volunteers stood up with the volunteers from our mission churches other volunteers in the neighborhood who worked and donated time at, the Aspen Mine Center, The Senior Coalition, the Choices Pregnancy Center, Habitat for Humanity and said “yes, we have time, God has given us talents, we will share our money.

And the neighborhood said “It is good, we know who to ask”

Then the neighbors knocked again, screaming in fear and said:  “Help, our forest is burning, we’ve lost our homes, our families and pets have no shelter, where do we go?  And OLW volunteers said; Come to our home, you can use our building, we’ll be the center for the relief effort because  Jesus Christ commissioned us: “whenever you do these things for the least of your brothers, you do them for me.  Our committee learned that the neighborhood remembers and identifies OLW with the success of the Hayman fire relief effort

And the neighborhood said “It is good, we know who to ask”

What about today as our neighbors are struggling in the midst of a national economic crisis, falling home prices, rising utility and food prices and 8.8 % local unemployment?  All the local services and charitable organizations have been stressed and faced a massive increase in need for financial support.   And the volunteers from OLW along with the parishioners have donated additional money and time, and have joined with our mission churches and volunteers from around the community have stood up at HTN, Aspen Mine Center, and the Emergency Food Pantry and said YES.

And the neighborhood said “It is good, we know who to ask”

Another thing that we heard consistently when our team interviewed the neighborhood was that 58 % of our population lives in a rural setting and some of that are sick and dying and can’t get to church. And even those who have never set foot in a Catholic Church know that Deacon Andy and the Hospice/Homebound Ministry have said “yes,  We will come and bring our volunteers, and we will pray with you, hold you up in God’s hands, minister to your grieving families we will bring the “Eucharist”

And the neighborhood said “It is good, we know who to ask”

And what does our neighborhood need in the future and what do we think God is calling us to do?

Our committee learned that many youth,   need support with transportation so that they can get a closer connection at school and in the community, to keep them busy and out of trouble

We learned that the aging population cannot look forward to affordable and accessible housing …many of them will be forced to move away from their mountain homes.

Our poor and lower income neighbors know that there is not enough affordable housing in the region and they may have to leave our community where the average home cost is in the range of 100 to 300K

Some of our population is saying:  we are suffering from illness and injury and disability and we have no adult day care to relieve our stressed families.

We do not believe that OLW and our mission churches can take care of these needs alone.  These are problems that are too big for one denomination to tackle.

We need believe that we could   knock at the door of the other Churches and form an Interfaith Ministerial Alliance to address these difficult and complicated problems.   We could forge a new partnership with other church leaders to come to the table and promote a new community direction.

What else do we know that our neighborhood will need in the future?

And 41 % of people living in this region, who have been affiliated with a religion, are not finding God and a spiritual direction in church of any kind. If we reach out to be word and witness so that they may know God through the person of about Jesus Christ?  Our efforts will take space in an already overscheduled parish center. We will need to train our willing volunteers to be ministers in evangelization.

What about the 71 % of the 18-31 year olds will say:  that they have volunteered in the last 12 months, they are an age group who gives back, but only 21 % of this age group feels a desire to knock on our door for worship or fellowship. Can we learn more about what brings this age group to seek church and can we find space to reach out to them with fellowship and meaningful volunteer activities possibly followed by an opportunity to know about Jesus Christ.

Research in this region, provided to us by the Percepts document tells us that what attracts growing families to any church are the following: They would come if they could learn more about faith and about our Lord.

They would come if we could teach them to live a Covenant Marriage. They want help to build Christ centered homes, they want to learn to be better parents, and they would come if we provided activities for their teens. Can we find room in our overcrowded parish center to activate our untapped talent and attract these young families.

Join in our Vision.  Let our future neighbors in Teller County look to OLW as a community center that is always open, ever welcoming, a beacon of Love and a place to get their needs met. What I now know from listening to our neighbors in W.P.  And Teller County…. is that  they know we make a difference…they know who to ask.

REPORT OF THE PARISH AND DIOCESE COMMITTEE by Steve Hall

A Home From Which We Can Reach Out

I’m Steve Hall and I’ve been part of the Parish & Diocese Committee. You have heard about the various reviews, interviews, and studies that the four discernment committees engaged in to prepare for the meeting this evening. I want to give you a brief report.

If we were to stop and assess how this, Our Lady of the Woods parish sees itself now, at this moment in history, what would we find? What is our perception of ourselves as a parish community? Sit back and reflect with me on the portrait that the examination of the Parish and Diocese Discernment Committee revealed:

1. A worshiping community with a strong prayer and devotional life.
2. An industrious people willing to tackle problems and initiate new solutions.
3. An Apostolic laity ready to forge ahead with or without a pastor to guide us.
4. A community that recognizes the importance of Catholic/Christian education, both the education of its adult members as well as that of its young people.
5. A people who enjoy celebrations and gatherings.
6. A community that tries to be responsive to the needs of its members.
7. A segment of the larger community that endeavors to be the good neighbor of Jesus’ parable—the one who took care of his fellow man in need.

In short, the portrait shows that we are the Catholic Christian family of Woodland Park.

We work together in preparation for our Sunday worship, in arranging meals for the bereaved following a funeral, in organizing our facilities for a blood drive. We are a family.

We instruct our young people in the heritage of their ancestors and provide for the growth of our adult members. We are a family.

We play together in the social interaction around donuts and coffee, waffle breakfasts and pot lucks, talent shows and farewell parties. We are a family.

We pray as the children of one Father at Mass and we pray as individuals in adoration; but we always pray for one another. We celebrate our new members, we grieve the loss of old members, we are saddened by the departure of those who must leave, and we welcome the return of those who seasonally migrate south. We are a family and we rejoice together in the presence of our heavenly Father among us.

As with any family we have internal problems and we are concerned about them. And again, the examination of the Parish and Diocese Committee revealed some issues that require careful reflection:

1. While the parish has no debt, Sunday collections are barely adequate to meet expenses.
2. Less than 40% of registered families contribute financially to the upkeep of the family home, our church.
3. Of those responding in the parish survey, 53% perceived our current space to be seriously inadequate for our children’s ministries; and 43% perceived the same to be true for adult ministries.
4. The previous studies revealed that there is a serious deficiency in such simple things as closets and cabinets, and no place to put them if we had them.
5. More than 90% of the survey respondents believed our current facilities are now inadequate, or would be within five years. This is hardly a surprise since the structure was built by forty families and we have grown to more than 400.
6. More than a third said we suffered from the absence of a full time pastor.
7. Almost 50% felt facts and information were not readily available.
8. Almost two-thirds wanted to see a clear picture of where we were going.
9. Many noted the limitations which our building presents to the elderly and the handicapped.
10. And, while 55% rate the parish very high on being inclusive of all its members, 15% did not feel included.

Consider where we have been.

It was less than ten years after this facility was built that Vatican II made so many changes. Suddenly the sanctuary had a new altar. The sanctuary became even more crowded as various members of the congregation were engaged in the celebration of the liturgy. As directed by Vatican II the choir was brought to the front, and since we lacked choir space, the choir also ended up crowding the sanctuary.

[You’ve seen the pictures. Our Lady of the Woods sits in an open field with a few trees. Nothing behind us; No Bank beside us. Gold Hill was somebody’s dream.]

In the fifty-five years since, we have added or expanded, one after another, the ministries that this family has become known for: youth education, faith formation, Bible studies, religious book clubs, Endow, etc., — these and many others within the family.

Our family has gotten a bit bigger. This family home, built for forty families with the expectation that the family would grow, is now more than ten times its original size. So our committee discovered that there is more truth than we expected in the feeling that we are cramped for space.

Family members have strengthened and enlarged the music ministry so as to bring a joyful sound to our Sunday praise; but the larger choir has only a cramped space from which to lead the singing; they trip over chairs attempting to get to communion; they have, of necessity, appropriated the first two rows of pews; and they have no space to store their materials or instruments.

Family members utilize their gifts to develop new and expanded educational programs for the young and for teens; but classrooms are small, storage is unavailable, ventilation is poor, and even mold is a hazard. We welcome our youth to a cold and damp garage and cross our fingers that they will keep the faith. Some family members want our teens to bring their friends home so that they can provide guidance to their activities and encourage their spiritual growth, but there is no place to gather.

Family members try to prepare a meal for relatives suffering the loss of a loved one, or arrange a pot luck gathering for the entire family only to find the kitchen woefully inadequate.

Family members plan to bring the family together to honor our departing pastor and they take their plans to another location.

The members of Our Lady of the Woods family have been exercising their talents, expanding their awareness of needs, maturing in their responsiveness to others.  Even with all that there is still a vision of more and greater possibilities. Most require space.

Our mission is that of all Christians: “Love one another as I have loved you.” Our Bishop has promised us a pastor. He has encouraged us with the assurance that all or part of our land can be used as we see fit to realize our goals. He has voiced his support for the dreams we may have. But the vision is ours to realize. Let us create a home from which we can reach out.

Additional  comments by those present

• Only 40 % are contributing … how can we afford the needs we are facing? Ed: I don’t know. Certainly a serious consideration. Assistance needs to come from the 60% of parish that does not financially support their family parish.
• Will we get a full time pastor? Ed: It is the bishop’s intent to assign a full-time pastor. The bishop and his office are aware of our situation and demographics and geography and will take it into account.
• I’ve heard the needs … our growth is coming from the youth. Don’t sacrifice the field. Don’t build on it. The youth need recreation facilities.
• Kavanagh Field … Let’s wait until the options are shared at the next week’s meetings before we can discuss this issue.
• A new church would be beautiful; however, that is an external change. We really need to look at our internal change. We really have to look more closely at the things we need to fix internally. This is a start getting the frustrations out. Where do we go from here internally so that other 60% can feel an important part of this parish? Ed: That has to happen internally by each individual person. This hearing has that value.
• Nick: Very often people feel undervalued by their parish. God may be giving us an opportunity to understand what value we have. We can no longer afford to have 60% of the people of our community to feel undervalued. It is clear we have a great spirit here. This may be what God is challenging us to do. We can’t go forward with people feeling undervalued.
• Ed: Tuesday night is a repeat of this meeting to give many more people a chance to participate.
• Do we need a large 750 seat church? Let’s discern what we need versus what we want. Needs: elevator, classrooms.
• Snowbirds need to be considered.
• Other sleepers who are sitting back and waiting are not indifferent … they are trusting those doing the work to make a decision and then they will support it.
• Next Meetings? Ed: Options will be shared for parish input. Sunday, April 18^th (10:45am – 12:30pm) and Wednesday, April 21^st (7-9pm) … both meetings in the church.
• Ed: It appears that we are now getting adequate and accurate information … which will be added to today’s discussion … and be presented at the next meeting.

These presentations , sharing of honest opinions and much additional information are going to be included in the discernment committees studies. The description of this particular parish identity as family and how the civic community sees OLW is inspiring. Options that will be presented next week are based on all these reports.

Are there any additional comments?

• Major question … why are not so many people come? Why don’t they care? Ed: This is not unusual. Don’t assume that if they are not here that they don’t care. How do we make this information available in other ways? Reports will be put on parish website and will be emailed.
• Why don’t we take time at Mass to do this kind of information sharing?
• At the end of the day will have to make a decision. Leaders will make the final decisions.
• How will info be shared with those not at these meetings? Vicki: will be emailed and put on website.
• Still angst and bad taste about the process that’s gone on before. Money spent could have been spent on better things. Are out expectations in line with our financial reality.
• What we’ve done … appreciate … have not heard … have we actually gone to other church communities and seen what they’ve done and learned from them. Ed: This is a good reminder to get out and check the history and experience of others.
• Randy: Our Lady of the Pines was interviewed. They have the same demographics and succeeded in building in this economy. They saw that they were successful because their parish director was very charismatic and has a good financial and business background.
• How can we grow our youth ministry? Mrs. Schlut … other church studied in the process has huge youth center … larger than our church.
• Shares Youth Minister experience of son who has worked at various catholic churches. There is room for the children, teens, space time inviting environment for teens to ‘be’. Youth Mass. Music.
• Teen program needs parish support … we don’t see young families here … we don’t see teens here. Where are they? The families are not being provided for.
• We have people who do not come to church because there is no cry room or nursery. Teens are not nurtured here.
• Money issue. Hurt by what happened. Healing. Advice given to him was “get over it.” No one has apologized for what happened. A mistake was made? Whether on purpose or not. Healing cannot happen. What can we do with that?  Fred: the committee followed the direction of the parish. Architects do not draw for free. We only paid the architect for the schematic design to present to the parish. Most of the time we were needed to react to proposals. We tried to respond to the parishioner direction. We did not move forward. We spent money on a green architect because we saw utility bills out of control. We were concerned about the future. Long term studies show green architecture…. We spent the money judiciously as we could. Much money was spent on reports and surveys that were required.
• New member … 8 months. 2^nd meeting I attended. Jaw dropping to discover that this process has been going on for 10 years. Son in garage during faith formation. Where are the four classrooms in the admin building going to be if the building is going to be a rectory? This is very disturbing things are dragging out for so long. When is something going to happen When is the groundbreaking. Ed: The discernment process we are running at this time is a three month process to get the parish to a decision to what we are going to do. Ground breaking may not be the decision. It has not been our experience that the work done by this committee will be wasted. The final decision will take it all into account.
• We do own the property of the architect’s work.
• The changes in the parishioner wishes over the years were difficult to deal with. The needs assessment was 40k but that was dream. It was pared down to 10k.
• We are not a poor parish, we are a cheap parish. No matter what we decide … this process is a wonderful one to get us there. Bottom line the parishioners have to support it.
• Challenge those who are not on this committee …. Due diligence to include the info and experience … of young families, of business people.
• How much of the funds can be reused? Fred: We’ve been through so many things … so many options were explored… in terms of money spent in terms of the process we went through educated the committee people who were lay people who learning about space requirements, We own the surveys, the drawings, the educational process of the team members. Schematic Design is the level we are at.  Design drawings to add on to this building were donated by a parishioner architect.
• The process to look at the whole planning was exactly the way it was supposed to be done… cautious to get the schematics … made sense. What the committee did was the way these construction projects are done. It was done correctly. No apologies are required. We have to deal with what we have. The committee did it right. The parish wanted a grand building, but was not ready to pay for it.
• As a member of the Army’s construction teams for over 20 years, I want to say that what the Steering Committee was exactly right. Schematic drawings had to be drawn by an architect before the committee could come to the parish and present ideas for a building. These drawing cost money. This is the way it is done.
• The component of faith and prayer … the money will come if the decision is made.
• The goal is to get a vision. Do we know our vision and our mission? The Holy Spirit goes to our soul. What’s in there? What do we need? This group of people has taken a hard look at it. We need help.
• Give us something specific … a detailed plan. We will support a decision. We are not indifferent we are just waiting for a plan.
• There is a sense of urgency … not panic … we need to move forward. Maybe we just need to re-imagine our parish. We need to address the needs articulated. Hopefully we can build and expand our parish. There are questions about leadership and resources. Let’s trust the process. If we really believe we are the body of Christ, the presence of Christ is guiding us … then we need to trust. It won’t get easier … but it is right. The experience is that death and resurrection is part to our parish life. We need to continue the process, trust God is guiding us and trust.

A reminder that this is only PART ONE of the parish wide meetings. The information gathered today will be added to the whole study and various options will be submitted next week at the DISCERNED OPTIONS meetings.

Come to those meetings to offer the ADVANTAGES and DISADVANTAGES perceived of these options.

Meetings are Sunday, April 18^th (10:45am – 12:30pm) and Wednesday, April 21^st (7-9pm) … both meetings in the church.

ALL PARISH MEETING

As you know, our parish is in the midst of a discernment process, the results of which will affect our community for generations to come. Literally hundreds of hours have been contributed to this effort by many of our fellow parishioners; and this process is now at a very crucial juncture. That is why I am making a special appeal to you to come to the next All Parish Meeting.

On Sunday April 11, from 10:45 – 12:30, in the church, the preliminary results and proposals from our combined sub-committees will be presented to the parish as a whole. I honestly believe that the Spirit has been working through them, and now desires to work through you.

This meeting will be repeated on the following Tuesday evening, from 7:00-9:00 PM. Please do come to one of these meetings and offer the gift of your insights to our parish.

In the peace of Christ,

Fr. Don

Our Lady of the Woods Church

Parish Meetings of Saturday, January 16 & Monday, January 18, 2010 – Minutes

Present on Jan 16: Fr. Don Dilg, Ed Gaffney, Vince Colarelli, Nick Colarelli, and 51 members of parish community.

Present on Jan 18: Fr. Don Dilg, Ed Gaffney, Vince Colarelli, Nick Colarelli, and 70 members of parish community.

Meeting opened by Fr. Don with prayer and discussion on discernment.

Discernment is the focus of this meeting.

• There is a distinction between discernment and decision making:
• Discernment is seeing what is there; Decision-making is choosing what to do about what is there.
• There is a faith component to discernment.
• Discernment is enlightened by grace. The Holy Spirit is necessary in the process.
• God is revealed through human living through human experience through prayer… this is what Incarnation means. Faith and prayer brings to light the presence of God in all human experience.
• Epiphany … Manifestation or “bringing to light”. Helping see lighting the way. That is what discernment is about.
• THEN we can make genuine and informed decisions.

God is acting in this process now. Now we have a second chance to take the time we need to see what is really then in God’s plan. The results of the capital campaign may be a blatant sign from God. A number of new things have come to light. The parish discernment over the last six years is that we need to remain here … in the center of town.

However, what has also come to light is that we have not been taking good care of our current facility. Vince Colarelli, a contractor, who has been working with parish for two years now, did an extensive property condition report – looking at building code, esthetics, repair/maintenance, energy efficiency, and health and safety issues.

Fr. Don has made the executive decision to take care of the health and safety issues … major ones are parking lot, fire alarms, electrical. … and other items… list available. About 76 to 100 K will be spent on these.  Finance council and bishop have approved these expenditures.

Vince Colarelli

• Context with historical perspective
  • Extensive design exercise … seven different options … most costly – 6 to 9 mil.
  • Alternatives … renovations and additions to this building – 4 to 6 mil.
  • Another series of alternatives … renovations to this building with shell addition. The core and shell would cost one to two million.
• What condition this building is in … discovered 600K improvements needed.
• What we know now that needs repaired and renovated for health and safety. $76 thousand of “needs” to do now.
• Parking lot requires digging up and putting in drainage to allow better drainage of melted snow, which turns into extensive ice sheets covering the north parking lot.

Since then … a new vision emerged … having church become part of central plaza in middle of Woodland Station as a fabric of downtown … very public venue. It would give the church prominence, and possibly a way to do social ministry and outreach from a facility standpoint.  This is just a vision at this point. Concerns expressed about lack of progress in DDA’s plans for Woodland Station. There has been a fundamental change in the organization that is responsible for developing that property.

Other than the necessary repairs to the existing facility – which, as said above, will be done – everything else needs to be considered in the discernment process. We will not rush into a decision-making mode. We will depend on the discernment process to find the information we need.

Ed Gaffney … Director of Pastoral Ministry and Director of Mission Effectiveness of Diocese of Colorado Springs.

Nick Colarelli … Doctorate in Organization Psychology with extensive experience in religious environment and thirty years of experience in planning.

Nick Colarelli … What is the discernment process? How is it effective?

This church, built in 1955, was a decision that affects us. Did they make a good decision? Consensus is yes.

Faith component: there will be people here in 60 years. We have to believe that the decisions we make will be good for them and for the civic community the church is part. We believe that God will be present in the decision.

Any decision we make will affect the future … 50 years from now and out. What we are trying to get to is essentially that discernment is a form of decision-making that religious groups use. Long-standing decisions are at stake. We really have to give God a chance to influence those decisions.

How do we make bad decisions: not enough information … haste … my sinfulness … emotions … already married to outcome…. Money, lack of … not taking all information into account … not really thinking it through… impatience … not looking at all the options … talking and not listening … not working together… being impulsive.

The Discernment Process

• Time period … 60 to 90 days. (Stretching it out longer means the data gets ‘cold’)
• Process is to be clean and holistic.
• Give everybody an opportunity to participate.
• Transparent process.
• We are Teller County Catholic Community trying to decide what the physical structure of OLW will look like.
• What are the areas of information we need?

How do we do it?

Four phases of discernment.

1. Gather people who will collect and learn everything we can possible learn about us, our civic community, what we currently have, what others have suggested we might have. Structures, costs… We as a Catholic community have an enduring long-term responsibility to the rest of this community and to this parish. God has entrusted his mission to us… in Woodland Park. We play a big part in making the Kingdom of God happen in WP. We affect our community. How do we enable people to feel the presence of God through us?
2. These groups will gather to compare and report. Putting all the information together. They will come up with options. New options may emerge through the gathering.
3. The options will be presented to entire parish. Through all-parish meetings, parishioners will look at pros and cons, positives and negatives of all options. The entire parish will have a chance to provide feedback.
4. All information will then go back to original group who will make decisions. The decisions will be brought to the pastor for discussion and final approval… as well as to the Bishop.

The process is charged with trying to gather ALL information available. Give god many different ways to speak to us and to shape us. Focusing on our Mission throughout process.

Forming committees …. Necessary Considerations

• Indifference … members of these committees need to be indifferent to the outcome of the process.
• Ask myself … am I so married or committed to what I want… that I cannot be open to different possibilities. Is my mind made up? Then I should not be in a committee.
• There is room for everybody … at least five to six people in each group.
• Those not on committees will be valuable in third stage that evaluates and critiques all options.
• Participation is open to all parishioners in Teller County … Data will be collected from all of Teller County.

Concerns

What is going to happen when new pastor comes in July? What has happened to all the previous discernment? What about the funds available? This feels like starting over again. What is going to be different this time? What are the financial considerations? Is the Bishop involved? Past feelings are strong. Are we praying enough? Are we praying together? Are we looking for God’s will? How will we know God’s will? How about the money? Will there be training for the groups in terms of interaction and collaboration? There are too many unknowns.

ALL these issues … and more … will be addressed by the committees in the Discernment Process.

It will cost us a lot … but not in money. We need to get involved in the data gathering.

God’s will is not a trick; he does not want us to try to read his mind; many factors are involved; God is revealed in people, in information, in events, in prayer. We need to see all of that and see how it fits together. Human experience reveals the presence of God.

Specifics of the Process … Ed Gaffney

Information gathering by four subcommittees … maybe a fifth. Ed Gaffney explained each item in the handout in detail, entertaining questions and comments along the way.  Handout explains details and guidelines for the committees’ work … see handout added at end of these minutes.

Committees are:

1. Civic Community
2. Woodland Station
3. Parish and Diocese
4. Current Location
5. Prayer Group

Questions not addressed on the handout can be added… by anyone. Contacts will be provided.

PRAYER is a primary function of this process … everyone needs to commit to prayer for the future of this church … for the new pastor … for the discernment process … for those on the committees … for the needs of the parish.

Finally, we are about information gathering not advocating for a particular decision or decisions.

We will be asking people to sign up now … this shows your interest in being part of the process. There will be a meeting on January 30 for those who sign up for these committees. At this meeting, Ed and Nick will help train the committees on how to go about gathering the information needed.

COMMITTEE SIGN-UPS … now … these people will meet on Saturday, January 30, 2010 from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

THOSE NOT PRESENT AT THE MEETINGS ARE ENCOURAGED TO CONSIDER SUBMITTING THEIR NAMES FOR THESE COMMITTEES. Call the office at 687-9345.

(See below committee descriptions and functions)

Data Available:

• Percept (demographics)
• Parish Pastoral Plan (parish and community data)
• Current ministry, financial, and facility data (from the parish)
• Woodland Park data (Woodland Station proposal)
• Current location data (from Colarelli Construction)

Sub-Committees

1. Civic Community

1. Demographics

• • % of Catholics
  • % of other faiths
  • % un-churched

1. Trends
2. Challenges that civic community faces
3. Expectations of civic community for OL W
4. Civic community’s perceptions of OLW’s contributions to the community
5. Relationships and partnerships: current and to be developed

• • Include ecumenical, business, educational, governmental, etc.

1. What continue to be the unknown and risks about the community?
2. Other areas needing to be explored

2. Woodland Station

1. What is the vision?
2. What is being proposed?
3. What is NOT being proposed?
4. How does this affect our mission as Church? (change it, benefit it, limit it)

• • How would this affect our presence and impact in the community?
  • How would this affect our ministries?

1. What continue to be the unknowns and risks about Woodland Station?
2. What are other advantages and disadvantages of the proposal?
3. What are the costs (money and otherwise) to the parish community associated with this proposal?
4. How much capability do we have in this proposal to determine the configuration of the facility within the square?

• • Specific location
  • Size of the Church
  • Space for rectory, meeting space, classrooms, etc.

1. What questions have we not been able to answer?

3. Parish and Diocese

1. History of the parish
2. Demographics and population trends
3. Level of involvement/commitment of parishioners

• • Number registered
  • Number active
  • Number inactive
  • Number alienated

1. Attitudes of parishioners toward

• • growth
  • change
  • inclusion of others in the community

1. Financial picture
2. Current ministries
3. Strengths and weaknesses
4. Current level of engagement with the community
5. Current mission and goals of the parish
6. Relationship to the Diocese … (especially the possibility of getting new pastor involved in the parish as early as possible.)
7. Awareness of the impact of the Diocese on the parish

4. Current Location

1. What is our current vision?
2. To what extent does the current location strengthen and support our presence to the community and our ministry to the community?
3. How does it limit our presence to the community and our ministry to the community?

• • Needs for program (and other) space

1. Potential use of the current location in the future
2. What has been proposed

• • In terms of core and shell?
  • In terms of a new building?

1. What are the risks involved?

• • Core and shell
  • A new building
  • Doing nothing

1. What are the costs of:

• • Remaining on the current location with current buildings
  • Building core and shell
  • Building a new building on the same site

1. What continue to be the unknowns and risks about staying in the current location?